GMAT Prep Adds Months to an Already Competitive MBA Path
15 posts in the last 60 days, all from r/MBA.
“Hello, I don’t know if I should continue with GMAT or switch to GRE. Overall goal is a T25 MBA school. Have done GMAT studying for approx 5-6 months now. Using Manhatten prep book & gmatclub questions. I have taken the test 3 times & my best is a 625. If I did continue GMAT, I…”
“I was on a virtual meeting with a Fuqua adcom, and he suggested taking the EA for candidates who have exhausted the GMAT or are just getting overwhelmed by the whole process. I am in that predicament now, as I have already taken the GMAT four times and my highest attempt is a…”
“Hi all, I have been studying for the GMAT for over 4 months consistently with around 15-20hrs a week. My last two official tests were 575 —> 605 with Quant and DI both being my weaknesses (Verbal was 86 both time) I just took a cold GRE mock from Kaplan and got 156V and 165Q. I…”
Aspiring MBA students are grappling with GRE vs. GMAT preparation, profile reviews for top-tier programs, and career transitions (e.g., from tech to consulting). Concerns exist about academic backgrounds, program admissions policies, and navigating generic responses from admissions staff.
SOURCES (33)
“I was on a virtual meeting with a Fuqua adcom, and he suggested taking the EA for candidates who have exhausted the GMAT or are just getting overwhelmed by the whole process. I am in that predicament now, as I have already taken the GMAT…”
“Hi all, I have been studying for the GMAT for over 4 months consistently with around 15-20hrs a week. My last two official tests were 575 —> 605 with Quant and DI both being my weaknesses (Verbal was 86 both time) I just took a cold GRE mock from Kaplan and got 156V and 165Q. I feel a lot better about the pacing and the content there. Should i switch to studying for the GRE in the next 3 months or stick with GMAT? I’m trying to take my exam December for the R2 deadline. Tbh, I feel pretty def”
“Hello, I don’t know if I should continue with GMAT or switch to GRE. Overall goal is a T25 MBA school. Have done GMAT studying for approx 5-6 months now. Using Manhatten prep book & gmatclub questions. I have taken the test 3 times & my best is a 625. If I did continue GMAT, I was planning to sign up for a more structured approach, TTP self study 4 months and continue towards the goal of a 645. Took a GRE baseline today and got a 307 (150V, 157Q). The quant did not feel impossible. But t”
“just got a 595(Q 79, V 82, DI 78) while my target school has an average of 625(Rotman). For context I’ll be a domestic applicant, software engineer(4yoe) with experience at a legacy big tech firm and currently at a non profit. The school is 60-70% international so I’m guessing it’ll be an easy in with my profile? I could get my score up to a 625 but will a 30 point increase make any meaningful difference or am I better off focusing on applications? submitted by /u/tamale_mouth [link]”
“New here, seeking advice to secure admission into a T25 program for fall 2028. GMAT or GRE. How does preparing look like? I studied and took the LSAT for context. Will being 24 and having 2.5 work experience upon start hinder me? I am analyst that works the financial side of the programs for a customer (Fortune top 40). By then I’ll manage the financial side of program(s), work on business cases, and capitol allocation. Does undergraduate institution matter? I have a very high GPA but not from a”
“26F 4 years of full time job experience, 3 of them being in customer services for an e-commerce company and 10 months doing document control/ data entry at a corporate company. I want to apply this year but I haven’t had the time or chance to study for the GMAT. What are my odds of getting in? submitted by /u/Last-Block937 [link] [comments]”
“My current role has a lot of downtime, and currently I’m using it to get an extra certificate in a software we use but after I’m considering starting GMAT prep but I’d be starting from complete scratch. What did yall do and what was successful? Honestly, I’m shooting for M7 with Wharton as my ultimate dream school but I know it’s expensive so my realistic goal is a nice regional school like McCombs or Ross with a lot of scholarships. submitted by /u/StrikingPrimary1314 [link] [”
“I have a 615 which is enough for all the top mba programs in Canada, and while I could potentially get it up to a 645, its a lot of wasted time that could be used on other pre-mba prep and applications. Do tier 2 firms like Kearny, Big 4, ZS, Accenture ask for the score? submitted by /u/Ok_Natural_9446 [link] [comments]”
“Hi folks, I apologise for not doing enough research myself before writing this. I am short on time for R1 applications and appreciate any guidance from folks who have been through admission cycles recently. I intend to apply to 4-5 schools in R1 but have not started any applications yet. ;-; I need guidance on which schools should I target for a significant scholarship (ideally full ride / full tuition). I will not be able to attend without a 75% tuition fees atleast. Profile: GMAT 725 (Q88, V86”
