How Schools Find You

Think of it as an online matchmaking service between you and prospective b-schools. 

The Graduate Management Admission Search Service® (GMASS®) was created by the Graduate Management Admission Council to build better communications between graduate management programs and potential applicants like you.

Using test score ranges and other background information from mba.com registrants and GMAT® test takers who choose to be contacted, The GMASS service matches schools with you. (FYI: Only authorized business school admissions professionals at recognized schools can access this information.)

The GMASS service can help you connect with business schools faster than ever before. When you create an account on mba.com or when you take the GMAT exam, you’ll be asked if you want business schools to contact you. If you choose "yes," then your information will be entered into the GMASS search service database, so schools can find you. Choose "no," and your info will not be placed in the GMASS service. Sign up now!

On the GMAT exam, you will be asked several questions about yourself. These questions are all optional, but the more you answer, the more likely schools will be able to find you later through the GMASS service. 

These participating schools can do a search based on any of the following criteria:

• Personal information—ethnic background and state of legal residence (for U.S. citizens only), gender, age, number of years of full-time work experience, native language, and citizenship.
• Geographic information—ZIP code (for U.S. residents only), state/province, and country of residence.
• Educational background—GMAT score, level of educational experience, undergraduate grade point average, undergraduate major, and date of graduation.
• Educational objective—intended area of concentration; work intentions while pursuing a degree; intended method of graduate study; preference of full-time, part-time or executive MBA program; degree objective; preferred region of the world for graduate study; and planned date of enrollment.

When schools find you, they will most likely contact you by email or postal mail.  Expect to receive additional information including program brochures, applications, program overviews, invitations to informational events, and fliers.

GMAC takes your privacy and rights seriously. Before business school admissions professionals can search for prospective applicants with the GMASS service, they agree to strict rules of conduct. These include absolutely no spam, and agreeing to stop contacting anyone who says he or she no longer wishes to be contacted. GMAC also requires schools to agree not to use any information about GMAT test takers for discriminatory purposes.

To be sure that participating schools honor these standards of conduct, GMAC requires that schools send a copy of any correspondence with the people they contact through the GMASS service. Still, if you have concerns about any communication that you received through a school that found your name through the GMASS service, email GMAC at webmaster@gmac.com.