[#permalink]
06 Aug 2007, 18:35
Average GMAT at Stanford is over 720, so that range looks correct. Word out of Darden is that for this past application season, average GMAT was over 700, so the middle 80% range should be 650-750, or something like that.
I'll point out 2 things. First, if you have a GMAT at the average, then without considering other parts of the application you probably have a chance equal to the admit rate of being admitted. If you are below the average then your chances will be lower. In other words, if you take some random Stanford applicant with a 720 GMAT (looking only at that), there's probably about a 10% chance or less that he/she will be admitted. Second, virtually all of those admitted with scores below the middle 80% range will be from underrepresented minorities; it's so rare that it might be better to just consider it "all" instead of "virtually all". Judging by your screen name, I'd say that probably doesn't include you; although being female should help.
Also, you should consider that schools count full-time post-college work experience. You state 4 years, so you graduated from college when you were 19? They don't consider part-time work experience or work during school the same; those are viewed more as extracurricular activities.
So, to answer your final question, I'd say that without some extraordinary factors in your work experience and activities (beyond what you've listed), your chances at Stanford are more or less nil. Stanford does like younger applicants, but they also like high GMAT scores and stellar profiles. You might have a chance at Darden, though to consider your GMAT score "in range" is incorrect. At best, you'd be at the very bottom of the acceptable scores, but more likely you are well below the current range and well below the range for your demographic. Also, Darden favors longer work experience, so I'll ask again, is that 4 years full-time after college? That would be important.
You didn't mention your GPA, but obviously it will have to be near perfect to offset your GMAT score. Considering your GMAT and undergraduate school (you didn't say, but I think we can infer non-name-brand from your message), anything less than a near perfect GPA isn't worth discussing. With another 60-80 points on your GMAT you would be about average at Darden (for your demographic), but at Stanford you'd probably still be at the very bottom for admitted students (again from your demographic). My advice would be to score 700+ on the GMAT and add a few more schools to your list.