Top Business Schools That Are Now Waiving GMAT/GRE Tests
What MBA programs are accepting applications with GMAT waiver? Can I do MBA without GMAT? Is GMAT waived for 2021? Do you have a chance at the best MBA programs with GMAT waiver?
Accepted by more than 6,000 business and management programs worldwide, for nearly 60 years, the GMAT exam has been the test of choice by the world’s business leaders to get into the world’s leading business schools. GRE/GMAT score is the most important part of the application when applying for two-year MBA programs.
But the Covid pandemic has changed the world upside down and so has it disrupted the top business schools. But there is a silver lining to the pandemic, at least for MBA aspirants. Due to the closure of the test centers and the uneasiness of taking tests at home, many top business schools in the US are considering to make standardized tests optional in the MBA admission process. In other words, many top MBA programs are accepting applications with GMAT waiver, even in 2021.
This raises a lot of questions in the mind of an MBA aspirant regarding his eligibility to apply for the GMAT waiver. This article gives detailed information about top business schools in the US and Canada that are accepting applications with GMAT waiver and their respective requirements for the GMAT waiver.
IS GMAT WAIVED FOR 2021?
The MBA application process with GMAT waiver for 2021 has been inaugurated by Ross. Michigan Ross reveals that for the 2021-2022 admissions cycle, students will be able to seek a GMAT waiver. The school believes that the last cycle for 2020-21 has been quite successful in getting exceptional applicants who applied with GMAT waiver. The school remarks, “We found that many incredible applicants applied using a GMAT/GRE waiver. Whether it was prior coursework, work experience, or professional certifications, they demonstrated their ability to handle the rigor of the MBA program without a standardized test.”
GMAT WAIVER REQUEST PROCESS FOR 2020-21 APPLICATION CYCLE:
Each school will have its own deadline for submitting the GMAT waiver request. It is better to follow in their footsteps. GMAT waivers are submitted in writing to the admissions committee unless specified otherwise.
Unless otherwise stated by the school, the GMAT Waiver Request Letter must adhere to the usual formalities involved with any business correspondence. The address line, date, subject, and salutations should all be formatted similarly to the other admission-related formal letters.
For the information, you must ensure that you have a fair justification for why your experience has prepared you enough to apply with a GMAT waiver. In addition, schools have a specific condition for being eligible for the extra privilege. So keep to the basics and avoid boasting or sounding too good to be true.
HOW TO GET A GMAT WAIVER IN 2021?
1. UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF GMAT FOR YOUR TARGET SCHOOLS AND LOOK AT THEIR CRITERIA TO GET A GMAT WAIVER.
It’s crucial to understand what qualities GMAT reflects in your application and how you can exhibit them with other aspects of your application if you’re trying to apply to business schools with GMAT waiver.
Also, every school has different criteria for accepting applications with the GMAT/GRE waiver. Some look for specific coursework and professional experiences while others hand out a waiver on a “case-to-case” basis where they judge the overall strength of your application.
Look at the criteria and determine for yourself if you can apply to the best business schools with a GMAT waiver.
2. WRITE A GREAT LETTER TO GET A GMAT WAIVER AT TOP MBA PROGRAMS
If you’d like to receive a GMAT waiver, one of the most important things you’ll need to do is write a letter to ask for one. There are many sites that can help you with this task, but overall, it’s important to keep a few things in mind:
- Know the formatting requirements of the specific program you’re applying to with a GMAT waiver.
- Open with a clear statement of the letter’s purpose.
- Clearly demonstrate through your professional work experience that you have the skills that would be reflected in the GMAT.
- Provide specific examples to support your claims.
- Find some examples of GMAT waiver letters that others have used successfully.
3. MAKE YOUR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE BIGGEST STRENGTH IF YOU’RE APPLYING WITH A GMAT WAIVER
Professional experience is the most important way to exhibit your analytical and quantitative skills. Show instances where you have demonstrated these skills in your resume. You’re applying to MBA programs after years in the workforce, and that too with a GMAT waiver. So you need to make case for a strong career progression that reflects your professional growth and a strong leadership experience.
4. BRING DIVERSITY TO YOUR APPLICATION
Business Schools are considering GMAT waivers a golden opportunity to bring more diversity to their incoming cohorts. If you’re applying with a GMAT waiver for 2021 intake, diversity is one of the most important aspects of your application! You need to make a case for how differently you’re going to contribute to the MBA communities of your target schools. Highlight diversity of thought and perspective (if not the background) to put your statement strongly to adcoms.
