MPA Admissions Blog

Insider Information for Prospective Texas McCombs Students

Author: Chelsey Stewart (page 1 of 8)

REGISTER: Meet Current MPA Students and Alumni on November 16

November 10, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Hear from current Master in Professional Accounting students and alumni at our virtual panel on Wednesday, November 16 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. CT! MPA students and alumni will discuss why they chose to study accounting, as well as detail their experiences in the program, including their favorites classes, recruiting and networking opportunities, and life at Texas McCombs. Plus, you’ll have the chance to ask the panelists questions!

Register Now

Event Details:
Wednesday, November 16
5:00 – 6:00 p.m. CT
Virtual – Zoom

Meet the Panelists!

Yadira Avitia

Yadira Avitia  |  Current MPA
Undergrad: Psychology, University of North Texas

Yadira grew up in Fort Worth, Texas and received a bachelor’s in psychology from the University of North Texas. She decided to earn a graduate degree in accounting from Texas McCombs to master the language of business. She strives to service businesses within various industries who are working to make this world a better place.

 

Christine CockerellChristine Cockerell  |  MPA ’17
Senior Financial Analyst at Toyota North America

Christine earned her undergraduate degree in finance/accounting from American University and earned her MPA at UT Austin. She is interested in financial advisory services, particularly in the airline, automotive, and real estate sectors. She was born and raised in Texas and is a private pilot and avid golfer.

 

David O'NeilDavid O’Neil  |  MPA ’15
Senior Associate at Crescent Cove Capital

David earned both his bachelor’s and master’s in accounting from UT Austin. He focused his studies in financial accounting, as well as volunteered as a tax preparer through the Tax Practicum course. His passions include corporate finance, new technologies, and investing.

 

Eric WenEric (Junqi) Wen  |  Current MPA
Undergrad: Accounting, UT Austin

Eric grew up in China and went to high school in Sugar Land, Texas. He is a current student studying in the Master in Professional Accounting Program. Upon graduation, Eric will be working as a strategy analyst at Accenture in Chicago, Illinois.

 

REGISTER: MPA Info Session on November 3

October 31, 2022 / / 0 Comments

November 3 Info Session

Are you interested in earning your master’s degree in accounting? Join us at the Texas McCombs Master in Professional Accounting (MPA) virtual info session on November 3 at 5:00 p.m. CT!

At the MPA info session, you will meet Jasmin Blas-Mendieta, the Senior Admissions and Recruiting Officer for the MPA program. She will detail the curriculum you will learn in the program, career outcomes and opportunities, how to apply, and answer any questions you have.

Register for the info session and learn how you can earn your master’s degree in accounting from The University of Texas at Austin!

Register Today!

Master in Professional Accounting Info Session
Thursday, November 3, 2022
5:00 – 6:00 p.m. CT
Virtual – Zoom

REGISTER: Meet the MPA Faculty on October 20

October 19, 2022 / / 0 Comments

As you research earning your master’s degree in accounting, attend the virtual Master in Professional Accounting (MPA) Faculty Panel on October 20 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. CT! You will hear from three MPA faculty members and learn about the classes they teach, electives you can take at Texas McCombs, and career opportunities for MPA graduates. Plus, you’ll have the chance to ask the faculty questions.

Register for MPA Faculty Panel

Meet the Panelists!

Nick_HallmanNick Hallman, Assistant Professor

  • Faculty Member Since: 2016​
  • Spring 2022 Classes: Data Analytics ​in Accounting​
  • Alma Mater: University of Missouri Columbia​
  • Expertise: Financial, Auditing

Donna_Johnston_BlairDonna Johnston-Blair, Assistant Professor of Instruction

  • Faculty Member Since: 2013​​
  • Spring 2022 Classes: Tax Practicum, Taxation of Entities​​
  • Alma Mater: University of Toronto​​
  • Expertise: Financial, Managerial, and Tax

Lisa_KoonceLisa Koonce, Professor

  • Faculty Member Since: 1990​
  • Fall 2022 Classes: Advanced Topics in Financial Report, Financial Accounting Standards & Analysis​
  • Alma Mater: University of Illinois​
  • Expertise: Financial, Judgment and Decision Making

 

We’ll see you Thursday, October 20 at 5:00 p.m. CT!

REGISTER: Attend the October 13 MPA Info Session

October 11, 2022 / / 0 Comments

October 13 Info Session Blog Post

As you look to apply to graduate school, the best way to get information on a master’s program is by attending an event or info session. To learn more about the Master in Professional Accounting program from The University of Texas at Austin, join us at our upcoming info session on October 13, 2022! You will learn about the admissions process, curriculum, career opportunities and outcomes, and what life is like in Austin.

Don’t delay and sign up for the October 13 info session today! We’ll see you there!

Info Session Details:
Traditional MPA Info Session
Date: Thursday, October 13, 2022
Time: 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. CT
Location: Virtual – Zoom

Register Today!

