Name

Stephanie Mangus

School

Louisiana State University

Degree Program

Second year PhD student in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing

Previous Degrees

Master of Business Administration from University of Cincinnati, 2009; Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts from Ohio Northern University, 2005

Research Interests

Sales relationships

Advisor

Dr. Eli Jones

Advisor’s Research Focus

Business-to-business sales management

Hobbies

Scrapbooking, raising pet poodles

Graduate School – Application Process

How did you select your graduate school and program?

Louisiana State University was a good choice for me because the program prepares students for a career that is a balance of teaching and research, which is my long-term goal. The program was also a good fit for me academically as they respect hard work and consider more factors than just your GMAT scores in the application process.

Did your application requirements include standardized test scores?

Yes, I was required to take the GMAT. I think that it is important for people to remember that the GMAT is not a test of intelligence. Rather, it is a test of your critical and analytical thinking skills. In my experience, people who are more creative and artistically inclined, like me, tend to have a rough time with the GMAT. I recommend that people spend a lot of time learning the strategies behind calculating the best answers for the GMAT because the right answer is not always intuitive.

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

In my personal statement, I used persuasive language to convince the admissions department at Louisiana State University that I was a stellar student despite my relatively low GMAT score. I told them I am a very hard worker and that my academic curiosity was fostered by more than 5 years of work experience in the business world. I think that the honesty of my personal statement helped me to gain admission to my doctoral program.

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

My program required me to submit letters of recommendation from one academic source and one professional source. For the academic reference, I asked a faculty member who taught several of my marketing classes. I chose this professor because he has been published and is quite well known in the marketing business. His reputation made me look good by association.

For the professional reference, I asked my boss, who also happened to be the associate dean of the College of Business at University of Cincinnati. He was able to speak to my credibility both as a professional and as a student.

Graduate School – The Program

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

My PhD program is supposed to take students 4 years to complete. A student spends the first 2 years completing coursework and the last 2 years researching and writing a dissertation. So far, I am on track to graduate within the recommended amount of time, although I don’t know yet how smoothly my dissertation process will go. Applicants should always consider that the dissertation process may take longer than they expect, so plan accordingly.

What is the focus of your dissertation research?

I haven’t formally declared my dissertation topic yet, but I expect that I will focus my research on sales relationships. I am interested in exploring the relationships that salespeople have with their major clients and their key accounts. I also want to examine how salespeople are regarded by such clients. For example, I want to investigate whether clients view salespeople as business partners or in some other context.

What role does your advisor play in your education?

My advisor has played an instrumental role in helping me start my doctoral research. He helped me narrow down a topic that held some interest for me and has since looked over many drafts of my research paper. Under his guidance, I submitted that paper to a conference. He has enforced the doctoral clich? of “publish or perish.” I appreciate having him in my corner.

Does your doctoral program require comprehensive exams prior to graduation?

Yes, my program does require me to take comprehensive exams before I am allowed to officially start working on my dissertation. In fact, I will be taking my comprehensive exams in a couple of weeks.

The examination process takes 2 days. Since my concentration is marketing, my exams will cover all aspects of the discipline. Among other topics, I will be tested on marketing theory and research, marketing methods and techniques, and structural equation modeling. I imagine the testing process will be somewhat miserable, so I am excited to get it done.

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

The biggest difference between getting an MBA and a doctorate of business administration is in the breadth of the programs. An MBA trains you to be a manager, so you learn to be a well-rounded generalist. You have to know about many different areas so that you can direct people and projects. But a doctorate program trains you to know a lot about a little, so to speak. You are expected to be well versed in all areas of your discipline, but also to truly become an expert of a single, narrow topic.

Graduate School – Paying for It

How are you funding your education?

Louisiana State University has provided full funding for my doctoral education through a tuition waiver and a $16,000 stipend. To earn that stipend, I am committed to being a teaching assistant and conducting research with faculty members.

I would caution prospective doctoral students not to apply to any program that will not offer you full funding, because that is an indication that the school will not be willing to invest in you as a scholar. Credible programs, those that prepare you to be employed at major teaching universities, require more than your full-time attention. A successful student cannot complete a doctoral program and maintain an outside job at the same time.

Graduate School – Living Life

What are the time commitments for a PhD in marketing?

The time commitment of my PhD in marketing program is greater than that of a standard full-time job. Since I am still in the coursework phase of my doctoral degree, I spend about 10 hours in class each week and about 40 to 45 hours working on homework. I am also required to teach or conduct research for 20 hours each weeks as part of my stipend agreement.

How has graduate school affected your personal life?

The most obvious way that graduate school has affected my personal life is that it has taken a toll on my marriage. I am lucky to have a husband who is very supportive of my academic and career goals. The rigors of graduate school at any level makes maintaining a relationship very challenging, so we have to be creative and make sure we spend time together, even if it is just walking the dogs.

Graduate School – After Graduation

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In 5 years, I expect to have graduated from my doctoral program. If all goes well, I will have found a job as an assistant professor at a peer university, which means a school ranked similarly to Louisiana State University. At that point, I will be working toward a tenured position. Hopefully, I will have earned tenure within 7 to 10 years.

Graduate School - Advice

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

Students need to be aware that pursuing a PhD will affect all areas of your life. It may require you to move to a different part of the country, and it will certainly affect the amount of time you have available to spend with your family. You need to know why you are getting this degree and be ready for the commitment it requires. Also, keep in mind that if you intend to enter academia, the environment is very different from the professional working world. The adjustment can be overwhelming, so prepare yourself for change and have an open mind about new possibilities.