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You can do better than what you are targeting. Pick two or three schools that you'd like that were beyond a reach and see if anything sticks. You only live once...take a chance to crank out a couple of extra applications.
I think there's a big gap between Ross/Tuck and Carlson. T10 vs. 30-40th means you could first apply in the middle (UT, IU) for good scholarship amounts, and you could try more schools around Ross/Tuck. if you get some good awards around Ross tier, then it'd be a good signal for you to apply even higher.
Aside from being busier, the tuition is nearly comparable from top 1 to top 40, so it's always to your favor to have more options - Consortium charges some $600 for about 4 schools a while back I thought
I would ask MBA consultants in the following threads:
Personally, I would say that you could go for a top 15 if not low-M7 program. Engineer (which compensates for your GPA), athlete and high GMAT is an attractive combination.
yeah .. if you cant get into top 15, then I quit
A
Reach -> Wharton/Booth Solid Chance -> Tuck/Columbia/NW Highly Likely -> Duke/Ross/Darden Safety ->UCLA/UNC/UT/Vandy
Disagree. Booth has like a 25% acceptance rate vs. Columbia's 17%, and Columbia tends to prefer more experience. More to an MBA program than googling top ranked MBA programs.
Reach=> All M7, simply don't have enough work experience to offset that GPA. Yeah that's a great GMAT but SOOO many people have 750+ these days
Solid Chance => Tuck, Duke, Darden, Ross
Safety => UNC/UT/UCLA
EDIT: Completely breezed over two key points. Engineering major and big 10 athlete. Think you're competitive anywhere other than H/S.
This. Engineer + Big 10 athlete should offset the lower GPA.
Should apply to more than three schools no matter what
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