I’m targeting MFin at UT Austin and USC. I have 1.5 years of financial consulting experience and 7.4 CGPA. Should I take GRE or GMAT?

Question

P Sinha · Accepted Answer

For MFin programs at UT Austin and USC, taking the GRE or GMAT can definitely strengthen your application ,  especially with a 7.4 CGPA and mid-level work experience.
UT Austin McCombs recommends submitting a strong test score if your GPA is below their class median (usually around 3.5/4.0). A GMAT Focus score of 645+ or a GRE score of 315+ with solid quant percentiles can help balance out the GPA and make your profile more competitive. Since your background is in financial consulting, a high quant score will show you're ready for the technical aspects of the program.
Also, McCombs tends to slightly lean GMAT, while USC Marshall is test-agnostic ,  so you can choose based on your strengths. If you're better at verbal and logic, GRE might be more forgiving. But if you're confident in quant-heavy prep, GMAT Focus can leave a stronger impression.

Ranjan J · Answer

7.4 CGPA and 1.5 years in financial consulting puts you in the competitive-but-borderline zone ,  and that&rsquo;s exactly where a strong test score can tip the scale.
&bull; UT Austin&rsquo;s MFin class is small and leans quant-heavy. A GMAT Focus score above 640 helps showcase numerical readiness. &bull; USC is slightly more flexible and takes GREs more commonly &mdash; so if you&rsquo;re better at vocab and reasoning, aim for 315+ GRE with 160+ in quant. &bull; With your experience, the test becomes a way to signal seriousness &mdash; especially if your academic math courses weren&rsquo;t recent. &bull; Don&rsquo;t skip it entirely &mdash; even test-optional programs often look more favorably at candidates who submit strong scores. &bull; If unsure, take a diagnostic for both &mdash; many students find GRE easier to prep for in shorter timelines if quant is their weaker area.
That extra 10&ndash;15 points on either test could be what sets you apart in a tight applicant pool.
For more details you can read this blog on "Top MFin Colleges in USA"