u/AshKoth1997

Trying to lock in which test to commit to.

Profile

• ~7 years in energy/process engineering; targeting 1-year Executive MBAs (India + international); aiming at energy/strategy/consulting roles.
• INR 7 Cr+ of tangible project impact, 15-month international stint, line-manager responsibilities with 7 direct reportees on my current project.

Where I stand

• GRE 323 (test-centre), taken 5 October 2024 — a baseline to build on.
• 2 months to prep, working full time, so limited hours (couple on weekdays, more on weekends).
• Switching to GMAT means starting from scratch — no baseline.

So GRE feels like the natural choice on timeline alone, but I want to sanity-check whether I'm just picking the easier option.

The catch: I'd re-attempt to strengthen the application, since lots of Indian candidates now land 330+ and institutes clearly prefer higher scores — so a 323 may not carry much weight. And the top bands differ awkwardly: GMAT's "top" band is wide (685–700+), while GRE's is ~330–340 and shrinking, so a GRE score has to be near-perfect to stand out. One coverage note: IIM-C (PGPEX) is GMAT-only, so GRE-only mostly costs me that program.

Questions for anyone who's done this recently (especially Indian applicants):

1. For GRE-admitted students — any disadvantage at placements, or a non-issue once you're in?
2. Is losing IIM-C enough to justify a brand-new test in 2 months, when everything else takes the GRE?
3. I'm on the higher end of ISB's batch profile, and from what I've seen ISB favours candidates who won't drag its placement stats. How should I approach ISB?
4. Is it realistically easier to hit GMAT's top band (685–700+) from scratch in 2 months than to push a 323 GRE to 330+?
5. How much can a 323 GRE realistically move in 2 months of part-time prep?
6. For consulting/strategy targets — does GRE vs GMAT register with adcoms or recruiters at all, or is it a non-factor post-admit?

Appreciate any real-world input.

TL;DR: ~7 yr energy/process engineer targeting 1-yr Executive MBAs (India + international). Have a centre-based GRE 323 from Oct 2024 and 2 months to prep part-time; GMAT would be from scratch. Leaning towards GRE on timeline, but worried a 323 is weak now (many candidates hit 330+), and GRE's top band (330–340) is narrower than GMAT's (685–700+). Re-attempt the GRE or switch to GMAT?

Trying to lock in which test to commit to.

Profile

• ~7 years in energy/process engineering; targeting 1-year Executive MBAs (India + international); aiming at energy/strategy/consulting roles.
• INR 7 Cr+ of tangible project impact, 15-month international stint, line-manager responsibilities with 7 direct reportees on my current project.

Where I stand

• GRE 323 (test-centre), taken 5 October 2024 — a baseline to build on.
• 2 months to prep, working full time, so limited hours (couple on weekdays, more on weekends).
• Switching to GMAT means starting from scratch — no baseline.

So GRE feels like the natural choice on timeline alone, but I want to sanity-check whether I'm just picking the easier option.

The catch: I'd re-attempt to strengthen the application, since lots of Indian candidates now land 330+ and institutes clearly prefer higher scores — so a 323 may not carry much weight. And the top bands differ awkwardly: GMAT's "top" band is wide (685–700+), while GRE's is ~330–340 and shrinking, so a GRE score has to be near-perfect to stand out. One coverage note: IIM-C (PGPEX) is GMAT-only, so GRE-only mostly costs me that program.

Questions for anyone who's done this recently (especially Indian applicants):

1. For GRE-admitted students — any disadvantage at placements, or a non-issue once you're in?
2. Is losing IIM-C enough to justify a brand-new test in 2 months, when everything else takes the GRE?
3. I'm on the higher end of ISB's batch profile, and from what I've seen ISB favours candidates who won't drag its placement stats. How should I approach ISB?
4. Is it realistically easier to hit GMAT's top band (685–700+) from scratch in 2 months than to push a 323 GRE to 330+?
5. How much can a 323 GRE realistically move in 2 months of part-time prep?
6. For consulting/strategy targets — does GRE vs GMAT register with adcoms or recruiters at all, or is it a non-factor post-admit?

