Putting GMAT scores in context

[rfmills]

Good morning,
I'm looking for a little perspective on how GMAT scores are interpreted by schools. I'm considering applying to tier 1 schools like HBS, Stanford, etc., next fall to start in 2012, and have taken the GMAT twice now. The first time I scored a 720(94%) with Q47 (77%) and V42(95%). Concerned that the score was unbalanced, I took it again after taking my MGMAT course, and succeeded in raising my quant above 80%, though my verbal dropped some (710 (92%) with Q48(82%) and V39(87%)).

With these scores, I'm wondering which one is more compelling to b-schools? I realize I'm asking for a generalization here, but is there a consensus that schools tend to value a slightly higher overall score or a more balanced score? I have a 3.85 GPA (and Phi Beta Kappa) with a full econ course load during undergrad, to give some additional background. I fully intend to contact individual schools to get some detail from them (of what little detail they'll be willing to divulge I'm unsure), but I thought that getting perspective from the mbaMission folks who work in this realm all the time might be useful as well.

Many thanks, and happy holidays.

Best,
R

[mbamission]

Hi R,

Thanks for writing in. With such minute differences between the scores there's no obvious answer to your decision on which score to use. I'd be inclined to go with the higher overall score, as a 720 might provide you with a little bit of separation from the 700-710 crowd, and a 77% is close enough to 80% that it likely won't make much of a difference.

Good luck!
Best of luck,

Daniel Richards
http://www.mbamission.com

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