Apply with strong GRE score or take GMAT?

Long time lurker here. Was initially looking into MPP programs two years ago and took the GRE, but decided it wasn't what I was looking for and for a while now have felt business school is more of a fit, especially with recent responsibilities with work (more managaement focused than policy). My GRE score was 170 verbal (99 percentile), 165 quant (89 percentile), and 6 on writing (99 percentile). The GRE calculator to convert to GMAT puts that at a 760. Since business school is now my focus I'm debating whether it's worth it to take the GMAT.

A bit more about me- 3.8 GPA from large flagship state school, but not the UC, UT, Michigan, etc. tier. Strong campus leadership and involvement. Did one of the well-known service programs after college (ex. Teach For America, Peace Corps, NY Teaching Fellows) then worked on staff for the organization. Now lead a small community non-profit. Took it from volunteer board in its first year to now 6 full-time staff and 5 part-time. Feels half in the startup phase/half in the established org phase, but has a well known local presence. Has some good quantitative and qualitative metrics to speak to our impact. Community involvement includes Big Brothers Big Sisters for five years, helping run a Saturday and summer literacy program for last four years, and volunteering with a homeless organization for the last year. Will be 29 when applying (round 1 next fall). I'm a white male.

Career goals are around chief human resource officer/chief people officer and focusing on organizational culture and building high performing teams. So consulting is likely a top contender for short term goals to see a lot of experiences and examples.

In terms of schools I am looking at Tuck, Anderson, Haas, Kellogg, Ross, and Stanford (will probably narrow it to 4 with Stanford and Kellogg being pretty much for sure if I apply). Haas I know prefers the GMAT, but that in itself would not lead me to take the GMAT. I would imagine all else being equal that a high GMAT score (maybe not even matching my GRE score but maybe 730-750) would appeal to a school because of how it can affect their average. I also was worried about GMAT scores being important to apply for consulting, but current students I've talked to said applicants were able to put their GRE score instead (though they couldn't speak to how it affected the job prospects).

While there is some personal time I can sacrifice to study for the GMAT, putting in the right effort to get a good score I think would likely involve some sacrifices at work, which would have an impact on my org and would be a hard to do right now. Not impossible but not ideal. So the question is really about ROI for taking the GMAT and having that score vs. GRE.

For the schools above would having a GMAT score equivalent to my GRE score make a noticeable or significant difference with my application? Is the GRE still too new to business school that I should hesitate at planning to consider consulting with just a GRE score? I think that I might actually have a better ability to study for the GMAT as I transition to school than right now currently running my organization, if GRE score would really hold me back with consulting but less so with applying.

Thanks for your time and thoughts!

I am currently studying for the GMAT but this post has me interested. I hadn't considered the fact that I might do significantly better on the GRE compared to the GMAT and that it might be wise to take both tests and use the higher score depending on each school I apply to.

How common is it these days for applicants to take both? Is there that much difference in difficulty level that this would be an idea that could make sense?

I'm thinking it might be somewhat similar to the divide between the SAT and the ACT for undergrad. I took both and thought the ACT was much easier, and subsequently got a much higher score.

Hi WestCoast08 ,
If the business schools you wish to apply accept GRE scores , then you should be good . You have a fantastic GRE score - top 1 percentile and it is enough to convey the admission committee about your academic skills .
All the best for putting up a great application now!!

Long time lurker here. Was initially looking into MPP programs two years ago and took the GRE, but decided it wasn't what I was looking for and for a while now have felt business school is more of a fit, especially with recent responsibilities with work (more managaement focused than policy). My GRE score was 170 verbal (99 percentile), 165 quant (89 percentile), and 6 on writing (99 percentile). The GRE calculator to convert to GMAT puts that at a 760. Since business school is now my focus I'm debating whether it's worth it to take the GMAT.

A bit more about me- 3.8 GPA from large flagship state school, but not the UC, UT, Michigan, etc. tier. Strong campus leadership and involvement. Have a somewhat distinct resume so have edited some details but would call my work experience solid to strong and currently lead a small organization. Think my community involvement is strong and spans many years.

Career goals are related to HR and organization behavior, so consulting is likely a top contender for short term goals to see a lot of experiences and examples.

In terms of schools I am looking at Tuck, Anderson, Haas, Kellogg, Ross, and Stanford (will probably narrow it to 4 with Stanford and Kellogg being pretty much for sure if I apply). Haas I know prefers the GMAT, but that in itself would not lead me to take the GMAT. I would imagine all else being equal that a high GMAT score (maybe not even matching my GRE score but maybe 730-750) would appeal to a school because of how it can affect their average. I also was worried about GMAT scores being important to apply for consulting, but current students I've talked to said applicants were able to put their GRE score instead (though they couldn't speak to how it affected the job prospects).

While there is some personal time I can sacrifice to study for the GMAT, putting in the right effort to get a good score I think would likely involve some sacrifices at work, which would have an impact on my org and would be a hard to do right now. Not impossible but not ideal. So the question is really about ROI for taking the GMAT and having that score vs. GRE.

For the schools above would having a GMAT score equivalent to my GRE score make a noticeable or significant difference with my application? Is the GRE still too new to business school that I should hesitate at planning to consider consulting with just a GRE score? I think that I might actually have a better ability to study for the GMAT as I transition to school than right now currently running my organization, if GRE score would really hold me back with consulting but less so with applying.

Thanks for your time and thoughts!