Texas McCombs MBA Insider

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Hands holding a blank sheet of paper with a banner that reads "Letter of Recommendation"

Who Should Write Your MBA Recommendation?

September 20, 2021 / Texas MBA Admissions / Comments Off

The Texas McCombs MBA application requires one professional letter of recommendation from a person who has supervised your work and/or has assessed your performance during your career.

A recommendation letter is one of the only things you rely on someone else to provide in your application. Circumstances differ for every applicant and deciding who you should ask will vary. Below are some scenarios to help guide you in choosing the best recommender for your application.

Your Supervisor

Your current direct supervisor is traditionally the best choice. This is likely the person in your network that knows your strengths and weaknesses better than anyone else. However, this may not be a viable option for you. Perhaps you aren’t able to communicate to your employer that you’re applying to business school or you do not work with your direct boss that closely. It could also be that you attained a new role recently and your current supervisor has not had a chance to work with you very much. Or, you’re an entrepreneur & don’t have a supervisor.

All of these are valid reasons to look for other recommendation sources, but remember that if you do not ask your current supervisor to write your recommendation letter, we do ask that you explain your choice in the Optional Statement.

Your Former Supervisor

If you cannot ask your current direct supervisor to write your recommendation, maybe you can ask a previous supervisor? Depending on how recently you worked with them, the “old boss” may be the best choice, especially if you had a strong professional relationship with that person. This is also a very common option.

Your Indirect Supervisor

Asking an indirect supervisor can be another option, especially if you’ve worked with this person closely on past assignments or long-term projects. This is a nice alternative to a supervisor that you may not work with closely.

Your Client or Vendor

This type of recommendation source is especially useful for entrepreneurs or for applicants who work for a family business.

If you work for a family business, it is preferred that you ask an individual outside of your family to write your letter of recommendation.

Your Mentor

Mentors inside or outside of your workplace are great to have in your corner when it comes time to apply to business school. However, be sure that your mentor has a clear understanding of your current professional value, not just your potential or future goals. Select a mentor with whom you have worked with on measurable tasks to ensure that they will provide a recommendation with depth. Keep in mind that the admissions committee is looking for someone who has worked with you professionally.

Other Options

There are many individuals who may fall in the category of “other recommenders.” For example, a former professor, a colleague, or a coach.

When it comes to these options: use your best judgment. An undergraduate professor may not be the best person to address some of the questions posed on the recommendation form and we’re looking mainly at your post-undergraduate work experience. Direct reports should never submit a letter of recommendation on behalf of their boss, so steer clear of that scenario. And don’t focus only on title– the CEO of a large company may sound like an impressive recommendation, but unless they work with you closely, the recommendation letter will likely fall short of delivering on the information that the admissions committee is looking for.

You’ve chosen a recommender. What’s next?

First, before asking your recommender to take this on, keep in mind that they are likely a busy individual – be sure to give them plenty of notice prior to an approaching application deadline.

Secondly, give them a heads-up about your request. You don’t want to blindly email someone and ask them to write something for you without having a conversation. Sometimes it’s good to revisit certain projects you worked on with them. Most importantly, explain to your recommender why you’re pursuing an MBA. Giving them some context behind your ask will go a long way and will likely result in a stronger letter.

Finally, make sure you give them all the info on the recommendation before you ask. Texas McCombs uses the GMAC Common Letter of Recommendation. Your recommender will be asked to assess specific competencies and traits, as well as answer three explicit questions. While there will be other programs using this form, some schools will ask a series of different questions. If you’re applying to more than one MBA, you may be asking your recommender to fill out and separately submit different forms.

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.

Good luck and Hook ’em!

photo of 4 stacks of gold coins with a grad cap. Words read Funding Your Full-Time MBA

Full-Time MBA Scholarships & Financial Aid

We understand that pursuing your MBA at a top school is a big investment in your future. Our Full-Time MBA is proud to have consistently been named a Best Value among Top 20 MBA programs by U.S. News & World Report. Austin has also been named one of the best places to live and work in the U.S. and rated in the Top-5 Best Places to Live by U.S. News & World Report for 5 years in a row.

To make your MBA future even more attainable, the Texas McCombs MBA provides financial assistance to many students to help cover the cost of education. The most common financial assistance comes in the form of student loans, but other options may help fund your MBA. We invite you to review the options below to help you navigate your MBA application process.

Recruiting Scholarships

Texas McCombs does offer some recruiting scholarships, including cash awards and out-of-state tuition waivers. All applicants are automatically considered for recruiting scholarships during the admissions review process. Recruiting scholarships are offered to domestic and international candidates who demonstrate a superior record of academic merit and professional accomplishments.

Texas McCombs designates the first-round application deadline as the priority deadline for scholarships and fellowships.

The MBA Program’s scholarship funding varies from year to year, thus the percentage of students who receive scholarships will also vary from year to year. This past admissions cycle, 63% of enrolled Texas McCombs MBA students received scholarship offers, and those who accepted merit-based recruiting scholarships received awards ranging from $5,000 to full tuition.

