Corona COVID-19 Impact on GMAT/MBA [Master Topic]

Things are getting pretty serious in India. 2 states have issued a week-long lockdown. There’s multiple cases, and most companies have issued a work-from-home policy for the next couple of weeks.

I work at a social startup, and our company has taken a massive hit because of COVID. We’ve lost all our corporate clients for the foreseeable future, all in a week’s time.

I came across a well-informed, data-backed article on Medium that has helped me make sense of what’s going on. It’s a long read, but I urge all of you to take the time out to do so. The writer talks about the importance of social isolation, the reported cases vs. the actual number of cases, and what we can expect over the next few weeks.

Here is the link:
https://link.medium.com/wZr5tOZxP4

Take care and stay safe!

Posted from my mobile device

I guess test dates might get postponed, looking at the current scenario.
March SAT’s got cancelled in many parts of the world. So, the cancellations might happen to GMAT/GRE also. However, I haven’t come across any cancellations for GMAT/GRE dates due to this virus in Mumbai and Bangalore

Same here. Gmat has already cancelled exam in 4 states here. I am not sure whether I will be able to take the exam this month end. All the best! \m/

Posted from my mobile device

I've got an email from Kellogg saying they will accept applications for 3rd round without GMAT score for affected locations, but would require to take it as soon as smoke dissipates. Also from Insead with somewhat similar proposition.

While asking to confirm card details seems odd, not totally unreasonable. But a claim of a scam... how did they get your email? That would be an odd scam email unless they hacked Pearson or something like that.

However if it is via a website and it is a wrong URL then I would be careful for sure. The correct site is Pearsonvue.com.

Pearson also operates other sites such a as Pearson.com and direct.pearson.com is their email server. It is possible Pearson is jacked of course. Things happen... I think people are scared and panic too easily without using their cognitive abilities

Posted from my mobile device

I am just exhausted by all the negativity and how everything is just getting worse.

I just want to go back home in India

It is fairly simple thinking so let me know if I am missing something but if people are stuck on unemployment or getting laid off or their salaries are cut by 20%, they choose to change their lives for the better and go through the application process. The fewer prospects, the more people head for the MBA while the economy is bad and options are few.

Also if there are people who are deferred (international students), the number of spots may be reduced, driving up the competition.

Now, these are forward looking statements and I am not sure if this is exactly how it plays out but proactive folks probably have started planning already.




Posted from my mobile device

You will be given an option to wear a mask inside the Centre. You won't be allowed to get your own mask, but will be provided one by the Pearson Centre itself. I had my exam on the 4th of this month in Chennai and the Centre guys had their masks on the whole time as we had a few folks from some Eastern country inside the Centre. All the best

This isn't awesome: some of my students have reported test center closures that don't appear on the GMAC website. So if you have an exam coming soon, you might want to call your test center to make sure that it's still open -- especially if the test center is located at a college or university, many of which are completely closed now.

And if you do take your exam, please be safe, and don't smooch the person at the next computer.

Some schools have began postponing. Stanford has stated that they will accept GMAT scores up until May 8th

Kellogg has also deferred the test scores until May 1st (seems unofficial score is sufficient - it was not clear which one) https://blogs.kellogg.northwestern.edu/i ... ns-update/

Thanks bb!

Solirah -- what specifically do you need to know? I'll ask the adcoms directly.

Posted from my mobile device

Do you think international students will be forced to defer matriculation by a year?

I think it’s going to be tough getting visas and I’m not flying to the US and paying $200k to take online classes from a dorm.

There’s absolutely no certainty around how the pandemic will progress in the next 3-9 months.

Posted from my mobile device

That would be appreciated. Im flying back to Seattle in a few days and my test is gonna be in Seattle. And yes I can still submit my application with no Gmat scores. But need to update the test in a week.

It's impossible to say whether this will happen at more universities, but here's an example of a school that has waived GMAT and GRE requirements entirely for its graduate programs in response to the epidemic: https://www.iit.edu/admissions-aid/grad ... aiver-faqs.

It's hard to imagine, say, Booth or HBS completely waiving the GRE/GMAT, but the world is losing its mind (you can't buy toilet paper or an onion in Colorado anymore!), so you never know.

They (Kellogg) have also deferred GMAT for other locations until May: https://gmatclub.com/forum/corona-318352.html

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I did some digging around to see how different organizations are responding. A few findings:

* Apply without a GMAT score for now

A part of an email one of my students received from INSEAD:
"
We encourage you to continue to prepare and finalise your application without test scores if you are living in a country affected by test centre closures. The admissions teams will start evaluating applications without GMAT, GRE, EA or TOEFL test scores while waiting for the test centres to reopen. They will advise you on the options available to enable you to provide a completed application.
"

* Take the GMAT later, if needed

"We reserve the right to request a GRE or GMAT test score if the selector is unable to make a decision on your application without this information." - LSE website

* Apparently, ETS is working on an "at home" GRE solution (https://www.ets.org/gre/important_update/)