Incoming FT - Study for GMAT?

I am an incoming FT at a BB from a non-target/state school looking to do on-cycle recruiting and maybe business school down the line. Would my free time be best served studying for the GMAT (to differentiate myself and maybe help w business school applications later) or doing PE modeling prep? Before u say to take time off and enjoy myself, I go out 4-5 days a week and just need to be productive during the day lol. Thanks for the help

2 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, your decision should align with your long-term goals. If you're considering business school down the line, studying for the GMAT now could be a smart move. GMAT scores are valid for five years, and preparing early while you have some free time can save you stress later when you're busier with work or on-cycle recruiting. Additionally, strong GMAT scores can help differentiate you in competitive MBA applications.

On the other hand, if your immediate focus is on private equity recruiting, dedicating time to PE modeling prep might be more beneficial. PE recruiting is highly competitive, and having strong technical skills can give you an edge during interviews.

A balanced approach could work too—spend some time on GMAT prep to get a head start and allocate the rest to PE modeling. This way, you're setting yourself up for both short-term and long-term success.

Sources: Ask mbaMission about Business School Admissions, Having serious thoughts about B-school for the first time - can anyone offer any advice?, Q&A: Nontarget school->Big 4 Consulting/M&A-> VP of Strategy at Series B startup., Q&A: VP in Private Equity (Growth Equity + LBO)...Post-MBA...Formerly IB Analyst, Q&A: Big4 Consulting to Private Equity, now M7 MBA

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

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