GMAT as a Freshman?

Question

Hey guys. I’ll be a sophomore next year and I thought about taking the GMAT this summer as I have a loooot of time. I consider finishing college within 3 years (I’m 50% sure about that). Well, even if I didn’t graduate early, I’d have to take the test next summer if I want to apply to HBS 2+2. Bottom line, do you guys think it’s too early for me to take the GMAT? Can I apply to other graduate programs (like Polisci) with that test? If the test is valid for 5 years and I take it in August, I could apply for MBA admission only until 2014, right?

Thanks:)

Thanks:)

atomjuggler · Answer

I say go for it if you're going to have lots of time. However, if you're looking at other grad program possibilities, consider taking the GRE instead. HBS accepts it and it will still meet the requirements of the other programs.

bakfed · Answer

The test will be valid for 5 years after you take it. If you have a lot of time, I'd say go for it. Keep in mind that if you don't make it into the HBS 2+2, you'll be facing a GMAT deadline before it expires when you're thinking about applying to other business schools. The GMAT itself is very similar to the SAT. If you scored well on the SAT, you should be able to do well on the GMAT.

YourDreamTheater · Answer

I don't know how I would have done on the GMAT as a freshman / sophomore, but if you believe that you're ready, then go for it!!!

heyholetsgo · Answer

I thought about taking the GRE. But I believe that I'll definitely do better on the GMAT as I am not a native speaker and the GRE is pretty Verrbal.
So the GMAT is accepted at other programs to? That's good to know...

About the deadline. If I graduate 2013 (worst case scenario) I could work for a year, apply to Business schools in 2014 and then go there after 2 years of work. Isn't that very common? If that doesn't work, I'd probably take the Gmat rather next winter break.

bakfed · Answer

working for just a year and then heading to b-school is actually  not  that common. If you look at the average # of years b-school applicants are, they typically have worked 4 to 5 years, granted Harvard and Stanford are more leniant on age as we see a trend in accepting younger students. But for most of the other ones, such as Booth, CBS, Tuck, Darden, Ross, MIT, Yale, etc., average number of work years are all 4 or 5. Again, does that mean no one gets accepted with just 1 year of work? Not necessarily. But you'll be facing an uphill battle and an extremely hard time to answer the common MBA question - why now, after just a year of work experience?

Also, I think you misread the comment from other posters. GMAT is not accepted anywhere else other than b-school. GRE, however, is now accepted at some b-schools. GRE is going to change by August, 2011, and the verbal section (synonym and acronym will be voided) and GMAT is due to change some time in 2012.

I just want to make sure that you make an informed decision on what you want to do with your life. If you want to take the GMAT right now, feel free to do so if you think you're ready. Just be aware of the 5-year-deadline (which by that time, you'll be taking a different GMAT some time in 2012)

bakfed · Answer

sorry to re-post.

I misread your post. I thought you said you were going to work for just one year, but after re-reading it, it seems to me that you're wanting to work for 2 years. However, that same logic from my previous still stands for either 1 or 2 years of work. Three years is pretty much on the low side of the number of years of work experience.

Last, but not least, it's really not about the quantity, but the quality of your work. It also just so happens that most will not be able to have a convincing essay/interview with b-schools with that little number of years.

shana22 · Answer

I wouldn't do it. No matter how awesome you think you are (or how awesome you really are) getting into a business school the quality of HBS is really hard. Give yourself more than a 2 year window to make sure the timing will be right. Most schools fill their class primarily with people who have 3+ years of work experience.

krussell · Answer

Don't do it.

Are you sure you want to attend business school, or do you just want to be a Harvard graduate?

shadow · Answer

if you have time and study, i think you should do fine on the GMAT. it's actually tougher for people to study once they've been out of school for awhile. wait as long as possible though (even early soph year) so that if your plans change, you can still apply through the regular b-school route after graduating college.

a few other graduate programs take the GMAT, but they are few and far between. some MBA replacements (such as master of finance) accept the GMAT, but you'd better be sure that your quantitative scores are very high for these. one example is the  MFin at princeton , but realistically you're going to need a perfect score in math (or very close) to be considered.

the other prominent program i'm aware of that takes the GMAT is the  JD-MBA program (law/business) at northwestern/ kellogg . i considered applying to this progam, but i decided against it when i realized that this degree would not be too beneficial in my intended career path.

yes, the gmat score is valid for 5 years.

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