Schools that love high GMAT scores

I can't really answer your question, but I can provide a little more data for you to ponder. Darden revealed at Darden Days (new student reception) that the average GMAT should be around 700 this year, in line with other similarly ranked schools. I actually posed this question to the dean at an admissions event last fall - regarding why Darden's scores trailed other similar schools. He told me that they expanded their class size 2 years ago (perhaps 3 years ago now), right at the point when MBA applications hit the lowest point, and their numbers went down because of that. His exact words to me were "I believe we have turned the corner on that." Judging by the 35% increase in application volume this past year, on top of double digit increases each of the last two years, and the new GMAT score, I believe his assessment was accurate.

I will also add that of all the schools that I considered (and it was a lot of them), Darden far and away valued personal contact the most. Their interview process is very personal and they really make an attempt to get to know each applicant as an individual. A number of other applicants (even some heading to other schools) have noted warm feeling they had when meeting with Darden. I believe the result is that in a sense, they value other things more highly that raw numbers. On the other hand, I think there is clear evidence that once they have made their decision, they will use available resources (scholarship money, personal contact, etc.) to try to get candidates with higher scores to attend.

Regarding your list of schools, I would drop Tepper to the bottom of that list. I agree with Hjort's system that Tepper is not in the elite group with the other schools in your list. Regarding the other 4, I'd say it's pretty much personal preference, but if I had to break it down I'd put Duke and Darden ahead of Cornell with Yale rounding out the group.