MBE

I would maybe start working on the research paper and put on your application that you are currently involved with research. Although your GRE scores are lower, you did well with your GPA and having a technical background in engineering means you have a stronger quant profile. Having good letter of recommendations and addressing your lower GRE scores in essay may help "offset" them. Especially if you have writing experience and your statement of purpose is polished. I would look at the university program and which professors are researching in your areas of interest. Personally, rankings come in second and third to the actual program culture and potential mentors. Hope this helps!

I think rankings are an important factor, but the program focus and your potential mentors are just as important to finding a good school. Even if I could get into a Top 10 school, I would pick my research focus and mentor relationships over prestige. I started my search for school by looking at interesting papers and finding which school the professor is based.

I don't think you are doing too poorly. I would maybe consider addressing it in your statement of purpose and really emphasizing your other skills- some people are just not good test takers. Also, although the top 10 are great schools, there are plenty of brilliant and amazing mentors and lower tiered schools.

I am looking to apply for PhD programs for Fall 2018 and I wanted to get feedback on my chances. Undergrad GPA: 3.85 Degree: Finance, International Business Honors College Degree 4.0 GPA GRE: I haven't taken it yet, but my practice tests are lower 160s, higher in verbal. I still have another month for practice, so I'm hoping to push to mid/high 160s. Research: I don't have the "traditional" research experience, but I was hoping to push my time working as an archeology research student on a archeology dig and my honors college research projects. I have unofficially published online as I have written over 10 white papers for my consulting firm. Letters of recommendation: 1 from an Honors professor, second from a OB professor who has written glowing letters for me in the past. I am still considering my last recommendation. I am hoping to apply for Strategy programs with a focus in Corporate Social Responsibility. I am interested in Uni of North Carolina, Uni of Pittsburg, Northwestern and Duke (my two reach schools). I am still researching the last 2-3 programs to apply. Do I have a good chance of getting into a PhD strategy program? Is it worth it to apply to my reach schools or should I focus on more 25-50th rankings? Is 6-7 schools enough or should I aim for 10-12? I have read conflicting reviews about throwing a wider net vs more quality applications. I also don't want to bog down my recommendation writers. Thanks in advance for your feedback.