GMAT vs non-GMAT Schools

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GMAT vs non-GMAT Schools

by fishkicks » Mon Feb 07, 2011 10:53 am
Hi!
I need some help. Is there a HUGE difference between a school that requires the GMAT and one that doesn't?
I'm 35, work two jobs and just don't have the time to study for the GMAT. Does attending a non-GMAT school hurt my post-MBA job search???
HELP!!! This question has my brain crapping!!!
Thanks!!!
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by sawdle » Mon Feb 07, 2011 2:25 pm
are you talking about schools that also accept the GRE? many schools will take both. don;t think it makes the school better or worse - just more flexible.

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by fishkicks » Tue Feb 08, 2011 8:10 am
Schools that don't require either the GRE or GMAT test to be accepted...

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by Kaneisha Grayson » Sat Feb 19, 2011 4:11 pm
Hi Fishkicks,

You sound like one busy lady! (or man...can't exactly tell what a fishkick is or what his/her gender might be) :)

Applying to schools that don't require either the GRE or GMAT may sound like an easy solution to your problem of being extremely busy BUT it doesn't actually address the root of the issue, which is that you are outright starved of time to dedicate to the lengthy and complex process of applying to business school.

Even if you find a school that is both AACSB accredited and does not require the GMAT or GRE to apply, it doesn't sound like you have the time to dedicate to putting together a high quality application. Furthermore, I highly doubt that schools that don't require the GMAT are going to have the same quality of resources available to you as a job-seeker. If you are seeking to switch industries, get higher-paying, higher-skilled jobs, you want more than just the MBA degree to put on your resume. You want a large, engaged, and powerful network. You want facilities that make it easy for you to learn in, professors who want to be there, and classmates that you get along with and can learn from.

So in order to help your brain stop crapping, I'd recommend you take a deep breath, ask yourself why you want an MBA, and then make sure the schools you are considering applying to are going to help you meet your goals. I'd also recommend you seeing if you can find one job that will pay all of your bills so that you can focus more clearly on your future rather than running on the treadmill in exhaustion.

You're 35, and it is not too late to take your life and your career in a new direction. However, it will take a clear mind, determination, and focus in how you spend your time and energy.

Best of luck to you!

Kaneisha
Harvard Business School MBA 2010, Harvard Kennedy School MPA 2010
Founder, The Art of Applying
Admissions Consulting for MBA, MPP, Joint Degrees, and Fellowships
https://theartofapplying.com

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