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FoolishAmbition · 2008 April 29th, 05:21 PM

I'm not talking top schools, I'm talking small town U, no name, no reputation, not even a good local reputation. It's my only option though.

I was told they wanted the GMAT so the U could actually have samples of my analytical writing. This seems so absurd to me b/c I attended this U and they have some 12 term papers, research papers, etc written by me on file. I probably wrote better then than I do now, or about the same. In fact, 1/2 of the professors are still faculty from when I was there.

My GPA was a 3.8 on a 4.0 scale, just short of perfect. I'm human.

What is going to be accomplished by my traveling 2 hours to take a test, oh and shelling out the money for it? They don't offer it on campus, The nearest testing center is at a major university. I'd have to take test prep in a classroom setting to even have a remote chance of passing.

I know I do not "standardized" test well, I never have. And I learn better in a classroom with the visual and audio together. I'm going to ask for a waver and see what they say, it can't hurt to ask...

asquare · 2008 April 29th, 06:18 PM

The GMAT gives the admissions committee a quick, easy way to compare your writing and other abilities to those of other applicants on a standardized scale. Admissions committees don't want to have to dig through old files or read lots of papers for each applicant, they don't have such a record for all applicants, and they do want a standard way to compare between students. The tests aren't perfect, but they are useful indicators and fit those criteria.

Taking the test accomplishes the goal of completing your application file. It gives the admissions committee a way to compare you to other applicants along a consistent metric, and it gives them a current measure of how you compare to this year's class of applicants.

Graduate school often involves a lot of jumping through pointless hoops to get to a goal that we all hope is worthwhile. It's much more of a meritocracy, with far fewer allowances or exceptions for individual issues, than in undergraduate programs. Taking the GRE or GMAT is really one of the more innocuous hoops. If you are serious about going to graduate school, you'll have to put up with worse inconveniences.

FoolishAmbition · 2008 April 30th, 01:50 PM

I'm in other than meeting this "requirement".

I have little hope of doing well without major prep work. I did a pre-test online and missed a word analogy b/c I based the word in a latin root which was not the first definition, but rather the 4th defition of the word. I'm thinking

. I'm tri-lingual this should not be this difficult...

And then there is the math, I haven't done "real" math in years. I took college calculus in 1993. I do basic accounting and finance math regularly, but that isn't "real" math to me.

asquare · 2008 April 30th, 03:07 PM

Well, you should figure out the range of scores you need to target for this school and see how far you have to go. There are lots of excellent resources for preparing for these tests.

If the GRE or GMAT level math is difficult for you because it's been a long time since you've done math, then you probably do need to review math before starting an MBA program. The math on both tests is pretty basic and you will need to be comfortable with some math on day one of graduate school. So think of studying as preparation for graduate school rather than reviewing for the standardized test.

FoolishAmbition · 2008 May 1st, 02:09 PM

Applied math skills is not a problem, nor are the concepts. I have worked in accounting/ finance since taking Cal in 93. I managed statistical methods fine in 2000.

My issue would be if its like the SAT where they ask a bunch of geometry theory or ask me to actually do a solve for Y algebra problem. I'm more likely to solve a Limit than basic algebra. Shoot, I took my 3rd grader's word problem and made it more complicated than it was...

I definitely am not "fearful" of numbers or I wouldn't be in the field I am.

I took accounting exams back when calculuators were not allowed!

I forgot to bring a calculator to exams when they were allowed.

If anything were a necessity it would be reviewing econ terms and definitions. Australian theory draws a blank other than being a major field of study. I'm not even sure that was in my intro to econ classses in 93!

I need to give myself more credit. I am intellectually capable of anything I set my mind to do. Honestly, once a math geek, always a math geek... You certainly don't manage As in Calculus, Statistics, etc. and suddenly "forget" how it all works. I aim to WOW, not just pass.

Frankly, I have a fear of standardized tests and at my age and skill level, I really should just get over it. I need practice taking tests more than actually acquiring knowledge of the test material. A short review of the material covered is all I've ever studied for any tests!

Maybe I need to check out the local CC to see if they offer "remedial test skills" or something like that. LOL Grad student taking remedial test taking, gotta love that one.

FoolishAmbition · 2008 May 1st, 02:22 PM

No where does the school specifically state was the min GMAT is on it's admission pages.

I did find on another website this refering to other programs of study.
GRE 500, 500, 4

The MBA program states a GRE can be used instead of GMAT, they prefer GMAT.

Peterson's Guide (google books) looks like it says GMAT average 525.
Funny, I am the average age of students in the MBA program!
My GPA is way above average, average 3.0, mine 3.8
Interestingly, of 80 applied applicants only 45 are admitted. Either they have a lot of unqualified applicants or they are super competitive.

I suppose that should be my goal 525, I'm in the program unoffically without this test.

