From time to time, I get a question from a reader of this forum whose entire post is, "I have a GMAT score of X and two years of work experience. Where should I apply?" Unfortunately, I cannot really answer that question.

I can help applicants choose among schools and identify "groups" of schools (top five, top twenty, good schools in the Midwest, etc.) but I cannot respond effectively to a broad, general "where should I apply" question based on one or two data points. And, as I often say, the more data about your background and the more data about your wants and needs the more I can help you.

As I explain in one of the posts below this one, there are many many factors that go into choosing a business school program. Only the applicant can balance, trade-off, and prioritize the competing factors that make up the decision of where to apply

If you are asking yourself, "Where should I apply?", then I suggest these steps:

- Go through my list of factors for choosing an MBA program and jot down your thoughts and ideas.

https://www.beatthegmat.com/criteria-for ... tml#171228

- Choose two or three criteria that are most important to you and set up a "filter" --identify all of the schools that meet your criteria and are within a reasonable range of your grades and GMAT.

- Visit those schools websites, talk to alumni, visit the campus if close, and read books and magazines about MBA programs; then, further refine your list by adding or removing programs.

- At this point, you should have a list of some 5-15 schools and, when you do, it and it may sense to reach out to a Kaplan consultant about further refining your analysis.

Thanks and let me know if you have further questions. Remember, it's usually better to err on the side of asking the question; if I can't answer it effectively, I'll let you know and give you some tips of how to get started answering it for yourself.

Paxton