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The GMAT exam is changing.

And I do not mean in the computerized adaptive way that informs your score!

The Graduate Management Admission Council™ (GMAC™) announced this week that major changes are coming to the GMAT exam’s format and structure, likely in later 2023. (The current GMAT is expected to be offered through early 2024.) 

What changes are planned?

1. The exam will be shorter!

The new GMAT Focus Edition will consist of three 45-minute sessions. This new testing experience will require approximately one hour less than the current GMAT, for an improved test-taker experience.

2. It will no longer include written essays!

The updated GMAT will no longer include the Analytical Writing Assessment (essay) section. All questions will be multiple choice.

This might remove the additional anxiety some test takers feel when tasked with writing lengthy timed essays during the same sitting in which they must contend with quant, verbal, and critical thinking exam topics.

3. You will have the flexibility to return to prior questions.

GMAC notes that the new GMAT Focus Edition will allow test takers to mark specific questions within a section and return to them later—similar to options candidates currently have with the GRE exam—and to change up to three question responses per section.

This is in stark contrast to the GMAT’s current structure, which does not allow test takers to return to earlier questions.

You will also be able to choose which section you would like to begin with, which will hopefully help you perform your absolute best on the exam.

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Often, we hear from candidates who are just beginning their business school research and have questions about the MBA experience, application components, and submitting their applications. Many applicants who are entirely new to the process of MBA admissions might be wondering, What do MBA admissions consultants do? And do I need one? 

If this sounds like you, we want to provide an explanation of the kinds of services MBA admissions consultants offer their clients. Hopefully, this information will facilitate your decision on whether hiring such a consultant would be right for you.

What is the general idea behind MBA admissions consulting?

Let us provide some context. Imagine you are interested in a high-level position at a prestigious, top-tier company you know very little about. While doing your preliminary research on the company, you find that its application process is very rigorous and includes several components that are completely new to you, such as writing about yourself and your past experiences in depth, demonstrating your professional mastery, and detailing what has led you to want this job in particular. You surmise that given the demands of your busy schedule, you might need several weeks (or even months) to put together an application that properly captures who you are and gives you the best chance of being considered for the job. And to complicate matters further, you realize that you are competing for this coveted position against thousands of other applicants—many of whom seem to be more qualified than you.

What would you do?

A. Quickly submit an application sight unseen by anyone other than you
or
B. Thoughtfully prepare an application with the help of a trusted advisor, mentor, or former leader at the company

Option B seems far more likely to yield a favorable outcome, right? We think so, too.

With any important decision or move in your life, we believe that getting a second opinion (ideally from a trusted advisor or mentor) is generally always a good idea to help inform your decision-making process and fine-tune the execution of your next steps.

For applicants to the world’s top-15 MBA programs, the stakes are high. Gaining admission to a premier business school will lay the foundation for the rest of an applicant’s life, ensure a quick return on investment, and foster future business success. Each year, thousands of candidates compete for just a few hundred spots in each MBA program’s incoming class, and they all know they need to stand out among the applicant pool. If you think this sounds like an uber-competitive process, it is.

MBA admissions consultants exist for this very reason: to advise MBA hopefuls through the application process and help ensure that the application they ultimately submit is the most compelling version possible.

But what does that process look like? We will explain that next.

What do MBA admissions consultants actually do for their clients?

On a day-to-day basis, MBA admissions consultants collaborate with their clients on the various components of the MBA application process, helping them brainstorm, execute, and polish their application materials. These tasks include the following:

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With regard to the GMAT, raw intellectual horsepower helps, but it is not everything. Manhattan Prep’s Stacey Koprince teaches you how to perform at your best on test day by using some common sense.

In the past, we have talked about what to try if your deadlines are rapidly approaching and you do not yet have the score that you want. What if you decide to postpone the exam and possibly your B-school applications?

First, a pep talk. You made a choice; you did not “fail.” You could, for example, choose to apply this year but lower your standards in terms of where you apply. In fact, depending on your goals, this may be better than waiting a year to try to get into a “better” (or at least more highly ranked) school.

On the other hand, let us say that you are only willing to spend more than $100K if you can get into a certain “level” school, and your GMAT score is holding you back. In that case, postponing for a year may be the way to go. Any “helpful” friends or family members who say, “Hey, I thought you were applying to business school!” can be told, “It is actually a smarter career move for me to wait until next year.” They do not need to know that the GMAT had anything to do with that decision.

