IB and Consulting recuiting: GMAT vs. GRE
All,
I'm in the process of applying to bschool and have been getting this conflicting opinions on how gmat and gre are viewed when it comes to recruiting.
I'm not sure if I'll develop an interest in IB later along the application process but I know I'm very interested in Consulting and some elements of Finance/Marketing.
My question is this, if I end up applying with VERY high GRE scores (say, equivalent of 720+GMAT), will that keep me out of the door when it comes to both Consulting and IB recruiting? Will recruiters stop talking to me as soon as they out that I took the GRE and not the GMAT? Do people in the industry look down upon GRE candidates?
Please be specific and share what you know as this is going to a big life changing decision for me. If you've had an experience with my situation, even better!
Thanks!
GMAT. MBB requires 700+ to be interviewed
why not just take the gmat vs the gre
GPA cutoffs exist, GMAT cutoffs maybe... But from what I've heard not 700+.
Anyone else can confirm?
I'm going to have to agree with gibbons here. I would think upon completion of a top 10 MBA program, combined work experience, internships etc. - that gmat scores would be pretty much irrelevant when looking at MBB. The bottom line being, if your GRE score was good enough to land you in a top 10 bschool, then why the hell would you fork over the extra cash to take a test that quite frankly will not benefit your position. I would say, it might be worth taking if you land at bschool outside the top 10 due to circumstances outside of test scores (lower GPA). But even coming from a semi-target, if they were asking for test scores, I would assume GRE would be sufficient.
shorttheworld,
thanks for your response. beside applying to top-10 bschool i'm also applying to top engineering school programs. given that gmat is only good for bschool whereas gre is good for all the top mba programs that i'm interested in plus all the top graduate engineering programs, i figured it will be in my best interest to go gre route?
yeah, so that's my reasoning. am i completely insane? anyone else has something to share on either MBB or consulting?
thx
MBB say they have GMAT requirements, I believe. You might want to email them and ask if a GRE works.
I was in a GMAT class with a guy who deferred his acceptance to a bschool by a year because he was told he need to retake and get like a 720+ to have a shot at getting interviewed by MBB [he was planning on attending a top 20-30 program]
[Edit - deleted incorrect info]
Also - watch out they are changing the GRE in august to make it harder (and more like the gmat)
deal_mkr,
no, for bschool gmat is not a MUST. for example, stanford, wharton, sloan, hbs, insead, stern, columbia ... all accept EITHER gmat or gre. just fyi
I don't believe you will get automatically dinged for taking the GRE, but most people screening your resume will be less familiar with it. Thus, if your GRE score is "equivalent" to a borderline GMAT score, it could potentially hurt you.
I don't think we have an automatic GMAT cutoff. My understanding is that, given the recruiting agreements with the top bschools (where we are required to keep a certain nmber of interview slots for "bid" in addition to our own preferred candidates), it is not at all hard to get a first round interview with MBB from a top 5 program.
That being said, it is absolutely not true that the GMAT score is entirely meaningless. It is specifically requested in the online application process and not having one listed (or having a low one) on a resume definitely hurts.
Great input!
Could you please define a low GMAT score? 700? 600?
Based purely on conversations with others screening resumes and interviewing (I am at the pre-MBA level), I would say 700 is roughly the point where the other parts of your background need to start making up some ground.
From the resumes I have seen (only those coming in for second round or sell weekends), it would be pretty unusual for a 600 candidate to get an offer. I'm not saying this is causal, but I have been around for two entering classes and have not seen a second round or sell weekend candidate below 680 (and that was the only one below 700). I am also in a small office with a relatively low recruiting bar.
Never seen anyone put GRE on their resume or any bank/consulting firm ask for it instead of GMAT. That being said, I don't think my school accepted GRE. GMAT matters more for consulting than for banking. I know people with 700 that got offers at BB's and MBB so it's not a dealbreaker, but it does make your life a little more difficult. Not sure there's a significant difference though between 720 and 780. Your ability to network and hit the interviews will have much of of an effect on the possibility of you getting the job than your gmat score. That being said, I think it would be difficult to land an interview with something below say 670 (just an estimate). AskAlex has some good posts about this, if you can find them.
GMAT Score can be included in your resume id you wanted. If you going in Relevant sector which require an education degree like MBA(comes under Gmat). Now if you go for technical Feild which ask you GRE based Degree there you can show Score of GRE but it is optional...it is depend on the industry you applying weather they need it or not...
i think some of you have deviated a bit from the question :) but thanks for the numerous response. let me add a little bit to the question.
let's say, i'm going to apply to b-sch with very high gre scores. what are my chances of getting IB or MBB interviews? will they shut the door in my face?
besides signpost, anyone else with recruiter insights?
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