“Change” is a constant in the business school admissions landscape and it has been particularly tumultuous over the course of the pandemic. As an example, we have been answering this question a lot recently: “Should I accept a waiver for the GMAT or GRE and apply without a test score?”
Our single-word response is generally, “No!”
A longer response typically goes like this: “Although some schools waived test scores this past year, if you can do well we highly recommend preparing for and taking the GMAT or GRE.“
What is our rationale? Well, for starters, why leave room for admissions committee members to wonder why you didn’t submit a score? Were you afraid you’d do poorly? Did you mis-manage your time? Did you apply quickly just to see if you’d get lucky, but you aren’t really sure you want an MBA?
You don’t want to leave these questions unanswered. So, if you think you can do well on the GMAT or GRE, go for it. One way or another, you need to provide solid evidence of your ability to excel in a rigorous academic environment. Your work experience and educational record will only take you so far; a solid test score can “seal the deal.” If you don’t think you can do well on the GMAT or GRE, we can help.
Hopefully, waivers notwithstanding, now you’re persuaded that taking the GMAT or GRE is a wise move in the ever-changing landscape of MBA program admissions. So begins this 2-part blog series on how to best prepare for the GMAT or GRE.
PART 1: Studying for the GMAT or GRE shouldn’t be like “pulling teeth”
You just sat down in the chair, you feel a bead of sweat rolling down your forehead, you’ve got a million thoughts running through your brain: “I should have prepared more! Is it too late to just run out of here? I can delay the appointment until next month … but won’t that only prolong my agony?”
Where are you: at the dentist’s office, or at a GMAT or GRE test center? Could be either one, right? If you haven’t flossed in months, you’re likely to have a painful hour or two in the reclining chair. And if you haven’t prepared sufficiently, you’re likely to be sweating serious bullets for the next 3.5 hours, with an itchy finger hovering over that “CANCEL SCORE” option.
Now, have you ever had a dentist appointment where the dentist peers into your mouth, looks around, declares you’re “in good shape” and actually lets you leave unscathed? It’s quite nice, isn’t it? It’s possible to have a similar experience with the GMAT or GRE, though it will require a little more than just brushing and flossing. Here’s how to do it:
STEP 1: Decide on a strategy. Here are your likely options:
Self-Study
Preparing by using practice tests and printed materials is necessary but usually insufficient for success. Unless you plan to become an expert on the nuances and particular challenges of the test, it just makes sense to leverage external expertise. Similar to your decision to attend business school, the rationale of “buying expertise” is that you can accomplish a great deal more in a much shorter period of time.
Mass-Market Test Prep Firms
A Google search quickly reveals a whole slew of these firms, each one slicker, cheaper, and promising greater results than the last. There is definitely some value here, and some MBA candidates have found such services highly effective. But just as you might think twice about attending, say, a discount dental clinic at the local college, you might wonder about the quality of the service you’ll receive. These places rely on “volume” as their business model and try to cram in as many clients as possible. And like the second-year dental student who may or may not have previously performed the delicate procedure you’re about to undergo, mass-market tutors tend to be test-taking savants who themselves were able to ace the exam, but who may or may not have any idea how to teach you to do the same thing – alas, “acing” and “teaching” are two very different skillsets.
Each mass-market test prep firm has its strengths, weaknesses, and areas of focus. Some concentrate on the high performers, some on the lower; some use materials that mimic the actual test, some intentionally do not. The common denominator, though, is that mass-market test firms, no matter how much they claim not to, necessarily take a “one size fits all” approach to GMAT prep.
GMAT/GRE Tutor
As with any service, there is within the universe of test tutors a wide range of competence, skill and effectiveness. Unfortunately, just as with choosing a good dentist, there really isn’t a single standard by which tutors can be judged – there’s no “CNET” rating system, for example, despite some decent attempts. So, you’re left to your own devices in separating the wheat from the chaff. And with average test scores rising annually, it’s never been more important to get the best possible help. (In our next blog post – Part 2 of this series – we’ll tell you how to do just that.)
Check out our highly customized, high-value test prep resource at The MBA Exchange today. Then come back for Part 2. (In the meantime, remember to floss!)
