What exactly are the steps for submitting your transcript(s) for your MPA application? Read on for the details!
MPA BRIDGE
You will provide a copy of a (free) UT Academic Summary in the admissions application.
Steps (See the MPA Bridge admissions packet for additional details):
- List all colleges and universities attended, including junior or community colleges, on the Educational Information page of the admissions application. (Tip: Select Add Record to add a college or university to your list of institutions attended. Then type University of Texas Austin in the Institution Name field to search for UT Austin.)
- For UT Austin only, upload a PDF of a Academic Summary in lieu of an official UT transcript. You do not need to provide copies of transcripts from any other colleges or universities attended.
TRADITIONAL MPA
You will provide a copy of your transcripts in two locations: 1) in the McCombs application portal (for the MPA admissions committee application review; unofficial transcripts are accepted) and 2) in the MyStatus portal (for UT’s Office of Graduate Admissions; official transcripts only). The Office of Graduate Admissions is responsible for verifying the validity of transcripts and degrees and calculating an upper-division GPA (based on junior- and senior-level courses and any graduate courses, if applicable).
Steps (see the tMPA admissions packet for additional details):
- List all colleges and universities attended, including junior or community colleges, on the Educational Information page of your McCombs online application.
- Order official transcripts from every four-year university or college you attended. Applicants who attended The University of Texas at Austin should download a PDF copy of a UT Academic Summary instead of ordering an official transcript. Transcripts from junior or community colleges should be requested if you completed our pre-enrollment requirements or any accounting courses at these institutions. If you are unable to obtain an official transcript in PDF format, you can scan your paper transcript to a PDF. Alternatively, if your college or university uses SPEEDE or Parchment, you can have your official transcript sent electronically to the Office of Graduate Admissions and upload a copy of an unofficial transcript in the McCombs application.
- Pay your application fee in UT’s Office of Graduate Admissions MyStatus portal after submitting your application. (Note: It will take 1-2 days for the application to transmit from the McCombs application portal to UT’s MyStatus portal.)
- After paying your application fee, upload your official transcripts (PDF format) to the MyStatus portal or have your official transcripts sent electronically via SPEEDE or Parchment (see the Submit Transcripts section of this Office of Graduate Admissions web page for detailed instructions). Former University of Texas at Austin students will pay a $20 transcript fee in lieu of uploading UT Austin transcripts.
Tip: If you attended a university outside the U.S., a foreign credential evaluation from WES or another organization is not required. However, if a transcript is written in a language other than English, a complete and official English translation must be uploaded together with the original transcript.
Should I submit my transcript without my fall grades?
If you are a traditional MPA U.S. applicant or MPA Bridge applicant, we recommend submitting a transcript (or UT Academic Summary) without your fall grades if you are aiming to apply early and your fall grades are net yet posted. We will reach out to you if we need your fall grades before making a decision. That said, we recommend waiting to submit your transcript with your fall grades if:
- (For non-accounting majors:) You are taking pre-enrollment courses in the fall (see tMPA pre-enrollments or MPA Bridge pre-enrollments),
- (For accounting majors:) You are enrolled in several upper-level accounting classes in the fall, and/or
- Your upper-level GPA will be improved substantially with your fall grades.
If you are a traditional MPA international applicant (not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident), you should submit your application with transcript before either the early November 1 or final January 13 application deadline, even if the fall grades are not posted. After your fall grades are available, you have the option to provide a copy of an updated transcript in the McCombs application portal (Submitted Applications tab > Submit an Update).
Please contact the MPA admissions team if you have additional questions!
