Doctoral program admissions management is universal yet rarely addressed in Information Systems literature. Readiness, a concept well-established in educational theory, is a compelling theory upon which to further professionalize the process of reviewing application portfolios. We propose a literature-based, extensible assessment rubric for reviewing doctoral program applicant materials based on the concept of research readiness. The rubrics pay particular attention to universal competencies required for progressing from students to future IS research professionals. Unifying assessment standards for doctoral admissions facilitates faculty decision-making, while creating clear standards for prospective candidates on expectations for minimum requirements
