Should I take test again - really need help please

[Shanti41]

I have taken the GMAT three times with my scores all ranging from 650-680. For some reason even though I majored in a heavy quant major and worked in Finance (PE and Hedge Funds) for last 5 years I cannot get over the GMAT quant hurdle. I am not sure if I should take it again, or just apply to schools. MY quant percentile was 70% while verbal was 88%.

Age: 27
School: 3.6 top US university majoring in Economics minoring in Accounting
WE: 2 years at a top Venture Capital firm and 3 years at a hedge fund.
Extra: Volunteered teaching math, accounting at a school in India, working with organization to create business plan for corporate fundraising. Started a dance troup.
Goals: already raised small seed capital to start my own fund focusing on emerging market strategy, need bschool to vet business plan and increase international network (raising funds from a specific background, need help with how to market idea etc)
Schools: Stanford, Insead, NYU, Berkeley, UCLA

I just want to submit the best recommendation possible. I have strong work experience but fear that quant score will really make me a bad candidate. I also have really good recommendations. Thank you for the help

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear Shanti41,

I think you still have a chance at your target schools and that your GMAT is not as low as you think it is. You have considerable evidence in your background of your quantitative ability and a quant score in the 70th percentile is not shabby. Use the essays, recommendations, resume and interviews to shine and make a case for your admission. You have solid work experience and realistic career goals. I'm not convinced you will do better than a 680 on the fourth attempt, but that is an option for you as long as you do not sacrifice the rest of the application.

Best of luck,
Lisa