It's funny looking at my list how there are just some schools that never really got onto my radar. Like Booth for example, I've heard great things about it and people seem to love it, but for some reason it never interested me. I've always been a tad quick to latch onto things and consider nothing else though. For years I refused to take advil because tylenol was "just better". Yeah no reason for thinking that.
1) HBS - I ended up not applying because I already had too many reaches and honestly I just don't think I would fit here. I like case method, in some situations, not the majority of the time. Also, class participation is a huge portion of your grade, I just don't want to feel stressed on a daily basis that I'm not contributing enough. But like others have said, it's one of those places that you just can't say no to.
2) Wharton - I actually love philly, I really do. Also I really felt like I could see myself there when I visited, which surprised me for some reason I had a negative viewpoint on what the students would be like, but I found the marketing class I visited to be laid back and fun. Plus all the companies I want to work for recruit there.
3) Kellogg - I really liked the vibe I got from the students and the class I visited, it's the best for marketing, and man would I love to go on a kwest trip, ha! Plus their joint ventures club seems really strong.
4) Columbia - It took me awhile to come around to CBS, did not have a great visit when I went. But I'm from NYC area and plan to stay here so I think the network in the area is great to have. Plus there are just so many opportunities (like internships or projects) that you can take advantage of during the school year because of NYC. Also some of the CBS follies videos I've been watching are pretty comical.
5) Duke - Absolutely loved Fuqua and still do. I really don't think Team Fuqua is a marketing ploy, you can feel it when you visit. Have really had a great experience in all of my interactions with the school. Am still sad not to be going there.
6) Stern - Similar reasons to CBS. Got a good vibe from the school when I visited. They certainly have a better building than CBS. Why oh why couldn't the new CBS building be ready a few years earlier.
7) Cornell - I never visited Johnson since I pulled my application once I got into Duke. But a friend of mine went there and loved it. I like the experiential learning focus and seemed like they have a good marketing program. At the end of the day I just wasn't feeling moving all the way up north to Ithaca. If I'm going to move to the even colder than NYC, I'd prefer to be near a city (ala Kellogg).
Really though, I imagine if I got into Tuck or Booth I would put them somewhere around 5. Went to college in California, I'm an east coast girl at heart, so no interest in Stanford or Haas. Don't think I'd fit in at MIT. There are just so many other great schools Yale, Ross, etc. how to choose how to chose!