Predicting MBA Student Success and Streamlining the Admissions Process

Within this study we examine factors commonly employed as MBA applicant evaluation criteria to see if these criteria are important in determining an applicants potential for success. After a review of our initial findings a subsequent research question emerged: “is the GMAT a necessity in the admissions process or can other factors be employed to confidently determine if a student is likely to be successful in a graduate business program?” The findings indicate that the GMAT is not a significant predictor of student success when considering factors such as undergraduate grade point average and work experience. Furthermore, the results suggest that prior findings in support of the GMAT maybe the result of missing variables in the model specification. Our results show that undergraduate GPA alone can be employed as an admission criterion of potential success in lieu of the GMAT and in doing so streamline the admission process while minimizing student expenses. Within the discussion section we offer suggestions for reducing the need of GMAT score information in the admissions process