University of Washington's Foster School of Business waived their GMAT exam requirement for 2022 and 2023 for students who wish to skip the test.
MIT's Sloan School of Management and Indiana University's Kelley School of Business both allow incoming students to submit a request for a test waiver (without any guarantee).
However, for by far most of full-time MBA programs, the GMAT/GRE test is a prerequisite, and there are a few significant reasons you'll need to get a serious GMAT/GRE test score while applying for full-time admission.
3 Reasons You'll Want to Apply with a GMAT/GRE Score
Despite the fact that the choice to apply to a full-time program without a GMAT/GRE score could appear as though a helpful easy route, going without the test will not be at your benefit over the long haul.
The following are three reasons for why full-time MBA candidates ought to plan to submit their application with a GMAT/GRE score:
Many employers value GMAT exam scores
Did you know that many consulting and finance firms consider GMAT/GRE test scores in their recruitment processes?
This isn't to recommend that a specific GMAT/GRE score is expected for work as an MBB consultant; according to the Wall Street Journal, GMAT/GRE scores are seen by MBB as only one of numerous valuable measurements in assessing candidates.
In any case, a strong score helps to indicate to your potential manager that you have the critical thinking abilities expected to work in demanding consulting or finance jobs.
Taking the GMAT exam demonstrates a serious commitment to your target programs – and gives them one more reason to admit you
Along with your capacity to succeed in the class, taking the GMAT/GRE test says a ton regarding your responsibility and commitment level.
Consider what amount of time it requires to read up for the GMAT/GRE: while planning with ideal productivity, students can hope to accomplish a serious competitive score in 10 weeks.
That implies for a long time, students should really focus on the GMAT/GRE, and assuming they are working everyday positions (as most MBA candidates are) it frequently requires investing extra energy, time, and social activities to remain focused.
By taking a test and procuring a cutthroat score, the admissions committee will perceive the way that you carved out the opportunity in your busy timetable to study, and they'll come to comprehend that you're serious about your business school plans.
What's more, assuming you in all actuality do accomplish a brilliant score, one that is over the normal for your objective MBA program, admission officers will consider the positive effect that conceding you would have on their average, and hence on their ranking.
The GMAT & GRE were specifically designed for securing an admit in post-graduation programs
The truth of the matter is that the GMAT was made by business schools, for business schools. Subsequently, there is a long history of collaboration between the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) and MBA programs, and the GMAT test is deeply grounded as the most dependable measure of future success in the MBA classes.
The GMAT test isn't the sole measure by which MBA candidates can be assessed, and some would contend that their professional success is a more noteworthy marker of progressive business students' true potential for a fruitful business career post-MBA.
But there's no denying the relationship between MBA candidates who have submitted high GMAT test scores and MBA graduates who have proceeded to accomplish incredible things.
The GRE is also designed to examine the aptitude of candidates and giving the Admissions Committees a fair idea with respect to a candidate's readiness to commence a post-graduate program. Having a high GRE score also increases your chances in securing an admit at your dream school.
If all this is true, why did some full-time MBA programs waive their GMAT/GRE requirement?
At the end, the new changes to some full-time MBA program's admission policies can to a great extent be credited to a variable: COVID-19 Coronavirus.
As COVID was disturbing worldwide life in mid-2020, many countries shut standardized testing centers where MBA candidates would have given their GMAT/GRE. Thus, several graduate programs changed application deadlines and even started waiving testing requirements.
So What Does It Mean for You?
With regards to applying to MBA programs, you really want to initially decide if you're keen on applying to a full-time or an online MBA program.
If you're thinking on online MBA programs over in person, full-time programs, waiving the GMAT/GRE might be considered.
Yet, you ought to think long and hard about doing so. Read admissions criteria cautiously for your ideal programs.
If you are applying to a full-time MBA program, you ought to take the GMAT or the GRE, since a high test score will give you a boost in the application process. With professional help and a clear study plan set up, a strong showing is possible on the GMAT/GRE for most students.
The Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) & the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) are utilized by top business schools to make critical admission decisions, evaluating applicants on their capabilities for a MBA.
A solid GMAT or GRE score can mean a higher possibility being acknowledged onto a business program and really might bring about a scholarship.