The Round 3 application deadline to the Texas McCombs Full-Time MBA program is slated for March 28, 2023. However, economic uncertainty has impacted many prospective students around the world. With many prospective students facing layoffs or uncertainty in their professional situation, our team believes an additional application round will be helpful for those needing a little more time to work on their application and evaluate their next professional step.

In response, Texas McCombs will add a fourth round to the Full-Time MBA Class of 2025. The Round 4 application deadline is Thursday, May 11, 2023.

Stacey Batas, Director of Full-Time MBA Recruiting and Admissions, provides insight on the addition of a new application round and advice for navigating the application.

Who is eligible to apply in Round 4?

Any U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident of the U.S. is eligible to apply in the new round. Round 4 is not open to international applicants due to issues with visa documentation timelines.

Are you still offering application fee waivers or test waivers to Round 4 applicants?

Yes! We have one more application fee waiver-eligible event, open to both Round 3 and Round 4 applicants in this application cycle. In order to obtain the waiver, you must register for and attend our Application Overview Virtual Session on March 7 at 8AM CT.  Register here.

As with other rounds, test waiver petitions are also available and can be found on our website. If you are considering applying in Round 4 and would like to submit your application without a GMAT, GRE or Executive Assessment exam, please read this document carefully to see if you’re eligible and submit the waiver form by no later than May 4, or 7 days before the deadline.

Are there still financial aid or scholarship opportunities available to Round 4 applicants?

It’s hard for the admissions team to predict merit-based scholarship availability for future rounds, since it depends on how many scholarships we have to award at that point in the cycle. Admitted students will be notified within their acceptance letter if they receive any merit-based scholarship funding from McCombs.

How will Round 4 work? When will decisions be released?

Round 4 will work much like our other rounds – you need to submit your application by 11:59 PM  CT on May 11, 2023.   Decisions will be released on or before June 8, and the enrollment deposit deadline for those admitted will be June 15.

I was laid off. How do I explain being laid off in my application?

Though unfortunate and stressful, lay-offs happen! Once you upload your resume on the “Employment Information” section of the application, there will be a question asking whether or not you’re currently employed full-time. If the answer is no, you’ll be given a chance to explain your situation. This response is limited to 255 characters, so you don’t have to go into full detail here! If you’d like to include additional details about your employment to the admissions committee, complete the optional statement for us to review.

I was laid off and I don’t have a professional recommender. What are my other options?

There are lots of great sources for recommendation letters! Here are some of our tips to help you choose a recommender who knows you well and can speak to your strengths.

What are the benefits of applying in Round 4 vs. applying next cycle?

The biggest benefit is that you potentially won’t need to wait a full year to enroll! Round 4 is a great option for those who definitely know they want to go to McCombs, but who may have figured that out a little later in the game. We’d also like to dispel the myth that having to reapply the following cycle is a bad thing. We value re-applicants and never look down on someone who applied late cycle and then re-applied the following fall.

What advice would you give to an applicant submitting in Round 4?

Get to know us! We’re hosting campus visits until late April and will be hosting virtual events to help you navigate the application process. Attending our events can also help you craft your essay and prepare for the video assessment.

Visit Texas McCombs MBA to learn more about our programs and upcoming events, or take a peek into student life on Instagram. Please reach out to the MBA Admissions Team with any questions.