For International candidates, 70% of enrolled students received scholarship offers.

In tandem with our recruiting scholarships, McCombs partners with Bay Area for McCombs, Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, Forté Foundation, and Reaching Out MBA to allocate selective scholarship and Fellowship designations to top admitted candidates.

2nd Year Student Scholarships

At the end of the first year, students are invited to apply for 2nd Year MBA Scholarships. These awards, given by the McCombs School of Business through the generous support of individual donors and corporate supporters, typically range anywhere from $1,000-$5,000. The 2nd Year Scholarship awards are given based on academic performance, leadership, and involvement during their first year in the program, as well as financial need.

Institutional Scholarships

The UT Austin Office of Financial Aid administers institutional endowed scholarships for continuing students that first-year MBAs may qualify for, beginning in November of your first year. You may be eligible to apply, but please review the specific criteria and application procedures carefully and reach out to McCombs Financial Aid with any questions.

Federal Loans

Many students are eligible for federal student loans and in some cases, grants. To determine your eligibility you must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA for the 2021-2022 school year will be available October 1, and Texas has a priority deadline of January 15. At the latest, it is recommended that you have your FAFSA completed by June 1. Students who are eligible to complete the FAFSA are U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents, and other eligible non-citizens. Please watch this two-minute video for help with the financial aid application process.

Private Education Loans

Private/alternative loans are not offered by federal or state governments. As a result, the terms of the loan will vary from lender to lender. If pursuing a private loan, check with your lender about the length of time your application will remain valid to ensure your approval won’t expire before you actually start the program.

The Texas McCombs MBA Financial Aid team cannot recommend any private loans but will work with all banks and lending institutions once you’ve been approved.

Loans for International Students

For international students, there may be private loan options, with or without a U.S. citizen or permanent resident co-signer. (Note: We, as The University of Texas at Austin, cannot be your co-signer, nor can we recommend any specific lenders.) The student-run International MBA Student Association (IMBASA) is a good resource for information about pursuing an MBA as an international student. You are encouraged to reach out to IMBASA with any questions.

Most students finance their MBA education using multiple sources— a combination of personal savings and loans and, in some cases, scholarship funding. Before you apply to business school, do research on how to finance your education and let us know if you have any questions.

Visit Texas McCombs MBA to find out more about all our programs, submitting your application, and upcoming events. Hook ’em!

photo of woman at a laptop with an orange banner that reads "The MBA Application Building Your Resume"

How to Highlight Your Work Experience

September 17, 2021 / Texas McCombs MBA / Comments Off

This MBA Insider content comes from Sharon Barrett, Director of Working Professional & Executive MBA Admissions.

When evaluating your application, our MBA Admissions Committee aims for a complete picture of your qualifications and fit with the program. It’s all about perspective. We look at your application as if we are holding a scale, balancing all the parts.

When considering the specific experience on your resume, on one side there’s a raw number of years (Quantity), and on the other is your job experience (Quality).

Quantity

Say that you are the CEO of a mid-size corporation. Wonderful! Oh, you just started in this position? That’s an amazing accomplishment, but perhaps you’d still admit that your knowledge and expertise in such a new position wouldn’t be as developed as someone who’s been doing it for a few years.

Or maybe you have been in the same job for 10 years. Wow! No doubt you are a go-to person when it comes to that role, but could it mean that perhaps you didn’t take as much initiative or demonstrate the leadership qualities required to launch you to the next level? Or perhaps you have only had a project manager role for a year, but in that time you’ve produced measurable results and demonstrated leadership. In these cases, the quality of your work experience matters more.

Quality

A general job title like “Project Manager” may seem lackluster, but could actually be pretty exciting. Don’t let us make assumptions. Take every opportunity on your application to illustrate just WHAT about your job made your experience rich and rewarding.

On the flip side, a Chief Operating Office title sounds impressive, but what kind of company did you work for and how extensive were your duties? An impressive title with naught to back it up won’t move the needle in your favor when it comes to work experience.

The take-away on work experience: Years, titles, and accomplishments are not, by themselves deciding factors. To help you provide us with a clear picture, here are our top tips for highlighting the quality and quantity of your work experience on your resume:

