Work experience as a predictor of academic performance in graduate business school

While GMAT score and undergraduate GPA are thoroughly researched and widely accepted predictors of academic performance in graduate business schools, work experience as a predictor is less understood despite its frequent use in MBA admissions practice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between post-undergraduate/pre-MBA work experience and academic performance in graduate business school. Both quantity (months) and type (business and non-business) of work experience were considered. The study also examined the relationship among quantity of work experience, type of work experience, GMAT score, and undergraduate GPA in predicting academic performance. Academic performance was measured using graduate cumulative GPA. The study was conducted using the population of US domestic students from three recent classes at an elite mid-size graduate school of business administration. Utilizing Pearson r, initial results revealed no correlation between the work experience variables and graduate cumulative GPA. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis found that GMAT score and undergraduate GPA were significant predictors of graduate cumulative GPA. In addition, when months of work experience was added to the regression equation, it was found to be a statistically significant negative predictor of graduate cumulative GPA. Conversely, type of work experience was not found to be a significant predictor. The potential implications of these findings are discussed, as are suggestions for future research. The study should provide useful information for student affairs practitioners as they seek to better identify students in need of academic support. The study should also benefit MBA admissions officers as they consider the most effective criteria for selecting applicants most likely to be successful in their respective programs.