MBA programs understand that applicants are not accurately represented solely by their test scores. Several top-ranked programs will waive standardized test requirements upon request, allowing you to submit your application without a GMAT or GRE score.
Should you consider applying for your MBA with no GMAT or GRE score in Round One? Or should you take a test, see how you do, and apply in Round Two? It’s a question we field often, especially in the final countdown to MBA application deadlines. Invariably, our advice is that it depends on the student.
Here is our rundown on MBA programs that waive GMAT and GRE scores and why.
Why do Schools Offer GMAT Waivers?
During and immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic, some MBA programs waived the GMAT and other test scores to accommodate unusual circumstances that made it difficult for candidates to access and take standardized exams. However, now only MIT Sloan allows candidates to waive the GMAT for this reason, and given that tests are widely available online, o you will need a good explanation for not supplying scores.
More commonly, procedures for applying for an MBA without GMAT or GRE scores indicate that test-optional MBA programs recognize strong academic performance and professional experience or certification in quantitative and analytical fields as evidence that you can handle a rigorously quantitative program. Schools are essentially seeking to make it easier for well-qualified candidates to apply.
Is it a Good Idea to Apply With a Test Waiver?
If you fit the criteria mentioned above, you might consider saving yourself the time and stress of prepping for the test. However, remember that schools rely on standardized tests as a reliable signal of how your aptitude stacks up against others in the admissions pool. And, of course, these tests evaluate more than just your quantitative skills.
We advise against seeking a test waiver if you can credibly take the exam. Unless you’re a truly exceptional candidate with an amazing personal story —and have a solid reason for not taking the test — you should plan on submitting with your scores even for MBA programs waiving the GMAT or GRE. In a competitive process where you are being compared against other well-qualified candidates, everything else being equal, the candidate with a strong GMAT or GRE will have an edge over the candidate who hasn’t submitted a test score.
Below, we’ve rounded up the details of top MBA programs that waive the GMAT or GRE. Note that several schools (Darden Tuck and Cornell Johnson among them) also allow test score waivers for candidates applying through the Consortium, although exact requirements may differ.
Top MBA Programs Waiving the GMAT or GRE Scores
MIT Sloan
Sloan will consider waiving GMAT or GRE scores “if your current situation prevents you from being able to submit a. test score.” Applicants must request a waiver explaining the situation; the Admissions Committee will review and notify you if your waiver has been granted. If the MIT GMAT waiver is approved and you are admitted, the Admissions Committee may require that you take the GMAT Business Writing Assessment.
NYU Stern
Applicants to either the full-time MBA or the Luxury & Retail MBA program who cannot prepare for or take a standardized test and can demonstrate academic readiness without a test score may apply for a waiver. The process requires a request form, resume, transcripts, and other documentation of academic performance, as well as a brief essay outlining coursework, certifications, and professional experience that demonstrates readiness for an MBA program.
NYU Stern also allows candidates to submit a GMAT test score that is between five and ten years old; a request must be submitted by email. If you plan to retake the test after applying, explain this and report the date of your re-test in the optional essay in the application.
Dartmouth Tuck School of Business:
To seek a GMAT waiver, you must have at least two years of postgraduate professional work experience and demonstrate quantitative proficiency. Applicants who are non-native English speakers must also qualify for the English Language Proficiency test waiver.
To apply for your MBA with no GMAT score, you must submit a request at least 12 business days before the targeted application deadline. However, you must have an open, unsubmitted Tuck application when requesting a waiver.
Michigan Ross
Candidates have “many ways to demonstrate that they are ready to meet the demands” of the MBA program at Michigan Ross. In addition to a full set of standardized tests the school accepts, candidates can apply with a Statement of Academic Readiness instead of test scores. This essay should outline any graduate degrees in analytical or quantitative disciplines; CPA, CFA, or equivalent certifications; academic performance, especially in analytical or quantitative courses; and work experience in analytical or quantitative roles.
Virginia Darden
Waivers may be granted upon request based on evidence of ability. Darden states, “Particular regard will be given to indicators of academic and professional accomplishment, including but not limited to:
- at least three years of professional work experience;
- a strong undergraduate and graduate record, including performance in analytical coursework or disciplines;
- CPA or CFA designation or other quantitative, professional certification; and
- master’s or advanced degree in an analytical discipline.
Important: Waiver applications should be submitted before the overall degree application. Candidates who plan to submit a waiver application should do so three to four weeks before the intended degree application deadline.
