Hello,
Have over 6 months until my FT start date as I’m graduating a semester early. I never took my SATs / ACT, would getting a good GMAT score be beneficial for PE recruiting? Not really interested in getting an MBA otherwise, although it would be nice to have the option open
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Based on the most helpful WSO content, taking the GMAT can be a strategic move for private equity (PE) recruiting, especially if you have a weaker academic profile or lack standardized test scores like the SAT/ACT. Here's what you need to know:
Signal of Intellectual Ability: A strong GMAT score (ideally 750+) can serve as a marker of intellectual horsepower, which is often valued in PE recruiting. It can help offset a less-than-stellar GPA or the absence of other standardized test scores.
Optionality for MBA: Even if you're not currently interested in pursuing an MBA, having a strong GMAT score keeps the door open for top-tier business schools (M7 programs). This can be valuable if you decide to pivot later in your career.
Marginal Benefit for PE Recruiting: While a good GMAT score won't guarantee you a PE role, it can add a positive datapoint to your profile. However, it won't heavily outweigh other critical factors like deal experience, networking, and the reputation of your current employer.
Time Investment: Scoring well on the GMAT requires significant preparation (150+ hours for a 750+ score). With six months before your full-time start date, you have the time to prepare, but weigh this against other productive uses of your time, such as networking or gaining relevant experience.
Networking and Deal Experience: While the GMAT can help, PE recruiting heavily relies on networking and demonstrating strong deal experience. Use this time to build connections with alumni, headhunters, and professionals in the industry.
In summary, if you have the time and resources, preparing for and taking the GMAT can be a worthwhile investment for both PE recruiting and future career flexibility. However, don't neglect networking and other critical aspects of your profile.
Sources: PE Recruiting as a Lateral Analyst w/ Weak Academic Profile, Lying about SAT score for PE Recruiting, PE GPA on cycle, A Guide on How to Navigate On-Cycle PE Recruiting
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How’s your GPA and caliber of school?
3.8, extreme non-target lmao
Not going to move the needle, especially now with oncycle happening so much later and actually having work to talk about.
If you don't want to do MBA I wouldn't bother.
Oh yeah, 3.8 is great. Skip it.
3.8 from no target not great at all. Should take if possible
Would def be worth it. For one, it’s another standardized test that correlates with IQ which more and more PE shops are obsessing over and making you take these short form IQ tests (wonderlic, critical reasoning tests, etc). Also, some PE shops still want their Associates to attend b-school, so having the GMAT already done makes it easier for you on the job vs having to study for it while already grinding long hours at work. I had it on my resume and it was always brought up as a positive on interviews and I’ve received multiple PE offers. Just make sure you’re getting at least outside the bell curve.
But also to add, the GRE is actually the easier test to take to get into b-school, so recommend you take that instead cause if you get a lower score (e.g., somewhere below the school average), business schools are more willing to accept you when you applied with GRE cause they are directly ranked on class GMAT average but are not GRE average which isn’t tracked. Look up and you’ll see that GMAT averages impact ~10% of schools’ ranking. That said, if you’re confident you’ll get at least 93+ percentile on GMAT, take the GMAT. If you think you’ll get around 80-85 percentile, take the GRE.
As a non-target, getting a good GMAT score really helped me in recruiting for all the reasons already mentioned in this thread. Go for it.
Can it make up for a subpar gpa?
How subpar? If it's a 750+, probably.
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