Texas MPA Admissions Blog

International applicants: Do you have questions about the TOEFL? You’re not alone! The following are a few frequently-asked questions that I have received regarding the TOEFL:
Q: Can the TOEFL requirement be waived if I studied in the United States?
A: The TOEFL requirement will be waived automatically for international applicants under the following circumstances:

If the applicant’s native language is English (English [...]

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Each year, I am contacted by a number of concerned applicants who haven’t completed their applications by the deadline. Typically, two of the most common mistakes could have been avoided with proper planning:
1) GMAT - Your file will be referred to our department for a decision after all application materials, including the official test scores, have been received. Be sure to [...]

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I’d like to take a moment to address a few of the questions that I have been asked recently regarding the online application. 
Q: I can’t find the MPA major as an option in the drop-down list. What major should I select?
A: Make sure that you selected the correct institution (The University of Texas at Austin) and correct [...]

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Writing an admissions essay can seem like a daunting task. What should I write? How should I write it? How long should the essay be? Basically, there are no right answers! What do I mean by that? The purpose of the essay is to provide the admissions committee with a better understanding of what makes you unique. It gives you an opportunity [...]

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When it comes to recommendation letters for the MPA application, I frequently receive the following questions:

Who should write my recommendation letters?

My general answer to this question is to find someone who knows you well and can provide the admissions committee greater insight into your academic or professional strengths. Therefore, your recommender might be a professor, an internship supervisor [...]

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I receive several inquiries each week from international applicants who are concerned about their TOEFL or IELTS scores. As you may be aware, the Texas MPA program prefers the following:

An overall score of at least 105 on the Internet-based TOEFL exam and
A score of at least 24 on the individual TOEFL sections -OR-
A band score of at least 7.5 on the [...]

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A frequently asked question that prospective applicants ask is, ”What should I be doing to prepare to apply to the Texas MPA program?” First and foremost, I recommend preparing for the GMAT exam, as this will be the most time-consuming portion of your application prep. Here are a few tips related to the GMAT:

It’s never too early to start preparing [...]

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The MPA application for fall 2009 made its debut on September 2! So, when is the best time to apply? The answer depends on your residency status and strength of your application.
U.S. applicants (citizens or permanent residents) with strong application credentials are encouraged to apply by December 1, particularly if you are interested in receiving an earlier [...]

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