Should I apply top schools?

[Klimano]

Hi, I'm an international student seeking admisson to Economics PhD programs in US. Being an economics major, I think that I have sufficient mathematical preparation (Calculus I&II, Prob. and Stat I&II, Linear Algebra, Real Analysis, Topology, and 6 Econometrics courses 3 of which are advanced).

Moreover I'm in top 5 % of my graduating class.
TOEFL: 263
GRE: 800 Q, 340 V, 4.0 AWA (Low verbal score)

I have 2 empirical papers ready for publishing.
3 years of Central Bank experience as an economist.
1 year teaching assistantship, 2 years research assistantship experience.

My institution selected me as a Research Fellow and will provide full funding to me. That means, I don't need financial aid

I'm planning to apply top schools including Northwestern, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Cornell and Rochester. However, having a low GRE verbal score is a bit discouraging me about that schools.

Should I apply to that schools or to lower-ranked ones (i.e. UNC Chapel Hill, Maryland, Johns Hopkins...)? Retaking the GRE only for increasing my verbal score does not sound good to me. What is thy opinion?

Thank you

[EEPHDWANNABE]

I doubt you will make it with such a verbal score. Most school would need at least 400.