Dear Luca80:

You should always aim for the highest GMAT score possible. However, a high GMAT score is not a guarantee that you will be admitted to any program. All of your application is considered when determining the admission decision. Your work experience and academic career appear strong based on the information provided, so be sure to make the rest of your application as strong: good essays, stellar recommendations, and compelling interview.

When evaluating your profile against schools you are interested in, a good general measure is to have a GMAT score at or above the average. If your score is below the average, then you will need to evaluate how far below versus the strength of the rest of your application. One strategy you could employ is to identify 1 or 2 schools in the top 50, but not necessarily the top 10, as potential alternatives. You might find that there are programs between 20 and 50 that can provide you all you want in terms of curriculum and career opportunities, but cost less and offer you more scholarship dollars.

Good luck,
Lisa