A question we frequently hear from aspiring MBAs is “Do I have a strong enough quantitative background to get accepted to a top business school?” The leading MBA programs do indeed have high academic standards, but we believe that by planning ahead and employing a few key tactics, candidates with less-robust quant backgrounds should not have any reason to forgo their dreams of attending a top program. In this post, we present four ways to boost your quantitative profile before you apply to business school.
But first, why are quantitative skills so crucial for MBAs?
Business schools want to ensure that their incoming students are data savvy and will not struggle to keep up with the material (or their classmates) in rigorous quantitative classes. Much of the core MBA curriculum involves understanding and analyzing data. For instance, Columbia Business School’s first-year core curriculum includes courses such as “Business Analytics” and “Corporate Finance,” and the Wharton School’s core includes “Statistics: Regression Analysis for Managers.” Applicants often ask us, “What if I am applying to a business school that is not quantitatively rigorous?” But this is never the case—an MBA program that is light on quantitative work simply does not exist! They all entail demanding quantitative subjects.
Thinking ahead, business schools also want applicants who can apply the quantitative skills they learn in the classroom to real-world business problems and who will be marketable to recruiters. For candidates whose post-MBA career goals involve working in a field such as management consulting, finance, or private equity, quantitative skills are particularly a must, but fields such as marketing, product management, and business development are increasingly data-driven. You would be hard-pressed to find a post-MBA profession that does not require using quantitative tools to evaluate problems or forecast behavior.
The bottom line, then, is that all MBA applicants must prove their quantitative aptitude. This is easy for applicants who majored in mathematics, finance, or engineering or who work in a field such as data science or investment banking—as well as those who aced the Quantitative section of their standardized test. But if this is not you, and topics such as “regression” send you into a panic, here are our four tips for building up your quantitative profile.
1. Start early with standardized testing.
This key part of your application is still largely within your control (unlike your GPA), so give yourself plenty of time to study thoroughly and take several practice exams. Getting an early start also gives you time to retake the exam if you do not achieve your target score on the first try (schools will always consider your highest score). You should strive to reach a high overall score—as close to your target program’s average as possible, if not higher—while showing a minimum level of competence in the Quantitative section. To demonstrate the necessary level of quantitative acumen, you should strive for a Quantitative subsection score of at least 46 on the Classic GMAT, at least 79 on the new GMAT Focus, 163 on the GRE, or 11 on the Executive Assessment (EA) for top U.S. programs. And if you are unsure about which standardized test best fits you, check out our video “What Is a Competitive GMAT, GRE, and EA Score?”
2. Supplement your transcript.
Another great way to show competence in quantitative areas is to take pre-MBA coursework in relevant subjects, such as statistics, calculus, accounting, and finance. You should aim to earn A grades in these classes and complete them before you submit your application so you can include the transcripts. Check with universities in your area to find out what in-person courses are available (often through a continuing education program, such as New York University’s School of Professional Studies), or choose one of the many online courses available (we recommend ones through universities, such as those from the University of California Berkeley Extension or the University of California Los Angeles Extension). An even more robust option is the Credential of Readiness (CORe) three-course program from Harvard Business School Online, which is “designed to help you achieve fluency in the language of business.” If you are pressed for time, check out MBA Math, which offers self-paced lessons tailored for pre-MBA preparation. Lastly, some candidates can supplement their transcript by attaining professional certifications, such as the CFA, CPA, and Series 7/63, though we recommend pursuing such certifications only if obtaining them also benefits your career plans.
3. Choose your recommenders wisely.
In general, you should pick recommenders who know you well, can share several specific examples that illustrate your strengths, and enthusiastically support your decision to earn an MBA. If your profile lacks proof of quantitative abilities, select at least one recommender who can provide examples of your quantitative work or related skills, such as analytical problem-solving, ability to navigate complex situations, and quick learning. Ask them to comment on these areas specifically. Your recommender’s endorsement of your abilities in such areas will help the admissions committee feel more confident about your capacity to handle quantitative work.
4. Be strategic about your resume.
Your MBA application resume must differ from the one you would use for job hunting. It should not be an exhaustive list of every project you have ever worked on; instead, it should present your most impressive accomplishments, emphasizing the results or impact you achieved. Include bullet points referencing any quantitative work you have done, such as managing budgets, building financial models, or analyzing survey data. Also, quantify the impact of your efforts whenever possible, even if your work was not quantitative in nature, so that you can at least show an ability to translate qualitative achievements into quantitative impact. For more resume tips, download a free copy of the mbaMission Resume Guide.
Use these four recommendations to proactively address any concerns an admissions committee might have about your quantitative aptitude. And remember, MBA programs want to assemble diverse incoming classes, so never let your limited quantitative background stop you from applying!
