Every year, more than 250,000 people take the Graduate Management Administration Test, in preparation for applying to MBA programs. While many will seek admission to the topranked schools, only a small percentage will end up at one of these designated "elite" programs. As the authors argue, those who think in these narrow terms, assuming that "only the best" warrants their consideration, are short changing themselves. In contrast, the authors offer an approach that is designed to help prospective MBA students cast the net wider, thinking more expansively, creatively, and strategically. They help readers learn how to read between the lines of the popular rankings and introduce the concept of return on investment to evaluate programs on the basis of their contribution to long-term professional and personal goals. Assessment exercises and an annotated bibliography of related guides, source books, and Web sites will make this book an essential resource for any aspiring MBA.