Appreciate any real-world input.

TL;DR: ~7 yr energy/process engineer targeting 1-yr Executive MBAs (India + international). Have a centre-based GRE 323 from Oct 2024 and 2 months to prep part-time; GMAT would be from scratch. Leaning towards GRE on timeline, but worried a 323 is weak now (many candidates hit 330+), and GRE's top band (330–340) is narrower than GMAT's (685–700+). Re-attempt the GRE or switch to GMAT?

Trying to lock in which test to commit to.

Profile

• ~7 years in energy/process engineering; targeting 1-year Executive MBAs (India + international); aiming at energy/strategy/consulting roles.
• INR 7 Cr+ of tangible project impact, 15-month international stint, line-manager responsibilities with 7 direct reportees on my current project.

Where I stand

• GRE 323 (test-centre), taken 5 October 2024 — a baseline to build on.
• 2 months to prep, working full time, so limited hours (couple on weekdays, more on weekends).
• Switching to GMAT means starting from scratch — no baseline.

So GRE feels like the natural choice on timeline alone, but I want to sanity-check whether I'm just picking the easier option.

The catch: I'd re-attempt to strengthen the application, since lots of Indian candidates now land 330+ and institutes clearly prefer higher scores — so a 323 may not carry much weight. And the top bands differ awkwardly: GMAT's "top" band is wide (685–700+), while GRE's is ~330–340 and shrinking, so a GRE score has to be near-perfect to stand out. One coverage note: IIM-C (PGPEX) is GMAT-only, so GRE-only mostly costs me that program.

Questions for anyone who's done this recently (especially Indian applicants):

1. For GRE-admitted students — any disadvantage at placements, or a non-issue once you're in?
2. Is losing IIM-C enough to justify a brand-new test in 2 months, when everything else takes the GRE?
3. I'm on the higher end of ISB's batch profile, and from what I've seen ISB favours candidates who won't drag its placement stats. How should I approach ISB?
4. Is it realistically easier to hit GMAT's top band (685–700+) from scratch in 2 months than to push a 323 GRE to 330+?
5. How much can a 323 GRE realistically move in 2 months of part-time prep?
6. For consulting/strategy targets — does GRE vs GMAT register with adcoms or recruiters at all, or is it a non-factor post-admit?

Appreciate any real-world input.

TL;DR: ~7 yr energy/process engineer targeting 1-yr Executive MBAs (India + international). Have a centre-based GRE 323 from Oct 2024 and 2 months to prep part-time; GMAT would be from scratch. Leaning towards GRE on timeline, but worried a 323 is weak now (many candidates hit 330+), and GRE's top band (330–340) is narrower than GMAT's (685–700+). Re-attempt the GRE or switch to GMAT?

Trying to lock in which test to commit to.

Profile

• ~7 years in energy/process engineering; targeting 1-year Executive MBAs (India + international); aiming at energy/strategy/consulting roles.
• INR 7 Cr+ of tangible project impact, 15-month international stint, line-manager responsibilities with 7 direct reportees on my current project.

Where I stand

• GRE 323 (test-centre), taken 5 October 2024 — a baseline to build on.
• 2 months to prep, working full time, so limited hours (couple on weekdays, more on weekends).
• Switching to GMAT means starting from scratch — no baseline.

So GRE feels like the natural choice on timeline alone, but I want to sanity-check whether I'm just picking the easier option.

The catch: I'd re-attempt to strengthen the application, since lots of Indian candidates now land 330+ and institutes clearly prefer higher scores — so a 323 may not carry much weight. And the top bands differ awkwardly: GMAT's "top" band is wide (685–700+), while GRE's is ~330–340 and shrinking, so a GRE score has to be near-perfect to stand out. One coverage note: IIM-C (PGPEX) is GMAT-only, so GRE-only mostly costs me that program.