“Hey everyone, I'm applying to M7, LBS, INSEAD for round 1. I'm a bit confused on submitting test scores. When do we submit official GMAT scores? I think Columbia explicitly mentioned that self reported score is enough for the application. For Stanford and Harvard, I got the idea that I need to send the official scores too. Do any of you know when we have to send official scores to these schools? I had to give an English test last minute as I'm not eligible for a waiver for LBS. I cho”
“Hey everyone, Trying to decide between the GMAT and GRE. I’m confident I can score well on either with enough prep, but I want to pick the option that gives me the strongest boost for T15/T20 programs ( McCombs is my top target ) and merit scholarships. Profile: Demographic: Male international applicant from Pakistan Undergrad: Top business school in Pakistan (GPA: 3.2) WE: 4 YOE by matriculation (Brand/Trade role at a top MNC) Questions: 1. GMAT vs. GRE for low GPA: Since I need to offset a 3.2”
“I have been talking to a lot of GMAT institutes in my area, but most of them are online and online classes feel like a scam. How did you prepare for your GMAT/GRE and what was your score? submitted by /u/AffectShoddy6594 [link] [comments]”
“Might be a silly question. But someone told me that GMAT is more opt for engineers and GRE is easier for people with commerce background, although I have seen others do GMAT from same background. TBH I just wanna get into INSEAD for MBA. I contacted some institutes in my home town (india) and they keep asking me the target location and I understand that's how people work, but I am pretty clear on what I want and what I want to do after (consulting). Any guidance would be appreciated. Thank y”
“Hello everyone, I scored 655 on my first attempt at the GMAT, and I’m currently hesitant about whether to apply in R1 for an MBA at an M7 school or wait until I retake the exam (I believe I could improve my score). I’m aware that 655 is on the lower end of the class profile ranges for nearly all of these schools, but I’m tempted to apply to some schools in R1, assuming it’s more advantageous than applying in R2. A quick overview of my profile: international applicant, engineering background, and”
“What dates do people recommend for: Starting essays Asking for recommendations for Round 2? I already have my GMAT (705, don’t think I’ll retake). Aiming for 5-6 M7/T10 applications. I have a somewhat demanding job and am traveling for the next three weeks so wondering if mid September is too late for Jan apps. submitted by /u/AcrobaticLobster5770 [link] [comments]”
“Hi everyone! I am planning to give GMAT this month so I can apply to MBA colleges outside India for the 2027 intake. The thing is that I left my job in the May of this year to prepare for the exam. I have 3 years of work ex working at that job. I’m looking for advice on whether I should find another job for the next year before I join a college(considering the intakes I’m targeting are fall intakes) or should I take a couple of internships? Which of these would make more sense in terms of when I”
“I'm looking for an objective assessment of my profile and some guidance on what MBA programs I should realistically target. I'm open geographically, so I'm considering programs in the US, Europe and Asia for the 2027 intake. Profile Age: 31M Nationality: Indian Education: Mechanical Engineering Tier 2 government engineering college Graduated: 2017 (expected 2016) CGPA: 5.515/10 Supplementary exams (Backlogs) : 10+ (Cleared Eventually) Additional education: PGP Certificate in Product”
“I’m an actuarial analyst in Canada with about 4 years of experience in insurance/financial services and an Honours degree in Actuarial Science. I originally planned to continue down the traditional actuarial path, but after attempting the first exam a few times without passing, I’ve started questioning whether I actually want to keep pursuing the designation. I still enjoy quantitative and financial work, but I’ve become much more interested in the broader business side of things like finance, s”
“Hi everyone, I'm looking for honest and realistic advice on my MiM application strategy. I'd rather identify flaws in my plan now than realize them too late. I know this subreddit is primarily focused on MBA admissions, but I'm hoping members who are familiar with European MiM programs can share their perspectives as well. I'd really appreciate any advice. My Profile - 20F from India - BBA graduate from a State University - CGPA: 7.8/10 - HR internship completed at JK Paper - Wai”
