While business school rankings remain controversial, here are some things to think about when you create the only ranking that is important, your own!

We like to call these guideposts the 5 Cs.

Curriculum

Does the school offer the academics that gets you to your short term career goal? This question has to be answered before any other.

Culture

Can you find your people there or will you be like a fish out of water?

Clubs

Does the school offer activities outside of the classroom that allow you to build your skills and develop relationships in your future industry?

Cost

Can you afford the school? Do you need a scholarship? Does the school provide scholarships? If the answer is yes and yes, the look at this C first.

Communication

To answer these questions you have to get to know people before you apply. Connect with club leaders, professors, members of the admissions committee, alumni, and students. Only then can you see how all the Cs shake out and what your ranking looks like.

This means that most people are going to create a ranking that can be far different than what magazines are telling you. For the button up investment banker type, HBS is clearly on the top of the list; for the laid back, get-your-hands dirty type, it is Stanford. For the GPA-challenged entrepreneur, Babson may be the place to be; for the not-a-great test taker who loves big brands, no better place than Olin. All these folks are going to have list that are different, and right on for them.

Go out and create your own (and we can help).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]