Questions for anyone who's done this recently (especially Indian applicants):

1. For GRE-admitted students — any disadvantage at placements, or a non-issue once you're in?
2. Is losing IIM-C enough to justify a brand-new test in 2 months, when everything else takes the GRE?
3. I'm on the higher end of ISB's batch profile, and from what I've seen ISB favours candidates who won't drag its placement stats. How should I approach ISB?
4. Is it realistically easier to hit GMAT's top band (685–700+) from scratch in 2 months than to push a 323 GRE to 330+?
5. How much can a 323 GRE realistically move in 2 months of part-time prep?
6. For consulting/strategy targets — does GRE vs GMAT register with adcoms or recruiters at all, or is it a non-factor post-admit?

Appreciate any real-world input.

TL;DR: ~7 yr energy/process engineer targeting 1-yr Executive MBAs (India + international). Have a centre-based GRE 323 from Oct 2024 and 2 months to prep part-time; GMAT would be from scratch. Leaning towards GRE on timeline, but worried a 323 is weak now (many candidates hit 330+), and GRE's top band (330–340) is narrower than GMAT's (685–700+). Re-attempt the GRE or switch to GMAT?

Trying to lock in which test to commit to.

Profile

• ~7 years in energy/process engineering; targeting 1-year Executive MBAs (India + international); aiming at energy/strategy/consulting roles.
• INR 7 Cr+ of tangible project impact, 15-month international stint, line-manager responsibilities with 7 direct reportees on my current project.

Where I stand

• GRE 323 (test-centre), taken 5 October 2024 — a baseline to build on.
• 2 months to prep, working full time, so limited hours (couple on weekdays, more on weekends).
• Switching to GMAT means starting from scratch — no baseline.

So GRE feels like the natural choice on timeline alone, but I want to sanity-check whether I'm just picking the easier option.

The catch: I'd re-attempt to strengthen the application, since lots of Indian candidates now land 330+ and institutes clearly prefer higher scores — so a 323 may not carry much weight. And the top bands differ awkwardly: GMAT's "top" band is wide (685–700+), while GRE's is ~330–340 and shrinking, so a GRE score has to be near-perfect to stand out. One coverage note: IIM-C (PGPEX) is GMAT-only, so GRE-only mostly costs me that program.

Questions for anyone who's done this recently (especially Indian applicants):

1. For GRE-admitted students — any disadvantage at placements, or a non-issue once you're in?
2. Is losing IIM-C enough to justify a brand-new test in 2 months, when everything else takes the GRE?
3. I'm on the higher end of ISB's batch profile, and from what I've seen ISB favours candidates who won't drag its placement stats. How should I approach ISB?
4. Is it realistically easier to hit GMAT's top band (685–690+) from scratch in 2 months than to push a 323 GRE to 330+?
5. How much can a 323 GRE realistically move in 2 months of part-time prep?
6. For consulting/strategy targets — does GRE vs GMAT register with adcoms or recruiters at all, or is it a non-factor post-admit?

Appreciate any real-world input.

TL;DR: ~7 yr energy/process engineer targeting 1-yr Executive MBAs (India + international). Have a centre-based GRE 323 from Oct 2024 and 2 months to prep part-time; GMAT would be from scratch. Leaning towards GRE on timeline, but worried a 323 is weak now (many candidates hit 330+), and GRE's top band (330–340) is narrower than GMAT's (685–700+). Re-attempt the GRE or switch to GMAT?

Trying to lock in which test to commit to.

Profile

• ~7 years in energy/process engineering; targeting 1-year Executive MBAs (India + international); aiming at energy/strategy/consulting roles.
• INR 7 Cr+ of tangible project impact, 15-month international stint, line-manager responsibilities with 7 direct reportees on my current project.

Where I stand

• GRE 323 (test-centre), taken 5 October 2024 — a baseline to build on.
• 2 months to prep, working full time, so limited hours (couple on weekdays, more on weekends).
• Switching to GMAT means starting from scratch — no baseline.

So GRE feels like the natural choice on timeline alone, but I want to sanity-check whether I'm just picking the easier option.

