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Frida is having lunch with her best friend, Abigail. She’s a young, ambitious, finance professional who would like to complete an MBA.
Frida’s department manager told her that she could apply for an MBA without taking the GMAT exam. Frida wants to apply for a GMAT waiver but doesn’t know if she'll qualify.
If you, like Frida, want to apply to business school for an MBA, make sure you do your research to discover if you’re eligible for a GMAT waiver.
Did you know?
What's the Purpose of the GMAT Waiver?
MBA admission programs use GMAT waivers to introduce greater equity and access for potential candidates.
A university can approve your GMAT waiver for a variety of reasons:
If your environment & inaccessibility make GMAT test taking difficult
If you have a high test score on a similar test like the GRE (Graduate Record Exam)
If you didn’t perform well on tests, but have evidence of aptitude
If your prior academic course work & business experience is highly relevant
What's the Criteria for an MBA GMAT Waiver?
If you thought getting a GMAT waiver means:
no studying for the GMAT exam
no GMAT practice or mock tests
no stress about GMAT test scores
Then think again!
In order to be considered for a GMAT waiver, you need to have excellent:
analysis writing & mathematical skills
critical thinking & reasoning skills
readiness to complete an MBA program
The main areas for evaluating your candidacy for a GMAT waiver focus on:
academic record & intellectual aptitude
work experience & professional growth
leadership & teamwork experience
communication & interpersonal skills
💡 Check out a list of reputed business schools that offer MBA GMAT waivers.
What's The Rejection Criteria?
The MBA admissions approval process for the GMAT exam waiver is discretionary and very competitive. They are looking for exceptional candidates who have evidence of business acumen and can apply critical thinking skills.
Your chances of getting a GMAT waiver are low if you:
can't demonstrate college-level math or financial credentials
have no relevant business experience that meets MBA standards
have little or no team collaboration & leadership experience
can't show quantitative skills without a GMAT or GRE score
Did you know?
⚡ KNOWLEDGE QUIZ
Frida is a 5-year finance manager at an accounting firm and loves all things math and calculus. Her experience includes financial accounting and analyzing market trends. She wants to get an MBA and meets with friends to discuss her eligibility for a GMAT waiver.
Austin recently earned his MBA. He thinks Frida should include her expertise in managing business budgets, working on tax issues, and financial forecasting.
Ian wants Frida to emphasize her strong verbal and written presentation skills, her professional certifications, and related academic degrees.
Quiz
What information would strongly support Frida’s application for a GMAT waiver? Choose all that apply.
Frida can effectively demonstrate knowledge and application of her proficiency in applying critical thinking and quantitative reasoning skills. Her experience dealing with complex tax issues, aptitude for math and calculus, and her financial accounting degrees will make a strong argument for a successful waiver application. Frida's expertise, work experience, and academic achievement are evidence of her ability to meet the rigors of a challenging MBA program. Dining with clients has little relevance in terms of Frida's waiver application.
Take Action
Send your GMAT exam waiver request at the earliest opportunity!
This Byte has been authored by
Mary Mills
eLearning Designer & eLearning Design Editor