Predicting MBA Student Success and Streamlining the Admissions Process

Abstract

Within this study the author examines factors commonly employed as master of business administration applicant evaluation criteria to see if these criteria are important in determining an applicant's potential for success. The findings indicate that the Graduate Management Admissions Test (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 are the result of missing variables in the model specification. Our results show that undergraduate grade point average alone can be employed as an admission criterion and indicator of potential success in lieu of the GMAT; adopting this criterion instead can streamline the admission process while minimizing student expenses. Within the discussion section the author offers suggestions for reducing the need for the GMAT score information in the admissions process.

Keywords:

• admission criteria
• GMAT
• MBA
• waiver

Notes

1 Twelve of the GMAT scores are converted Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores—the analysis was assessed with and without the converted GRE scores and there was not a significant change in the data or results. None of the students having converted scores were unsuccessful in the program.

2 The likelihood chi-squared ratio is attained by subtracting the difference of the two models and multiplying by two [LR Chi2(1 df) = 2*(–18.275 – –19.588) = 2.616]. The chi-squared probability is calculated using the measured chi-squared ratio and the difference in degrees of freedom.