2008 April 29th, 05:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
FoolishAmbition In it for my kids Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: VA Posts: 36	What are the chances without GMAT or GRE? I'm not talking top schools, I'm talking small town U, no name, no reputation, not even a good local reputation. It's my only option though. I was told they wanted the GMAT so the U could actually have samples of my analytical writing. This seems so absurd to me b/c I attended this U and they have some 12 term papers, research papers, etc written by me on file. I probably wrote better then than I do now, or about the same. In fact, 1/2 of the professors are still faculty from when I was there. My GPA was a 3.8 on a 4.0 scale, just short of perfect. I'm human. What is going to be accomplished by my traveling 2 hours to take a test, oh and shelling out the money for it? They don't offer it on campus, The nearest testing center is at a major university. I'd have to take test prep in a classroom setting to even have a remote chance of passing. I know I do not "standardized" test well, I never have. And I learn better in a classroom with the visual and audio together. I'm going to ask for a waver and see what they say, it can't hurt to ask...

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2008 April 29th, 06:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
asquare TestMagic Guru Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ann Arbor Posts: 1,722	The GMAT gives the admissions committee a quick, easy way to compare your writing and other abilities to those of other applicants on a standardized scale. Admissions committees don't want to have to dig through old files or read lots of papers for each applicant, they don't have such a record for all applicants, and they do want a standard way to compare between students. The tests aren't perfect, but they are useful indicators and fit those criteria. Taking the test accomplishes the goal of completing your application file. It gives the admissions committee a way to compare you to other applicants along a consistent metric, and it gives them a current measure of how you compare to this year's class of applicants. Graduate school often involves a lot of jumping through pointless hoops to get to a goal that we all hope is worthwhile. It's much more of a meritocracy, with far fewer allowances or exceptions for individual issues, than in undergraduate programs. Taking the GRE or GMAT is really one of the more innocuous hoops. If you are serious about going to graduate school, you'll have to put up with worse inconveniences.

2008 April 30th, 01:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
FoolishAmbition In it for my kids Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: VA Posts: 36	I'm in other than meeting this "requirement". I have little hope of doing well without major prep work. I did a pre-test online and missed a word analogy b/c I based the word in a latin root which was not the first definition, but rather the 4th defition of the word. I'm thinking . I'm tri-lingual this should not be this difficult... And then there is the math, I haven't done "real" math in years. I took college calculus in 1993. I do basic accounting and finance math regularly, but that isn't "real" math to me.

2008 April 30th, 03:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
asquare TestMagic Guru Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ann Arbor Posts: 1,722	Well, you should figure out the range of scores you need to target for this school and see how far you have to go. There are lots of excellent resources for preparing for these tests. If the GRE or GMAT level math is difficult for you because it's been a long time since you've done math, then you probably do need to review math before starting an MBA program. The math on both tests is pretty basic and you will need to be comfortable with some math on day one of graduate school. So think of studying as preparation for graduate school rather than reviewing for the standardized test.

2008 May 1st, 02:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
FoolishAmbition In it for my kids Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: VA Posts: 36	Applied math skills is not a problem, nor are the concepts. I have worked in accounting/ finance since taking Cal in 93. I managed statistical methods fine in 2000. My issue would be if its like the SAT where they ask a bunch of geometry theory or ask me to actually do a solve for Y algebra problem. I'm more likely to solve a Limit than basic algebra. Shoot, I took my 3rd grader's word problem and made it more complicated than it was... I definitely am not "fearful" of numbers or I wouldn't be in the field I am. I took accounting exams back when calculuators were not allowed! I forgot to bring a calculator to exams when they were allowed. If anything were a necessity it would be reviewing econ terms and definitions. Australian theory draws a blank other than being a major field of study. I'm not even sure that was in my intro to econ classses in 93! I need to give myself more credit. I am intellectually capable of anything I set my mind to do. Honestly, once a math geek, always a math geek... You certainly don't manage As in Calculus, Statistics, etc. and suddenly "forget" how it all works. I aim to WOW, not just pass. Frankly, I have a fear of standardized tests and at my age and skill level, I really should just get over it. I need practice taking tests more than actually acquiring knowledge of the test material. A short review of the material covered is all I've ever studied for any tests! Maybe I need to check out the local CC to see if they offer "remedial test skills" or something like that. LOL Grad student taking remedial test taking, gotta love that one.

2008 May 1st, 02:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
FoolishAmbition In it for my kids Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: VA Posts: 36	No where does the school specifically state was the min GMAT is on it's admission pages. I did find on another website this refering to other programs of study. GRE 500, 500, 4 The MBA program states a GRE can be used instead of GMAT, they prefer GMAT. Peterson's Guide (google books) looks like it says GMAT average 525. Funny, I am the average age of students in the MBA program! My GPA is way above average, average 3.0, mine 3.8 Interestingly, of 80 applied applicants only 45 are admitted. Either they have a lot of unqualified applicants or they are super competitive. I suppose that should be my goal 525, I'm in the program unoffically without this test.

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