GMAT Necessary For PE Recruiting?

Question

I have been studying a fair amount, but feeling like this is a complete waste of time. Like my time would be better spent studying for interviews than the GMAT. My rationale to taking it was due to my SAT/ACT (1270 SAT) scores being so low and PE headhunters wanting to see that. I have a fair undergrad GPA though (3.7-3.8). The caveat is that I have pretty much next-to-zero intention of doing an MBA and am just taking the GMAT for PE recruiting and pretty much nothing else.

Wasting time? Ye or neh?

((EDIT: As for my current status, I am a first-year (pretty much second-year at this point) investment banking analyst at an NYC boutique firm (~50 employees). To give you a picture.))

Wasting time? Ye or neh?

((EDIT: As for my current status, I am a first-year (pretty much second-year at this point) investment banking analyst at an NYC boutique firm (~50 employees). To give you a picture.))

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

Might be worth reaching out to people via linkedin who are currently recruiting or have been recently hired for the positions/companies you're targeting. Googling this query could potentially provide some helpful insight as well.

-contact: gmatknight site | gmatclub dm

-contact: gmatknight site | gmatclub dm

MartyTargetTestPrep · Answer

From what I understand, a 750+ GMAT score can help a lot, though I'm not sure what the expectation would be if you haven't attended business school.

Have you taken any practice tests to see where you stand at this point?

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi underthewater,

What did you decide to do?

underthewater · Answer

I've asked this question to a lot of people, and the more qualified they were (bulge bracket IB associates, PE/corp dev associates), the more often they seemed to tell me it was a waste of time - and that it was an insignificant detail on an undergrad resume, and (while it ~may~ be slightly helpful) it is unlikely to make a difference that was anywhere near the effort it would take, and that my time would be best spent preparing for these upcoming interviews.

One guy put it nicely, saying this "minute detail is nothing compared to how well you do in interviews and shouldn't even be considered until you have mastered interviewing completely."

And someone else emphasized that,  especially since I'm not seriously considering an MBA , there's no point.

So I believe I will perform a tactical withdrawal on my GMAT studies and focus more on the more pressing matter. It's a shame that I wasted some time there, but I think it's the smart call.

mysterymanrog · Answer

I have only seen MBB utilize GMAT scores for recruting. I think your deal experience+interview prowress will a far more important factor than the GMAT score, especially since you are utilizing it for PE recruiting rather than for MBA apps. I'm fairly certain you could leave SAT scores out, but who knows.

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GMAT Necessary For PE Recruiting?

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