So how do you get that score?

There is no guarantee you will get a certain score. Now that you have given yourself some more time, though, put together a smart plan that will give you the best possible chance.

Take a break

If you are already burned out (and most people in this situation are), take a breather. The best thing you can do for yourself right now is clear your brain and ratchet down the stress levels. Come back to the GMAT with a fresh perspective in January.

Set up a plan

Whatever you were doing before was not working for some reason. You need to figure out why so that you can then figure out what kind of plan will work for you.

First, what was your broad study plan/pattern? Were you working on your own or with friends? With a class? With a tutor?

Second, what materials were you using and how were you using them? How were you actually studying/learning when you were not in class or with a tutor?

If you had/have a teacher or tutor, contact them for help with this step. Make sure to provide detailed information about how you were working on your own and any ideas you have about what was and was not working. Also ask other experts for advice—post on some forums, speak to other teachers or tutors, and so on.

The article Developing a GMAT Study Plan contains a number of useful resources to help you figure out next steps. Note that the article is a two-parter. I have linked to the first part here; the second half is linked at the end of the first part.

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Many MBA applicants feel that they are purchasing a brand when they choose a business school. However, the educational experience you will have is what is crucial to your future, and no one will affect your education more than your professors. Today, we focus on Gregory B. Fairchild from the University of Virginia (UVA) Darden School of Business.

As an academic director of public policy and entrepreneurship at Darden, Gregory B. Fairchild (MBA ’92) is charged with promoting ways in which business leadership can connect to broader societal issues. Fairchild, who is the Isidore Horween Research Professor of Business Administration, also serves as the associate dean for Washington, DC–area initiatives and the dean and CEO of UVA Northern Virginia. He specializes in entrepreneurship, business strategies, and business ethics, and he researches ways to create value in underserved areas. Virginia Business magazine has included Fairchild in its “Top 25: People to Watch” feature, and both CNN/Fortune and Poets&Quants have named him one of the best business school professors in the world. Fairchild has received the UVA Public Service Award for Faculty for teaching business courses to prison inmates.

Fairchild has received a number of teaching excellence awards at Darden, including recognition as an outstanding faculty member. One graduate we interviewed called Fairchild’s classes “exhilarating” and noted that he reviews his students’ resumes and can tie someone’s background to the topic of the day. She added that he is “scarily good” at cold calls and “won’t let go until he has dug all of the facts out of you.”

For more information about Darden and 16 other top-ranked MBA schools, check out our free mbaMission Insider’s Guides.

Do you want to make a career pivot but are not sure how to approach it? Career switching is possible, even in tighter job markets, but your success will depend on your ability to convince your target audience that you can add value to their organization. 

Here are five practical steps to make yourself a more compelling candidate and improve your chances of success when switching careers:

1. Become an “insider.” Read extensively about the industry you are interested in, learning about your target company’s position in the market and the products and services it offers. Develop an opinion on key trends and players. Gain an understanding of the skills and areas of knowledge required for the job and the hiring process.
2. Think broadly about the relevance of your background. Identify any potential connection to your target area of interest. For example, if you are interested in consumer products, maybe you have operating or investing experience in the consumer industry. Or perhaps you work in an adjacent industry, interact with a key industry vendor, or are just a devoted customer of the company and admire its business model.
3. Build new technical skills or acquire hands-on experience.Volunteer for assignments outside your core responsibilities at work. Take online certification classes. For example, if you want to become an investment banker, learn financial modeling from Wall Street Prep.
4. Present your interest in a persuasive way. Think about the “why”—what appeals to you about this role or industry, and in what ways are you qualified for it? Hook your listener quickly; clearly convey how you could contribute to the role. Read our Tell Me About Yourself blog post for more tips.
5. Cultivate new relationships.Invest heavily in networking to confirm your interest in the company or industry, gather information on the recruiting process, and learn the requirements for the role.  

With all of this, remember to set realistic goals. Career switches often happen in baby steps. Consider shifting to a new industry, function, or location, but not all three at the same time.

We wish you much success—stay positive, diligent, and persistent. You might receive a lot of rejections before you achieve your goal, but take the opportunity to learn from each of them. They will make you an even better candidate.