• Business School
    • Free MBA Admissions Consultation
    • MBA Admissions Services
    • School-Specific MBA Essay Tips
    • Executive MBA Essay Tips
    • MBA Admissions Calendar
    • Free Guides
    • Video Tips
    • Podcast
    • Selectivity Index
    • EMBA: The Ultimate Guide for Applicants
  • Medical School
    • Free Med School Admissions Consultation
    • Med School Admissions Services
    • Med School Admissions 101
    • Secondary Essay Tips (by School)
    • Student Interviews
    • Free Guides
    • Video Tips
    • Podcast
    • Selectivity Index
  • Law School
    • Free Law School Admissions Consultation
    • Law School Admissions Services
    • Law School Admissions 101
    • Selectivity Index
    • Free Guides
    • Podcast
    • Video Tips
  • Graduate School
    • Free Grad School Admissions Consultation
    • Grad School Admissions Services
    • Grad School Admissions 101
    • Free Guides
    • Video Tips
    • Podcast
  • College
    • Free College Admissions Consultation
    • College Admissions Services
    • Free Guides
    • Supplemental Essay Tips
    • Video Tips
    • Podcast
Accepted

Speak with an Accepted admissions expert for FREE!

Blog HomePodcastContact Us

Accepted Admissions Blog

Everything you need to know to get Accepted

April 30, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

GMAC Requests Putting MBA Rankings on Hold

GMAC requests putting MBA rankings on hold. Click here for more about how COVD-19 is impacting MBA admissions.

The leaders of the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) and two accreditation agencies (AACSB and EFMO) in coordination with MBA CSEA, have asked ranking institutions to stop their work and postpone the publication of their ranking lists due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In addition to giving reasons for the delay, the letter also underscores the fact that b-schools are responding to the changing needs of industry, local communities, and students in original ways. These innovations may lead to new metrics in the ranking systems.  

Also in response to the pandemic, travel and gathering restrictions, and consulate closures, many business schools have extended their application cycles. In doing so they are both responding to applicant concerns and needs while also trying to ensure that they have diverse and full classes when the 2020-21 academic year starts. There are also many concerns about employment outcomes for this year’s graduating class. 

The letter was sent to U.S. News & World Report, the Financial Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Economist, Forbes, and QS. The MBA organizations conveyed concern over the impact that the coronavirus pandemic would have on key markers used to rank MBA programs. U.S. News responded that it is reviewing its policies. 

Click here to find out if you are misusing the business school rankings

How long will the postponement be?

No timeframe was suggested in the request, but they would like to “provide business schools worldwide the opportunity to rebound in these tumultuous circumstances,” which could lead to a year-long suspension of rankings. It is very unlikely that ranking institutions will wait that long to publish their next list. 

Why do these organizations want to stop rankings?

According to Linda Abraham, founder and CEO of Accepted, schools probably believe that the data that will come out of this application cycle isn’t representative or helpful to future applicants. “Rankings force schools to make those numbers public unless all the schools refuse to provide data to the rankings,” she says. “Clearly the schools don’t want those numbers known and don’t want to be ranked on traditional metrics.”

Linda discusses whether the rankings themselves are cause for concern, since all of the schools are in the same situation relative to one another. She does not feel that the rankings will change radically. “However, the stats that the rankings publicize and upon which the different rankings are based could change dramatically. Perhaps schools fear significant drops of 10, 20, or 30 points in the average GMAT score for the class entering in 2020. Perhaps a .2 or more drop in average GPA. Acceptance rates could climb. International diversity, certainly in the U.S., is likely to take a nosedive.”

A silver lining and benefit of a “no-ranking” cycle or at least round is that it frees the MBA programs to focus more on other qualities and qualifications in an application. 

The fact that the GMAT, AACSB, and EFMD have written this letter reflects how important the various rankings are to graduate business education. It is, according to Linda, “a profound acknowledgment of rankings’ influence on application decisions as to whether and where to apply to business schools. Let’s face it. Schools are wrestling with a new, difficult financial reality, the need to completely change their delivery method for an unknown period of time, health concerns, possible lawsuits, and myriad of other issues.”

It’s a tough time for business schools. Their representative organizations are asking for a little breathing room while trying to prevent applicants from making decisions based on misleading information. 

You still have time to apply to an MBA program in R3. Work one-on-one with one of our MBA admissions consultants and GET ACCEPTED!

How will COVID-19 impact your MBA admissions journey? Watch the free webinar to find out.

AcceptedFor 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more. Want an MBA admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

  • Accepted’s MBA Selectivity Index
  • Are You Ready? Introducing the MBA Admissions Calculator Quiz!
  • Linda Abraham and Al Dea Discuss COVID-19 and MBA Admissions

Article by Accepted / MBA Admissions / COVID-19 MBA, GMAC, MBA Rankings

Get Accepted!

Sign up for a free consultation today!

Which program are you applying to?

Most Popular Blog Posts

1. 7 Simple Steps to Writing an Excellent Diversity Essay

2. 4 Ways to Show How You’ll Contribute in the Future

3. How to Write About Your Research Interests

4. Tips for Answering the Yale University Supplemental Essays and Short Answer Questions [2022-2023]

5. When Will Medical Schools Give You an Answer?

6. Sample Essays from Admitted HBS Students

7. Tips for Answering the University of Pennsylvania Supplemental Essay Prompts [2022-2023]

8. Top STEM MBA Programs: A Comprehensive List and Overview of STEM-OPT Eligible B-Schools

Sample Essays

MBA Personal Statement Examples

Medical School Personal Statement Examples

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

Law School Personal Statement Examples

College Application Essay Examples

 

This Site is Featured on GMATClub

Home Page Services and Prices MBA Med School Law School Grad School College

About Us Press Room Contact Us Podcast Accepted Blog
Privacy Policy Website Terms of Use Disclaimer Client Terms of Service

Accepted 1171 S. Robertson Blvd. #140 Los Angeles CA 90035 +1 (310) 815-9553
© 2022 Accepted

BBB A+ RatingStamp of AIGAC Excellence

Copyright © 2023 · Education Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in