REGISTER: Attend an MPA Info Session in September

September 9, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Learn more about the Master in Professional Accounting program and attend an upcoming virtual info session in September! There are two info sessions scheduled this where you will hear about the MPA admissions process and how to make your application stand out. You will also learn about the program’s curriculum, recruiting for jobs and career outcomes, as well as what life is like in Austin.

REGISTER: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 – 12:00 P.M. CT

REGISTER: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 – 5:00 P.M. CT

Jasmin Blas-MendietaIn the meantime, you can learn more about GMAT/GRE test scores being optional on our blog, and you can sign up for a one-on-one admissions consultation with Jasmin Blas-Mendieta, MPA’s Senior Recruiting and Admissions Officer.

We look forward to meeting you soon!

August 10 Info Session Blog Post

REGISTER: Virtual MPA Info Session on August 10

July 29, 2022 / / 0 Comments

With GMAT and GRE scores now being test optional for the traditional Master in Professional Accounting (MPA) program from Texas McCombs, join us at a virtual info session on August 10 from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. CT to learn more about the MPA admissions process and how to make your application stand out. You will also hear about the program’s curriculum, recruiting for jobs and career outcomes, as well as what life is like in Austin.

REGISTER FOR INFO SESSION

In the meantime, you can learn more about test scores being optional on our blog, and you can sign up for a one-on-one admissions consultation with Jasmin Blas-Mendieta, MPA’s Senior Recruiting and Admissions Officer.

We look forward to meeting you soon!

A Peek Into the Classroom: Healthcare Accounting

June 17, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Anindita Roy Bardhan has been sharing her passion for healthcare since 2018, when she brought her Healthcare Accounting course from UT Dallas to McCombs. Learn more about this course and why it’s a valuable addition to the Master in Professional Accounting (MPA) program curriculum.

Healthcare Accounting Blog Post


HOW DOES THIS COURSE DIFFER FROM OTHER ACCOUNTING CLASSES?
This course is unique in the fact that it includes topics related to financial and managerial accounting and finance in a single course. The purpose is to bring facets of the business side of healthcare to students with an interest in healthcare careers.

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT HEALTHCARE ACCOUNTING?
As I tell my students, hospitals in the U.S. include a majority of not-for-profit entities. Therefore, this course covers accounting and business issues of both not-for-profit and investor-owned/for-profit entities. It is very rare, if at all, to find both aspects being addressed in a single course!

BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS FROM YOUR CLASS?
Students have the opportunity to:

  • understand how financial statements reflect the performance of a healthcare entity; » analyze strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats based on financial statement analysis and make recommendations to address them;
  • manage working capital using cash budgets and receivables aging;
  • make decisions regarding pricing of products and services, make or buy, using breakeven analyses; and
  • use net present value concepts to make investment decisions.

 

We hope you enjoyed learning more about this elective class in the Master in Professional Accounting program at UT Austin! See all of our electives here, and mark your calendar for August 29, 2022 as our traditional MPA Class of 2024 application opens that day!

Meet Current MPA Student Tabetha Wilhelm!

May 23, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Tabetha Wilhelm grew up around accounting, so when it came time to earn her master’s degree, she had one program in mind: Texas McCombs MPA. Read on to learn more about Tabetha and life in the Master in Professional Accounting program.

 

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
I’m from San Antonio, Texas!

WHAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN ACCOUNTING?
I come from a family of accountants and small business owners, so accounting has been part of my life whether I knew it or not. My dad earned his accounting degree in Germany in the ’60s before he immigrated to Texas.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO ATTEND THE TEXAS McCOMBS MPA PROGRAM?
The Texas McCombs MPA Program has been my dream program since I started college. I could have worked on a master of accountancy at several different schools in San Antonio, but I knew that coming to Austin was the right choice because I knew I would have top tier professors. Plus, the design of the program provides the opportunity to take courses in the areas of accounting that I am interested in studying and I’m not regulated to a set pre-determined set of classes. I do have required coursework, but the ability to take and the access to elective business and accounting classes stands out compared to the other programs where I was admitted.

Tabetha Wilhem Graduation

WHAT HAS YOUR FAVORITE CLASS BEEN SO FAR AND WHY?
Corporate Tax (aka Taxation of Entities-I). Professor Johnston-Blair is wonderful and makes class so much fun. I don’t think I’ve laughed so much in an accounting class in my life!

WHAT ARE YOUR POST-GRADUATE PLANS?
Over Spring Break, I accepted an offer to join the EY tax team in their San Antonio office, and I am scheduled to start in July 2022!

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE ON CAMPUS?
I have many favorites when it comes to UT’s campus. I love Littlefield Home because I’m a sucker for Victorian architecture, and I also loved having class in Rowling Hall (the McCombs School of Business graduate building). The benches outside the Harry Ransom Center are also a nice quiet place to have lunch outside (and hey, we have a Gutenberg Bible in the HRC!). The turtle pond behind the tower is also a great place to visit.

ANY TIPS FOR THOSE LOOKING INTO THE PROGRAM?
There’s a reason why the MPA program is so highly rated; our professors are amazing and on top of being great educators, they also have the professional experience to back up their knowledge. The career services and networking available to MPA students has already been incredibly useful.