“Hi everyone, I worked at Accenture for four years as a MuleSoft developer and left my job in June 2026 to prepare full-time for the GMAT and MBA applications. My original plan was to apply in Round 2 (January 2027), which means I will have a career gap of around six months by the time I submit my applications. Recently, I've spoken with a few MBA admissions consultants, and almost all of them have told me that my career break is one of the biggest weaknesses in my profile. They've sugges”
“Spent a lot of time in this sub and I'm looking for honest feedback on my chances! Personal: 26M, White & ORM Stats GRE: 324 (163V / 161Q / 5 AWA) — retaking in August to push quant into the 164–166 range GPA: 3.6, B.S. in Statistics, Econ. at T10 undergraduate university FRM (Financial Risk Management) certified Undergrad activities Lots of research, intramural sports, sports analytics club, very involved in the Catholic center Work experience (5 yrs at matriculation) Started as a rotat”
“Currently starting the application process. I’ve nailed down my recommendations, taken the gmat (good score, but retaking next week), and am planning on applying round 1 to a 4-5 schools. Early this year I had applied for a BA role at an MBB. They recently reached out to tell me they wanted to schedule an interview, but for an associate position instead. This would be my post-mba goal. The first interview is late August. I only had a 3.3gpa from a small liberal arts school and current gmat of 64”
“I am currently studying for the GMAT with hopes of going to a top 10 program. My time is crunched with applications for round 1 closing in September, but I haven’t gotten to the score I want yet. Is it better to apply to top 10 schools in the earlier rounds where there are more seats, even though I don’t have a super competitive score yet? Or is it better to wait for round 2 with a higher score and possibly less seats? Not sure how the rounds process works for admissions. submitted by  ”
“Hi everyone, I would appreciate some honest feedback on my chances for the Cambridge Judge MBA and whether I should retake the GMAT. I recently took the GMAT Focus and scored 595 . I was disappointed because I felt the exam went better — especially Quant, where I finished with around 6 minutes left. I did not run out of time in Quant or Verbal, although I rushed the final 2 questions in Data Insights. I know Cambridge mentions that most candidates score above 595, so I am trying to understand ho”
“I'm a 29-year-old male Indian planning to pursue an MBA. I'm trying to decide whether to take the GMAT or the GRE . Which exam is generally considered more difficult, and which one would give me a better chance of admission with a scholarship? I'd appreciate advice on which test is the better choice if my goal is to maximize scholarship opportunities. submitted by /u/Low_Lettuce_4893 [link] [comments]”
“I’m hoping to get some honest advice from people who have gone through the part-time MBA application process. I’m 29 and work in marketing NYC. I have about seven years of professional experience and am considering part-time MBA programs because I want to continue working and ideally use the degree to move into stronger strategy, growth, or marketing leadership roles while still working my day job. The schools I’m currently considering are all mostly in the northeast. Stern would probably be my”
“Has anyone taken the University at buffalo Online MBA? Any recommendations for professors or useful tips for how class structure works? submitted by /u/shyshyvirgin [link] [comments]”
“Hi everyone, I'm planning to pursue an MBA in the future, most likely a 1-year MBA, and I'm trying to decide whether I should prepare for the GRE or the GMAT. A bit about my background: I'm 27 years old and have done BCom in grad (6.7 CGPA) and worked for 2.5+years and now have been dropshipping for about 2 years. I don't come from a very strong academic background, and it's been several years since I last studied for any competitive exam. I haven't studied math since 10t”
“Has any MBA program officially announced its GMAT Superscore policy for the upcoming admissions cycle yet? submitted by /u/Kgb668 [link] [comments]”
“Demographics SEA national 28yo at matriculation, 7 years of FT experience (early education leads to more exp) Academics Tier 2 University in Australia, business degree GPA: 2.1/4.0 (WES converts to 3.1/4.0). Early entry due to education system mismatch (enrolled at 16). GMAT: 705 Focused Work Experience 5 YOE at tier 1 global media agencies (think Publicis). Sr position, lead and pitch Currently attempting a lateral pivot into MBB consulting pre-MBA Post-MBA Goal Consulting or corporate strategy”
“Hello everyone, I am a software engineer with 4 years of experience. On September I will be starting a part-time MBA which will take 2 years to finish (I am in Europe). At the current company I am at layoffs are rampant and career progression has stagnated, so promotions to Tech Lead or Software Engineer Manager are out of the question. I am wondering, after finishing the MBA, how should I go about my career? Should I start applying for Product Manager / Product Owner positions and work my way f”