EssaySnark

  • about
  • contact
  • help
  • sign up
  • login
CLICK FOR MORE!
  • Essay Questions
    • Harvard
    • Stanford
    • Wharton
    • Chicago Booth
    • Kellogg
    • MIT Sloan
    • Tuck
    • NYU Stern
    • Columbia
    • Yale SOM
    • Berkeley Haas
    • UVA Darden
    • Duke Fuqua
    • Michigan Ross
    • UCLA Anderson
    • Cornell
  • Strategy Guides
    • MBA Reapplicant Guide
    • Pitching Entrepreneurship as Your Post-MBA Career
    • Applying to European Business Schools
    • School-Specific MBA Application Guides
      • Harvard 2022 MBA Strategy Guide
      • Stanford 2022 MBA Strategy Guide
      • Wharton 2022 MBA Strategy Guide
      • Kellogg 2022 MBA Strategy Guide
      • Chicago Booth 2022 MBA Strategy Guide
      • Columbia 2022 MBA Strategy Guide
      • *MORE SCHOOL-SPECIFIC GUIDES HERE*
  • MBA Consulting
    • Free essay reviews
    • What stage are you in?
    • Military MBA
    • Testimonials & Reviews
  • My SnarkCenter
    • My Strategy Guides
    • My Favorite Posts

Now MIT Sloan changes the game: Test-optional MBA admissions

September 15, 2020 by EssaySnark - Discusses Darden, MIT Sloan Leave a Comment

Whoa. Two blahg posts on one day? Yeah — because this news needs to get out there.

Seismic shifts in the MBA application landscape are occurring right before your very eyes, people.

The coronavirus is causing changes we never thought would happen in graduate business admissions.

Some quick history:

UVA Darden has been experimenting with the possibility of allowing candidates to apply for their MBA programs and be admitted without a GMAT or GRE score, and in the wake of coronavirus upheavals for last year’s Class of 2022 Round 3 in March and April, Darden was the first to allow applications with no score at all. We consider Darden to currently be the leader in willingness to innovate with their MBA applications.

However, MIT Sloan also was willing to break all the rules during that early phase of coronavirus impacts — or at least, they were a fast follower, after Kellogg did so. Both Kellogg and MIT allowed applicants who had been rejected earlier that season, in their Fall 2019 Round 1s, to request for reconsideration. We know of several incredibly well qualified BSers who made it into Sloan through that process; they had been rejected in Round 1 only because Round 1 last year at Sloan was so competitive and very strong candidates had been turned away. The right messaging in the reconsideration request paid off for them.

Now, MIT Sloan has changed the status quo significantly: They’ve just modified their requirements as published on their site to this:

Standardized tests, such as GMAT, GRE, EA, TOEFL, IELTS, are a component of the application process and play an important role in our holistic evaluation process. However, in view of challenges brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, we will allow candidates for the 2020-21 admission cycle to submit their application without the test and review their submitted material as is and without negative inferences. If admitted, candidates will not be required to take a test. [emphasis added]

Additionally, applicants are welcome to submit other pieces of evidence, such as expired test scores (GMAT, GRE, EA, etc.); MITx MicroMasters, CORe, edX, MBAMath, or any other non-degree coursework completed; or certifications earned such as CPA, ACCA, CFA, etc; all of which may assist the Admissions Committee in its evaluation process.

 
 

What does this mean for you, the candidate who’s heart is set on Sloan for your MBA?

Should you skip the test entirely?

What if you never tested — should you bother trying at all?

How about if you have a not-so-great score — should you send it to them?

We will be digging into all of these questions soon here on the blahg! For now we wanted to make this change in policy known to you so you can start considering how it may impact your strategies.

The biggest impact of course is to test prep companies… Not that we expect all schools to ditch GMAT/GRE requirements this season. But perhaps the writing is on the wall?

