Hi everyoneI'm about to start an MBA at Cranfield and would like to get into consulting afterwards. I didn't do the GMAT, as Cranfield have their own test which you can take instead if necessary. Now I've been told that some recruiters look at your GMAT score...so I'm wondering whether it's worth the expense of taking it even though I don't need it to get in to a business school.What do you think?Many thanksMatt

Don't really know about that (sounds a but OTT) but I do know having sat in on experienced hire interviews recently that in a certain large firm they may well ask what your score was, and seem to turn their nose up if they think it is a bit low.

Matt,As an ex Cranfield MBA now working in consultancy I would be very surprised if a recruiter made an initial CV sift decision looking at your (lack of) a GMAT score. Firms doing the consultancy milkround are aware that Cranfield does their own tests on potential MBAs who haven't got a GMAT score.Certainly what they will look for is your ability to work as part of a team of equals, what you did before the MBA and what you wanted to get out of the MBA.Given the fact that you will be working hard for 48 weeks of the next year (you will need your Xmas and Easter breaks to unwind!) I would say don't worry about GMAT scores - there are better things to do with your time.

The only company whose recruiters have ever asked me for GMAT scores is ZS Associates. Unless you want to go into pharma market analysis & sales consulting, I wouldn't worry about it. As RG suggests, it is over the top.

Just to go back to my last, I don't think not having a GMAT score would be a problem, but a low one or worse still claiming to have "forgotten" (as have recently seen!) might be.Only thing is for a lot of other schools (except Cranfield + MBS + ...?) you do need a GMAT - so did you not / not want to / not feel it would have been a good idea to apply anywhere else? Guess as long as you have a rationale for that just in case it ever did come up then it is hard to imagine you would have a problem.