No GMAT Requirements?
Many colleges and universities require MBA applicants to take the GMAT as part of the applications process. Yet for many busy professionals returning to college after starting their career, studying and paying for a standardized test may not be practical. The test also doesn’t factor in the value of real-world experience students may have gained in the field.
Many colleges today are solving this dilemma by putting less emphasis on the GMAT for admission, allowing students to use past academic and current professional experience to waive the requirement. Others have simply eliminated the GMAT requirement all together. Understanding the requirements of prospective programs and how to evaluate the school and its offerings can make it easier to choose the right MBA program for your experience and lifestyle.
Top 10 Online MBA Programs with No GMAT Requirement
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50 Online MBA Programs with No GMAT Required
Although many colleges have added no-GMAT online MBA programs for students, it remains a relatively small percentage of the programs out there. For students who haven’t taken the GMAT, narrowing the search field to the accredited schools that will waive or have gotten rid of this requirement will help speed up the search.
No-GMAT Admissions Requirements
Students who haven’t taken the GMAT and don’t have plans to take it before applying to an online MBA program, have two options:
- Apply to a program that will waive the GMAT requirement under certain circumstances
- Apply to a program with no GMAT requirement
Evaluating No-GMAT Online MBAs
When considering online MBA programs, students should consider first if a no-GMAT program best meets their needs. There are many positives to programs which waive this requirement, which can be especially beneficial to some students.
The Pros of Choosing a No-GMAT Online MBA
- Saves money. It costs $250 to take the GMAT. Depending on when students took the exam and how many schools they want to send their scores to, they may also be required to pay $35 per score report sent.
- Saves time. Students who score well on the GMAT typically study for over 120 hours. Professionals going back to school while working or balancing personal commitments likely don’t have that much time to devote to studying.
- Allows students to leverage academic and professional experience. For students with test anxiety or other reasons that prevent them from succeeding on standardized tests, no-GMAT programs allow them to showcase career or other academic achievements that may be overlooked by schools that focus on test scores.
How to Choose the Right Program
When evaluating online MBA programs that don’t require a GMAT, prospective students should ask themselves the following questions to determine if the program meets their needs:
Is it regionally accredited?
This is one of the best ways of evaluating a school’s baseline academic quality.
What’s the schools reputation or ranking?
MBA programs are often ranked partially based on the GMAT scores of their students. This means that schools that don’t require GMAT scores may automatically be ranked lower than those that do require it. But there are other factors that can give students insight into the school’s reputation. Are there any notable graduates from the program? What are the qualifications of the faculty? Does it have a strong alumni network? What are former students saying about the program?
Will the program align with professional goals?
Students should compare the program’s curriculum to their career objectives. Will the skills they learn help them advance in their career? Start a new career? Earn more?
Does the program include an internship opportunity?
(Accelerated MBA programs typically run through the summer internship window.)
Does the school offer networking opportunities?
Will the program connect students with mentors and business professionals on the faculty or through business alliances?
Will it help students advance in or change careers?
Does the school have an effective career placement service or maintain ongoing relationships with corporate partners?
Is the program culture a good fit?
Students may want to examine school demographics to ensure their peers share their maturity and drive. MBA students may be older and have more extensive professional experience than students attending other graduate degree programs. One-year accelerated MBA programs that have no GMAT entry requirements follow the cohort system, where the same students take the same classes in the path to their degrees. Program culture can be as essential as corporate culture.
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