A lot of business involves Math. Even if you don't go into a finance position, in many positions you need to be comfortable with some math. Marketing, sales, product development, and business development, for example, all involve working with numbers to quantify impact or evaluate business opportunities. Some areas of HR do not involve any numbers as far as I can tell.

Business schools look closely at your math GMAT score and any quantitative classes you've taken for this reason. You don't have to love math to be successful in business, but you need to be comfortable with it. You might consider taking a course or two, to 1) get yourself more comfortable with your math skills; and/or 2) to include in your business school application to show a willingness to strengthen an area of weakness. Here's some more info in case you're interested on how to address weaknesses in your MBA application: http://bit.ly/SmTdo

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Wait, business involves math? OP, GMAT math is very similar to GRE math. I realize that many b-schools are now accepting scores from both but I would reco that you take the GMAT rather than the GRE for b-school apps.

Also, what is that you find so difficult about high school arith, algebra and geometry? Even the most complex algebra problems on the gmat can be solved by plugging in values. Data sufficiency becomes much easier as you familiarize yourself with the problems and break it down into AD or BCE. Time is the only thing that makes GMAT math even remotely difficult.

PS - I also hate math unless im counting stacks

 

wow, i can't believe people think that GRE and GMAT math are about the same. have you guys actually taken both exams? while the concepts tested are similar, the question approaches are quite different.

the GRE math section is a joke. it's all straight forward high school stuff. just review the basic concepts and you'll be fine. 800 is like the 89th percentile or something, meaning that 10% of people taking the test max out on the quant section. if you have a solid understanding of high school level of math, no studying is required.

the GMAT math section does cover similar material, but the questions are phrased differently. the GMAT has what i'll call "bullshit" or "tricky" questions that you will not have seen in high school (or any other math course for that matter). they often require that you recognize a pattern or trick to find the answer in a timely matter (otherwise you'd spend too much time solving things the straight forward way). you must study the GMAT types of math questions so that you can recognize these situations and not get bogged down solving stuff the slow way.

 

I did pretty good in SAT and GRE Math. Recently started practicing for GMAT. The biggest hiccup has been the data sufficiency mostly because its so different than what I am used to doing. Also my style of very quickly solving problems (which is advantageous in SAT/GRE cause you can save more time later) works against these problems, you need to go thru few steps of thinking. But as mentioned earlier, some practice will probably solve it. And as mentioned in the previous post, questions are tricky. But can't really compare here because I forgot how SAT/GRE were and practice books are always 'harder' than real ones.

 

The general consensus on GRE and GMAT math, as gboi stated, is that GMAT math is harder b/c of the trickiness of the problems. You need to be firmly grounded in the fundamentals so that you know all the shortcuts to complete each problem in under 2 minutes. If you don't, you'll be rushing through the last several problems with just 5 minutes remaining, a surefire way to kiss that 700+ score goodbye.

I scored a 730 on the GMAT (50 Q, 40 V) and I can tell you that, having taken the real thing twice, practice problems are definitely not harder than those on the real thing. The problems in the actual GMAT are pretty much in line with those of the practice exams, and perhaps a little more difficult.

Plus, when the nerves and pressure get to you, it's much harder to focus and the problems seem more difficult. The GMAT is definitely conquer-able with a good prep routine, but don't underestimate its difficulty.

 

Also, the practice problems in the OGs are too easy. They help you familiarize yourself with the content of the exam, but don't think that getting a 90%+ strike on them is your ticket to a stellar score.

 

1st attempt: 480 (31st %ile) (in 2006) 2nd attempt: 640 (67th %ile) (in 2009) 3rd attempt: 720 (95th %ile) (in 2009)

Bottom line, its a studiable test and how you feel on test day matters a lot. The first time I went in cold and didnt do anything except page through a GMAT study book. The 2nd time I studied my ass off but was nerous as shit. The 3rd time was 30 days after the 2nd one, I didn't study too much, and I had a "fuck it" attitude as I took it.

I highly recommend taking a practice exam once every 2 or 3 days 2 weeks leading up to the test (including essays). Its a marathon, and doing those long ass tests over and over really make it seem not as bad. Your brain adapts to it.

