Hi Everyone,
I’d love to get some input or personal experiences from anyone who’s applied to full-time MBA programs using the Executive Assessment (EA).
My context: I have 8
+ years of experience in content strategy, marketing analytics, and team leadership, having worked across high-growth startups and education tech. I’ve led channel turnarounds, SEO growth, and content operations at scale. I’m now applying to full-time MBA programs, primarily in the U.S. (think Columbia, NYU, Darden, McCombs, Fuqua, etc.).
The situation: I had been preparing for the GMAT Focus Edition and was on track — but repeated test cancellations, reschedules, and ID issues over the last year have completely derailed my momentum. I’m now considering switching to the EA, given the shorter test format and flexibility.
My questions:- Do business schools actually accept EA scores for full-time MBA programs, or is this more of a checkbox than a serious alternative to GMAT/GRE?
- I know the GMAT and GRE carry more weight, but will submitting an EA score put me at a disadvantage even if it’s 160+?
- Are there known cases where EA applicants were admitted to full-time MBAs at top schools? How common is it really?
- Besides test difficulty, what are the real concerns or risks with taking the EA for a full-time MBA?
Would love to hear from anyone who’s taken this route or who has seen it work (or not work).
Thanks in advance!