Learn more about the MPA program by attending an event or meeting with the admissions team. The application for fall 2023 admission opens this August!

Last Chance to Join the MPA Class of 2023!

April 28, 2022 / / 0 Comments

There’s still time to apply to the Texas McCombs Master in Professional Accounting program. Complete your application before 11:59 p.m. CT on Saturday, April 30 to be considered for the MPA Class of 2023. If you are experiencing hardships due to the pandemic and those challenges are affecting your ability to take the GMAT or GRE exam, remember that you can petition for a test score waiver.

Learn About MPA Admissions

While you work on your application, check out these four MPA alumni to discover what life was like in the program and where they are now.

JOHN BOBER | MPA ‘82
From earning an undergraduate degree in history to making a professional pivot into accounting and finance, John has had a long and successful career. After earning his MPA, John started at Arthur Andersen and quickly made partner. He then transitioned to GE Capital, where he spent nearly 23 years of his career. John retired from GE Capital in March 2018 and is now the Director of The Alta Group based out of Connecticut.

 

WILL BRAEUTIGAM | MPA ‘05
Will received his bachelor’s degree in economics from UT Austin in 2004, then earned his MPA is 2005. He joined Deloitte as an auditor after graduation and has been with the firm ever since. Will attributes the program’s core accounting curriculum, group projects, and technology/finance classes helped prepare him to execute strategies and innovate on the job. He is now a partner and special purpose acquisition companies (SPAC) leader at Deloitte’s office in Houston, Texas.

 

MAUREEN SWEET | MPA ‘16
Maureen grew up in Ohio and completed her undergraduate studies at Fordham University. She received her bachelor’s in Spanish Language Literature and minored in Business, and she especially enjoyed her undergraduate accounting courses. After graduating from the MPA program in 2016, Maureen worked at Deloitte for three years before transitioning to a Senior Tax Accountant at National Instruments in Austin, Texas.

 

ARTURO OLIVAREZ | MPA ‘20
Arturo earned his bachelor’s in accounting from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, then came to Texas McCombs to earn his MPA. Arturo has always been fascinated by the intersection of business, government, and society, so he focused his electives and recruiting efforts on government while in the program. After graduation, Arturo worked at the Texas Senate and is now working with the U.S. House of Representatives in San Antonio, Texas.

Email us with any questions or comments as you work on your application. We are here for you every step of the way.

REGISTER: Meet Current MPA Students and Alumni on April 14

April 12, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Attend the virtual Current Student and Alumni Panel as we chat with five people who experienced the Master in Professional Accounting first-hand. You’ll hear about their time in the program, why they chose to study accounting, and their career path since graduating from the program. Plus, you’ll have the chance to ask the students and alumni questions.

Thursday, April 14 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. CT (virtual)

REGISTER

Meet the Panelists

DavidDavid Elliott, MPA ’22
Current Student

David is originally from Houston, Texas and earned his bachelor’s degree from UT Austin in economics. He wanted to get his foot in the door in the business world but found it difficult with only an economics degree. He found he had a passion for accounting after minoring in it and taking an Introduction to Tax course, so David decided to go back to earn his master’s in accounting at the McCombs School of Business.

 

ReneeRenee Hoekstra, MPA ’18
Assistant Controller, Waste Connections

Renee earned her undergraduate degree in accounting at Michigan State University, then came to UT Austin to earn her master’s in accounting. While in the MPA program, she was a student ambassador and met with prospective and newly admitted MPA students. After graduating from McCombs, she worked at PwC for three years before transitioning to her current role at Waste Connections as Assistant Controller. She is based out of Chicago, Illinois.

 

EnriqueEnrique Munguia, MPA ’22
Current Student

Enrique is from San Antonio, Texas and will earn his MPA degree this summer. Enrique has had internships in accounting, finance, and data analytics at Goldman Sachs, Holt CAT, and Noroc Naturals. After graduating this summer, he will move to Atlanta and work as an Accounting/Finance Analyst at Google. Enrique is currently the President of the Longhorn Wrestling Team, and he is an NCWA All-American and NCWA Southwest Conference champion.

 

KarinKarin Schultz, MPA ’16
Senior Analyst, Emerson Global Financial Services

Following her time in the MPA program, Karin joined Emerson in St. Louis, Missouri as an Internal Auditor, progressing to becoming a Senior Auditor before moving to an Analyst role in a newly created Global Financial Services Group. In mid-April she will be taking a Manager of Financial Controls and Analysis role at Emerson’s Appleton Business Unit based in Chicago, Illinois.

 

GarrettGarrett Shuffield, MPA ’18
Associate, Jackson Walker

Garrett is an attorney in the Wealth Planning practice of Jackson Walker’s Austin office. He was a summer associate at the firm in 2019 and 2020. While studying for his MPA degree, Garrett served as a teaching assistant in the accounting department. He was also a research assistant while in law school at The University of Texas at Austin.

 

Register today and email us with any questions, and we’ll see you there!

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