TOP 25 MBA PROGRAMS IN US ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS WITH GMAT WAIVER FOR 2021
Here is a list of the top 25 MBA programs from the US which have now waived GMAT and you can apply to the business schools with a GMAT waiver in the 2021 application cycle.
| School | Average GMAT | Details On GMAT/GRE Waivers |
|---|---|---|
| MIT (Sloan) | 727 | For this year only, will review submitted material as is and without negative inferences. |
| Virginia (Darden) | 713 | Will even look at previous SAT & ACT scores as criteria for a waiver |
| Cornell (Johnson) | 700 | Requires 100-word essay |
| Michigan (Ross) | 716 | Will also admit or waitlist all Round 1 MBA applicants |
| Carnegie Mellon (Tepper) | 691 | Seeks evidence of math preparedness via advanced quant classes such as calculus, linear algebra & statistics |
| North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler) | 701 | Requires 3.2 GPA in STEM, business, economics or analytics or advanced or terminal degree, or 5+ years of work experience in a quant or analytical field, a CPA or CFA, or EA, LSAT, PCAT or MCAT |
| Texas-Austin (McCombs) | 703 | Waivers only for applicants unable to take a test due to COVID |
| Emory (Goizueta) | 682 | Waivers for those who cannot access a test due to COVID or other “extenuating circumstances” |
| Indiana (Kelley) | 677 | Requires a brief statement under 500 words summarizing why you believe you qualify for a waiver |
| Georgetown (McDonough) | 692 | Students can request a waiver of the test requirement based on accessibility and eligibility criteria |
| Georgia Tech (Scheller) | 680 | Essay of up to 2,000 characters required support academic preparedness without a test |
| Rice (Jones) | 711 | Requires seven years of work experience, STEM master’s, terminal degree, CPA or CFA, or MCAT, LSAT |
| Notre Dame (Mendoza) | 674 | Test optional for this year, requiring a brief explanation |
| Vanderbilt (Owen) | 688 | Requires strong performance in quant and analytical coursework & five years of work experience or CPA or CFA |
| Brigham Young (Marriott) | 669 | Waivers given during the pandemic |
| Minnesota (Carlson) | 676 | Requires undergrad GPA of 3.2+ & 5+ years of work experience, a CFA or CPA, or graduate degree |
| Penn State (Smeal) | 639 | Requires PhD, MD or DO degree, 5 or more years of military service, or other master’s degrees or “extraordinary work or leadership experience” |
| Rochester (Simon) | 540-720 | Requires undergrad GPA of 3.2 or higher |
| Wisconsin | 649 | Requires 5 years of work experience & 3.3 undergrad GPA |
| Ohio State (Fisher) | 666 | Waivers given during the pandemic |
| Georgia (Terry) | 672 | Current or former military service required |
| Pittsburgh (Katz) | 640 | Waivers possible with “exceptional undergraduate or graduate quant coursework & significant work experience” |
| SMU (Cox) | 650 | Test-optional admissions for fall 2021 applicants |
| Texas-Dallas (Jindal) | 681 | Waivers possible if you face “logistical difficulties of testing as a result of the current pandemic” |
| Michigan State (Broad) | 674 | Need 4+ years of work experience, strong rec from supervisor & online pre-requisites |
TOP MBA PROGRAMS IN CANADA ACCEPTING GMAT WAIVERS FOR 2021
| School | Program Type | Details On GMAT/GRE Waivers |
|---|---|---|
| Rotman | Full-time MBA | Applicants who have passed all 3 Levels of the CFA designation. |
| McGill University – Desautels Faculty of Management | Full-time MBA | For only those applicants with a graduate or undergraduate degree from any Canadian or US University. |
| McMaster University – DeGroote School of Business | Full-time MBA | NO GMAT FOR MBA FALL 2021. |
| Smith School of Business at Queen’s University | Accelerated MBA | Applicants are evaluated on their leadership/management skills, academic background, and work experience. |
| Smith School of Business at Queen’s University | Full-time MBA | A conditional offer for exceptional candidates who qualify on all other requirements |
| Sauder (UBC) | Full-time MBA | (1)A master’s degree (minimum GPA average of B+) combined with a bachelor’s degree being at least one of those a STEM degree. For non-STEM degrees, a minimum of four quantitative courses is also required. OR (2)A Level III CFA Exam (Pass) and a bachelor’s degree with a minimum academic average of B+ or equivalent OR (3)A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree |
| Schulich School of Business | Full-time MBA | (1) The MBA applicant must have graduated from Schulich within the last five years. (2)The last two years of the student’s undergraduate studies GPA must be a B+ or better, or average of a B+ or higher for graduates of the Master of Management (MMgt) program. |
| Ivey Business School | Full-time MBA | Must have passed all 3 Levels of the CFA designation. |
| Ivey Business School | Accelerated MBA for Ivey HBA Graduates | Must have a 78 percent average over HBA 1 and HBA 2 combined |
| Lakehead University | Full-time MBA | Successfully complete the Business Skills Development Program offered by the Faculty of Business Administration. Candidates need to complete this 6 module program with at least 70 %. |
| New York Institute of Technology, British Columbia | Management MBA and Finance MBA. | Basic GPA of 3.0 or higher in the UG course |
| Wilfrid Laurier University | Full-time MBA | For students who have cleared first level of CFA exam. |
| Wilfrid Laurier University | Master’s in Finance | Waived off the requirement of GMAT scores |
| Thompson Rivers University Business and Economics | Full-time MBA | Need to prove that they exhibit good computing and quantitative skills via their prior work experiences. It is mandatory for applicants to have a GPA of 3.0 in their UG course. |
Now, that you know the MBA programs where you can apply with a GMAT waiver, it becomes much easier for you to shortlist the schools that will fit your goals and profile.
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