Applying to business school can be quite stressful. Most programs require an entrance exam like the GMAT to be considered for admission. Many students are forced to study for the GMAT while working full time and/or finishing up their undergraduate studies. It’s not uncommon for a student’s first attempt at the GMAT to not go well.

While not an ideal situation, a low GMAT score does not mean you should abandon your dream of earning your MBA. Many programs view candidates holistically and a lower GMAT score can be overcome if the rest of your application is strong. Below are a few strategies you may wish to consider if you believe your GMAT score is hurting your application.

1. Prepare and Retake the Exam 

Now that you have taken the test at least once, you have several advantages versus going in cold. You know the types of questions asked, the pace of the exam and how many questions you were able to answer in the allotted times. You also know how you did in each section. With this information, you can put together a strategy for improving your score the next time around.

If you struggled on the quantitative section, you may want to review some math concepts. Khan Academy (https://www.khanacademy.org/) is a wonderful, free resource that can show you step by step how to apply many of the concepts tested on the exam.

If you struggled in the verbal section, practicing reading comprehension can help you improve your score. Try reading articles in the Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek and other business publications on a regular basis. If you can identify the main points of each article, and identify arguments that would strengthen or weaken the author’s main points, you should be in better shape during your next GMAT exam.

You can also download practice exams from www.mba.com. Generally speaking, you should be able to improve your score up to 100 points through additional practice and becoming more familiar with the exam. If your score is more than 100 points off from where you want it to be, you may want to consider taking an MBA prep course. Kaplan, the Princeton Review and others offer both online and in-person courses designed to help you maximize your potential on the GMAT.

 

2. Highlight Quantitative Qualifications in Application 

While the GMAT doesn’t measure students’ leadership skills, employability, ethical standards or ability to work in a team setting, it is a pretty good measure of their quantitative capabilities. If your GMAT score is low but you have earned good grades from a well-respected university in a tough subject, you may be able to make the case that you have a strong quantitative skill set but are just not a good test taker. Be sure to use the optional essay to highlight your performance in quantitative coursework if it will strengthen your application.  Also, be sure your resume outlines any technical certifications or job requirements. Finally, you may wish to ask your recommenders to highlight your quantitative capabilities in their letters of recommendation. The more details they provide, the more it helps your chances for admission.

 

3. Take a College Math Review Course 

If high school algebra is a distant memory, you may find it helpful to take a math refresher course before retaking the GMAT exam. Building (or rebuilding) the right foundation can make your studies much easier. Several Massively Open Online Courses (MOOC’s) including Coursera and EdX offer free courses in these areas. If you prefer a more traditional class, check your local community college course catalog.

 

4. Try the GRE

While similar to the GMAT, the GRE is a broader exam, typically taken by students applying to a non-business master’s program. More and more business schools (including Oregon State) are accepting the GRE in lieu of the GMAT. These schools typically convert your GRE score to an equivalent GMAT score (Here’s a link to the conversion tool if you are interested). Of course, you will want to make sure the schools you are considering do accept the GRE, and that taking the GRE in lieu of the GMAT won’t affect your scholarship eligibility.

Hopefully these tips can help you overcome a low GMAT score and get your MBA application back on track. If you have any other tips that have worked for you, please share them here.

Brian Precious is the MBA Program Director at Oregon State University. He can be reached at: OSUMBA@OregonState.edu.

 

An MBA can be a hugely rewarding experience, from both a personal and professional perspective. I’ve worked with MBA graduates who have leveraged the degree to rapidly advance in their chosen career.  I’ve also seen students use the MBA to pivot and change careers into a more rewarding and/or lucrative opportunity. Most importantly, I’ve witnessed students take advantage of the numerous experiential learning opportunities embedded within the MBA curriculum to enhance their leadership, managerial and interpersonal skills and build their professional networks.

To fully optimize the MBA experience, students should explore their rationale for wanting the degree as early in the admissions process as possible. Based on conversations I’ve had with more than 1,000 prospective MBA students, here are three great and three terrible reasons for wanting an MBA.

Great Reasons:

1. “I want to change careers”

An MBA can provide many benefits to those looking to change careers. In addition to providing an opportunity to learn new skills (accounting, marketing, finance, operations, human resources, etc.), most MBA programs offer numerous networking opportunities with employers and alumni. In addition, full-time MBA program formats allow students to complete an internship between the first and second year of study. The successful completion of an internship can often lead to a full-time opportunity in the student’s new chosen field.

2. “I want to move from an individual contributor into a management or leadership role” 

Typically, the first few years of our careers are spent as individual contributors. As individual contributors employees utilize the technical skill sets learned as an undergraduate to perform tasks for others within the organization. For example, someone with a computer science background may start his career as an entry-level programmer for a large organization. His success in the organization may depend mostly on his technical skill set. However, to move into a management or leadership role a broader set of skills is required. This is where an MBA can add great value. MBA students learn about all aspects of the business, from the financing of new projects to marketing new ideas both internally and externally and the steps required to take an idea from the concept stage to a product.  In addition, MBA students have the opportunity to study the theories behind good management and leadership principles.

