The 2010 Results Are In!
Every year, Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions surveys admissions officers from top business schools in the US. The latest survey, taken in the second half of 2010, picked up on some key trends and focussed on hot topics such as the GRE as a rival for GMAT, and the effect of social networking on applications.
One of the key findings from the survey was that a growing number of business schools are accepting the GRE instead of the GMAT – but nearly a third of the schools that do say applicants who submit a GMAT score have an admissions advantage.
GMAT vs GRE
According to our 2010 survey of business school admissions officers, the GRE is making significant headway in gaining acceptance at US business schools: 39% of the 288 business schools surveyed say their program now allows an applicant to submit a GRE score instead of a GMAT score, compared to 24% last year. Of the schools that report being GMAT-only, 75% have no plans to consider accepting the GRE.
But even as more MBA programs accept the GRE (the exam required by most non-business US graduate programs), the GMAT maintains an edge in perception among MBA admissions officers. While 65% of respondents who accept scores from either test say there is no advantage to applicants submitting one over the other, 32% say applicants who submit a GMAT score have an advantage over those who submit a GRE score. Applicants seem to be aware of the perception – of the business programs that accept the GRE, 69% report that fewer than 1 in 10 applicants actually submitted a GRE score instead of a GMAT score this past admissions cycle.
Other highlights from this year's survey:
A Low GMAT or GRE Score is the Biggest Application Killer: 48% of the admissions officers surveyed report that a low GMAT or GRE score is the biggest application killer; a low undergraduate GPA placed second at 33%; lack of relevant work experience followed at 10%.
New GMAT Section: When asked about their views on the integrated reasoning section that will be added to the GMAT in June 2012, 47% of admissions officers have a neutral view, while 31% consider it a positive development. In response to a question regarding their views on the difficulty of the revised test, 42% don’t think the new section – which is meant to measure examinees’ data analysis and balanced decision-making skills that are important for success in business –will make the exam any harder, but 21% think it will.
Social Networking: 66% of admissions officers report that an applicant has sent them or a colleague in their admissions office a LinkedIn networking request. 9% of admissions officers say they have visited an applicant’s social networking page to help them evaluative their candidacy.
Survey respondents included 22 of the top 30 business schools in the US, as listed in U.S. News & World Report’s ‘Best Business Schools’ 2010 edition.
