A change in the MBA test taking industry that may change the way admissions committees evaluate applicants.

The GMAT Vs. the incoming GRE exam

Traditionally, business schools only accepted the GMAT exam for admissions consideration. The GRE exam was never considered as it was used by universities for consideration in graduate programs, not including the MBA.

In an effort to expand their reach of potential applicants, some top business schools are accepting GRE scores in addition to GMAT scores. Because the demographic of GRE test takers includes more liberal arts majors and females, the presence of the GRE in MBA admissions may contribute to diversity in the student body.

How do they compare?

Well ETS is claiming that they test the same skills that the GMAT tests while the GMAC wants people to believe their GMAT exam is better at assessing students for academic success in business school. MIT, Stanford, the University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins and Instituto De Empresa in Madrid are all jumping on the GRE bandwagon.

And now, a portion of Harvard called the 2+2 program is accepting both GMAT and GRE results beginning with the class of 2012. On their blog, Harvard announced: “Beginning with the class of 2012, HBS will accept both GMAT and GRE results. We think that both tests will provide adequate metrics of what a standardized test can tell us about a candidate. It will take a while for us to do a complete update of every reference to these tests on our website. In the meantime, please accept this as official notification of this change.”

No wonder why the GMAT stated they are changing up the exam come 2013!

So how will this change the game? Well, here are a few topics and my predictions of what will happen.

In terms of who applies to business school, what will happen? Well, there are two trends that could take place.

1) A portion of those who originally were thinking of a master’s degree in subjects like psychology, English, sociology, mathematics, and chemistry will now also consider business school.

2) Those who were going to take the GMAT, might consider taking the GRE instead.

So now, will competition to enter Americas top business schools become even more intense in coming years?

Each incoming class of MBA students will have a smaller percentage dedicated to those who came from backgrounds such as investment banking and management consulting. A larger percentage of incoming students will come less quantitatively-intensive fields.

What about admissions acceptance rates?

The number of available spots will likely stay the same, but the acceptance rate will probably go up as the number of applications go up. But if we subdivide applicants into categories based on what their previous background is, I would say the competition will get tougher for those already in business and finance while those in less traditional fields will be slightly incentivized to join the bschool community.

Is the GMAC just going to sit there and let ETS enter their business school turf without doing anything?

Of course not! The GMAC has already announced they will be launching a next generation GMAT in 2013.

Personally, I believe business schools are beginning to realize the value of the GMAT is diminishing over the years for several reasons. One, recent cheating scandals involving websites posting live GMAT questions several years ago as well as news of professional GMAT test takers bypassing security to sit in on the test for several students have triggered alarm among business schools’ perception of the GMAT test.

Also, the average GMAT test score has been going up and up-perhaps because of good prep programs ranging from Kaplan to The GMAT Pill Study Method as well as the availability of free prep material on the internet.

With these trends of average test scores going up and increasing security issues with GMAT questions, no wonder why business schools are hunting elsewhere-and for good reason. The GRE will increase the number of female applicants (almost all business schools have a 2:1 ratio of males to females) and help business schools better balance a diverse class. Moreover, the GRE arguably tests very similar concepts and may be a decent substitute.

There is still much to be decided in coming years. But a trend is happening. And there may be some significant changes to business school policies in coming years as a result.

This text on GMAT Vs. GREwas guest-written by Zeke Lee, designer of the popular GMAT Test Prep resource called the GMAT Pill Study Method. Known for its extraordinarily helpful On-Demand Videos featuring a unique thinking process for the GMAT exam, the GMAT Pill is a relatively quick and painless solution for effective studying.