3. “I want to start my own business” 

Those looking to start a new business need a diverse skill set to develop, fund, market and operate their emerging enterprises. The broad nature of the MBA degree coupled with the numerous opportunities for experiential learning allow future entrepreneurs to learn and practice the skills they need to launch their own endeavors.

 

Terrible Reasons:

1. “I’ve heard an MBA is a ticket to a guaranteed 6-figure job” 

While it’s true MBA graduates typically earn more than their non-MBA counterparts, earning an MBA does not guarantee you a job, much less a high-paying job. The MBA degree provides a set of skills and opportunities that students must leverage to set their career on their preferred trajectory. Those seeking an MBA solely for financial reasons are often disappointed. Often, organizations willing to pay big bucks for top talent are looking for passion for the company, industry and role. 

2. “I don’t know what I want to do with my career, but if I get into business school, career services will get me a job”

I hear this one all the time. Some students believe once they get into an MBA program, it’s up to the placement office or career services to find a job for them. While most placement offices have helpful staff dedicated to helping students maximize their career search, it is ultimately up to the students to create and execute their job search strategy. Knowing the outcomes you desire before starting an MBA program can help you customize your experience (which classes you take, which activities you participate in, which alumni you network with, etc.), thus increasing the chances of meeting or exceeding your post-graduation career expectations.

3. “My parent/partner/friend/boss/colleague told me I should get an MBA because it helped them in their career”

While it’s great to get advice from trusted friends and family, it’s also important you see the degree adding value to your career and life. Earning an MBA takes time, effort and money. For those who see the benefits, it’s well worth it. But for those just going through the motions, it can be an arduous process with mixed results.

Drop me a line or leave a comment if you have any questions on the benefits of an MBA for you.

Brian Precious is the MBA Program Director at Oregon State University. He can be reached at: OSUMBA@OregonState.edu.

Everybody wants to make a positive impact in his professional career. Armed with an advanced degree in physics, I was lucky enough to land a job at a Silicon Valley research lab, working with engineers and scientists to develop advanced materials. The work was rewarding and engaging and met my need for technical creativity. However, as “cool” as our lab technologies were, I was often curious if our ideas ever ended up in a real product or enhanced someone’s life. 

It turns out the odds were stacked against us. Richard Maulsby of the United States Patent and Trademark Office estimates that less than 1 percent of issued patents are commercially viable. Surely we can do better! Industrial researchers, technology management professionals, entrepreneurs and funding agencies are increasingly interested in identifying the best ways to find the next great idea and move it to market.

A STEM degree can be a great pathway to a rewarding career, but business skills and perspective will significantly broaden your career options. Current estimates are that you will change your career five to seven times over your professional life. Hiring managers look for candidates with broad skills in addition to technical competence.

The Technology Commercialization track in the OSU MBA program can provide that perspective to enhance your technical skills, or enable a career in technical management. In the Integrated Business Project (IBP), MBA students work to develop commercialization plans for selected technologies from OSU researchers, actual startup companies and other sources. Teams evaluate markets, talk with potential customers and develop a strategic plan to move their technology to market. At the OSU Advantage Accelerator we are actively interested in the plans developed by our MBA teams for their startup potential. The skills you develop in the Technology Commercialization track will serve you well regardless of your career plans: as an entrepreneur or a technology manager, or in business development.

John Turner, Ph.D. is the co-director of the OSU Advantage Accelerator. He can be reached at john.turner@oregonstate.edu.

One of the most common questions I receive from prospective MBA applicants is whether they should go straight from their undergraduate studies into an MBA program or work a few years before returning to earn their degree. Like many topics in the MBA world, the answer is “it depends.”

Working three to five years before returning to school can be advantageous if you plan to use your MBA to change careers. The combination of academic and experiential learning inherent in an MBA program can facilitate a career transition into a related or completely disparate field. Other advantages of waiting include the ability to bring real-world examples to classroom discussions and group projects (faculty love this), increased credibility with recruiters/employers and greater MBA program options as some programs only accept those with work experience.

However, if you’re an undergraduate don’t put your GMAT prep materials in storage just yet. Entering an MBA program immediately upon graduation has some advantages as well. First off, being in academic mode eases the transition to graduate school (imagine taking a rigorous course after being out of school for five years). Also, an MBA can positively differentiate you from your peers. Imagine how much more impressive you will be with an expanded knowledge of business fundamentals, opportunities to refine your leadership skills and extensive experience working on group projects, often on multicultural teams. It can also be easier for an early-career student to focus on the holistic MBA experience because often, older students have to juggle family and other commitments in conjunction with their studies.

Bottom line, an MBA is valuable regardless of whether you decide to pursue it immediately upon graduation or after working a few years. If you know an MBA is in the cards no matter what, it may be best to work a few years. However, if you are close to graduation and want to expand your career options, going right into a quality MBA program can be a great career move.