Los Angeles MBA Programs without GMAT/GRE Requirements

Last Updated Nov 16, 2016 by Kelly Vo

Applying for an MBA program is an involved process. You have to fill out the application, write essays, ace an interview, develop a “killer” resume, and ask for stellar letters of recommendation. It’s a more involved process than any job application or interview and how well you do can affect your life and job prospects for years to come. Worse yet, most programs also require the GMAT or GRE, increasing your workload and stress exponentially.

Not only do you have to spend weeks studying for the GMAT or GRE, but you also have to be a great test-taker. And, unfortunately, for many of us, the last big test we took was the SAT in high school, and grad school tests aren’t a fair comparison.

The GMAT and GRE are incredibly difficult tests with a lot of pressure associated with them. For most people, it requires extensive preparation to get a decent score, but many working professionals just don’t have the time needed to invest in preparation to get a high score. In fact, for many individuals, the requirement of the GMAT/GRE are a reason to skip out on the MBA process entirely.

However, you don’t have to take things that far. There are quite a few Los Angeles MBA programs that don’t require you to take the GMAT or GRE for admissions—saving you time, money and stress. Below is a list of the schools that waive the test score requirements:

Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles

Mount Saint Mary’s weekend MBA and evening/hybrid MBA don’t require the GMAT or GRE for admission. Instead, the Admissions Committee reviews each program application holistically.

The MBA curriculum is divided into four theme-based modules so that candidates receive an education that integrates all business disciplines into an effective set of tools. The modules are:

Understanding the external global business environment,
Designing an internal strategy to steer future organization operations,
Implementing a strategy to achieve desired outcomes,
Applying knowledge to real problems.

Beyond the theme-based curriculum, Saint Mary’s MBA approach is all about flexibility. It combines on-ground and online learning to make it as easy as possible for working professionals to improve themselves with a degree. Graduation can be obtained in as few as 15-18 months, and the learning environment is intimate, with classes of no more than 25 students per cohort.

According to Mount Saint Mary’s admissions committee, the only thing an MBA applicant needs to do to prepare for class is to take nine units of Foundation courses, which are designed specifically for students who were not business majors in their undergraduate studies.

Anderson School of Management – UCLA

The Anderson School, one of the top business schools in the world, offers a global MBA program without requiring a GMAT/GRE score. UCLA Anderson and the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School jointly offer the NUS Global Executive MBA Program. The goal of the program is to prepare and develop senior managers for top management positions in large multinational operations.

Students interested in applying to the program do not need a GMAT score if they have prior academic work that shows clear evidence of strong quantitative and logical reasoning skills. However, if that is not the case, the admissions committee may ask applicants to provide GMAT scores after pre-review of their candidacy.

Mainly, the program is meant for professionals with a significant amount of full-time work experience (around ten years) and a current position in a high-level managerial responsibility. And the 15-month curriculum will cover 16 course modules and a two-part Management Practicum.

Marshall School of Business – USC

The global EMBA at the Marshall School of Business is made for working professionals with around 15 years of professional experience. Thus, a GMAT score is not required. Instead, their in-depth admissions process is focused on a formal interview and a dynamic selection process that makes test-based admissions unnecessary. Applicants interested in applying should concentrate more on being highly qualified and displaying a desire to become a successful and globally relevant C-suite leader.

The learning experience for the GEMBA is integrated and theme-based. It takes place over 20 months and allows students to maintain their career while studying. Students can expect a dynamic environment that focuses on real-world business problems and leaders that touch almost every aspect of an organization.

Stephen M. Ross School of Business – University of Michigan

The Stephen M. Ross School of Business, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has a popular sister-site in Los Angeles, and is home to the executive MBA program. Not only does the program offer a holistic management curriculum, but it also has a global reputation and doesn’t require the GMAT/GRE for admission. Instead, the admissions committee mainly focuses on work experience—around ten years expected—as well as a “killer” interview.

As for the curriculum, it takes 21 months to graduate with both online and in-class coursework as well as lectures, case studies, team-based simulations and exams. For many students, the highlight of the program is the hands-on learning environment, including the executive multidisciplinary action projects course, which spans the entire fourth term of the EMBA program.

In the end, if you decide one of the programs isn’t for you and you want to open your windows of opportunity with the GMAT, check out our GMAT Preparation Guide from Veritas Prep.

For more information on the GMAT and GRE in Los Angeles and other Metros see MetroMBA’s No GMAT and GRE Guide and Los Angeles MBA Programs that Don’t Require the GMAT or GRE.

regions: Los Angeles