According to the Graduate Management Admission Council "more than 6,000 programs at 2,100 universities and organizations in 114 countries use the GMAT exam as part of the selection criteria for their programs." The GMAT or Graduate Management Admissions Test is a standardized exam that is designed to specifically predict how students will succeed within today's MBA programs. The GMAT takes a significant investment. Preparing for the exam can be quite stressful and it has a cost of $250. For this reason, many prospective students who find testing situations difficult are looking for graduate level and MBA programs that do not have a GMAT requirement. And while many top MBA programs in New York require standardized test scores from either the GMAT or the GRE, there are more and more schools offering waivers for students or doing away with the requirement completely.
Clarkson University does include GMAT and GRE Scores as a piece of their MBA application requirements with the caveat that some applicants many not need this requirement based on their work experience, graduate degrees, or practical or applied skill sets that they may have obtained. Clarkson states that admission into their program is based upon intellectual achievement, motivation, and aptitude. Students that can leverage their past experience and skills set may be able to have this requirement waived.
Syracuse University's Whitman School of Management offers two unique MBA programs. While the full-time MBA does have a GMAT/GRE requirement, the Online MBA does not require standardized test scores for students with at least five years of professional or military experience. The Whitman Schools explains that while they value standardized tests, they recognize the value of professional work experience. If a student would like to seek a GMAT/GRE waiver, they must contact an admissions counselor for the appropriate process.
Iona College's School of Business requires students applying to their MBA to complete an online application, submit a resume and all transcripts, two recommendations, and a $50 application fee. While the GMAT is listed on their requirements, only students with a GPA less than 3.25. Applicants can also seek a waiver if they already hold an advanced degree or have significant business and management experience.
While there are several programs in New York that allow for a waiver of the GMAT requirement, their are multiple Executive MBA's as well that waive this requirement as well where the work experience expectation is significantly higher. The Executive MBA without a GMAT requirement creates a great window of opportunity for those who have joined the workforce and have an expansive amount of hands on professional knowledge, but may have been out of the classroom setting for an extended period of time.
The MBA program offered through the Stern School of Business at NYU does require GMAT or GRE scores in the application process, but Stern does not have a GMAT requirement for Executive MBA program. However, there is a minimum of six years of full time work experience required at the time of application in addition to the online application, resume, two essays, transcripts, two professional recommendations, and a fee.
At Hofstra University, students applying to the Zarb School of Business MBA program must submit GMAT or GRE scores, but the EMBA program does not required students to submit GMAT scores. Prospective students must complete the online application which includes a personal statement, two recommendation letters, and a resume displaying a minimum of seven years managerial work experience. The Zarb Online MBA requires the GMAT or GRE, but this requirement may be waived if the applicant has five or more years of professional work experience with managerial roles.
For professionals who do not have enough work experience to enter into an Executive MBA program or have the requirement waived in a traditional MBA, taking the GMAT is a necessary step to being accepted into a highly qualified MBA program. According to US News and World Report, taking the GMAT signifies that an applicant is committed and determined on going to business school and succeeding in an MBA program.
While the idea of studying, preparing, and testing for hours can be daunting, the GMAT is a reality for many students hoping to gain entrance into a top MBA program within the state of New York. The good news is that most MBA programs do not just admit applicants based on pure statistics but also rely on "the essays, interviews, and recommendations that ultimately reveal the person beyond the paper." Earning admittance into a top MBA program is a tiresome and arduous process. However, for those who complete their MBA degree, the benefits are unmatched by other graduate level degrees.