Last Updated on September 30, 2026
Quick answer: To build a business school list, compare each program’s class profile with your GPA and test scores, then weigh application workload, academic specialties, class size, location, and career outcomes in your target industry. Include reach, target, and safer options, and settle your list well before Round 1 deadlines in early fall.
How to Start Your Business School List
If you plan to apply to an MBA program in the coming months, you will want to ideally submit your applications before the Round 1 deadlines in September and October. [1] This means you will want to use the spring and early summer to work on your essays and other admissions materials. Our MBA application timeline walks through each step. But before you can begin, you need to decide which programs to put on your list of business schools. You should not only be looking at the rankings, but also think about different factors that matter to you.
MBA programs are competitive, and the most selective programs admit only a small share of applicants. With rare exceptions, most students who apply to MBA programs have solid transcripts, substantial work experience, and persuasive reasons to attend. To help you decide which institutions to put on your list of business schools, we’ve elaborated on various factors that might play a role in which programs you choose.
How Selective Are Top Business Schools?
As you think about which options to include on your list of business schools, you need to know whether your GPA and test score(s) are on par with those of admitted students. [2] If you are still choosing a test, see our GMAT vs GRE comparison. For a bigger picture look, it also helps to know how selective each school is, so review the class profile each program publishes, which reports the average GPA and test scores of its most recent entering class. Schools update these numbers every year, so check the latest profile before you finalize your list. The GMAT has also since been redesigned as the GMAT Focus Edition, which uses a different score scale, so check which version of the exam each school’s reported averages reflect. [3]
When building your list of business schools, be sure to include a range of options.
There are different approaches to building your list of business schools. It is always a good idea to include three kinds of schools: reach schools, schools that seem like a good match for your grades and scores, and a couple of “safety” schools that should accept you based on your academic record and accomplishments. Each program’s acceptance rate, average GPA, and average test scores can help you decide which schools make up the reach, fit, and safety spots on your list. But your list might also not have tiers, depending on how willing you are to leave your current job. If you’re someone who wants to attend business school only if you get into a top institution, you may only apply to a handful.
GPAs and test scores vary widely across top business schools. Of course, if your stats are on a similar level to the admitted students’, you’re academically in a good place. But numbers can’t be the only deciding factors. You must keep other points of consideration in mind when making your list of business schools.
Other Factors for Your Business School List
Amount of Workload per Application
Applications for the various business schools often differ significantly from each other. Most of the time, especially if your list isn’t very long, there may not be any overlaps between essay topics. Wharton, Harvard Business School, and Yale School of Management all ask different essay prompts, so you have to spend a significant amount of time writing each response. While working a full-time job, balancing many applications is a hard task. So, when putting your list of business schools together, you must consider the amount of work per application, and whether you’ll be able to handle all of them and submit quality documents on time.
Academic Specialties and Campus Offerings
After you finish the initial evaluation phase of going through current student data, your list may still be long. This is the time to head to the school websites. Most MBA programs will provide you with concentrations in common topics such as e-commerce, economics, entrepreneurship, etc., but look carefully through the pages to find unique academic offerings. For example, some programs offer dedicated tracks, centers, or clubs in areas like sports business or health care, while others do not. Harvard Business School’s required first-year curriculum, for instance, includes FIELD, a field-based course that puts classroom learning into practice. [4] Similarly, other schools might have specific availabilities that can spark your interest.
From there, spend a few minutes getting a sense of the student environment. What courses are required? Does the program’s mission align with your interests and character? Are there many clubs and other organizations? Can students take classes at other schools within the university? If you can imagine walking around a school’s campus and sitting in the classrooms, add that institution to your final list of business schools.
Class Size
The number of students in your cohort – and even separate courses – could vary depending on which business school you attend. The biggest programs, Harvard Business School and Wharton, offer dozens of electives for second year students, whereas smaller schools may offer fewer. With hundreds of classmates, you are sure to start building your network. That being said, you are also less likely to meet most of your classmates and will get less individualized attention from faculty and staff. At the other end of the spectrum are programs that enroll a much smaller class. You will know everyone by name, have an easier time building relationships with professors, and you may find the alumni network more close-knit. Where you apply should depend on how you learn best and whether you thrive in small or large classes.
Location
Do you want to experience the vibrancy of New York at a school like Stern (NYU) or Columbia, or enjoy the tranquility of Tuck (Dartmouth)? Is weather a consideration? I once worked with an applicant who rode horses every day, an activity that she used for exercise as well as introspection. Since she needed a program with stables nearby, geography played a serious role in building her school list. Think carefully about where each school is located. Consider the kind of networking opportunities you’re hoping for and what kind of weather you prefer. If you’ve got a firm that you really want to work for, you may want to apply somewhere close to it. The location can indeed make a big difference.
Career Goals and Future Prospects
Your next consideration should be your career goals. Though you can get a job in any industry after earning an MBA, different programs have different areas of focus. If you are interested in energy, you may want to consider Jones (Rice University), located in the energy hub of Houston. If you are heading into tech, compare how many graduates each program places at the companies you want to join. If finance is your goal, look for student-managed investment funds and finance clubs with active recruiting ties. If you want to launch a company, look for entrepreneurship centers, venture competitions, and startup incubators. Our guide to work experience for business school can help you connect your background to these goals. Look for schools whose specialties are aligned with your career goals!
Not everyone wants the same things out of their business school experience. Think about what matters to you – do you work best in a small cohort? Are you hoping for a program that will gear you up for a successful career in the energy field? And while it’s great to have a top-choice school, don’t put all your eggs in one basket and just apply to a couple, because each year, admissions committees look for different things out of the incoming class. Make a balanced list, ensuring you’ll be happy no matter where you end up going. Good luck!
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