The idea of studying for the GMAT and taking it while in college doesn’t spark excitement, and why should it? Why would you want to take a standardized exam on top of the many projects, papers and quizzes that make up your undergrad curriculum? After all, as a college student, you only have so much time and taking on yet another challenge may not seem like the most logical thing to do.

If you are anything like most people, you want to see that degree framed and hanging on your wall in all its glory before you even consider taking the GMAT. And I understand that. However, as is often the case, there are potential advantages to going against the norm every now and then.

Some students want to test the waters before they commit to business school and might find a job. Others want to wait and see if an MBA is their calling in life. Whatever the case may be, there are still good reasons why you should start preparing for the GMAT while still in college.

Strike While the Iron is Hot

As a college student, you are already used to some sort of a routine. You study, read, write and take exams which contributes to maintaining a cognitive edge. Much like our muscles, our brains can also go into a somewhat dormant state if not exercised routinely. Taking some time off after your graduation may seem like a good idea right now, but once you get used to the new normal, I can assure you, taking the GMAT would slowly take the back seat.

We are creatures of habit, and it makes complete sense to keep the wheels moving while the car is already in motion. Even if you don’t know whether you’d want to pursue a business degree a year or two down the line, you should still take the GMAT. Why? Because GMAT scores are good for five years and taking the test in your last year of college or right after college is tremendously easier than waiting for the “right” moment.

Your Professional Life Will Get in the Way

So you will graduate in a year or so, and then what happens? You will most probably find some sort of a job, and before you know it, you are invested in this new phase of life. Working from 9 to 5, taking care of clients, sitting in meetings, and everything else that comes with a regular job doesn’t exactly leave much time for leisure let alone preparing for a test.

What little time you do have to yourself, you will probably spend on personal interests. Once you get accustomed to this daily routine, believe me, taking the GMAT will not seem like a worthwhile endeavour. You will find plenty of reasons to delay it, and days will turn into months and months into years. Before long, you will realize that you wanted to study business, but you can now hardly find the time due to your day-to-day responsibilities. Okay, maybe I am painting a more pessimistic picture than needs be, but you get my point.

Even though it seems chaotic, college is a vastly better time to study for GMAT than you may realize. You have access to study resources, you are in the know, you have friends who share similar aspirations, you can get help from your professors, and above all, you have time.

Math is Harder to Get Back into 

I see this all the time. Students who once excelled at math find it difficult to get back into the groove. GMAT is hard, but GMAT math is even harder. While you still speak, read and write English on a somewhat daily basis, math concepts tested on GMAT are rarely used outside of school. Due to this, you will lose grip on many of the GMAT math topics you once knew and starting from scratch is never a fun idea. I am not saying it can’t be done. Of course, it can, but why not take advantage of your math skills while they are still fresh?

Moreover, scoring a high enough score is no walk in the park, to begin with. Students have to study and practice relentlessly for months until they feel confident enough to take the test. If you want to get into a decent business school, you need to be at the top of your game. While GMAT is only part of a stellar application, it is nonetheless a pretty significant part. Competition is soaring ever so high amongst business schools, and there is no shortage of applications. You need to have a high enough score to stand a fair chance, and it becomes increasingly more challenging to achieve this if you take a long break.

Easier to Bounce Back from a Disappointing Score

Consider this scenario. You take the GMAT for the first time in your last year of college. However, you fall short, say a hundred points from your goal score. But, you say to yourself, so what?

The reason you can shrug it off so easily and not dive down a hopeless abyss is that you still have time. You still have the freedom to bounce back and put in a little more effort, and learn from your mistakes. This may seem like a meaningless scenario, but it happens all the time. According to GMAC’s official statistics, students who score below 600 on their first attempt tend to have the highest scope of score improvement.

Now imagine you are working 40-60 hours a week and have many responsibilities and deadlines. Would you feel the same motivation to retake the test after a disappointing score? I’d say no. It’s not difficult to imagine that you wouldn’t feel as driven to retake the test as you would in college when you have fewer responsibilities and more time.

All these reasons combined should give you some food for thought. I am not saying you have to do it but at least consider the advantages before you decide to wait.