EMBA Programs That Don’t Require the GMAT (Part 2)
For years, the GMAT has been a staple in admissions for any sort of MBA program. However, today many EMBA programs rely less on the exam for admissions, with many schools eliminating the requirement altogether. Some applicants might worry that these EMBA programs must be less reputable than programs that require GMAT. Absolutely not! Here is some information about several top EMBA programs that don’t require the GMAT.
USC Marshall School of Business
The Marshall policy toward requiring the GMAT is almost identical to that of Kellogg: the GMAT is strongly recommended for applicants who have not thoroughly demonstrated strength in quantitative skills and analytical reasoning. This means that if you do not have an exemplary academic profile, you may want to consider taking the GMAT anyway to prove that you can excel in their vigorous learning environment. The applicant can take the GMAT as many times as necessary and is required to only report the highest score.
The format of Marshall’s program is broken down into ten “themes”, two of which are off-site sessions within the U.S. and one of which has an international learning destination. The international residency program is known as ExPort, designed to enhance students’ understanding of international business through an eight-day trip to local businesses, joint ventures, and transnational corporations. The program is ideal for students wanting to enhance not only their knowledge, but their experience base as well.
Michigan Ross School of Business
Ross seeks out students who have a strong record of professional success in all areas: work experience, academic ability, a high level of responsibility, and dedication to enhancing one’s learning and the learning of others. Ross is a top-choice MBA program for many applicants, and the fact that Ross does not require the GMAT is wonderful news for many EMBA candidates. However, Ross does require that all applicants must have 10 years of work experience, five of which must be in a management position. However, just like we’ve seen with some other schools that do not require GMAT scores, Ross states that students whose academic backgrounds do not reflect strong quantitative abilities may be required to take a quantitative skills assessment prior to admission.
Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management
Several years ago, Johnson eliminated the GMAT requirement as well, citing the test’s inability to accurately assess a candidate’s ability to perform. The Johnson admissions committee instead looks at a myriad of qualities from applicants, including organizational experience, academic readiness, motivation, and the ability to contribute to the learning of others. This is great news for executives who may not have adequate time to study for the GMAT. That said, Johnson has noted that they “may” require some applicants to take the GMAT as additional evidence to support a candidate’s academic preparedness for the program – meaning, they may ask for a GMAT score if your current academic record is less than acceptable.
Located near the center of thousands of companies stationed in New York City, Cornell University is excellently situated to offer its students real-world applicability and a fantastic alumni network. With two top EMBA programs – the Cornell Executive MBA and the Cornell-Queen’s Executive MBA – Johnson provides classes not only through different locations and times to better suit students’ needs, but also through different delivery mediums, such as multi-point videoconferencing.
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