My case is rather different from most of the users here, but if anyone can give me some advice it’d be much appreciated.

My goal is to pursue a Phd degree (preferably from a top 10 school) in finance. However, I don’t have a finance background and my research experience is very limited, so I figure it may be a wise choice to apply for a MS in Finance program first then give the Phd program a try. Am I right on this assumption? Or should I simply go for Phd right away?

Here’s my Profile:
1) Asian female, 26. I am a new immigrant to the U.S., which means
all my education and work experiences are from overseas.
2) Education:
- BA in Accounting, avg. GPA 3.2.
- I obtained my MBA degree from a school in New Zealand.
3) Work:
- Worked for a manufacturing business as a PT sales team assistant
for about 4 years during college.
- After I graduated from MBA, I worked for a Venture Capital as an
investment analyst for a year.
4) Extracurricular Activities:
- I was the vice leader of a Leadership development club for a year.
- A member of the student council at my college.
5) Volunteer:
- Save the environment groups in my home country, NZ and here in
the states.
- Stop animal cruelty groups also in those three countries.
- A summer school teacher.
- Narrator at a museum.

I am taking the GMAT on the last day of August, and the spring semester deadlines for most of the master programs I am targeting are around the 30th of Sep. If I cannot score 650 and above then I will shoot for the fall 2010 semester.

Thanks in advance for your help.