 

i took the GRE for a Public Health program (healthcare mgt)...i didnt apply because my score was way too low. Mainly the problem for was timiing, i have taken math before....up to college algebra only but the timing peice was crazy for me. I hate math because i am very slow at it- i do deal with sales contracts and forecasting type stuff at work now but this is not GRE math!!! this is add and subtract and analyze some numbers. GRE/GMAT math- i dont understand how these types of problems and trying to solve them quickly shows my ability to do well in a high level position in business. Who knows maybe it does.

And to the poster that said I constantly post asking this question- i just got this account and havent even posted on here before, but if you think someone is constantly posting the same shit over again maybe you shouldnt be replying.

 

Take a class to refresh yourself on the math concepts. The data sufficiently section is unique to the GMAT, but the topics are the same. A 30-60-90 triangle will have sides of x:x*sqrt(3):2x if you are taking the GMAT/GRE (as well as the SAT).

The verbal section is much different, as the analogy section of the GRE is very much of a vocab quiz.

Although the GRE is becoming more widely accepted, the GMAT remains the primary exam. The GMAT is also more expensive, but is an negligible expense when evaluating the total cost of business school.

 

Seriously, both exams are about on par with the SAT. My advice is to pick based off of other things you might want to do. If you think you will want to go get an MBA in the next five years, take the GMAT. If you plan on using this degree to then get a PhD, then take the GRE.

Either way give yourself like 2 weeks to study using the bog-standard materials and it will go fine.

--There are stupid questions, so think first.
 

The above comment is good advice; try to save yourself from having to eventually take both.

Statistically, if you apply maximum effort to both parts of the GRE, then you would expect to achieve a better percentile ranking on the GRE than on the GMAT, all else being equal. This is because most GRE test takers only have an incentive to apply maximum effort for one part of the test due to the reporting system and evaluation of GRE scores by graduate schools which generally only put significant weight on the relevant section of the test for the graduate program in question. (I leave out the writing section since this is not generally considered a factor in admissions)

 
Cartwright:
GMAT is more respected and its quant section is more difficult, Not every school accepts the GRE and those who do have not seen many successful applicants go that route (per a recent BusinesssWeek article).

link to said bw article?

 

I've heard the two quant sections are somewhat similar, with the GMAT's data sufficiency questions making it a little bit more difficult, and the quant sections being a little bit tougher.

I believe the main difference between the two is the amount of testable vocab on the GRE. Apparently they can test you on thousands and thousands of different words. Go GMAT b/c as cartwright pointed out, its more respectable for bschool.

 

very useful article. it seems strange that all MFE programs require GRE general (with exception of UChicago) if the GMAT math is supposedly more difficult. I'm a math & econ major now starting prep for GMAT (b-schools admission) but interested in MFE as well so I will most likely take both exams.

 

GMAT math is not difficult. It is tricky. MFE programs care more about pre-requisite math classes.

EX. You could score an 800 on your GMAT, but that means nothing to a MFE program unless you have taken the required advanced math and stats classes. I would think that if you have the math to get into a MFE program they probably care more about verbal comprehension vs GMAT math.

 

More programs take the GMAT, but if you plan on a joint degree, the GRE makes sense.

However, getting a 790 or 800 on the GRE math section is really pretty easy, so you will need to differentiate yourself elsewhere. If you got a 780 combined on the GMAT, that would be far more impressive (but also much harder because of the adaptive nature of the test).

But I would consider your goals before looking at joint degree programs. Very few provide you with advantages that would not be conferred by a single degree, and are often vastly more expensive and do not allow for internships.

 

GRE and GMAT are fundamentally different tests.

GMAT emphasizes the application of strong logical reasoning skills in mathematical form. This is precisely what makes the test comparably more difficult.

GRE quant on the other hand, is a joke, and the verbal essentially requires memorizing rarely used words in the ENglish language.

Despite what they say, I think it's better to take GMAT. The reasoning is that scoring very high on the GRE isn't nearly as impressive as scoring high on the GMAT (760+), especially since B-schools emphasize quantitative competency.

 
mango123:
thanks everyone this was very helpful!

Has anyone done a joint MBA/JD program? It must be difficult to do both the GMAT and LSAT...

I believe the MBA/JD at Kellogg is GMAT only, no LSAT required. Schools may start following a similar trend.

 

I think it also depends on your background. Schools started adding GRE scores to try and encourage people who would not normally apply to business school a chance to apply. So if you are doing IB-->PE or a similar traditional business path then you probably should stick with GMAT because the school knows you are a traditional candidate.

looking for that pick-me-up to power through an all-nighter?
 