Overreliance on standardized tests like these maintains the status quo in society, where those with means do better. If you’re wealthy, you have access to tutors and test prep resources, and you can afford the fees to take the tests over and over until you get the score that an elite school requires. Overreliance on standardized tests in admissions reinforces systemic racism in elite colleges and universities. This change is overdue.

Thank you MIT Sloan for being willing to be first.

Filed Under: coronavirus, GMAT/GRE Bschools: Darden, MIT Sloan

« Previous: ($) Is it OK for your essay to be overlimit?
Next: ($) Are you arrogant? »

So who the heck is EssaySnark, anyway?!

We're the snarky experts in MBA admissions!

Sometimes amused and often appalled by what candidates write in their MBA applications to top bschools, EssaySnark created this little blahg to share common mistakes. Learn from them and avoid making admissions directors laugh (or want to hurl) when they read your essays. If you are hoping to have your essay reviewed anonymously on the blahg for free, submit it for consideration.

Want EssaySnark's personal assistance with your MBA applications? Start with our menu of consulting services and please read the Help FAQ to learn how we operate. Still have questions after doing all that? Email Team EssaySnark at gethelpnow at essaysnark dot com.

Good luck on your apps, Brave Supplicant!

Tell us what you think. Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sign up for the 'Snark via email

Enter your address to get weekday blahg posts by email.

UPCOMING MBA APP DEADLINES

  • INSEAD Jan '24 intake Rd 1
    in 1 month, 1 week, 0 days
  • INSEAD Round 4
    in 1 month, 1 week, 0 days
  • INSEAD Jan '24 Intake Rd 2
    in 2 months, 2 weeks, 4 days
  • INSEAD Jan '24 Intake Rd 3
    in 4 months, 3 weeks, 6 days
  • INSEAD Jan '24 Intake Rd 4
    in 6 months, 1 week, 1 day
   
   

CLASS OF 2025 MBA APPLICATION STRATEGY GUIDES

From a former BSer:
"love the guide books!"




    The 2022 Stanford MBA Application Guide - for "what matters most" in your MBA application!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Stanford GSB for the Class of 2025
   
    The 2022 Harvard MBA Application Guide - updated for the Class of 2025!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Harvard Business School!
   
  The 2022 Wharton MBA Application Guide - even more advice on how to get to a win with those essays!
SnarkStrategies Guide for The Wharton School - with clear guidance for the 2022 essays!
   
  The 2022-2023 Columbia MBA Application Guide
SnarkStrategies Guide for Columbia Business School for 2022-2023 applications
   
    The 2022 MIT Essay Guide covers the org chart, the cover letter and 'introduce yourself' video, plus the new optional short-answer question on "the world you come from" -- and everything else you need to know!
SnarkStrategies Guide for MIT Sloan MBA - totally revised for the Class of 2025!
   
    The 2022 Kellogg Essay Guide - with a full methodology to identify your 'lasting impact' and your 'values'
SnarkStrategies Guide for Kellogg MBA - revised for 2022!
   
    The 2022 UVA Darden MBA Application Guide gives insights on the essays, Early Action, the possibility of a test waiver, and everything else going on here!
SnarkStrategies Guide for the Darden MBA - updated for the Class of 2025 requirements!
   
   
The Yale SOM MBA Application Guide for Class of 2025 candidates!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Yale SOM - updated for 2022
   
    The 2022 Berkeley-Haas MBA Application Guide - updated for the Class of 2025 application!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Berkeley Haas - refreshed and updated, with brainstorming exercises and structured maps to help you focus your stories!
   
    The 2022-2023 NYU Stern MBA Application Guide that covers the essays, the EQ Endorsement and test strategies!
SnarkStrategies Guide for NYU - discusses your requirements for the Class of 2025 essays!
       
   
   
Get started now - without doing any work! The Comprehensive Profile Review will help you start your strategy for your MBA applications.


EssaySnark® is a registered trademark. All content copyright © 2010–2023 Snarkolicious Press · Privacy Policy