Many business schools require standardized test scores, such as the GMAT, for admission to MBA programs, but some schools also accept scores from the GRE. Some schools do not require entrance tests, but the GMAT was once seen as the gold standard for business school admissions. However, it is now possible to gain admission to MBA programs without a GMAT score if another exam score, such as the GRE, is accepted. Some institutions and critics argue that accepting overall GRE scores blurs the ensemble, while others believe it promotes efficiency. It’s important to understand the policies of the schools on your list before applying.
Most business schools around the world require applicants to submit standardized test scores in order to be considered. The Graduate Management Admissions Test, or GMAT, is the traditional exam for business school admissions. Some schools also accept scores from other tests, most notably the Graduate Record Examination, or GRE. Other schools still do not require entrance tests. Depending on where you plan to apply, it’s possible to get an MBA without a GMAT score.
When the GMAT was designed, it was uniformly required for admission to top business schools across the United States. Soon after, US business schools began to demand it as well, along with some schools abroad. Before long, the GMAT was seen as the gold standard of business school admissions. Every Master of Business Administration (MBA) candidate took the test without a second thought, and it was virtually impossible to be considered as considered for an MBA without a GMAT file.
The landscape has changed somewhat, though not without controversy. It is increasingly possible to gain admission to programs offering an MBA without a GMAT score, as long as another exam score takes the place of the GMAT. In the early 2000s, several US business schools began accepting general GRE scores in lieu of GMAT scores. The GRE is an exam similar to the GMAT, but it is aimed at a broader audience of test takers.
Business schools with MBA programs are the only institutions that accept GMAT scores. Consequently, the test is differentiated, and the questions asked are specifically designed to assess the skill set of students seeking graduate business admissions. Students only take the GMAT if they plan to pursue an MBA or other related degree, and the schools know about it.
The GRE, on the other hand, is a requirement of a wide range of graduate programs. Anything from PhDs in Molecular Biology tracks to Masters programs in English Literature require it. Many graduate schools also require applicants to sit for more specific GRE tests, but the overall GRE is often seen as a baseline.
In many ways, the general GRE resembles the GMAT format, length, and question style. Not all sections are identical and different exams emphasize different areas, but the fact is that they are comparable. Both exams are also widely taken by prospective graduate students around the world. Perhaps not surprisingly, then, many business schools have chosen to accept scores from both exams. It is possible to successfully pursue an MBA without a GMAT score, as long as you have a GRE score on hand.
Not all schools have made the transition, and not all will. Some institutions and critics claim that allowing overall GRE scores to supplement an application blurs the ensemble, allowing students interested in any graduate program — not specifically a graduate business program — to be on the same footing. equality in admission. Many of the most staunch admissions committees believe that applicants should only focus on earning the MBA degree and therefore should not be admitted to study for the MBA without a GMAT score near the top of the range.
Noting the steep admissions curve at many business schools, many others believe that allowing students to sit an exam with more flexibility and a wider range of potential applications promotes efficiency. If not admitted to an MBA program, a student with a GRE score can explore other graduate programs. A student with a GMAT score, however, is relegated to the business school space.
There are many things to consider when trying to decide whether to accept the GRE or GMAT. A school that says it accepts both should not make a distinction or question its reasoning in choosing one over the other. Before starting your course, however, it’s a good idea to make sure you understand the policies of the schools on your list regarding earning an MBA without a GMAT record.
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