GoodBread:
The math definitely isn't the same and I would highly recommend getting a GRE book.

According to ETS, that's a 650 on the GMAT. (http://www.ets.org/s/gre/flash/bschool/comparison/index.html)

Thanks. I have tons of GRE books, but I think I know all of the material but I just cant apply it. I was hoping a fresh perspective from the GMAT may help. From what I have seen, they are pretty similar. The application is the same

650?! Wow, I thought it would be touching the 700s

 

Took both the GMAT and GRE. New GRE this Fall -- I took the one right before. I don't like the personal assessment part from your professor. I doubt the GMAT will be phased out. All they have to do is drop the price.

 
wolfy:
Took both the GMAT and GRE. New GRE this Fall -- I took the one right before. I don't like the personal assessment part from your professor. I doubt the GMAT will be phased out. All they have to do is drop the price.

What's that "personal assessment part from your professor" about? Do they have to write something about you? Sorry, I've never seriously looked into taking the GRE.

Regards

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
 

A lot of the MSF and MAcc programs I'm looking at accept the GRE. I decided that I'd much rather compete against corporate middle management and 27 year old HR nerds on an entrance exam than engineers and physics majors who want to go to grad school.

 

Unless all the major b-schools suddenly stop taking the GMAT, nothing is happening. I agree the new GRE seems much better from what I have seen but from what I gather adcoms at b-schools think the GRE doesnt have the necessary quant element to give them enough to go on.

Although, I had read somewhere they were aiming to reform the GMAT too. Dont know though

 
FinancialNoviceII:
Unless all the major b-schools suddenly stop taking the GMAT, nothing is happening. I agree the new GRE seems much better from what I have seen but from what I gather adcoms at b-schools think the GRE doesnt have the necessary quant element to give them enough to go on.

Although, I had read somewhere they were aiming to reform the GMAT too. Dont know though

Doesn't have the necessary quant? That is just absurd, MS/PHD engineering programs require GRE, if it is any test it will be GMAT that is lacking the quant element. Then again math portion on both tests is a joke.

 

Just a note, MENSA accepts people w/ combined gre scores of 1250, and GMAT scores of 720 or above. For people who haven't taken both, I'll just say that the GRE is quite a bit easier - I took both, and studied for a few hours for the GRE and got around a 1250, and took the GMAT later without studying and got, how shall we say, less than a 720. So from my experience, they are definitely not equal, though for some reason different organizations seem to hold the GRE more highly - probably because of the more academic contexts of people who take it.

“...all truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” - Schopenhauer
 

StoudeMelo,

GMAT scores can be used to apply to MBA programs. Many MBA programs also accept GRE scores.

While everyone has his or her own style and approach for preparing for the GMAT, I recommend a formal class or private tutor of some kind. Beyond the curriculum, a key benefit of a class is the discipline it provides. Between classes, homework, and practice tests, you are likely to make the GMAT a part of your daily routine and gain the practice that you need. Because the test is taken on a computer in a strange environment, practice and familiarity with the test is crucial.

You should allow about two months for prep, and ideally you will not be distracted by essays and other aspects of the process during that time. All in all, two to three months is a fair amount of time to budget for the GMAT, when you consider study, first attempt, and then possible restudy and retake. There are a number of great publishers and companies to purchase products and services from, including Manhattan GMAT and Kaplan.

Best,

Conrad and the Stacy Blackman Team

www.StacyBlackman.com
 

Hi unknown4ever,

The GMAT is the preferred test, however if you are scoring much better on the GRE, we recommend you submit your GRE score to business schools. Here is a case study of a candidate who did just this:

Cheers,

Conrad and the Stacy Blackman Team

www.StacyBlackman.com
 

I was surprised at how many B-schools take the GRE. Looks like a 1520 is at the least equal to about a 750, which is really very good. Can't imagine that it'd hurt, especially with the GPA and 2+ years of solid work experience to match.

"When I was young I thought that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old I know that it is." - Oscar Wilde "Seriously, psychology is for those with two x chromosomes." - RagnarDanneskjold
 

a perfect 800q is only 94th percentile and a 720v shows nothing other than you know worthless vocab. equal to GMAT my ass. there's a reason the triple nine society accepts gmat but not gre

 

I originally studied for GRE on-and-off for about a year but I bombed at the test. Then I tried out GMAT and got 750 on my first attempt after studying for 2 weeks. Point is.. GMAT is EASY... compared to GRE. If you already have a high score in GRE, chances are you'll score high on GMAT too.

