Why Business Schools Want You To Take GMAT Prep Courses
Business schools are just that, schools. Their aim is to educate and train ambitious students to enter and conquer the business world. When selecting applicable candidates admission's councilors aim to identify those students that have disciplined study habits and treat unknown information with respect. The GMAT exam is very complex and aims to assess an individuals analytical and critical reasoning skills. GMAT Scoring in the 90th percentile without any preparation is commendable. It proves an incredible aptitude and natural talent, a very sharp mind. What this score also exemplifies is that perfection was not the goal. This student, although incredibly talented, was lazy and complacent. The 90th percentile score isn't an accomplishment based on hard work, this student settled for what required the least amount of effort. The student sacrificed any additional points in order to not have to study and prepare. Business schools are not interested simply in high scores, they want to see a test-taker meet their utmost potential. If this hypothetical student prepared for the exam through a disciplined study schedule the 90th percentile score could possibly have been raised to a 92nd. Those two percentage points make a world of difference and exemplify the work ethic desired by admissions councilors.
Signing up and completing a test-preparation for the GMAT before Business school is the same as attending boot camp before battle. You might possess all the natural ability that would make for a perfect candidate, however, business schools teach something that you don't know. That is why it is so difficult to attain an MBA degree. The best way to prepare for the business school experience is by entering a program tailor made for potential business school students. If you can't do well in a test-preparation course chances are you won't thrive in an MBA program. Attending a disciplined GMAT program and showcasing the results with a high score tells admissions counselors that you take your success very seriously. An MBA program is rooted in work ethic, for which there is no substitution. It is also important to remember that test-preparation courses are generally taught by instructors who've taken the GMAT and possibly even completed an MBA program.
Receiving instruction from an individual who has completed an MBA program means access to first hand experience. There are a lot of misconceptions about business school so it is important to lean as much about the process as possible. Admissions counselors aren't looking to trick candidates into a program they wouldn't be truly interested in. Their goal is to match their school's program with students that would enjoy and subsequently excel at the curriculum. The world of business is a calling. the ideal candidate would have a natural affinity to the concepts that would be taught. A GMAT practice course could be considered as a practice run. The GMAT is not a business test but the same style of thinking is required. If conditioning yourself to think analytically and critically feels too unnatural and unpleasurable, perhaps business school would be a mistake. Even if you don't initially feel like a fish in water but still have a keen interest in the concepts being taught, business school would be a place to further develop whatever ambitions are driving your career.
Entry into business school is not a mystery. Admissions counselors want students to succeed, professors want students to succeed, everyone in the administration is thrilled by the idea of a student's success. Their job is to identify which students have the same desire for success. A score in the 90th percentile on the GMAT earned by a student who dedicated the necessary time for preparation means a lot more than the same score earned solely on natural talent. In the workforce natural talent alone is insufficient. To succeed in the workforce one requires work ethic and utilizing every resource available to maximize your GMAT score exemplifies this very vital characteristic.