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Is It Time To Say No To The GMAT?

April 14, 2021 12:12 pm0 commentsViews: 223

goodbye1The GMAT, or Graduate Management Admissions Test, is a test that is usually offered by institutions throughout the year, and it was once a requirement for anyone looking at enrolling for an MBA. Students who were interested in taking this test would have had to apply for it about a month before they took the test, and the scores were then used to process the applications of the students.

While these scores were once integral to a student’s application to an MBA, this is no longer the case. Still, it might be a good idea for students to get to know a bit more about these scores and why they might not be necessary for prospective MBA students to consider before applying to the institution of their choice.

About GMAT Scores

GMAT scores were valid for up to five years after the student took the test and while most students could simply self report their score, once they were admitted into the course, they were often required to provide proof of their scores. The range of the scores obtained by students applying for one course could vary quite drastically and in many instances, there wasn’t a minimum score that was required, although this depended on the institutions giving the courses. The problem with the GMAT scores, however, was that they could often determine whether a student was granted entry into an MBA. Institutions offering MBAs typically only allow top students entry into the programs, so they were picked, at least in part, by their GMAT scores.

Students with low GMAT scores might find that these scores limit them for years after they have taken the test, something that is particularly applicable to older students who sometimes gain work experience before coming back to their students. This is, among other things, one of the main reasons why many students end up struggling to get into their MBA courses to begin with.

In recent years, there has been a shift towards online education, and this has come with some major benefits, including the fact that many MBA courses no longer require that students take the GMAT. This is opening the door for many more prospective students to obtain their MBA and start making their way in the business.

The cost of the GMAT is one of the reasons many are calling for the eradication of the GMAT. This test, according to the experts, costs about $250, making it one of the costliest graduate school entry tests on the market.

Is It Still Applicable?

Many professionals who apply for MBAs are those who are between the ages of 30 and 40. These individuals are usually those who have around 18 years of experience within their work environment and so many professionals feel that the GMAT isn’t a strong predictor of success within the market. These professionals believe that schools should be looking at other areas of the applications to make this sort of decision. Many schools are now going on a case-by-case system, where students are considered individuals and analyzed as such, rather than just as GMAT scores.

Online Courses

The rise of the online course has led many students to start completing their qualifications through this medium, and the fact that many online MBA programs do not require a GMAT score make this all the more appealing. These schools tend to work in much the same way as the EMBA programs, which take the applicants on a case-by-case basis to determine whether they will succeed within their chosen field or not.

There are also many schools that now accept GRE scores, instead of GMAT scores. These schools include some of the biggest names in the world of education, and as they lead the way, many others are following suit.

Accredited Institutions

When students are thinking about applying for an MBA, one of the most important things that they look for is that the school is accredited. Without this accreditation, MBAs might not mean all that much, which is why this is something that all students need to take very seriously. Those who are worried that accredited institutions all expect GMAT scores might be happy to know that this isn’t the case at all. At this point in time, there are on average about 136 accredited institutions offering MBA programs online without requiring that students undergo their GMAT or GRE exams.

Career Experience

In order to determine whether a candidate might be successful in completing their MBAs, many institutions are now looking at career experience as an indicator. The GMAT and GRE tests are increasingly being seen as old school measures of academic success that simply do not apply to this day and age. There are even some institutions who currently still accept the GMAT scores, but allow their students to apply for waivers that make them eligible for applying with their career experience, rather than these scores. Candidates will need to have a certain number of years experience within their field, however, although the specifics will depend on the institution to which they are applying.

Anyone who is looking at enrolling for an MBA but doesn’t want their GMAT scores to stand in the way of their entry might want to look at enrolling in a course that doesn’t require students submit these scores. These institutions range from online schools to land based institutions and they can often open doors that might have otherwise been closed to the student before.

The subject of GMAT vs. no GMAT is making many people question whether this test should be necessary, or whether it should simply be scrapped. As technology advances, it becomes increasingly clear that schools need to diversify the measures with which they judge academic abilities, as well as practical abilities that seem to apply in the business sense. Within the next couple of decades, it will become increasingly clear as to whether the GMAT scores are relevant in the least, or whether they have been replaced with a more efficient method of allowing entrance into MBA programs country-wide.

References:

  • https://www.topmba.com/admissions/gmatgre/get-your-mba-no-gmat-required
  • https://www.geteducated.com/online-college-ratings-and-rankings/online-degree-selects/aacsb-accredited-online-mbas-that-do-not-require-the-gre-or-gmat