Array
 

MBA/MSF - GMAT MS - GRE

Most MBA programs won't accept GRE. Likewise, most MS programs won't accept GMAT. I can say, a few of the students in my MBA took the GRE, not GMAT - I believe it's because they already had another graduate degree and they cleared it with the admissions office first.

That said, take the GMAT if you're looking at an MBA.

I'll do what I can to help ya'll. But, the game's out there, and it's play or get played.
 
pplstuff:
...Most MBA programs won't accept GRE. Likewise, most MS programs won't accept GMAT. I can say, a few of the students in my MBA took the GRE, not GMAT - I believe it's because they already had another graduate degree and they cleared it with the admissions office first...

Yeah, I know someone with a PhD, who only took the GRE and she was accepted into an executive MBA program...though she is a professor at the school, so take her acceptance with a grain of salt, lol.

Regards

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
 

Yes. There really aren't too many MSFs (UF, Vandy, and ?Stanford? are the only ones that come to mind). There are quite a few more quantitative finance degrees, but they all have a pretty small class size. Look to quantnet.com for information specific to MFE degrees.

I'll do what I can to help ya'll. But, the game's out there, and it's play or get played.
 

GRE will be easier than GMAT in terms of getting a good enough score, but I am not sure whether MSF schools prefer the GMAT as it is the standard scale for business schools. Obviously if you plan on getting an MSF, working for a few years and getting an MBA later, then realize that the gmat scores last for 5 years. If your interested in M&A at a BB, you will have to get an MBA in order to become an associate and so I would definitely recommend the GMAT as it will be harder to study for when your working full time.

 
Husky32:
If your interested in M&A at a BB, you will have to get an MBA in order to become an associate and so I would definitely recommend the GMAT as it will be harder to study for when your working full time.

Thanks Husky! That's an interesting perspective.

 

What Husky32 said was true, but honestly I wouldn't worry too much about selecting an 'easier' exam. Both will both be challenging if you're looking for a top score... just pick one or the other and hammer out a good score!

'Before you enter... be willing to pay the price'
 
bankerella:
No contest. Get a 99th percentile GMAT score, then apply. The GRE is just training wheels to help you do that. I used it as a prop, stuck it right between GMAT attempts so that I didn't have to go four whole weeks without exam pressure. I got 800/790 on the GRE and don't think I even put it on my application.

Yeah that's what i thought. I'm applying to joint degree programs though, so the non-mba programs i'm applying to do require the GRE. I figure that if my gre score is great, i will put that on my mba apps since they allow room for both.

Your GRE score is impressive. I am hearing though that quant has gotten more difficult, and verbal has gotten a bit easier because they got rid of antonyms.

 
bankerella:
Doesn't really matter. The GRE is easy mode and its adaptive algorithm is retarded. Much closer to a dumb test than a smart/computer adaptive test. Top gear on the GRE is like third gear (out of five) for the GMAT.

Hmm. I thought both the GRE and the GMAT used the same algorithm. No one ultimately knows how the algo works except for the actual test writers. I do know for a fact though that in the GMAT if you miss one of the first 5 questions, your score drops precipitously.

 

Almost all the top b-schools except Haas now accept both exams, but for MBA you should almost always go for the GMAT. It's still the gold standard exam for MBA admissions, and since it's harder than the GRE (especially the quant) you should really try to take it. The only exception might be if you majored in quantitative subject in college and did quite well and for whatever reason don't have the time to prep for the GMAT. But generally speaking, do whatever it takes to get a solid GMAT score.

 

I heard something the other day that surprised me: one ex-admissions officer, not from Harvard or Stanford, said that she put people on the waiting list who had GREs and made them take the GMAT.

Earlier in the week (this was at the Association of Int'l Graduate Admissions Consultants Annual Conference) Ankur Kumar, head of admissions at Wharton told us, [citing a clear case of correlation vs causation] "less than 5% of those who enter the Wharton class have had strong GREs"

Betsy Massar Come see me at my Q&A thread http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/b-school-qa-w-betsy-massar-of-master-admissions Ask away!
 

