Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, business schools around the country are changing their admission requirements. This has been done in order to ensure that any applicants who have not taken the GMAT/GRE tests are still able to gain admission. Whilst the GMAT test is able to be taken from home, for many applicants this is not a possibility.

Schools that do not require GMAT for admission: (Note: the info below was published in April 2020 and is only relevant for 2019-2020 application cycle. Several schools changes their admission requirements for 2020-2021 application cycle, follow our website and blog for more updates)

School Substitute Tests Additional Notes
Darden SAT, ACT
Duke EA
Kellogg GMAT/GRE scores are not compulsory but can be included
McCombs Applicants may be exempt if they meet special circumstances
Cornell SAT, ACT If you are an applicant to the One Year MBA program, an SAT or ACT score may be submitted in lieu of the GMAT or GRE for applicants with advanced standing who apply by the April 24 application submission deadline.
If you are an applicant to the Two Year MBA program, an SAT or ACT score may be submitted in lieu of the GMAT or GRE for applicants who apply by the June 1 application submission deadline.
If you have a current GMAT or GRE score, but hope to retake an exam, please proceed with submitting your current test scores and use the Optional Essay to indicate that you are planning to retake an exam if and when it is possible to do so. You may also consider submitting an SAT or ACT score if you believe your score on those exams better reflects the quality of your candidacy.
Tepper Applicants who possess strong quantitative backgrounds will be except from submitting GMAT or GRE test scores
Owen Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management has waived its standardized test requirement for MBA candidates applying in Round 4. Qualified candidates who are admitted to the program without a test score may be asked to complete additional pre-work before the start of the school year. Round 4 applicants with valid GMAT or GRE scores are encouraged to submit them.
UNC Applicants who are unable to submit GMAT or GRE test scores will be able to request a GMAT/GRE waiver
HULT The MBA requirement for GMAT will be waived if the applicant has proven to have more than 5 years of managerial work experience. Applicants may take the Hult Business Assessment Test (your Enrollment Advisor will let you know if you are required to submit this).
USC GMAT/GRE test scores optional.

See below more details and exact quotes from the websites of top MBA programs regarding the changes in admission process due to the COVID-19 situation:

Chicago Booth

University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business with continue accepting applications until May 31st 2020. This comes after their previous April 2nd deadline. Decisions will be released on a rolling basis

GMAT, GRE, and TOEFL test scores are able to be submitted until July 1st 2020. Applications will be reviewed without these test scores, however, decisions will not be made until scores have been submitted.

Due to the closure of test centers, applicants will be allowed to submit GMAC and ETS tests that have been taken at home.

Darden

Round 2 applicants who have not taken the GMAT, GRE, LSAT or MCAT exams, will be allowed to submit SAT, ACT or country-specific university entrance exam scores.

Applicants are also encouraged to submit any documentation of academic merit and ability, such as certifications, CPA, CFA and others.

In the case that test centers open in the near future, test scores will be eligible for submission until July 15th.

Duke Fuqua

For round 4 applicants, in addition to GMAT and GRE scores, will be able to submit EA (Executive Assessment) test results. The official score report is not a requirement for the initial application, but will need to be provided for admission.

Due to the closure of test centers, applicants will be allowed to submit GMAC and ETS tests that have been taken at home.

An additional round 4 will be an option for prospective students who still want to apply. The deadline for this round is May 19th 2020

The start of the academic year has been pushed off to September 3rd 2020.

Georgetown

In order to be make applications more flexible for applicants during this time, Georgetown accept the following tests for their Full-time and Flexible MBAs: GMAT/GRE, GMAT/GRE that have been taken from home, expired GMAT/GRE, EA (executive assessment) test (starting round 4), LSAT (starting round 4) and MCAT (starting round 4).

Kelley

Prospective students can submit applications without a GMAT or GRE score, however, test scores will need to be provided for admission.

Kellogg

Kellogg will continue to accept applications for round 3 until June 1st. Prospective students who apply after April 8th will be considered on a rolling basis.

GMAT/GRE scores are not compulsory but can be included.

Due to the closure of test centers, applicants will be allowed to submit GMAC and ETS tests that have been taken at home.

Kellogg are willing to reassess previously dinged applicants

McCombs

The McCombs School of Business may exempt applicants from submitting test scores (GMAT, GRE, EA, TOEFL or IELTS) under the following circumstances:

  • The applicant is unable to take the exam at home for technological or environmental reasons.
  • The applicant or a close family member has been diagnosed with, or affected by, COVID-19.
  • Online testing is not available in the applicants country of residence.

Any applicant who would like to be considered for a test exception must submit an online form found on the school’s website.

MIT

Prospective students can submit applications without a GMAT or GRE score, however, test scores will need to be provided for admission.

MIT are willing to reassess previously dinged applicants.

Ross

Prospective students can submit applications without a GMAT or GRE score, however, test scores will need to be provided for admission.

Due to the closure of test centers, applicants will be allowed to submit GMAC and ETS tests that have been taken at home.

Stanford

Stanford’s Graduate School of Business will accept test scores until August 1st 20202. They encourage applicants to submit applications before the round 3 deadline. Those who cannot submit test scores before May 21st will be considered a competitive applicant.

Admitted international students who are not able to start the MBA program in September, due to visa issues, will be considered for deferrals for the next academic year.

Tepper

Applicants who possess strong quantitative backgrounds will be except from submitting GMAT or GRE test scores. These students will be required to attend a Math Skills Workshop, pass the Tepper Mathematics Prep course and hold a 3.0 GPA in their first semester.

Wharton

Prospective students can submit applications without a GMAT or GRE score, however, test scores will need to be provided by August 10th 2020 for admission. (Advance Access applicants will need to submit test scores by December 31st 2020)

UNC

Applicants who are unable to submit GMAT or GRE test scores will be able to request a GMAT/GRE waiver. Those who are granted waivers will be able to submit other test scores such as SAT, ACT, LSAT, MCAT etc.

USC

USC’s Marshall School of Business has made the submission of GMAT/GRE test scores optional.

Their round 4 deadline has been extended from April 15th to May 1st.

A round 5 has been added, with a deadline of June 5th, in order to applicants more time to prepare.

After June 5th applicants will still be allowed to apply with admission on a rolling basis.