Top B-schools not to insist on GMAT, some will even waive application fees

MUMBAI: No GMAT score? No problem. Student applicants who have no GMAT score to show are now being considered by elite world institutes such as Oxford, Imperial, Insead, London Business School, Wharton, Kellogg and Carnegie Mellon.
The Covid-19 pandemic has forced several universities around the world to suspend their standardized testing requirements for 2020 and spring 2021 entry.

While most universities don’t expect students to take the GMAT, some such as Oxford and LBS have said admission would be contingent on submission of the missing test scores at a later date.

Universities have also extended their deadlines for receiving applications in round four; some have even introduced a fifth round to fill class capacity. Many have announced acceptance of applications on a rolling basis and quite a few have decided to waive off application fee.

“Universities abroad are making all possible concessions to get quality students to join their courses for the August and January terms,” said education counsellor Karan Gupta.“The Covid-19 pandemic has affected enrolment numbers of all universities and they are now making an active effort to bring in qualified students,” Gupta said.

Management schools are pushing their deadlines for late-round MBA applications. Whether it is delaying deadlines for rounds three and four, reviewing applications without standardized test scores or, in some cases, even cancelling application fee entirely, admission to business schools around the world has never been so welcoming.

A statement from the Carey Business School read: “Johns Hopkins Carey Business School has made changes to its MBA admissions process to reflect the impact of Covid-19. Carey will accept incomplete applications for our Round 3 deadline and will work with applicants individually to complete their applications. Carey has added a Round 4 with a deadline of June 1. Following Round 4, applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through July 15. Carey is offering GMAT/GRE waivers moving forward.”

UC-Berkeley is now admitting last year’s undergraduate students from its own university into MBA programs without GMAT or GRE or work experience—an unprecedented move by a major top league university.

Harvard Business School has been holding discussions about increasing the size for the 2021 incoming class, given that many students will defer their acceptance and seek admissions for next year. Penn State Smeal College of Business is waiving off the exam requirement for candidates with strong quantitative educational backgrounds, regardless of work experience. Those with an active GME or GMAT scores are eligible for an application fee waiver.

Education consultant Pratibha said Bath, too, has waived the application fee and does not require GMAT, which was never mandatory but recommended. In the same category, Aston, Exeter and Nottingham do not require GMAT for their MBA programs.