The Benefits of Submitting an Optional GMAT or GRE Exam Score

While our Full-Time MBA program employs a test-optional policy, a strong GMAT or GRE is a valuable tool for our admissions team to use when evaluating an application. Submitting a GMAT or GRE score provides an added data point that could place an applicant into the next tier of competitiveness. Without that data point, it’s necessary for the admissions team to lean into other areas of the application and supporting documents to make an admissions decision.

Submitting an optional GMAT or GRE score strengthens an application by:

1. Providing insight regarding an applicant’s capacity to navigate a quantitatively rigorous program;
2. Indicating the effectiveness of the applicant’s study habits and preparedness;
3. Demonstrating an applicant’s willingness to extend beyond minimum requirements to achieve academic and career success;
4. Offsetting certain areas of an applicant’s background that might be perceived as weaker points of an application (a lower undergraduate GPA, for example).

For those who opt out of providing a GMAT or GRE score, the application review process will need to look for other indicators of academic readiness (transcripts), the ability to balance academics with other commitments (student leadership or professional project management), and overall commitment to excellence.

Points to consider when considering applying without a GMAT/GRE score:

• Scholarship Consideration
  
  While all applicants are considered for scholarships to the fullest extent possible, applicants who opt to submit a competitive GMAT or GRE score provide an additional data point for consideration as part of both the application and scholarship consideration process.
• Academic History
  
  Applicants with a strong academic background—especially from a quantitative field such as business—may be able to provide sufficient data to support their academic abilities. However, a strong GMAT or GRE score is also an opportunity to diminish concerns over an undergraduate GPA that might not fully represent your academic abilities.
• Work Experience
  
  Those with a strong professional quantitative background may choose to forgo submitting a GMAT or GRE score.Professional work experience can show an applicant’s ability to work on or lead a team, handle direction, see a task through to completion and more. Additionally, having a strong quantitative underpinning in the workplace is a tremendous indicator of their ability to handle the quantitative rigor of the program.

Thinking about taking the GMAT or the GRE? Have a plan and strategy in place can give yourself the best opportunity to earn a competitive score to help you stand out as an even more competitive applicant. Read over our GMAT and GRE Exam Prep webpage to learn about tips and resources to help you prepare for the GMAT or the GRE.