Dear LB20,
a) how does my profile look for these types of schools (are there any, like chicago, i should avoid, because they are even heavier quant)
Based on the limited information you posted, I think you could be competitive for any school if you score 700+ on the GMAT. You are right to be concerned about your quant score as many schools look for you to have a raw score >45. Since you have quantitative aspects to your professional experience, then you will want to make sure that is explicit in your application. You might also consider writing an optional essay regarding your quantitative aptitude and your preparation plans for business school.
b) how hard is it going to be for schools (i'm hoping to go to a top 10, maybe top 15 depending on the school, but preferably top 10) to look past my lower quant score if i get above a 700 and have a strong work experience with daily quant work.
Since admissions decisions are made from a holistic perspective, your essays, recommendations and interviews are integral to the process. Thus these components can help to mitigate other components. The bottom line is you need to present enough information in your application to demonstrate you have the quantitative aptitude to succeed in the classroom. Finally, while you should certainly apply to any top 15 schools you feel are a good match for you, I would encourage you to look at some schools outside the top 15 as well. There are some great programs with comparable resources that you might find to be a strong match for you as well.
Best of luck,
Lisa
