Worth doing GMAT/GRE in Gap Year? (UK)

Hi everyone,

Previously was recommended the idea of taking the GMAT during my gap-year - but now wanting to re-evaluate and think if there is anything I'm either missing out currently, or if I can re-plan this to be better at all.

(I am also aware that the GMAT is introducing a new 'focused' version which is slightly shorter, which will be the new standard I would do).

My original plan was:

• Current Gap Year (potentially take GMAT within this year, allowing me to use score for 5 years) -> go through undergraduate at a target IB university -> simultaneously try follow spring into summer into FT pipeline -> when in final year, apply to Harvard 2+2 programme, using valid GMAT score from gap-year.

Main concerns & questions lie as follows:

• If my plan to apply to Harvard fails, I then have only 2 years remaining of being able to use the GMAT scores and may likely find myself re-taking it to then renew the 5 year expiry. I'm also quite unsure of any other similar deferral MBA schemes like this (where I can apply in my final year of undergraduate study) - which makes me unsure on if it's even worthwhile taking this early. Thoughts?

• I have contacted some target universities, but as someone applying at the undergraduate level I'm unsure how someone trying to include a GMAT score into their application on UCAS would look. Assuming it will look good (if I do well of course) and differentiate my profile slighlty, but also worry it may be slightly excessive and may not even be considered in my profile. Waiting on a response from universities to solidify this.