Tailor Content – You may have heard the adage that your resume should be tailored to your audience, which is true. But customizing your resume may simply entail reordering or swapping out bullet points. Remember, a resume is a summary of your relevant experience, not necessarily all of it.
Emphasize Results – We don’t just want a summary. We want to know whether you generated results from your work. If the person replacing you could copy and paste your resume bullet points into their resume, that’s probably a sign your bullet points need to better emphasize your individual contributions in the role.
Avoid Redundancy – Think of each line on your resume as a valuable piece of real estate. Consider the incremental value that each line on your resume provides for you as a candidate. If you have performed the same task in multiple roles, is it necessary to list that same task more than once on your resume? Likely not.
Show Balance – We want to see a “balanced” candidate – someone who has been strong in the classroom and in the workplace while participating in extracurricular activities and having unique interests outside of work. Consider creating an “Additional” section to detail your activities and interests for use as a potential conversation starter.
Utilize White Space – Great resume content can only be great if a reader can easily access it. That’s where resume readability comes into play. Don’t forget to use your white space effectively. A resume is not about cramming as much you can onto the page. Rather, give your content some space to breathe.
Enlist Proofreaders– Perhaps the most important element of a resume is that it is free of errors. A single spelling, grammatical, or formatting error can hurt even the most impressive resume. Have multiple individuals proofread your resume.
Convey Personal Brand – What do you think of when you think of great global brands like Apple, Nike, or Google? What words come to mind? Now, when we read your resume, what words do you want to come to mind about you? Have a peer give your resume a 30-second review and see if the words you want to pop for a reader, actually do.

Remember, your resume is important, but it’s only one data point for you as a candidate. Years of work experience give only one sense of you as a candidate, so use your resume to make the quality of those years really stand out.

Visit Texas McCombs MBA to find out more about all our programs, submitting your application, and upcoming events. Hook ’em!

Celebrating Pride with eQual MBAs at McCombs

June 23, 2021 / Texas MBA Admissions / Comments Off

Happy Pride Month! This June we are celebrating members of our LGBTQIA+ MBA community and talking to Full-Time MBA student Lindsey Scheinthal, co-president of eQual MBAs, about pronouns, allyship, and living authentically.

eQual MBAs at McCombs is a social and career networking student organization made up of members, friends, and supporters of the LGBTQ+ community. They are dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion within the Texas McCombs community.

Members of eQUAL pose for a picture during a Zoom meeting.

Representation and Allyship

eQual focuses a lot on educating people on pronoun usage and allyship by hosting workshops throughout the year to create a more inclusive environment. Since moving into the virtual space, members of eQual have advocated for adding pronouns to Zoom names. Even if you are cisgender (meaning you identify as the gender assigned at birth), adding pronouns to your bios, zoom names, or email signatures signifies that you are an ally and makes others feel included.

“For me, representation is everything. I believe it saves lives and makes people know that they are not alone.” says Lindsey. “I think that’s really important for all of us because when you have more representation you’re able to implement everything else a little bit easier.”

Inclusion and acceptance from others means a lot to Lindsey. She says she sometimes wonders if people know she’s gay and would accept her if they knew.

“My favorite thing is seeing people wear the eQual t-shirt with the rainbow longhorn,” says Lindsey. “You know, we just make assumptions about people…[you think] that person might not like me because I’m gay, and I’m nervous to say something. But then I go to class the next day and they’re rocking the eQual t-shirt, and how great of a feeling that is to see them wearing it.”

There is no way to be a perfect ally, Lindsay says. To her, it’s someone who is asking questions and is pushing themselves to continuously learn and be better.

“Everyone has a different idea of what an ally looks like, and I think it’s difficult to be the perfect ally. But I think as long as you’re trying to be better and listen and change and really hear the person next to you and where they’re coming from, that’s all we can ask for,” says Lindsey.

“I try to do my best to educate people. I really believe in representation. I try to continue to educate myself, because everything is constantly evolving.”

Living Authentically

While the LGBTQIA+ community at McCombs is a small group, Lindsey likes to think of eQual as small but mighty and hopes to encourage more LGBTQIA+ members to apply to business school.

Members of eQUAL pose in a rooftop swimming pool in downtown Austin.

Lindsey has been out since she was 17 and says it hasn’t always been easy. She has dealt with micro-aggressions, stereotypes, and mistreatment from others. To overcome this she lives by Michelle Obama’s famous words: “When they go low, we go high.”

“It hasn’t been easy but it’s their loss. I know I’m a great friend, I’m a great employee, and if [someone] is choosing not to be nice to me because of this one little aspect of my life, then it’s their loss,” she says.

“Life is too short, I’m just trying to enjoy every moment and like just being myself,” says Lindsey. “I don’t want to hide who I am ever.”

Pride Celebrations in Austin

At Texas McCombs, we strive to create a supportive community by partnering with Reaching Out MBA (ROMBA), a nonprofit organization that focuses on empowering LGBTQIA+ business students. In 2014 McCombs became one of the inaugural school partners of the ROMBA fellowship, which grants LGBTQ+ MBA Fellows with a minimum $20,000 scholarship and access to leadership programming. ROMBA also hosts events and an annual conference to educate and connect LGBTQIA+ business students through C-suite panels, workshops, competitions, receptions, and career fairs. This year the conference, which is the world’s largest gathering of LBGTQIA+ business students and alumni, will take place in Austin in October.

Austin has many Pride Month celebrations around town in June but its official Pride festival and parade is held in August– this also gives the UT Austin student population, a very active part of the LGBTQIA+ community, the opportunity to volunteer and participate.

To connect with eQual MBAs, you can follow them on Instagram @equalmbs or email Sally and Lindsey at equalmbas@mccombs.utexas.edu.

