With a number of schools now accepting both the GRE and the GMAT, applicants can choose the exam that best suits them. But how does one make that decision? Here are some things to consider before picking which exam to write:
Which exam is accepted by your school? If your top choices don’t accept both exams, the decision is made for you. If they do, consider what the majority of students accepted have taken, it could signal a preference for one exam over the other.
Consider your demographic. Some schools are using them to expand their applicant demographics, realizing that due to it’s lower price point, as well as higher number of testing facilities the GRE is the more accessible of the two exams.
What are you post degree plans? Some employers also consider GMAT scores when hiring, particularily those in the investment banking and consulting field. If you career path lies within the fields, this should influence your decision.
When do you plan to apply? Currently, the majority of B-Schools accept only GMAT scores, so if you’re considering applying within the next year, you may want to right the GMAT to keep as many doors open as possible. However, both GRE and GMAT scores are valid for 5 years, so if an MBA is in your future, but not for a few years, this will be a less restricting consideration.
Which will you preform better on? “If… your background is in education or writing or the arts and you’re much stronger in vocabulary than in probabilty and statistics there’s a reasonable chance you’ll do better on the GRE” said Kaplan spokesperson Carina Wong. Ultimately, your MBA application package needs to highlight you strengths, and show your ability to succeed in B-school; choose the exam that do this.
No comments:
Post a Comment