top student in average school /average student in top school

[anantsch]

Hi,
Which is a better scenario:
a)Getting into a decent school,(Rank 60-100 FT Rankings) and then be one of the best students in class

or

b)somehow miraculously manage to get into a top b-school and then possibly struggle to be at par with fellow students.

I ask this as I have been till know been obsessed with getting into only top ranked schools,however, I was recently advised to look at average yet overall competent schools .
I have only a few years experience in a small family business in solar power.Im from India and have 720 gmat and 65% in my Engg.

[blg529]

I wouldn't bother going to a school ranked 60-100. With the price of tuition going up and starting salaries stagnant, the ROI just isn't worth it for any school below about the top 25 US schools. I don't know about international schools, however.

[anantsch]

Hi, Im talking about 60-100 world rank, not just usa...us b-schools rankedc in 100 world schools are all good.

[g4mat]

There is a famous Indian saying:

"Its better to be a master in a village than to be a slave in a city".


I hope you understand how it applies to the context in your post.

[pravin2011]

I beg to differ here. I think you should aim for the top ranked school. In no way I am suggesting that schools ranked between 60-100 are bad. However it makes more sense to target top 25 especially with your GMAT score.
Reasons :
1) Schools further down the list have little to no chances to build the kind of brand name top schools have at least in the near future. Brand name matters! You yourself will pay attention to someone who says he has MBA from HBS over another guy who did it from XYZ.
2) Job market is stagnant so post MBA job prospects matter more than ever. Graduates from top schools have better chances of landing in a good job.

Don't underestimate yourself. Be bold and apply to at least couple of schools from top 10 and then some safety schools farther down the list. Don't be swamped by rankings but DO NOT ignore then completely.

Hope this helps!