UCLA Anderson
Applicants may apply for their MBA with no GMAT test score and instead share examples of coursework, certifications or professional experience that demonstrate their quantitative and analytical abilities in a brief essay. Those who can document multiple academic or professional accomplishments attesting to their capacity to succeed in the program are more likely to be admitted without a test score. Test scores documenting English proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS) are not optional.
In addition to test waivers, Anderson recently updated its standardized test requirements to provide greater flexibility for applicants. The Full-Time MBA program now accepts the GRE, GMAT, GMAT Focus or the Executive Assessment (EA).
Cornell Johnson / Cornell Tech
Candidates who can demonstrate analytical/quantitative readiness can request a GMAT/GRE test waiver through the online application. You must submit a short 100-word statement that “provides a clear and compelling argument for why you will flourish in a rigorous academic environment.”
Carnegie Mellon Tepper
Applicants must submit a test score waiver application. Requests are granted case-by-case based on a holistic review of your MBA application. Tepper states, “Even if you are granted a waiver, the admissions committee may require or recommend additional academic preparation before the start of the program that will improve your academic outcomes.” Those applying through the Consortium can also apply for a waiver.
Texas McCombs
Merit-based test waiver petitions are accepted from those with a minimum of three years of substantive and progressing work experience, preferably analytical or quantitative. The petition requires a short statement highlighting the merits of your request, an up-to-date resume, and undergraduate and/or graduate transcripts.
University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler
Those seeking a GMAT waiver can access the request form within the online application. They must be submitted by the test waiver deadline. Candidates can build a strong case for a waiver based on strong undergraduate performance in relevant fields, an advanced degree, five or more years of work experience in an analytical field, CFA or CPA certification, or strong test results from the Executive Assessment, PCAT or MCAT.
USC Marshall
Applicants can request a GMAT waiver by completing the Test Waiver Request text box within the application. The request should document exceptional academic achievement, including demonstrated mathematical preparedness. Professional experience can be included in the request but is considered secondary to academic achievement and quantitative coursework.
Emory Goizueta
Applicants wishing to apply without a GMAT score must complete a waiver application. The Test Waiver is for candidates who can demonstrate they are prepared for graduate-level business coursework, and specifically quantitative graduate coursework, based on their academic background and/or their professional work experience. Waiver request deadlines are two weeks before the Round 1 application deadline and four weeks before the Round 2 and 3 deadlines. Waivers are available to those applying to both the one-year and two-year full-time MBA programs.
Washington University in St. Louis
Applications may be submitted without a test score for those who have strong undergraduate GPA from a US institution; demonstrated quantitative skills; a JD, MD, PhD or quantitative MS degree; CPA or CFA certification; or an officer’s rank in the military.
Check the GMAT Waiver Fine Print
Unless otherwise noted, the policies outlined here are for full-time residential MBA programs. Joint degree programs usually have different requirements; executive MBA and part-time or specialty MBA programs may have differing policies as well. If you are interested in an MBA with no GMAT, be sure to check with the schools you are interested in to confirm the exact details of their current policy. Read each school’s application instructions closely, as requirements and criteria can differ significantly. You may be eligible for a waiver at one institution but not necessarily at another.
Remember also that once you take the GMAT or GRE, you may be required to report it with your application. If you have taken the test but want to leave the test score out of your application, be sure to check the exact requirements of your target schools. It may be possible not to submit a score, but this depends entirely on the program’s requirements.
For INSEAD, for example, if you have taken both the GMAT and the GRE, you must report both sets of scores; you can’t decide to report just one test and not the other to share only the best result. If you’re on the fence about taking a testit or not and whether to report it, be sure to check the wording on the relevant application forms where the test is optional.
Seek Expert Advice Before Pursuing a GMAT or GRE Waiver
Test scores don’t measure everything, but they still matter to business schools. If you’d like to discuss whether you should opt for a GMAT or GRE waiver when applying to business school, reach out to us at Fortuna Admissions for a free 30-minute consultation, and we’ll give you expert feedback on your candidacy and your odds of admission with or without a test score.
To learn more about the GMAT and GRE and how best to prepare, read our related articles:
- How to Increase Your GMAT Score: Tips from Test Prep Experts
- 7 Essential Tips for GMAT Prep
- How to Earn a High GMAT Score Without A Calculator
- GMAT Prep Strategies: How to Study While Working
- What MBA Candidates Need to Know About the Online GMAT
- How You Can Learn to Love the GMAT (and Why it Matters to B-schools)
Fortuna Admissions Co-Founder and Director Caroline Diarte Edwards is a former Director of Admissions, Marketing and Financial Aid for the INSEAD MBA program. For a candid assessment of your chances of admission success at a top MBA program, sign up for a free consultation.