Full-Time MBA Application Deadlines, New Testing Options, and Essay Topics

June 14, 2021 / Rodrigo Malta / 2 Comments

This post comes from the desk of Rodrigo Malta, the Managing Director of MBA Recruiting and Admissions at Texas McCombs. As an alumnus of the MBA program and passionate ambassador for McCombs and Austin, Rodrigo is excited to share the latest admissions updates for the 2021-2022 Full-Time MBA admissions cycle with you below.

Application Deadlines

Please mark your calendar for the dates below to be prepared for the upcoming application cycle.

Round	Application Deadline	Decision Notification
1	October 12, 2021 (priority deadline for scholarships & fellowships)	December 16, 2021
2	January 6, 2022	March 24, 2022
3	March 29, 2022	May 5, 2022

The 2021-2022 Full-Time application will open summer 2021. To be among the first to know when the application is open, please be sure to sign up for our email announcements.

New Testing Options

All Full-Time MBA applicants are required to submit test scores with their application. Beginning this year, in addition to the GMAT and GRE, Texas McCombs is also accepting the Executive Assessment (EA) as a test option, as well as expired scores.

Accepted Scores:

A valid GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment (EA) exam score.
An expired (5 years or older) GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment (EA) exam score.

For details on accepted scores, school codes, and all other components of the application, please review the application process.

Essay Topics

Our essay topics for this application season have been confirmed. We strongly recommend planning for your essays in advance and being thoughtful about your answers. Take advantage of this opportunity to tell us about yourself and why McCombs in your own words; Review the 2021-2022 essay topics now.

Get to Know Rodrigo Malta

Rodrigo Malta, Managing Director of Texas McCombs MBA Admissions

Rodrigo was born and raised in Brazil and moved to the U.S. in high school. After earning his bachelor’s degree in management and working for a large telecom company in Kansas City, Missouri, he obtained an MBA at Texas McCombs. During his time as an MBA student, Rodrigo volunteered with the McCombs Ambassador Committee (MAC), which assists the admissions team with campus visits, interviews, and helping prospective students learn more about Texas McCombs and the application process. Rodrigo secured a marketing job at Dell post-MBA, but his passion for MBA admissions eventually led him back to his current Managing Director role, which he describes as his “dream job.”

If you have not had the chance to connect with Rodrigo or other members of the MBA Admissions team, we hope to meet you at an upcoming event.

We will be posting updates and tips throughout the admissions cycle. If you have any questions we can help with now, please contact the MBA Admissions team.

Hook ’em!

*Update 6/17/21: A previous version of this post listed incorrect dates for “Decision Notification” and has been corrected.

2021 Working Professional and Executive MBA
Applications are Open

June 1, 2021 / Texas McCombs MBA / Comments Off

The Texas McCombs Executive MBA, MBA at Dallas/Fort Worth and MBA at Houston programs are accepting applications for Fall 2021 on a space-available basis. If you were unable to submit before the last deadline, this is a great opportunity to start in August as part of the Class of 2023 without waiting another year to begin your MBA.

Note: Spots are not guaranteed. If any classes fill, the application for that program will close.

Applying Now vs. Earlier in the Cycle

In contrast to full-time MBAs, working professional MBA classes fill up later in the cycle. Your chance for admission is the same now as if you had applied in earlier rounds. And there are many reasons to consider starting your MBA this fall:

An MBA will provide you with the leadership and business skills to help with post-COVID organizational change.
You’ll gain a supportive network of classmates, alumni, faculty, and staff– there are over 100,000 McCombs alumni around the world.
Texas McCombs provides unmatched career support for working professional students.
All applicants submitting for Fall 2021 before the application closes will receive an application fee waiver worth a $200 USD value.

Testing and Scores

All applicants should note that our testing options have changed for this cycle

Review all our test options and accepted scores.
Review the details of the Executive MBA test waiver, an option exclusively for Executive MBA applicants each year.
COVID-19 Test Waiver: Due to unprecedented circumstances, we are providing all applicants who are unable to take an exam in person or online the option of a COVID-19 Test Waiver Petition.

UPDATE 6/22/21 – TEST WAIVER FOR DALLAS/FORT WORTH AND HOUSTON MBA APPLICANTS:

General Test Waiver: Although submitting a strong test score is always advised, Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston MBA applicants may submit a petition to waive the test score by using the Optional Essay within the application to share the reasons for considering your application without a score. (i.e. strong undergrad/graduate GPA, certifications, extensive work experience) Waiver petitions are considered along with the rest of your application components and reviewed holistically. The MBA Admissions Committee will view each applicants’ petition in the context of their entire application and render a decision based on the application as a whole, versus a separate decision on just the waiver.

Ready to Apply?

The best time to apply is always when you feel you are ready to start the program and have a strong application. All applicants applying to the program must be prepared to start the program in August 2021.

