Business Schools modify admission requirements due to Coronavirus

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, leading business schools in the world are relaxing their criteria for admissions and encouraging candidates to apply without a GRE, GMAT, EA or TOEFL ranking.

The reason for this decision is the test centers for business school admissions across the world have been closed or the test itself have been postponed or cancelled. This is because several countries are under lockdown or are asking their citizens to go into self-isolation.

As a result of these measures, many business schools are modifying deadlines and the process for late-round MBA applications. Some methods adopted by these business schools include delaying the Round 3 and Round 4 deadlines or reviewing applications without using standardized test scores. Business schools are also planning to conduct admission interviews in the virtual mode instead of face-to-face meetings. They also plan to hold online orientation events.

INSEAD, the  graduate business school, located in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America, has informed all its business school applicants that it will extend some of the application deadlines and start evaluation of applications without standardized tests due to the virus outbreak. It has also decided to conduct admission interviews online for candidates who have been ordered to stay home.

Further INSEAD is open to the idea of accepting applications for MBA admissions without test scores and will investigate requests for deferment.

INSEAD’s decision, which some other business schools have adopted or are likely to adopt will answer the top question in the minds of MBA hopefuls which is how they will take the tests required for admission into these leading business schools.

This change in the admission procedure gives business school aspirants a chance to get away from standardized tests but at the same time if business schools decide to conduct these tests once the crisis is over, it gives them a smaller time frame to take the test this season. So, candidates have to be prepared. The best thing to do under these circumstances is to continue studying and attempt a full-length test on the day the original test was scheduled. This will give candidates a chance to discover where they stand. This will help them prepare better for a future test while keeping in mind that they will have fewer chances of perfecting their score this year. On the flip side, business schools could be flexible with dates that they will accept scores.

Students under social distancing rules or in self-isolation can use this time to complete sections of the MBA application that are possible so that they will get a head start once everything is back to normal and business school admissions are back on track.