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[mistynights]

I am currently in a Marketing PhD program, but I am having some second thoughts about my decision.

I originally intended to apply for Accounting PhD programs.  My educational background is in Accounting and Finance.  I have prior working experience in both auditing and in corporate accounting.

Eventually I decided to apply for Marketing PhD programs with the intention of focusing on quantitative marketing.  Unfortunately, it appears that in order to obtain a TT position in this field, it is necessary to obtain your PhD from an elite school. 

My questions are as follows:
1.  Is it possible to switch disciplines?
2.  Would the AACSB Post Doctoral Bridge Program allow me to eventually research and teach accounting?
3.  Should I try to work on and research issues pertaining to the marketing-accounting interface?

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!

Signed, Confused.

[charlesr]

First of all, your assumption about needing a PhD in marketing from a top school to be able to get a TT job is wrong.

How far into your program are you?  Have you investigated switching into accounting at your current institution? Otherwise you will most likely be starting from scratch.  I don't think the bridge program makes sense in your situation.

[klaradeb]

First of all, your assumption about needing a PhD in marketing from a top school to be able to get a TT job is wrong.

+1. Assuming you're at a good school, your PhD doesn't need to be from a Top 10 place for you to get a job as a modeler. The job market is still good - even if in that respect nothing beats accounting, of course.

(That said, if you love accounting, by all means go do that. The money tends te be better, too. At my school you could probably switch - assuming an accounting prof wants you, of course - and take your general research methods/statistics/etc. coursework with you.)

[canadatourismguy]

An accountant making an assumption? That is unheard of...

[mistynights]

I truly appreciate the responses thus far. 

I am currently a first year student.  No, I have not yet investigated switching within the current institution. 

I am fearful to discuss this topic with anybody at my current university.  If I discuss my desire to switch with the accounting chair, but if (s)he is not interested in me, then I am fearful the marketing department would kick me out of their program.

Has anybody heard of anybody switching disciplines within the same institution?

[octoprof]

I am currently in a Marketing PhD program, but I am having some second thoughts about my decision.

I originally intended to apply for Accounting PhD programs.  My educational background is in Accounting and Finance.  I have prior working experience in both auditing and in corporate accounting.

Eventually I decided to apply for Marketing PhD programs with the intention of focusing on quantitative marketing.  Unfortunately, it appears that in order to obtain a TT position in this field, it is necessary to obtain your PhD from an elite school. 

My questions are as follows:
1.  Is it possible to switch disciplines?
2.  Would the AACSB Post Doctoral Bridge Program allow me to eventually research and teach accounting?
3.  Should I try to work on and research issues pertaining to the marketing-accounting interface?

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!

Signed, Confused.

The bridge program is for non-business PhDs.

If you want to switch to accounting, by all means, do so, but be sure to get full information before making the decision.

I have known students who switched PhD programs after a year or two, both in the same Uni (acc to stats, IS to acc, etc.) and from one school to another. If you really want to do this, you need to get the ball rolling. 

If your school has an accounting doctoral program, you should talk to the accounting doctoral program director to find out if a switch is possible there. Of course, whether that accounting programs has faculty in the specialty areas that interest you is another question altogether.

Good luck!

[mistynights]

Thank you for your response octoprof.

Do you think I may create some tension and bad blood between the two departments if I even ask for a transfer?  Ideally, I would like to speak with the accounting chair and ask if a transfer is even feasible, without word immediately getting back to the marketing department.   

Does anybody else have any or know of similar experiences?

   

[obprof]

If you make the switch soon, I don't think there would be any bad feelings, because the Marketing faculty would not have invested much ($$, time, hopes) in you yet.

When they ask, just explain that you hadn't quite understood what you were getting into, and that you  actually more interested in X (where X is an accounting topic).

[octoprof]

Thank you for your response octoprof.

Do you think I may create some tension and bad blood between the two departments if I even ask for a transfer?  Ideally, I would like to speak with the accounting chair and ask if a transfer is even feasible, without word immediately getting back to the marketing department.   

Probably no hard feelings. You have to do what is best for you. The longer you wait, however, the more likely someone will get bent out of shape. Sooner is definitely better.

Whether the accounting chair and the marketing chair are total buddies (and share everything) is beyond your control.

Does anybody else have any or know of similar experiences?
 

Mentioned above.

Think long term and do what is best for you.

[prytania3]

An accountant making an assumption? That is unheard of...

Are you kidding? All the problems in my accounting book started with "Assume such and such."