The catch: I'd re-attempt to strengthen the application, since lots of Indian candidates now land 330+ and institutes clearly prefer higher scores — so a 323 may not carry much weight. And the top bands differ awkwardly: GMAT's "top" band is wide (685–700+), while GRE's is ~330–340 and shrinking, so a GRE score has to be near-perfect to stand out. One coverage note: IIM-C (PGPEX) is GMAT-only, so GRE-only mostly costs me that program.

Questions for anyone who's done this recently (especially Indian applicants):

1. For GRE-admitted students — any disadvantage at placements, or a non-issue once you're in?
2. Is losing IIM-C enough to justify a brand-new test in 2 months, when everything else takes the GRE?
3. I'm on the higher end of ISB's batch profile, and from what I've seen ISB favours candidates who won't drag its placement stats. How should I approach ISB?
4. Is it realistically easier to hit GMAT's top band (685–690+) from scratch in 2 months than to push a 323 GRE to 330+?
5. How much can a 323 GRE realistically move in 2 months of part-time prep?
6. For consulting/strategy targets — does GRE vs GMAT register with adcoms or recruiters at all, or is it a non-factor post-admit?

Appreciate any real-world input.

TL;DR: ~7 yr energy/process engineer targeting 1-yr Executive MBAs (India + international). Have a centre-based GRE 323 from Oct 2024 and 2 months to prep part-time; GMAT would be from scratch. Leaning towards GRE on timeline, but worried a 323 is weak now (many candidates hit 330+), and GRE's top band (330–340) is narrower than GMAT's (685–700+). Re-attempt the GRE or switch to GMAT?

Trying to lock in which test to commit to.

Profile

• ~7 years in energy/process engineering; targeting 1-year Executive MBAs (India + international); aiming at energy/strategy/consulting roles.
• INR 7 Cr+ of tangible project impact, 15-month international stint, line-manager responsibilities with 7 direct reportees on my current project.

Where I stand

• GRE 323 (test-centre), taken 5 October 2024 — a baseline to build on.
• 2 months to prep, working full time, so limited hours (couple on weekdays, more on weekends).
• Switching to GMAT means starting from scratch — no baseline.

So GRE feels like the natural choice on timeline alone, but I want to sanity-check whether I'm just picking the easier option.

The catch: I'd re-attempt to strengthen the application, since lots of Indian candidates now land 330+ and institutes clearly prefer higher scores — so a 323 may not carry much weight. And the top bands differ awkwardly: GMAT's "top" band is wide (685–700+), while GRE's is ~330–340 and shrinking, so a GRE score has to be near-perfect to stand out. One coverage note: IIM-C (PGPEX) is GMAT-only, so GRE-only mostly costs me that program.

Questions for anyone who's done this recently (especially Indian applicants):

1. For GRE-admitted students — any disadvantage at placements, or a non-issue once you're in?
2. Is losing IIM-C enough to justify a brand-new test in 2 months, when everything else takes the GRE?
3. I'm on the higher end of ISB's batch profile, and from what I've seen ISB favours candidates who won't drag its placement stats. How should I approach ISB?
4. Is it realistically easier to hit GMAT's top band (685–690+) from scratch in 2 months than to push a 323 GRE to 330+?
5. How much can a 323 GRE realistically move in 2 months of part-time prep?
6. For consulting/strategy targets — does GRE vs GMAT register with adcoms or recruiters at all, or is it a non-factor post-admit?

Appreciate any real-world input.

TL;DR: ~7 yr energy/process engineer targeting 1-yr Executive MBAs (India + international). Have a centre-based GRE 323 from Oct 2024 and 2 months to prep part-time; GMAT would be from scratch. Leaning towards GRE on timeline, but worried a 323 is weak now (many candidates hit 330+), and GRE's top band (330–340) is narrower than GMAT's (685–700+). Re-attempt the GRE or switch to GMAT?

Trying to lock in which test to commit to.

Profile

• ~7 years in energy/process engineering; targeting 1-year MBA programs; aiming at energy/strategy/consulting roles.
• INR 7 Cr+ of tangible project impact, 15-month international stint, line-manager responsibilities with 7 direct reportees on my current project.