If you have any questions now about starting the program, please contact us:

Executive MBA: TexasEMBA@mccombs.utexas.edu
MBA at Dallas/Fort Worth: TexasMBADFW@mccombs.utexas.edu
MBA at Houston: TexasMBAHouston@mccombs.utexas.edu

Student Spotlight: Shams
Mammadli, MBA at Houston Class of 2021

April 12, 2021 / Divina Ceniceros Dominguez / Comments Off

Shams Mammadli
MBA ’21

Shams Mammadli was born on the coast of Baku, Azerbaijan. She grew up there for most of her childhood and later, her education would take her all over the world.

As MBA graduation approaches, Shams is reflecting on her time at McCombs and how her upbringing shaped the worldview she brings to the MBA program.

An International Perspective

Multiculturalism is embedded into the very roots of Azerbaijan. Its culture is a fusion of two factors: the Soviet Union’s 70-year influence on the country and its Eastern European geography. It’s the combination of these two factors that provided Shams with fluency in four languages.

Shams Mammadli (left) and her mother (right) during her childhood.

“Imagine growing up in a family where you speak Azeri to your grandma but Russian to your mom; a childhood where your school classes are held in Russian, but you only watch Turkish cartoons; you grow up in a city with mosques, synagogues, and churches.”

The omnipresent immersion of different cultures molded Shams’ perspective of the world to this day. “It becomes a part of you,” she says. “I feel truly fortunate for having experienced such a level of multiculturalism this early and having seen the benefits it poses to society.”

Shams graduated from Azerbaijan State University of Economics with a bachelor’s degree in International Economic Relations in 2014. Aside from Baku, Shams has lived in Moscow, London, and Kansas in pursuit of her education.

“I learned very early on how to feel at home anywhere in the world.”

If There’s a Will, There’s a Way

Regardless of location, there is one common link that has driven Shams all her life: entrepreneurship.

“It’s what gets me excited: To hear others build something and turn their ideas into reality.”

Shams with a bouquet from her flower entrepreneurial business

Shams Mammadli holding a bouquet of flowers from her entrepreneurial venture, Precious Flowers Houston.

A few years ago, Shams took a leap of faith and started Precious Flowers Houston, an online boutique specializing in floral arrangements packaged in customized boxes. Here, she became familiar with the startup process from start to finish, namely, “designing the website, marketing, networking and building relationships with vendors, communicating with customers, and creating the arrangements.”

This startup allowed her entrepreneurial drive to blossom, but she attributes her biggest lesson learned as something more personal:

“Following your dreams is always worth it, and if there’s a will, there’s a way.”

Currently, Shams is a financial analyst at Leschaco, a transportation and logistics company based out of Germany. Although corporate finance is different from individual entrepreneurship, Shams says her entrepreneurial experience is a “useful foundation” to set her up for future success.

Shams’ Why McCombs

In 2015, through the Diversity Immigrant Visa program, Shams and her husband moved to the United States.

“As someone who has been traveling quite frequently and is always ready for a new challenge, I didn’t think twice before leaving everything behind and moving to the other side of the world.”

Shams in front of a University of Texas crest mounted on the wall

Shams at The University of Texas at Austin

However, Shams’ #WhyMcCombs moment almost happened back in 2014, when she was still living in Baku, Azerbaijan. She had started an application for her MBA degree at Texas McCombs, but never got around to submitting it because the prospect of it seemed, “so far and unattainable.” Nevertheless, be it a coincidence or destiny, Shams finally submitted and got admitted to the Texas McCombs MBA at Houston program in 2019, after she moved to the city.

Some of the key factors that played a role in Shams’ decision to apply to Texas McCombs were the university’s prestige and the Longhorn network:

“Apart from being a top-ranked program, it’s really the people that make it an amazing place to be — the admissions office, professors, classmates, and the great alumni network that is always willing to help and support.”

Shams attended information sessions held by other universities, but says that she quickly knew McCombs stood out and would be her home.

“Right from the start, I could tell Texas McCombs is a community of people that genuinely value diversity and are passionate about doing incredible things for the world.”

The Road Ahead

While at McCombs, Shams has worked on multiple projects that have accelerated her knowledge of the type of work she’d like to do after graduation.

Shams (middle) with her McCombs classmates

Shams (middle) along with her Texas McCombs at Houston classmates.

Shams says that MBA+ projects have allowed her to, “try on different hats,” and decide whether a specific venture would be something she’d want to pursue full-time. This past summer, she completed a mergers & acquisitions MBA+ Project in the healthcare industry, and currently she is working on a sustainability project for United Airlines — an experience that’s completely new to her.

“I believe McCombs provides all the resources for those who want to make most out of their experience.”

With graduation just around the corner, Shams is planning to pursue a corporate finance opportunity with a tech company focusing on product development and strategy. However, true to her first true passion, she’s hoping to pursue another entrepreneurial venture sometime down the road.

Visit Texas McCombs MBA to find out more about all our programs, events, and community, or take a peek into student life on Instagram.

Hook ’em!