Not too surprised by this. The GRE is really easy. Case in point, I took both exams and did ZERO prep for the GRE. I ended up getting a perfect 170 on quant and 167 out of 170 on verbal. The writing is actually harder since only 1% get a perfect 6.0. I got a 5.5 on that. For the GMAT, I got 51 quant and 47 verbal for 780 total but studied nonstop for like 2 months to get that score. And for quant, the questions got REALLY tough. So yeah, a high GMAT score is taken more seriously by MBA adcom for a good reason.

 

mbavsmfin hit the nail on the head. GRE is so easy it's almost laughable. I got a 168 on both quant and verbal without studying (and this is because I took an accidental power nap halfway through a section), 5.5 on writing. I haven't taken the GMAT yet, but from the practice exams, the quant is horrendously harder :(

Currently: future neurologist, current psychotherapist Previously: investor relations (top consulting firm), M&A consulting (Big 4), M&A banking (MM)
 

Another data point here:

-On the GRE, I got a perfect score on the math section and 90+ percentile score on verbal for a 1430 (under the old system) and a 5.5 on the writing section with very little studying.

-The GMAT was an incredibly difficult 3-month struggle, but I ultimately ended up with 50 quant and 42 verbal for 760. (after initially scoring in the 600's, and subsequently powering through 20+ full-length practice tests and hundreds of drills/practice problems)

Basically, a mediocre version of mbavsmfin's experience with these tests =).

 

Anything to do with business -- go for GMAT. GRE is just so you can get into a master's program. If you have weak work experience and then you go take the GRE - you have a disadvantage.

If you care about getting in take GMAT...if not a big deal for you then GRE can be fine too. Just be careful about what you want in life.

 
tkid3400:

If you're interested in a PHD in business or a degree related to economics then the gre might make sense, otherwise the GMAT might be more recognizable to employers

why would i have to be interested in a PhD in business necessarily? around there a good number of other things available? like economics, political science, math, etc

and i was under the impression that an increasing number of schools took GREs in biz school these days, so how is taking one over the other a necessary advantage, aside from the fact that GMAT has been around longer?

I'm not concerned with the very poor -Mitt Romney
 

The MSF is the most common, but if your GRE is much better and the rest of your profile is good some schools will still accept it. You should start emailing adcoms at schools you are interested in and running this by them though.

 
  1. Why did you take the GRE? If there was a good reason for you to have taken it (as in, you are the type of applicant that may have applied for an MPA/MPP), then I think it's fine to apply with it. I do think it's easier for AdComs to use the GMAT, generally. Only problem with just sending a GMAT without a decent reason is that the GMAT is still a standard barometer, and they may (and may not) wonder why you didn't just take the GMAT.

  2. I don't think it is. They are both CATs intended to test the same things, for the most part. They're a bit different, but I find it hard to believe that a good scorer on one can't do well on the other with proper preparation. The study time sounds good. May even be more than you need with your prior GRE prep, since they do test a lot of the same skills.

  3. Sure, why not? Can't hurt to have something that shows raw aptitude. Not in finance, just my general opinion.

 

How important is the GMAT for showing interest in business school? I took the GRE recently to keep my options open for the next five years, and my unofficial score report said I got a perfect score... I'd rather not take the GMAT and submit GRE scores if I do apply to business school (right now, considering 2+2 and GSB but not 100% sure whether they'd be best for me). That said, I think I could do OK on the GMAT if I prepared enough, so is it worth putting in the time and money to take the GMAT?

 

There's definitely a higher level of comfort with the GMAT because MBA admissions officers have years of experience and have been able to see the relationship between the score and student success over time. They don't have that luxury with the GRE, but that doesn't mean that it puts you at a disadvantage. I've seen plenty of people get in to HBS and its ilk with the GRE. Stanford also expects to see more dual degree candidates, so they are plenty comfortable with the concept of GRE scores.

As for the resume, it might be ok to put those scores on now; you may get the question, "why the GRE rather than the GMAT"? but it shouldn't disqualify you. And if you want to talk about the possibility of an MFE, that might be a positive, depending on your where you are applying.

I wouldn't waste time on taking another test. You have your life to live!

Betsy Massar Come see me at my Q&A thread http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/b-school-qa-w-betsy-massar-of-master-admissions Ask away!
 

The article just states average GRE score of accepted applicants. It doesn't say anything about URM's but I imagine something like that is behind these statistics. But in either case, good thing I am 6% Uruguayan =]

Competition is a sin. -John D. Rockefeller
 

I wouldn't buy into this whole "if you're a URM, you can get/take whatever you want" business. As a URM who got a 760 on the GMAT, I can assure you there will be fierce enough competition for the top schools. More often than not the candidates who got in with lower scores had something strong in some other part of their application.

