You’ve heard the travel story, so let that serve as the entertainment portion of the Oklahoma State visit. As with the FSU recap post, I find it somewhat difficult to get the pertinent facts of the visit out in a timely fashion coupled with a high degree of creativity. And at this point, I don’t want to make it seem as if I am more or less fond of a program based on the level of humor injected into the post that covers its review. Thus, we will follow an identical framework established with the FSU review that covers my thoughts on the location, the faculty, the students, and the program as a whole.
LOCATION
Stillwater, Oklahoma is rather remote. If you want to know how remote, just read the travel post. The geography is flat and the town itself is rather inauspicious. There are a couple streets with some two story buildings that comprise the downtown area and remind me (in slightly less charming ways) of Auburn. On that note, the campus itself has a very similarly themed architectural style and uses a healthy dose of brick for its buildings. They are currently in the midst of what I was told was a $1,000,000,000 building and renovation campaign. Somewhere in the neighborhood of $500,000,000 of this has been provided by a single donor – T. Boone Pickens.
The only other noteworthy item on Stillwater is its cost of living. If one is committed to living in poverty for a period of at least four years while training for a career in academia, Stillwater has to be one of the more affordable places on the planet to do so. I met one student (who is Russian and sounds EXACTLY like the card-playing mafia gentlemen in Rounders) who pays $550 per month for a two bedroom apartment. Additionally, anecdotal information indicates that an actual house can be had for maybe $100 per month more.
FACULTY
Almost everyone in the management department projected a rather laid-back demeanor and they all seemed to genuinely like each other. As with any academic, you know an ego is present, but this group seemed committed to keeping theirs in check and were very interested in who I was, what I wanted, and eager to sell the distinct benefits of their program.
I struggled to identify a single member of the faculty I would be hesitant to attempt to work with and really enjoyed every conversation I had throughout the day, even the teleconference with four faculty members who are permanently assigned to (or just happened to be in) the OSU-Tulsa facility that day.
Previous reconnaissance had uncovered the existence of a research methods guru (think Obi Wan Kenobi level expert) on faculty there. While we did not get to spend any one on one time together (he was part of the teleconference), it was clear that he is a huge selling point for the program. His name recognition echoes nationwide, to the point that he was lauded by Georgia State faculty in my discussions with their PhD program director.
Overall, they were a collegial bunch that seem very proud of the growth of their program and are clearly committed to doctoral education and the success (both in completion and placement) of their PhD students.
STUDENTS
I met six students (and another potential candidate) over lunch at the famous Eskimo Joe’s bar/eatery. They were a friendly and helpful group that leaned heavily on each other for both emotional and intellectual support. There was an extremely collaborative vibe to the group and resolute opinions that competition within the ranks was not tolerated.
All current students are white males, which seemed odd at first but may be less surprising if I knew more about Oklahoma demography. The other candidate visiting that day was a female, and I couldn’t help but wonder how that dynamic would play out if she were to join the program.
I wouldn’t say that I really clicked with anyone to the degree that I see a best friend in the making, but the group was warm and inviting enough that I feel they would want to help me succeed, which is probably more important. Plus, I’ve been surprised by where my closest friends have appeared before and am trying not to be too close-minded about anyone that I meet…unless they’re just complete jerks.
PROGRAM
The program is best described as adopting a bend, don’t break philosophy. They are committed to the success of every student who enters the program and had a few examples of individuals who were struggling and were able (with the aid of faculty investment) to make dramatic turnarounds and complete the program and land good jobs. That said, the information load is intense and the students shared stories of moments where they felt as if the fire hose of information had been replaced by Niagara Falls. Much is expected of doctoral students and workloads in the 80 hour per week range were not uncommon.
Placements have been steadily improving over the past few years, with graduates finding jobs at University of Georgia, LSU, Nevada-Reno, Clemson, and Old Dominion. Additionally, one graduate has become the Dean at Pepperdine. Not too shabby. With this track record, more talented students are being attracted to the program (which is maintaining its small size) and even more promising placements are expected.
The department is clearly committed to doctoral education. I had a very good conversation with the PhD program director and the head of the management department. In addition to the standard doctoral stipend, the department adds their own supplemental funding to attract better candidates. Additionally, they provide summer teaching funding, conference travel support, and give bonuses for publications that are accepted by “A” level journals. They are the only program I’ve encountered that has this wide range of funding. I mention this not to say that they level of money will be the deciding factor in where I choose to pursue a PhD; however, given the concept that money is spent on things that are important to a group, I think this speaks to a high level of commitment from the program to its doctoral students.
Finally, knowing that the job market is not always matched up with the right opportunities for a candidate when they exit, OSU provides an interesting option for candidates. This comes in the form of a built-in post-doc appointment to the OSU Tulsa campus. There are typically two spots per year and if you are not ready to enter the job market, you can be placed (assuming know competition for the spots) in a position in Tulsa. There is no committee work involved, just a full teaching load and ample time to focus on finalizing research projects to aid in placement. This is a paid position that is above a doctoral stipend, but below a full assistant professor post.
SUMMARY
Overall, I was impressed with the program and am intrigued by some of its more unique elements. The faculty (specifically on the organizational behavior side) is relatively young, not tenured, and therefore pretty hungry for good publications. I didn’t leave thinking it was a slam-dunk, but it definitely piqued my interest.
III
A Few Things Worth Mentioning 