Your MBA Return on Investment

March 26, 2021 / Texas McCombs MBA / Comments Off

Pursuing an MBA is a significant commitment of time and financial resources. At Texas McCombs, we understand that finding the best return on your MBA investment (ROI) is a priority. We are proud to have been consistently named a “Best Value” among Top 20 MBA programs!

As you evaluate the ROI for business schools you are considering, remember that the benefits of a top-ranked MBA go way beyond the potential for a higher salary. Growing your professional network, and the expansion of knowledge and skills should also play a role in evaluating ROI.

Expand Your Network

Texas McCombs is a globally recognized brand. When you join the program, you gain priceless membership in a lifelong alumni network that will continue to support and accelerate your career. Our alumni take great pride in giving back to this campus by helping mentor, support – and often hire – Texas McCombs students. Being a UT Austin alumni connects you to the most innovative leaders, thinkers, and doers around the world. You are a Longhorn for life.

The Texas McCombs and UT Austin Network

500,000+ UT Alumni
25,000+ MBA Alumni
100,000+ McCombs Alumni
30+ McCombs Alumni Chapters

The Numbers

Of course tuition and living costs are also considered in your ROI. Your individual considerations will vary when it comes to funding your MBA, but it’s always good to note current estimated tuition for the year you plan to start the program, cost of living, and any anticipated scholarships or financial aid.

Texas McCombs MBA Tuition

Current estimated annual tuition rate for the Full-Time MBA is $51,020 for Texas residents and $56,572 for non-Texas residents.

Texas McCombs MBA compares favorably against the national averages of $60,000 & $65,000, respectively, charged by other top 20 MBA programs at public universities. And the average annual tuition rate for private institutions in the top 10 is $72,485.

On average, 40-45% of admitted Texas McCombs Full-time MBA students receive scholarship offers.

Cost of Living in Austin

The cost of living in Austin is less than in many major cities. What costs $1 here is:
$1.56 in New York,
$1.43 in San Francisco,
$1.32 in Boston,
$1.30 in Los Angeles,
$1.29 in Seattle, and
$1.18 in Chicago

Texas consistently ranks as one of the nation’s most favorable business climates. Read more about the cost of living here.

Knowledge & Skills

While most graduate programs narrow your subject matter expertise through extensive research activities on a specific topic, an MBA curriculum allows you to learn about a variety of industries and business functions resulting in increased flexibility in potential career paths.

Texas McCombs is currently ranked in the top 3 for Business Analytics, Marketing and Accounting– we are consistently no. 1 for Accounting. The MBA also offers a new “Leading for Impact” curriculum component to provide focused individual assessment & leadership coaching within your MBA.

The value of your graduate degree is measured in more than dollars and cents. If you have any questions about the opportunities offered at Texas McCombs or how your goals may fit with our program, please reach out to us.

Student Spotlight:
Jennifer Boone, MBA at
Dallas/Fort Worth Class of 2021

March 11, 2021 / Divina Ceniceros Dominguez / Comments Off

Jennifer Boone, Texas McCombs MBA Class of 2021

Jennifer Boone has dedicated her life to changing the world. She works for Brighter Bites, a nonprofit that provides healthy meals to underprivileged students in cities across the country. Through her Texas McCombs MBA degree, she’s learning leadership skills to better serve those communities — one meal at a time.

New Beginnings

After graduating from Texas A&M University with an Ecosystem Management undergraduate degree, Jennifer pursued a career focused on agriculture, the environment, and their intersection within society.

In 2013, Jennifer was appointed lead Agriculture and National Resource Policy Intern for Congressman Pete Sessions, TX 32, with the U.S. House of Representatives. Afterward, she stayed with environmental work at Oncor Electric Delivery in their waste management department where she got a better understanding of the issues of waste in both natural and business ecosystems.

In 2017, Jennifer moved to the produce industry and became a Regional Sustainability Coordinator for PRO*ACT where she implemented “Greener Fields Together,” a program with the mission of cultivating a transparent seed-to-fork supply chain of responsibly-sourced produce in 13 states with 10 wholesale produce purveyors.

She is now working at Brighter Bites – a nonprofit organization that provides healthy meals, fresh produce, and nutrition information to low-income elementary school students and their families in cities in the U.S. She was recently promoted to Director of Sourcing where she directs all of the organization’s procurement and supply chain activities.

Jennifer’s background in agriculture has provided her with valuable skills in her new role and industry, but her passion to learn new things hasn’t ceased. She says getting her MBA gives her the tools she needs to do her job better.

“Understanding the business levers to pull and being able to apply the concepts I learn in class to the fresh food and produce world has allowed me to more effectively solve problems, develop higher-level strategies for future growth, and move more food to people who need it. “

Why McCombs

Jennifer’s interest in McCombs started when she was introduced to the power of the alumni network at Texas A&M. When determining what would be the best business school for her, she was surprised to experience firsthand that the “McCombs network is even stronger than the Aggie network.”