As an aside: @"matayo" , when you write something like "this is only for URMs...doesn't apply to REGULAR PEOPLE" ,some people will be prone to take offense. The implication with regards to your opinion about URMs is less than flattering. I'm not trying to get into an online argument about whether being called abnormal (as opposed to regular) is offensive or not, I'm just pointing out how your statement came across.

 

first off, not my MS

i understand what you mean, but you have to understand that my comment isn't based in feeling, but data. URMs consistently have lower standardized test scores than other groups. regardless of how i "feel" about it, it is what it is

anyway i understand and agree with your point, but given this is an online forum, i can't say that i care too much

.
 

I believe that US News began including GRE scores in their ranking calculations in 2013, so it seems like the argument that "schools accept lower GRE scores because they don't have to report them for ranking calculations" does not have merit.

I took the GRE, and I am pleased with my admission results. I am NOT an URM.

 

I can't believe any school even takes the GRE. I wonder how a bunch of people got together and decided that this was a good measure of ones communication skills and ability to succeed in grad school. Many foreigners beat out domestic students by spending hundreds of hours studying useless words that the vast majority of English speakers have never seen in their lives. I find it funny when somebody can't speak English at all, but scored higher than me. The GRE Quantitative section is at least a good representation of math you should have learned in high school, but the GRE Verbal is a complete joke.

 

The GRE was revised in the last 2 years. Before the revision the "vocab" portion of the verbal section was known to be more of a word memorization marathon, but now the "vocab" portion of the test relies more on logical sentence construction using vocab as a tool. There are also the other sections of verbal: reading comprehension, analyzing arguments. Nevertheless, I did prepare for the GRE by reviewing some vocab. I think the GRE verbal would be challenging for a non-native english speaker. At the end of the day, it is just another standardized test which has to be prepared for like all the others.

 

Those people who can't speak English @ all still ace GMAT verbal by spending hundreds of hours......lol as far as b/t GRE quant and GMAT quant, I do not see big difference. And I took both. Luckily, got perfect score on both YAY!

 

Whether or not schools are using the GRE to game rankings is purely speculation. What is not speculation is that schools are accepting the GRE to appeal to non-traditional applicants so that they can have a more diverse student body.

What is important to keep in mind is that when you apply to a top Business School, you will be evaluated in comparison to your peers. Let's say you come from a finance background and apply to Harvard with a 90% GRE. You might think this gives you a leg up because the average GRE percentile for accepted applicants is 70%. But actually, most of those applicants probably had interesting and unique non-finance educations, work/life experience, or were URM. In actuality, you would be compared to other finance guys with a 90% GMAT.

So if you had two finance guys with identical resumes except for GRE vs GMAT, which would be better? Some schools claim they don't care (Dee Leopold of HBS claims this). Some schools explicitly say they prefer the GMAT (UCLA). Other schools won't even accept the GRE. Who knows what the truth is - every adcom has their own personal biases. But you almost certainly will not find many who prefer the GRE.

This is if you believe percentiles are even a valid comparison between the two tests which, given their different structures and demographics, I'm not convinced is the case.

 

interesting debate. i have seen some URM scoring high on both the GRE/GMAT. But i agree with the sentiment that women get in with less stellar scores because the firms will hire them anyway...

 

"I read somewhere that schools will accept applicants who submit GRE scores that are lower than the average of other admitted students' gmat scores,"

This is true, BUT, it's only relevant for non-traditional candidate. They aren't letting in white male finance and consulting types with subpar GMAT scores. They are letting in people who volunteered in Africa and that type of stuff - people that make the class interesting, but they might not traditionally want to let in because they hurt their ranking.

If you're a traditional candidate, go for the GMAT. Also, keep in mind, GRE vs GMAT is rapidly evolving, so things could definitely change by the time you apply (e.g. USNews may decide to include a GRE conversion by then).

 
I read somewhere that schools will accept applicants who submit GRE scores that are lower than the average of other admitted students' gmat scores, and this is because GMAT matter for rankings and GRE scores don't.
Not really In fact, they are a little more concerned about lower GRE scores because the pool of candidates is less quantitative and in their minds, less rigorous than the GMAT test takers.

