Super Reach vs Reach (Where should I try for?)

adc, it depends on how much you want to go to Stanford, and whether you'll have the "what could have been" syndrome later on in life. If you ever had that doubt before, I would suggest submitting to Stanford, just so you know definitively whether you can get in or not. If you're not the type of person to wonder, then I would go for two reach schools to maximize your chances at getting into your top schools.

My 2 cents.

You (sort of) only get to do this once .... Live not with "What ifs?".....

But of course, be realistic. You know your own profile best. If applying to Stanford is akin to your becoming an astronaut and going to the moon, maybe your efforts are better focused elsewhere. That said, a year and a half ago I would have put the GSB right next to "dream on buddy", so go figure.

The higher the school the better your execution has to be. That said, if you execute your application to perfection, having essays that market yourself well and are very convincing...then your chances are going to be far better. Honestly I think the quality of an application can depend on a persons fit to the questions asked. I know that I find some schools essays great for what I want to get across where others like MIT just don't let my passion come through. Yes I have 4 solid examples to use for their essays but it just doesnt work as well as my Kellogg or Chicago essays where my goals and passions are much easier to get across because of the format.

So in my opinion if you feel you can put together a great package aimed at what a school is looking for, then go for it. Why live life with regrets. I know my first 4 schools for R1 are all very tough and I will need luck to get accepted to any of them but thats why my R2 schools are slightly less and god forbid if I need to R3 will be for a GMAT whore school that will take me because I got a 740.

I think you underestimate your credentials.

As for reach schools, I would stick to ONE, whether it be a mildly reach or super reach. If you apply to 3 reach schools, your dispersed desire will show in your applications.