“I chose McCombs for a lot of reasons: the rankings, the faculty, the students I met at the open houses, the weekend format. But the number one reason I chose McCombs was so that I could join the world-class network of alumni doing amazing things across the world.”

Photo of Jennifer Boone in a balcony in front of the UT tower. She has shoulder length blonde hair and is wearing a black shirt with a grey blazer.

Jennifer Boone at the McCombs School of Business, Rowling Hall, in front of the UT Tower.

With her May graduation date quickly approaching, Jennifer’s workload hasn’t slowed down — especially with the transition to Zoom classes. She says that figuring out how to juggle a heavier professional workload while still handling rigorous MBA coursework has been a challenge.

“Learning to navigate the combination of these things while still setting aside some time to be with my family is a great exercise in time management and prioritizing — valuable skills that will serve me well in future leadership roles.”

Jennifer Boone (center) surrounded by classmates. They're all in front of a business named "Stoneleigh"

Jennifer Boone (left center) with her by classmates and the Sr. Assistant Dean and Director of Working Professional & Executive MBA Programs, Joe Stephens (bottom left)

McCombs has also strengthened Jennifer’s leadership skills. Outside of her schoolwork, Jennifer is the Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion for the Graduate Business Council (GBC) and an officer with the Graduate Women in Business (GWiB).

“I’m learning a lot about leading people in the classroom (thank you Dr. Harrison!) and being involved in these groups allows me to put those lessons into real-world practice, guide how our class engages with the program, and shape the program for future years.”

The Road Ahead

Jennifer Boone is wearing a red Brighter Bites T-shirt and black pants. She's holding up two bags full of produce from Brighter Bites.

Jennifer Boone with bags of produce from Brighter Bites.

Jennifer’s role at Brighter Bites allows her to lead procurement efforts across all of their partner cities and work with their farmers, freight companies, and food banks to ensure they get healthy, good quality products for consumers.

“Healthy food is a right, but fresh food is not available to everyone equally. Even if it is available, the lack of education around what to do with fresh produce can keep people from incorporating it into their diets.”

Because of the pandemic, Jennifer says that food insecurity has disproportionately impacted Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous people — making her job all the more urgent.

“It has been critical for me and my organization to focus on how we can get more fresh food to these communities specifically. Our operating model had to pivot to safely continue reaching families in need of food, and my procurement strategy had to adapt with the quickly changing food system.”

Jennifer Boone holding a box with produce from Brighter Bites

Jennifer Boone surrounded by boxes full of produce from her work at Brighter Bites.

Since the second week of May 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jennifer and her team at Brighter Bites have almost quadrupled their reach: They’re now serving 50,000 families each week with fresh produce and nutrition education across all six of their partner cities and have distributed over two million pounds of fruits and vegetables.

Jennifer’s not new to problem-solving. In addition to her job as Director of Sourcing, she recently designed and found funding for a project at Brighter Bites that works with growers to fight food insecurity by redirecting food waste. This grant would allow her to rescue half a million pounds of produce over the course of two-and-a-half months. After a month into the project, Jennifer had already rescued more than 215,000 pounds of cabbage, romaine, green leaf, kale, and broccoli from farms in California! In the final leg of the project, Jennifer hopes to move some of those greens into the Navajo Nation, which has also been severely affected by the pandemic.

“It’s definitely something I’m very proud of, as it’s a pilot program that would allow a more sustainable flow of produce and would unlock a whole side of the produce supply chain that is not currently accessible through straight donations. Supporting our farmers is incredibly important for the continued health of our domestic and global food system.”

Her role in the senior leadership for Brighter Bites is more involved than before. “Guiding strategic decisions about empowering families with good nutrition and how we can build a robust, resilient supply chain has been the highlight of my career,” she says.

“My MBA has given me new problem solving skills, equipped me with more analytical chops and has given me the ability to contribute more meaningfully in my role. More importantly, I know my MBA from McCombs will help me lead with impact for the rest of my career.”

Visit Texas McCombs MBA to find out more about all our programs, events, and community, or take a peek into student life on Instagram.

Hook ’em!

Celebrating Lunar New Year 2021

February 12, 2021 / Texas MBA Admissions / Comments Off

February 12, 2021 marks the first new moon of the year and the start of the Lunar New Year. The holiday is celebrated by many communities in Asia and around the world to welcome the spring season and is a time for families to reunite and honor ancestors.

In China, it is commonly known as Chinese New Year, or chunjie (春节) meaning “Spring Festival.” The festival is the longest holiday of the year beginning on the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ending on the first full moon. We talked to a few of our current MBA students from the McCombs China Business Association to learn how they celebrate the new year.

“First, Chinese New Year is for family,” says MBA student Sujian Luo. “We get together with parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters and relatives. And through this, we maintain and even create deeper bonds with each other. In the past year, we received help from people at work, in life, or somewhere else. This is the time to express sincere appreciation to them. Last but not least, it’s a time for every individual to take a pause, reflect, and prepare for a new sail.”

