Role of recency of GMAT Score in B-School applications

Question

I'll be graduating with my Bachelor's this month and would be joining Bain & Company as an Associate Consultant in November. I'm looking to apply to the top B-Schools in the US preferably for the fall 2023 or 2024 admissions.

As I have a few months before the joining, I was planning to give my GMAT this October which would make my GMAT score almost 2-3+ years old when I'm applying. But someone suggested to me that the admission committees would prefer a GMAT score which is given within the past 1/1.5 years of application submission and also that the story sounds more logical when you give GMAT after doing some work rather than before starting your job because you realize an MBA would be good for you after some professional experience.

Can someone please share their expertise and experience in this regard?

Thank you

MBADecoder · Answer

Your GMAT score is valid for 5 years, so its not going to matter if you take it now and apply within 5 years. Likely problems are:
1. It may expire by the time you are ready to apply.
2. If its not a good score (say less than the class average of your target programs) then submitting a very old score will not feel very logical then (the point that you are referring to) In that scenario, you should have to retake it.

RetaketheGMAT · Answer

Remember the GMAT is a test of executive reasoning -- not math and English. Its purpose is to assess your ability to capture, process and reason through questions across quant and verbal topics. A good score, once you get it, establishes that you are capable of handling the quantitative and reasoning rigor of an MBA program. That doesn't suddenly change when you work for a few years -- it may only get better. So there is no reason to worry about the age of your score as long as it's within the validity period of 5 years.

(Also taking the GMAT years before you apply suggests that you have had a long term commitment to pursuing an MBA -- another big plus).

(Also taking the GMAT years before you apply suggests that you have had a long term commitment to pursuing an MBA -- another big plus).

mangamma · Answer

GMAT score is valid for 5 years and schools consider the highest score only(for multiple times test takers). So by the time you you apply, you will have 2 years of WE.

ashwink · Answer

You are actually taking the test at the perfect time! As the score is valid for 5 years, you can finish the GMAT without having to worry about it during your work. I wish I had thought of that sooner, but better late than never, eh? All the best!

Role of recency of GMAT Score in B-School applications

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