I?d like your help to narrow down the list of Universities I should apply to for an MBA. I?ve decided to apply only in 2014 (to start in 2015) so I thought I would aim high (since I?ve got plenty of time to prepare for the GMAT). I?ve put together a list with 15 universities (6 in the US, 6 in the UK and 3 in Canada). The reason for choosing these countries was solely based on personal preferences as to places I?d like to live in. I want to bring this down to 9 (4 in the US, 4 in the UK and 1 in Canada). After I get my GMAT (and if I pull off a 690 or higher) I reckon I will take some others out as well.

The list is organized in order of priority. One of the schools in each country section on the list is a school I?ve chosen sort of as a plan B. I?m assuming, arrogantly or not, that I will get at least 680 in my GMAT. I hope in one year I will have had enough time to prepare well for the test.

Can you help me to cross off some schools which may not be the best option for me?

My background is: M&A Lawyer, 6 years of experience (will have 8 by the time I start the MBA), Mid-level Associate at Magic Circle law firm (will be Senior Associate by the time I apply), LLM from University College London with a pass only. I don't have extracurricular activities...

If you think there is any school which is on the list, but I shouldn?t even consider (or the other way around too ? any school not mentioned on there but worth applying to), please feel free to say so. And if there is any school requiring a lower GMAT which may be good to consider, that'd be good too. But, if possible, no intracountry considerations (for instance, saying I shouldn't apply to Warwick because Yale is better).

Any help is extremely appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

US
1. Harvard
2. MIT
3. Yale
4. Stanford
5. Georgetown
6. Indiana University

UK
1. London Business School
2. Cambridge
3. Imperial College London
4. Oxford
5. Cranfield
6. Warwick

Canada
1. Toronto
2. York
3. British Columbia

What are your goals?

With a GMAT under 700, I think HSW are a big stretch. LBS is hard too, but being an alum of the university already will help you slightly.

Having no extracurricular activities makes you look very easy to cut from an admissions list. You don't seem to bring that much extra, so work on that. Be different from all those other lawyers.

Thanks Duncan.

My goal is changing industries... leave the law to natural born lawyers.

On a different topic, how hard is it to get financial aid from US and UK schools? I am not talking about scholarships (because I know those are extremely hard), but rather student loans.

Without a co-signer in the country, it's pretty hard. Ask the schools directly.

Ok. Thanks. I was just wondering because I remember seeing on the Harvard MBA website and also on the Booth website that they have special programs for international students with no US co-signer. So, I just wanted to know how hard it is to get something out of those programs. Does anyone know of anyone (like a bank or something similar) who maybe offers a co-signing service?