Name

Michael Baer

School

University of Georgia

Degree Program

Second year PhD student in Business Management with a concentration in Organizational Behavior

Previous Degrees

Master of Business Administration from Brigham Young University, 2010; Bachelor of Arts in History from Brigham Young University, 2003

Dissertation Topic

Interpersonal trust and organizational justice

Research Interests

Fairness; trust; workplace deviance

Advisor

Jason Colquitt

Advisor’s Research Focus

Fairness; trust; personality

Hobbies

Biking, weightlifting, spending time with my family

Graduate School – Application Process

How did you select your graduate school and program?

I selected my business management PhD program at University of Georgia based on the research productivity of the faculty and their high regard and good treatment of PhD students. For me, it was important to find a program that had professors who conduct publishable research and included PhD students in their research.

In order to help make my decision, I talked with PhD students at the PhD programs I was considering and a few of my professors at Brigham Young University about what program would be a good fit for my personality and interests.

What did you do to prepare yourself for graduate school?

In order to prepare myself for graduate school, I started working on research projects with organizational behavior faculty members during my MBA program. By doing this, I gained research experience as well as an idea of what to expect in terms of the research process and life as a management faculty member.

Did your application requirements include standardized test scores?

Yes, my application required GRE or GMAT test scores. In order to study, I worked through the Kaplan and Princeton study books, took practice exams and studied word lists.

To my knowledge, the business management program at University of Georgia does not require a minimum score for admission. However, higher scores definitely enhance the application. Significant research experience can compensate for lower test scores.

What kind of information did you include in your personal statement?

In my personal statement, I discussed my research interests and how they aligned with current faculty members’ research. I made sure to mention 3 or 4 faculty members by name that I wanted to work with.

I would highly recommend that students read up on current faculty members’ research so that they can tailor their personal statement to match those interests. This will make them much more viable candidates in the admission process. It will also help applicants to know whether or not the program is a good fit with their interests.

How did you choose faculty to approach for letters of recommendation?

For my letters of recommendation, I chose faculty members who were either recognizable in the field or with whom I had developed a close working relationship. For example, I selected MBA professors with whom I had conducted research and who could attest to my interest in organizational behavior.

Do you have any other tips for a student who is considering applying to graduate school in business management?

I would tell a student who is considering applying to graduate school in business management to demonstrate a high level of interest in conducting research. This is important because PhD programs are mainly focused on producing the next generation of academics, not consulting professionals or entrepreneurs.

In addition, I would encourage students to spent time reading top-tier research journals in order to gain familiarity with the business management field. This will come in handy when they have to talk with faculty during their campus visit and demonstrate their knowledge.

Lastly, I would tell a student interested in a PhD program in business management to be prepared for a highly competitive application process.

Graduate School – The Program

How long is your program and how is the curriculum distributed?

My 5-year program is composed of classwork and dissertation work. During the first 2 years of the program, students take 3 classes per semester, including organizational behavior classes, strategy classes, social psychology classes, and methods and statistics classes. At the end of the second year, students must take their comprehensive exams. If they pass, they are eligible for candidacy and done with their coursework. Students focus on research in years three and four. The program culminates with students writing and defending their dissertations during the fifth year.

What is the focus of your dissertation research?

In a business administration program, students typically choose a dissertation topic related to the research that they are working on publishing with faculty members. In fact, dissertation work is considerably less important than publishing research articles.

I have been working on research articles related to justice and trust, so I assume that is what my dissertation research will focus on. However, I don’t have to select my topic until the fourth year of the program, so I still have a while to think about it.

Can you describe the process of researching for and writing your dissertation?

The process of researching for and writing my dissertation involves a variety of steps. During my third year, I will focus primarily on conducting research to determine my dissertation topic. I will develop my topic and defend my proposal by the end of my fourth year. Finally, I will defend my dissertation in my fifth year.

How is the dissertation process different from working on a masters thesis?

The main difference between a dissertation and a masters thesis is the level of originality. Masters students generally demonstrate their understanding of the literature and provide a review. On the other hand, a dissertation presents students’ original theoretical contributions to the field.

What role does your advisor play in your education?

My advisor plays a huge role in my education. He brings me on different research projects so that I can understand the research process from the initial idea to collecting data to writing and analyzing data. Through my involvement with his research, I am able to see how good research is conducted. In addition, he serves as my mentor and most likely will serve as my dissertation committee chair.

One great thing about the business management program at University of Georgia is that faculty members are highly involved in advising students from day one. At the beginning of the program, students are assigned an unofficial advisor. That unofficial advisor may become permanent, but students and faculty members have the opportunity to explore compatibility of research interests and working styles before choosing an advisor. In my case, my advisor and I made a mutual decision to work together based on our similar research interests and compatible personalities.

Does your doctoral program require comprehensive exams prior to graduation?

Yes, students need to pass comprehensive exams at the end of their second year. In order to prepare, I am paying attention in my classes because I think that is the best way to study. In addition, professors give students a list of 13 potential topics covered on the exams, so that will be helpful too.

How does a doctoral program differ from graduate study at the masters level?

The main difference between a doctoral program and a masters program is the structure and intensity. In a masters program, students follow a structured format in which they attend classes regularly. On the other hand, doctoral students focus on producing original work and have far less supervision. As a result, doctoral students need to be personally motivated to meet the rigorous demands of their program.

Graduate School – Paying for It

How much does your PhD program cost?

My PhD program costs me nothing. It is not uncommon for business management students at the PhD level to receive generous funding in the form of an $18,000 to $30,000 stipend.

How are you funding your education?

I am funding my education through a teaching assistantship that I was offered as part of my admissions package. In exchange for teaching classes during my second, third, fourth and fifth years of my program, I receive a stipend for my tuition.

Graduate School – Living Life

What are the time commitments for a PhD in business management?

The time commitments for a PhD in business management are intense but enjoyable. I spend about 9 hours each week in class as well as 18 hours per week studying, reading articles and writing papers. In total, I spend about 60 hours per week in my office at school.

How has graduate school affected your personal life?

Because I am used to working longer hours, graduate school hasn’t affected my personal life too much. I try to set boundaries between work and home, and I avoid working at night or on the weekends. This way I have more time to spend with my spouse and children.

In addition, I try to practice good time-management skills. When I am at school, I stay focused by setting limits in terms of how much time I devote to preparing for a class or writing a paper.

Graduate School – After Graduation

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In 5 years, I hope to be an assistant professor at a top-tier research university teaching classes in organizational behavior.

Graduate School - Advice

What insights can you offer a student who is interested in pursuing a PhD in business management?

I would advise a student interested in pursuing a PhD in business management to talk to their bachelors or masters professors in order to prepare for a doctoral program and avoid any surprises.

In addition, I would tell students to figure out whether or not they enjoy statistics and methods before enrolling in a program. A PhD program in business administration is largely quantitative-based.

Lastly, I would tell prospective students to remember that business management is a fun but challenging program. Students need to realize and accept that they aren’t going to know everything right away.