I am confused by your post, since it seems you did get a higher quant than verbal. Also, why do you think you need a higher score for your PhD programs? Did they tell you that specifically? Because schools usually do not publish their PhD candidate score averages. The MBA rankings are based on the schools' full time two year MBA programs and it is within those applicant pools that the GMAT becomes most important. The PhD stats do not figure into the school's ranking stats and they are therefore usually more lenient on scores. Academic background is generally much more important for PhD program than GMAT.

While the quant number is higher, it is actually a lower score. I got a 69th percentile on the quant, and 89th percentile on verbal.

It is true that PHD's are more lenient on the score if you have a shiny gpa from a high tier school and you have good letters of recommendation. The situation is also very political so if you have connections, or if your research interests are similar to a professor's and they like you, etc.

At U of Utah for example, they will immediately throw out your score if it is less than 650. Harvard over the phone specifically told me they wanted 90% or higher. If you go to UCLA's website they say High 90 percentile. More precisely they said the class profile was 750.

It all comes down to numbers. PHD programs have a hundred plus people apply, and they end up admitting maybe 3. If your a hot chick and there are 10 guys that all make a lot of money, you might as well get the cutest one right?