Sujian Luo
Texas McCombs MBA ’21

Sujian Luo was born and grew up in Sichuan Province in the southwest part of China. He remembers playing with fireworks when was younger during celebrations.

He learned about McCombs from his girlfriend who graduated from the program in 2019. He is currently the Case Competition VP of Operations Fellows and a member of the McCombs Ambassador Committee (MAC), China Business Association, and the Tech Club.

“Geographically, Sichuan’s location is similar to that of Texas in the United States. My hometown is a small city called Mianzhu. It has a long history and it can be dated back to the time of Three Kingdoms, more than 1000 years ago. My family has been living in Mianzhu since my great grandparents.

When I was young, the most impressive activity was playing fireworks with friends. These fireworks are not the same as those for shows and displays, they are fireworks played by hands. We used them to create different patterns in the dark.”

Traditions and Customs

Chinese New Year traditions include putting up red and gold decorations, eating reunion dinner with family on New Year’s Eve, popping firecrackers and fireworks, and giving red envelopes.

“The Chinese New Year traditions and procedures all have significant meaning, from the New Year’s greetings we share with each other to the food we eat, and I am proud that these festivities are still very much a part of my life,” says Nicole Fung. “For the most part a lot of what we take part in helps to bring prosperity, luck, and longevity for the upcoming year.”

Nicole Fung
Texas McCombs MBA ’22

Nicole Fung was born and raised in Hong Kong. Her father was born in Shanghai, and her mother was born in Hong Kong. Her ancestors are from the Guangdong province which lives along the Pearl River Delta.

Nicole chose McCombs because of her interest in tech, the growing city, and the McCombs network.

“When I was younger I celebrated New Year’s Eve with my family for our annual “reunion dinner”, typically feasting for hours over a nice hearty home cooked Chinese meal together. Then we would spend New Year’s Day visiting my parents’ elder siblings and grandparents’ home to wish them happy new year, a Chinese tradition called “bai nian”.

A picture of Nicole Fung and her family.

Nicole’s family

“My mother loves decorating our home with Chinese New Year flora (lucky bamboo, orchids, narcissus), Chinese couplets written in beautiful calligraphy, and kumquats,” says Nicole. “Every year our living room always has a CNY candy box that is filled with sweets, Chinese seeds and nuts to signify togetherness.”

During the New Year celebration, Nicole prepares dumplings.

“I would love to disclose my recipe for homemade dumplings, but honestly I always go with the flow and my gut. Definitely get pre-made dumpling skins to save a lot of prep time! Traditional fillings include ground pork and cabbage, and tofu, carrot, mushroom, and cabbage for a vegetarian option. For the filling’s marinade I use plenty of soy sauce, sesame oil, white pepper, and a little Chinese vinegar.”

Fay Sheng
Texas McCombs MBA ’21

Fay Sheng grew up in a mid-sized city in East China where her parents were born. She celebrates with her family by eating fish on the eve of Chinese New Year and saving part of it. After dinner, they watch China Central Television’s Spring Festival Gala.

Fay chose McCombs for the culture and growing city. She is also a member of Texas McCombs Labs.

“The reason [we eat fish on Chinese New Year] is that in Chinese, fish sounds like “surplus” and we always like to have a surplus at the end of the year,” she says. “And if we manage to save something at the end of this year, then we can make more in the next year.”

“Chinese New Year is a time for families to reunite and for people to celebrate and appreciate the achievement in the past one year and also look forward into the coming year.”

Fay’s niece writing couplets.

In preparation for the celebration, she would get a haircut, clean the house, shop for new clothes, and hang up traditional red decorations such as Fu, couplets, and paper-cut art.

“When we hang up Fu, we sometimes hang it upside down because “upside-down Fú” sounds nearly identical to the phrase ‘Good luck arrives.'”

The Year of the Ox

This is the Year of the Ox in the Chinese zodiac calendar. Nicole shares the story behind how the 12 animals in the zodiac came to be.

“The zodiac is a core part of Chinese New Year,” says Nicole. “There are a total of twelve animals in the zodiac and each New Year celebrates an animal from the roster. 2021 is the Year of the Ox. The fable behind the zodiac is the Jade Emperor, a Chinese deity, wanted twelve animals to serve has his guards. The animals on earth were asked to race to the Heavenly Gates to win their place beside the emperor. Met with a river with a swift current, the Rat had trouble crossing and jumped on the ox’s back for a safe ride. The Rat was cunning and jumped off the ox at the last moment to reach the Jade Emperor and won the race, consequently the ox placed second. The ordering of the zodiac is as follows according to their place in the race: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and finally the pig.”

Sujian says the Ox is important in ancient Chinese agricultural society.

“It’s a symbol of wealth. And in modern society, Chinese people often use Ox as an adjective, for example, if a student gets 100/100 points in a difficult example, we’ll say: ”you’re so Ox(你真牛)”—like, you are so great.”

Visit Texas McCombs MBA to find out more about all our programs, events, and community, or take a peek into student life on Instagram. Hook ’em!

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