Most admissions officers admit that they want to see a balanced score on both verbal and quant. The general buzz is that around 80% on both is about right, but there’s definitely some give on both sides. In the case of the GRE it’s pretty well known that you are being measured against a different population, usually not as quant-oriented as GMAT test takers. So shoot for a higher percentage, say about 85% on quant.

I've researched and written about this -- in fact, the GMAT folks reached out because they were pleased to see that there were schools where the GMAT is still overtly preferred. Lots of updated quotes from admissions websites

Here's the link -- let me know if you cannot get through. http://masteradmissions.com/gmat-or-gre/

Betsy Massar Come see me at my Q&A thread http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/b-school-qa-w-betsy-massar-of-master-admissions Ask away!
 

I largely agree with Betsy. You're trying to take the easy way out -- seemingly because you aren't scoring as well as you would like on the GMAT. I assure you that the admissions committees at every school are well aware of the differences between the two tests and will take them into consideration when evaluating your candidacy.

On top of this, many of the firms that recruit on campus take into consideration your gmat score (consulting firms are famous for this). You'd be doing yourself a disservice by serving up a sub-par score or an average GRE score in place of the GMAT.

Bottom line is you haven't even graduated from undergrad yet. You have PLENTY of time to overcome these obstancles -- don't try to "backdoor" your way into b-school.

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

Waste of time. If you were going to retake anything, you should just retake the GRE since you're familiar with it and obviously good at it. That said, you don't need to retake anything.

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

I agree that getting your story/essays/reccos spot on is super important. You should definitely invest as much time as possible in that. I'd also think about applying to a few other programs besides Columbia. The GRE is good if you get a shitty gmat score, because the school doesn't have to submit the GMAT for rankings calculations. I feel like you could sit the GMAT without really studying for it and get a 730+ on it - so why not? It can play in your favor as follows: Let's say I'm looking at two candidates, you and your identical twin. One has a 750 GMAT that will increase my school's GMAT average and help rankings, and the other (is an equally smart guy) and has submitted a stellar GRE which does absolutely nothing for my rankings agenda.

Which candidate do I interview?

Leah Derus Independent MBA Admissions Consultant MIT Sloan Class of 2010 [email protected] Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCacB1ueqfkRVW5pcMZKAj5w
 

I would directly talk to someone in the Columbia business school admissions office and see if they are cool with a great GRE score. A lot of schools don't say openly about their preference for GRE vs GMAT on their websites, however when you ask them in person they tend to be frank. You have a great GRE score and if that does the job in Columbia then there is no need to waste your time and energy in chasing a high gmat score.

www.gmatquantum.com
 

Just about every US MSF program takes the GRE and those that don't advertise it usually take it when you tall directly to the adcoms. Schools don't care and I have a subtle suspicion that if you're in the lower range of testing it's probably more favorable applying with the GRE since it won't impact the GMAT average of the program.

 
BobTheBaker:

@TNA what about the flip side of what you just posted? what if you need a really good test score to boost your application, does a great GRE carry as much weight in that aspect as a great GMAT? Just curious

I think a really good GMAT forgives a lot of sins, but if you crush the GRE I think you'll get credit for it also.

 

Assuming that if you could perform equally well on both exams:

GRE is better in general, because it gives you a little leeway for non-business programs except Professional Doctorates. You may very well change your career trajectory in 2 years and you'd regret if you studied for the wrong exam.

Most schools take GRE and GMAT as equivalents. I think at least the top 25 MBA schools take them both without penalty against GRE. Show me a top school that doesn't?

Actually schools may be secretively incentivized to take low GRE than GMATs because they publish GMAT acceptance scores but rarely the GRE score average/median.

---I was thinking about doing non-business programs but I only had a GMAT in hand. Severely limited my options because I didn't have time to study for GRE, and I would do comparably worse in GRE due to non-native speaker status.

 

I'd lean towards the GMAT. The GRE doesn't seem to carry as much weight with top MBA programs, and if you ultimately decide on a program that requires the GRE, you can always take it later. But nothing beats a 720+ GMAT. In terms of timing, however, you would most likely pursue the MBA after two or more years of professional experience: you will learn a LOT from an MBA, but it's hands-on stuff, relationship-building, case analyses; you'll get much more out of it if you have a couple of years of work experience to bring to your class discussions.

www.StacyBlackman.com
 

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Persistency is Key
 

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"The markets are always changing , and they are always the same."
 

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