Profile evaluation help!!-Urgent

[cedarplace]

I want to apply PhD in Finance in 2010. My profile is as follows:

1.Education:
1.) Bachelor in Mechanical engineering in Asian (GPA:B)
2. )German "Diplom" in Business in Germany(GPA:2.65,consider to be good according to German standard)
3. )MBA in USA (3.94)
4. )Currently I am working on master of science and technology in USA(Estimated 3.5)
Well, in Germany, overall the GPA is lower than in USA,because stick grade grants.

2. GMAT:650

3. Working experience:
Business areas in Asian and internship experience in multinational corporation in Germany.

4. Research experience:
Currently working with my thesis advisor- physics professor for research. Apply numerical method and experimental method to analyze structure.
Focus on numerical analysis.

5.Letters of recommendation:3
Two distinguished professors from my school in the US. One is full professor and the other is associate professor,both of them received research awards. The other one is currently a Vice President in a multinational coroperation. He was Dean of business school of a distingished university in Germany at which I studied.
Overall, three recommenders are strong.

6.Others:
1.) Presented in different conferences this year and got awards.
2)It is highly possible the paper I am working on will be published, but it will be after the application deadline.
3)Know 3 languages

I know my biggest strength is I have both education in Engineering and Business for both bachelor and master. I also have research experience. However,my biggest weakness is the GMAT score and this gives a big headache now. I know some schools used GMAT score to screen the applicants.
Guys,please help me to evaluate my profile. Based on my GMAT score, I cannot apply for top 20 or even top 30 schools. Which schools would you like to suggest for me? Thanks!

[phdhope]

I don't know necessarily if your undergraduate in engineering is necessarily a strength per se. I also have to discount your research experience slightly because research in physics is not research in finance. That all being said, it is good you have some business background and some exposure to research. I think you are right that the GMAT score could be a limiting factor. I really can't comment on schools because, like every other post I post, I am an accountant. However, I think this would be a good place to note that you don't have to go to the one of the "top XX" schools in financeto find success. What I am trying to say is that depending on your interests, commitment to research, and first job placement expectations, you might be able to go to a "no-name" school and still fulfill all of your goals. For example, because one of my friends wanted to teach at Texas Tech, he did not need to go to Chicago and he is enjoying life. If you have your heart set researching and working your days at Stanford, I would recommend you retaking the GMAT.

[longshot]

650 will get you into programs between 50-100. A poster last year had a similar background and recieved funded offers from SUNY- Binghampton and U. Tennessee.

Just send lots of applications to schools in that range and you should have a few options come spring.

[cedarplace]

My thesis advisor is Physics professor. But my research does not facus on physics. It is more about numerical analysis but combined physics knowledge.
I decided not to go to the top 20 schools, because I do not have time to retake GMAT.
Thanks for your suggestions.

[cedarplace]

PhDhope:

As you can see my backgound is very international. I am thinking of doing research on international finance in the future. Do you know which school offer the concentration on intertional finance?
Thanks.