Profile eval - looking at LBS

[lauraumn]

After extensive research & visiting campuses of 8 FT MBA programs, I've decided to apply to only one - LBS in R2. My friends think I'm making a bad decision to not submit to add'l schools (esp w/ increased application rates expected this year) but my thought is that it's better to put 100% into 1 app rather than spreading myself thin trying to meet add'l R2 deadlines. (If I was applying to other schools, my next picks are Berkeley & Sloan).

My questions are as follows:

1) Am I being ridiculous to only apply to 1 school in R2? (in theory I could put in R3 apps if rejected from LBS)

2) What are my chances of getting into LBS?

Profile:
Female, 28
BSB Marketing 3.3 GPA
660 GMAT (Verbal 41 92%, Quant 39 55%)
6 years in sales / acct mgmt roles at consumer packaged goods company (promotions, increased responsibility, etc - but no direct reports)
Decent extracurriculars since college (and in college)
Planning career change to takeover management of family farm

[MBAApply]

Once you go beyond 4-6 schools, you will spread yourself too thin. You really should apply to more than one school, especially if you're interested in more than one school.

However, to be honest your GMAT will be a handicap especially since your GPA is okay but not particularly strong. For schools like LBS, Sloan or Haas, you'd be on the margins with that GMAT/GPA combo. Can an exceptionally well executed written application (and interviews) compensate for it? To some extent, but you're still dependent on the subjectivity of the process to work in your favor (i.e. you have to hope that the adcom will overlook your GMAT - which may or may not happen depending on the individual reading your application).

At this point, shoot for Round 2 and hope for the best.

Alex Chu
alex@mbaapply.com
www.mbaapply.com
http://mbaapply.blogspot.com