Where I stand

• GRE 323 (test-centre), taken 5 October 2024 — a baseline to build on.
• 2 months to prep, working full time, so limited hours (couple on weekdays, more on weekends).
• Switching to GMAT means starting from scratch — no baseline.

So GRE feels like the natural choice on timeline alone, but I want to sanity-check whether I'm just picking the easier option.

The catch: I'd re-attempt to strengthen the application, since lots of candidates now land 330+ and institutes clearly prefer higher scores — so a 323 may not carry much weight. And the top bands differ awkwardly: GMAT's "top" band is wide (685–700+), while GRE's is ~330–340 and shrinking, so a GRE score has to be near-perfect to stand out. One coverage note: some colleges are GMAT-only, so GRE-only mostly costs me that program.

Questions for anyone who's done this recently (especially Indian applicants):

1. For GRE-admitted students — any disadvantage at placements, or a non-issue once you're in?
2. Is the possibility of losing some colleges enough to justify a brand-new test in 2 months, when everything else takes the GRE?
3. Is it realistically easier to hit GMAT's top band (685–700+) from scratch in 2 months than to push a 323 GRE to 330+?
4. How much can a 323 GRE realistically move in 2 months of part-time prep?
5. For consulting/strategy targets — does GRE vs GMAT register with adcoms or recruiters at all, or is it a non-factor post-admit?

Appreciate any real-world input.

TL;DR: ~7 yr energy/process engineer targeting 1-yr MBA programs. Have a centre-based GRE 323 from Oct 2024 and 2 months to prep part-time; GMAT would be from scratch. Leaning towards GRE on timeline, but worried a 323 is weak now (many candidates hit 330+), and GRE's top band (330–340) is narrower than GMAT's (685–700+). Re-attempt the GRE or switch to GMAT?

Trying to lock in which test to commit to.

Profile

• ~7 years in energy/process engineering; targeting 1-year Executive MBAs (India + international); aiming at energy/strategy/consulting roles.
• INR 7 Cr+ of tangible project impact, 15-month international stint, line-manager responsibilities with 7 direct reportees on my current project.

Where I stand

• GRE 323 (test-centre), taken 5 October 2024 — a baseline to build on.
• 2 months to prep, working full time, so limited hours (couple on weekdays, more on weekends).
• Switching to GMAT means starting from scratch — no baseline.

So GRE feels like the natural choice on timeline alone, but I want to sanity-check whether I'm just picking the easier option.

The catch: I'd re-attempt to strengthen the application, since lots of Indian candidates now land 330+ and institutes clearly prefer higher scores — so a 323 may not carry much weight. And the top bands differ awkwardly: GMAT's "top" band is wide (685–700+), while GRE's is ~330–340 and shrinking, so a GRE score has to be near-perfect to stand out. One coverage note: IIM-C (PGPEX) is GMAT-only, so GRE-only mostly costs me that program.

Questions for anyone who's done this recently (especially Indian applicants):

1. For GRE-admitted students — any disadvantage at placements, or a non-issue once you're in?
2. Is losing IIM-C enough to justify a brand-new test in 2 months, when everything else takes the GRE?
3. I'm on the higher end of ISB's batch profile, and from what I've seen ISB favours candidates who won't drag its placement stats. How should I approach ISB?
4. Is it realistically easier to hit GMAT's top band (685–690+) from scratch in 2 months than to push a 323 GRE to 330+?
5. How much can a 323 GRE realistically move in 2 months of part-time prep?
6. For consulting/strategy targets — does GRE vs GMAT register with adcoms or recruiters at all, or is it a non-factor post-admit?

Appreciate any real-world input.

TL;DR: ~7 yr energy/process engineer targeting 1-yr Executive MBAs (India + international). Have a centre-based GRE 323 from Oct 2024 and 2 months to prep part-time; GMAT would be from scratch. Leaning towards GRE on timeline, but worried a 323 is weak now (many candidates hit 330+), and GRE's top band (330–340) is narrower than GMAT's (685–700+). Re-attempt the GRE or switch to GMAT?

Trying to lock in which test to commit to.

