Profile Evaluation - GMAT Waiver

Question

I am 28y and have done Bcom (CGPA 6 on scale of 7) and Chartered Accountancy (First Attempt) (CPA Equivalent). I have total 6 years of post qualification experience. Currently, working in private company as financial reporting lead and have spent 3yrs in Deloitte in assurance department.

Now, planning to do an 1 year mba from top 20 schools in US/UK/Europe. Had given GMAT 2 years back and scored 470 (GMAT Focus) due to lack of time.

So this time want to apply in B schools offering GMAT Waiver.

Can anyone suggest will i get the gmat waiver? 
will my chance increase if I do CFA L1/L2. want to apply in next 2 years?

Cant take GMAT exam again.

kingbucky · Answer

I think you have the potential to improve your GMAT score by another 100-130 points to get to 605. Why do you not consider that ?

But I think you can get GMAT waiver when your CA qualification is reckoned but I'm very unsure. let's wait for some expert reply.

MG4MBACrystalBall · Answer

PlsReply , waivers are possible. You may want to see this  recent story of a candidate . But they always make things tougher for Indian candidates.

CFA will certainly help the case significantly. L2 and above preferably.

Many non-engineers also find GRE to be easier. Have you already tried that route?

PlsReply · Answer

Hi MG

Thanks for reply.

I have not given the GRE.

I come from vernacular medium school till 10th Standard and plus non engineer background. So to give these exams I have to allot more time to it and I am finding it challenging with my full time mid senior level job.

That's the reason, I am evaluating to apply for MBA programs through GMAT/GRE Waiver route.

Any suggestion to make my applications stronger.

MG4MBACrystalBall · Answer

PlsReply , try to work with a private tutor if you haven't tried already. I understand the challenge but do bear in mind that these tests also check for your preparedness and pretty much a step 0 of your application journey. Feel free to reach out with a resume on mcb@mbacrystalball.com and we can help you plan further.

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Your CA (First Attempt) is a strong credential, but I want to be honest with you about the challenges here. Indian CA applicants are one of the most common profiles top B-schools see, and the pool is highly competitive. Beyond that, many schools don't count articleship as full-time work experience - they treat it as training, not professional employment. And if your BCom was through distance learning (which is common for CA candidates), that adds another complication, since several programs view it differently from a regular full-time degree. These aren't dealbreakers, but they do mean your profile has more friction than you might expect.

On the waiver question specifically: I've worked with many CA profiles - some who went the waiver route, some who took the GMAT/GRE. Looking at the current admissions landscape, waivers are genuinely difficult to secure unless you have an exceptional, specific reason why a standardized test is not feasible. Without a test score, it becomes very hard to even make it to the interview round at most competitive programs, regardless of how strong your professional background is. The waiver is not just a form you submit - schools need a compelling case, and "I don't have time" or "I scored low previously" rarely clears that bar.

My honest recommendation: find a good tutor and start preparing for the GMAT or GRE seriously. The GRE in particular is worth exploring if you found the GMAT challenging - many non-engineers find the format more accessible. A solid test score doesn't just open more doors, it removes the biggest question mark on your application and lets your CA qualification and Deloitte experience actually shine. That's the path I'd encourage you to take.

admitStreet · Answer

Your acads and work-ex seem interesting. I would suggest retaking the exam (with more focused prep) or switching to GRE: taking a mock can help assess the baseline. While waivers 'might' work, they're tricky when it comes to top schools given the competitive pool, and some of them don't offer the waiver option. Balancing work, GMAT/ GRE prep and the MBA application work is a simulation of how the MBA and post-MBA experience would be, so approaching it from that perspective can hopefully provide you the motivation to keep going! Feel free to reach out for a discussion. Regards, Arvind Founder, admitStreet | Request a free profile evaluation W: https://admitstreet.com | LinkedIn | E: arvindk@admitstreet.com

GeneralEducation · Answer

Hello,

Your profile is already stronger than many waiver applicants. A first-attempt CA, 6 years of post-qualification experience, a Deloitte assurance background, and a current role as Financial Reporting Lead provide solid evidence of quantitative ability and professional progression.

Yes, a GMAT waiver is possible at several US, UK, and European MBA programs. However, for Indian applicants targeting top-ranked schools, a waiver does not necessarily make admission easier. Schools will closely evaluate your academic record, leadership impact, promotions, and career progression in place of a test score.

If you are planning to apply within the next two years, CFA Level II can strengthen your profile more than Level I because it provides a recent and globally recognized quantitative signal. That said, leadership experience and measurable business impact will likely contribute more to your application than an additional certification.

My suggestion is to focus on promotions, people management, cross-functional projects, and international exposure. These factors often make the biggest difference for experienced finance professionals applying through the GMAT waiver route.

You can  schedule a 1:1  call with our admissions experts to receive a detailed evaluation.

GyanOne · Answer

Hi  PlsReply 
 
 Your profile is quite credible for a top MBA: CA in the first attempt, six years of post-qualification experience, Deloitte assurance, and now a financial reporting leadership role give strong evidence of quantitative ability and career progression. A waiver request, where permitted, would therefore have a reasonable factual basis.  
 The bigger problem is that a GMAT-waiver-only strategy will substantially reduce your one-year MBA choices. Several leading one-year programs currently do not offer a waiver: INSEAD says GMAT/GRE is mandatory and cannot be waived, Oxford requires GMAT/GRE and explicitly says it cannot waive the requirement, Cambridge requires GMAT/GRE, and Kellogg requires GMAT/GRE for its full-time programs, including the One-Year MBA. So we would first shortlist schools based on test policy + career outcome, rather than create a T20 list and discover later that most are unavailable.  
 CFA Level 1 or 2 is unlikely to solve the admissions issue. It cannot replace a standardized test where one is compulsory, and for waiver schools your CA qualification already provides stronger-than-average evidence of accounting, finance and quantitative competence. CFA makes sense if it supports your intended career in investments/asset management, but doing it primarily to improve an MBA waiver request would be a poor return on effort.  
 Since you want to apply in roughly two years, use that time to strengthen what will matter more: progression beyond financial reporting, leadership, strategic exposure and measurable business impact. Try to add FP&A, corporate finance, transformation, M&A integration, investor relations, business partnering, automation, or broader finance leadership exposure. Your current profile risks being perceived as technically strong but accounting-heavy, so broadening the role will improve both admissions and post-MBA employability.  
 If taking the GMAT again is genuinely impossible, we would remain flexible on the definition of “top 20” and identify strong programs that explicitly permit waivers or alternative assessments at the time you apply. Do not spend two years doing CFA solely to compensate for a 470. Build a stronger professional trajectory and apply selectively to programs whose testing policy actually accommodates your profile.

Hope this is helpful. Reply here or  contact us directly .

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