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EMBA Programs That Don’t Require GMAT: Part 2
Although the GMAT was, for years, a staple in admissions requirements for any sort of MBA program, more and more schools are beginning to rely less on the exam, particularly for executive MBA programs, with many schools eliminating the requirement altogether. Below, we highlight three of the top-ranked EMBA programs that no longer require the GMAT in their admissions processes.
Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
Sometimes, when applicants hear that programs do not require the GMAT, they immediately think that those programs must not be as reputable as other top-ranked programs. Kellogg School of Management, however, proves that this is not true. As one of the U.S.’s most highly ranked programs across the board, Kellogg provides excellent opportunities for its students, particularly in international studies, where students can take courses from locations in either Chicago (Evanston campus) or near Miami. The Kellogg EMBA program, which requires its applicants to have a minimum of eight years work experience, effectively prepares mid-career professionals for senior management positions --- all while allowing their class schedules to be flexible enough so that they don’t miss out at their work.
However, there are several caveats to the “no GMAT requirement”. First, the GMAT is required for applicants who do not have a Bachelor’s degree. What this does mean is that candidates can be accepted if they do not have a Bachelor’s degree. This fact alone is a great testament to Kellogg’s flexibility and desire to diversify their class with the brightest minds, regardless of background. Second, Kellogg may request that some applicants take the GMAT in order to strengthen their application. This means that, in some cases, if a student shows exemplary professional performance but subpar academic performance, he or she may be required to take the GMAT. Alternatively, if this case applies to you, to prove to the school that you are capable of achieving academic success, you may want to consider the GMAT as a complementary marker of your abilities.
Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California
Marshall School of Business concentrates its curriculum on the interrelatedness of business functions. The 21-month program consists of ten “themes”, two of which are off-site sessions within the U.S. and one of which has an international learning destination. The international residency program is known as ExPort. ExPort was designed to enhance students’ understanding of international business through an eight-day trip to local businesses, joint ventures, and transnational corporations. Although sites can change, current ExPort sites include Shanghai and Beijing, China. The program is recommended for professionals who have a minimum of eight years work experience and who are diversified by experiences and backgrounds.
Officially, Marshall has stated that the GMAT is not required for EMBA applicants. However, the GMAT is strongly recommended for applicants who have not thoroughly demonstrated, either through past academic transcripts or through work experience, strength in quantitative skills and analytical reasoning. If the admissions committee feels that the applicant represents this profile after an initial review of the candidate’s application, the committee may ask the applicant to take the GMAT and submit their scores before admission into the program. In this case, given any time constraints, the applicant can take the GMAT as many times as necessary and is required to only report the highest score.
Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan
The Ross School of Business EMBA program is designed for proven senior managers who are looking to refine their leadership skills. At Ross, you’ll find classmates from Fortune 500 companies, startup entrepreneurships, and even small local businesses. However, although Ross students come from a wide variety of backgrounds and industries, all admitted students have a strong record of professional experience, academic ability, a high level of responsibility, and dedication to enhancing one’s learning and the learning of others.
That said, Ross does not require the GMAT, which can be great news for many candidates. However, Ross does require extensive work experience. All Ross applicants must have ten years of work experience at a minimum, with at least five years in a management position. The average age of a Ross EMBA student has remained constant at 38 years old over the past several years, with an average of ten years in a management or supervisory role. In contrast, the traditional full-time MBA program (not the EMBA program) targets candidates with an average of five years work experience, typically at the analyst level, with an average age of 28. However, although Ross does not require the GMAT for EMBA applicants, the school states that students whose backgrounds do not demonstrate quantitative and analytical proficiency may be required to take a quantitative skills assessment prior to admission.
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