Profile

• ~7 years in energy/process engineering; targeting 1-year Executive MBAs (India + international); aiming at energy/strategy/consulting roles.
• INR 7 Cr+ of tangible project impact, 15-month international stint, line-manager responsibilities with 7 direct reportees on my current project.

Where I stand

• GRE 323 (test-centre), taken 5 October 2024 — a baseline to build on.
• 2 months to prep, working full time, so limited hours (couple on weekdays, more on weekends).
• Switching to GMAT means starting from scratch — no baseline.

So GRE feels like the natural choice on timeline alone, but I want to sanity-check whether I'm just picking the easier option.

The catch: I'd re-attempt to strengthen the application, since lots of Indian candidates now land 330+ and institutes clearly prefer higher scores — so a 323 may not carry much weight. And the top bands differ awkwardly: GMAT's "top" band is wide (685–700+), while GRE's is ~330–340 and shrinking, so a GRE score has to be near-perfect to stand out. One coverage note: IIM-C (PGPEX) is GMAT-only, so GRE-only mostly costs me that program.

Questions for anyone who's done this recently (especially Indian applicants):

1. For GRE-admitted students — any disadvantage at placements, or a non-issue once you're in?
2. Is losing IIM-C enough to justify a brand-new test in 2 months, when everything else takes the GRE?
3. I'm on the higher end of ISB's batch profile, and from what I've seen ISB favours candidates who won't drag its placement stats. How should I approach ISB?
4. Is it realistically easier to hit GMAT's top band (685–690+) from scratch in 2 months than to push a 323 GRE to 330+?
5. How much can a 323 GRE realistically move in 2 months of part-time prep?
6. For consulting/strategy targets — does GRE vs GMAT register with adcoms or recruiters at all, or is it a non-factor post-admit?

Appreciate any real-world input.

TL;DR: ~7 yr energy/process engineer targeting 1-yr Executive MBAs (India + international). Have a centre-based GRE 323 from Oct 2024 and 2 months to prep part-time; GMAT would be from scratch. Leaning towards GRE on timeline, but worried a 323 is weak now (many candidates hit 330+), and GRE's top band (330–340) is narrower than GMAT's (685–700+). Re-attempt the GRE or switch to GMAT?

Trying to lock in which test to commit to.

Profile

• ~7 years in energy/process engineering; targeting 1-year Executive MBAs (India + international); aiming at energy/strategy/consulting roles.
• INR 7 Cr+ of tangible project impact, 15-month international stint, line-manager responsibilities with 7 direct reportees on my current project.

Where I stand

• GRE 323 (test-centre), taken 5 October 2024 — a baseline to build on.
• 2 months to prep, working full time, so limited hours (couple on weekdays, more on weekends).
• Switching to GMAT means starting from scratch — no baseline.

So GRE feels like the natural choice on timeline alone, but I want to sanity-check whether I'm just picking the easier option.

The catch: I'd re-attempt to strengthen the application, since lots of Indian candidates now land 330+ and institutes clearly prefer higher scores — so a 323 may not carry much weight. And the top bands differ awkwardly: GMAT's "top" band is wide (685–700+), while GRE's is ~330–340 and shrinking, so a GRE score has to be near-perfect to stand out. One coverage note: IIM-C (PGPEX) is GMAT-only, so GRE-only mostly costs me that program.

Questions for anyone who's done this recently (especially Indian applicants):

1. How much can a 323 GRE realistically move in 2 months of part-time prep, at the cadence above?
2. Is it realistically easier to hit GMAT's top band (685–690+) from scratch in 2 months than to push a 323 GRE to 330+?

Appreciate any real-world input.

TL;DR: ~7 yr energy/process engineer targeting 1-yr Executive MBAs (India + international). Have a centre-based GRE 323 from Oct 2024 and 2 months to prep part-time; GMAT would be from scratch. Leaning towards GRE on timeline, but worried a 323 is weak now (many candidates hit 330+) and GRE's top band (330–340) is narrower than GMAT's (685–700+). Re-attempt GRE or switch to GMAT?

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