I just Beat The GMAT!

Hello everybody!
I sat for the GMAT a few days ago and scored 700. I want to apply in a month to top business schools and actually I don't know whether to retake it or not.
I am a non-native English speaker, though my first education is foreign languages, namely English. 28 years old, female, worked as interpreter, then as a logistics manager and now as a product manager.
So how I did it.
Phase 1, unproductive.
I started thinking about GMAT and MBA yet in Feb 2009. I studied for about two months, tried to work out a system but was quite overwhelmed by the number of resources, books and opinions available. I managed, however to cover most of the theory and do some practice for all sections of GMAT except AWA. I used OG 11 and other resources (Kaplan, websites, etc.). Gmatprep software taken twice resulted in scores 650 and 730 - a month between the simulation tests taken. And then, taken away by inspiraton to change my life, I decided to leave my company that was already struggling for survival for the one that seemed really full of career prospects in spite of the raging crisis. My idea was to have something more substantial to write on my application essay. That job change stressed me out completely and quite unexpectedly not only due to the change by itself but also due to the fact that the company I joined turned out to be quite dishonest. I left it in half a year and spent the next four months desperately looking for a decent job and coming back to GMAT very rarely though my boyfiend kept reminding me about the big goal on a daily basis. I felt quite disheartened and the thought that my job change made things only worse together with winter winds howling outside made me depressed. I almost convinced myself that I am nobody in the professional world and even a good GMAT score won't be a remedy anyway.
Phase 2, transitional
Of course, I had found the job - the one that suits me perfectly and being very busy I kind of overlooked that GMAT deadlines for the first round are just around the corner. Test center was almost full, I found out that accidentally by clicking on www.mba.com . I only managed to register for the last but one appointment for August in my city 10 days before the test date. I was unsure whether I should register but that was the only option available, and the idea that I had lost almost 18 months THINKING but not DOING anything felt quite irritating and pushing. I longed for results. And here began
Phase 3, very productive
Realizing that I have not only just 10 days left but also a very good basis accrued - I am very much familiar with GMAT structure, have full database of resources, books, cards (thank you, BTG!!) etc., - I quickly worked out the strategy.
I used the GMAT grid which I downloaded from here (BTG, thank you thank you thank you!!!! ) and went over all sections in GMAT Official Quantitative and Verbal review conforming to the guidelines provided for this grid. Before doing the problems on particular section I would revise the theory, very briefly, since I was quite well familiar with it by that time. For Math theory I used GMAT Official Quantitative review and www.platinumgmat.com. For Verbal theory I used GMAT Official Verbal review, Manhattan Sentence Correction (read the book and did all the drills provided there), and Powerscore CR Bible (I only read the first 50 pages of that since I already had no problems with critical reasoning and reading comprehension). I would normally do 40 problems of one type per evening on working days and double the quantity on the week-end days (e.g. 40 math problems and 40 verbal problems) and then go over all of them again taking notes as it is recommended by the grid creator � After going over the problems I wrote out the concepts and facts I needed to learn on the flashcards. I also prepared flashcards with most idioms most widely used on GMAT. I also skimmed part 1 Arco Essay Book - it's really worth it. I don't know my AWA score now, but I felt quite confidently and at ease while typing my essays during the actual test. And yes, I took simulation Gmatprep test again and scored 710 (some of the problems I had already worked on before).
Phase four, testing day
Before going to the center, I slept well, ate well, skimmed through first 50 pages of Arco essay book again, and looked through my flashcards and idioms on my way to the center. During the test, I remained calm and treated the whole thing as a computer simulation only.
My advice for the ones preparing to do it would be the following: Thinking about the test doesn't help beating the test. Register immediately after you score above 700 on GmatPrep, leaving yourself about three-four weeks to polish it up.
My question to those who already passed it would be whether a score of 700, Quant 44 (68%) and Verbal 41 (92%) would be enough for Harvard, Standford, Wharton, Chicago Booth and Duke.
Thank you

Firstly, congratulations on your score. Quite an achievement to post not only a 700, but a very nice split as well. I do not think you need to retake the test, even though it is (ever so slightly) below some of the top school averages. I say this for several reasons. One, as a female, non-native English speaker, you actually are posting a much better than average score, in other words, the committee will see this in comparison to others with a similar profile as more like a 730 or 740. Additionally, given the competitive nature of the schools for which you are applying, I would spend my time on the applications--casting a compelling vision for your future and relating interesting stories about yourself will get you much closer to a 'yes' from these schools than a marginal 20 more points on the GMAT. With a 700 you demonstrate the ability to handle the academics--no go prove you have something of value to offer your classmates and potential employers in your application.

Liolik congrats for your great score!!

Bryant, so its going to be all the more tough for we Guys...

Bryant, thank you very much for your recommendation. Actually the part I was most doubtful about was not the score itself but the split - I thought I could do better in maths (at least 75%). But if you say it's a nice one, than maybe it's really not worth retaking. I will rather concentrate on preparing better package as a whole than concentrating on a single part of it. Thanks for guiding me!!! I just got to know my AWA score - 4.5, is it enough?
Arora, thank you too for support
Olga