Texas McCombs MBA Insider

Category: MBA Insight (page 11 of 26)

Redesigned Executive MBA
Program Experience Launching Fall 2021

February 3, 2021 / / Comments Off on Redesigned Executive MBA
Program Experience Launching Fall 2021

We are excited to announce the Texas McCombs Executive MBA has been redesigned to meet the changing needs of today’s experienced professionals. The new program offers more flexibility and a stronger focus on leadership and organizational strategy. You can learn more about key updates below, which will take effect for Executive MBA students starting the program in August 2021.

More Flexibility

The Executive MBA program structure will offer more convenience and flexibility for busy executives and for those traveling from outside of Austin for the program with two delivery updates:

  • One 3-day (Thursday – Saturday) class weekend per month
  • Program completion in 20 months

The on-campus classroom experience, opportunities for networking, and strong community culture will remain as hallmarks of the program.

Diversified Curriculum

The Executive MBA curriculum will offer additional electives and new course offerings taught by world-class McCombs faculty. Topics have been expanded to give students a broader base of knowledge required for executives with an overall increased emphasis on leadership, strategy, and analytics:

  • Core curriculum additions, including Valuation for Executives, Business Analytics and Decision Modeling for Executives, Strategic Marketing, Strategic Human Capital, and Leading for Impact
  • An expanded slate of elective coursework offers greater customization. In the new program design, students will now take four electives from a choice of ~10-12 courses.
  • Increased leadership content including a new Executive Seminar course, an Executive Crisis Challenge simulation with an emphasis on ethics and communication, and a new capstone course “Leading for Impact” to develop executive leadership through introspection, practice, feedback, and opportunity to drive change in real organizations.

“Market research and feedback from employers helped inform updates to the curriculum and program format. This evolution will prepare our Executive MBA students for what’s ahead and will keep them competitive in high-level executive leadership roles.” 

– Joe Stephens, Senior Assistant Dean & Director of Working Professional & Executive MBA Programs.

Executive Immersions

Each semester will include one Executive Immersion class weekend, which will be held off campus and provide opportunities for in-depth experiential learning. Immersion weekends are currently planned for New York City, Washington, D.C., Dallas, and the Austin-area Hill Country. Each is linked to course content and will include executive/company visits, alumni networking, cultural experiences, and time to network and bond with classmates.

Immersions will provide real-time, real-place exposure, application to what Executive MBA students are learning in the classroom  and will align with semester themes for content:

  • 1st year, fall semester theme: “Language of Business” with Executive Immersion in New York City
  • 1st year, spring semester theme: “Leading in the New Economy” with Executive Immersion in Dallas
  • 2nd year, fall semester theme: “Leading at the Policy Level” with Executive Immersion in Washington, D.C.
  • 2nd year, spring semester theme: “Executive Visioning” with Executive Immersion in the Austin-area Hill Country

“We wanted to be active and present in regions where there is significant business impact and innovation taking place and where students can easily access our strong Texas McCombs alumni network.”

– Joe Stephens, Senior Assistant Dean & Director

The Executive MBA program will also include a 6-day Global Immersion course in the summer between the 1st and 2nd year. The 2022 Executive MBA Global Immersion location is to be determined, but previous destinations include Southeast Asia, South Africa, East Africa, India, Eastern Europe, China, and South America.

Learn More

Sign up to receive Executive MBA news here, and register for an Executive MBA event to meet admissions and program staff, current students, and alumni.

The Executive MBA application for August 2021 is open now, and the final deadline to apply is May 25, 2021.

Learn more on our website, and contact us with any questions at TexasEMBA@mccombs.utexas.edu.

After Admission: Deciding Your
MBA Offer

February 1, 2021 / / Comments Off on After Admission: Deciding Your
MBA Offer

Making it through the MBA application process to receive an offer of admission from Texas McCombs is a big accomplishment! But it is not the end of your MBA admissions journey. The decision process goes both ways and you must accept your offer of admission to be enrolled in the next class. As a driven and competitive MBA candidate,  you may be deciding between offers at multiple business schools. Everyone’s individual decision is different, but a few common themes always come up when we ask our students, “Why McCombs?”

The City

Austin, Texas tops rankings for quality of life, growth, tech and innovation year after year. ATX was named the No. 1 Best Place to Live by U.S. News & World Report in 2017, 2018, and 2019!

A few photos of Austin - Lake Travis, the city, the Capitol, & a concert

The MBA program moved into a new, world-class facility in 2018. Robert B. Rowling Hall sits at the intersection of the university and the Austin business community, acting as a launchpad for ideas. Open, transparent, and flexibly designed, the building creates the physical space for you to engage, collaborate and learn experientially. Our dedication to excellence, plus our new home, made us a Top Ten Business School to Watch in 2021.

Rowling Hall exterior

Robert B. Rowling Hall, Graduate Business Building, UT Austin

The Network

Right at the center of Austin is the McCombs School of Business–  a tight-knit, driven community of students, staff and faculty, making up part of one of the largest university networks in the world:

500,000+ UTY Austin Alumni, 100,000+ McCombs Alumni, 25,000+ MBA Alumni

Our MBA culture is famously welcoming and our students come from diverse backgrounds that make our community dynamic and inspiring. It has been said that McCombs MBAs are relentlessly driven, yet they are the first to jump in and encourage and support each other to excel. Connect with current MBA students to learn more about what sets us apart.

Texas McCombs MBA Consortium Students at Rowling Hall, fall 2018

Texas McCombs Consortium MBA students at Orientation 2018

The Focus on the Future

Texas McCombs is human-centered and future-focused, meaning we have our eye on what’s coming next in business– from the exciting research coming out of McCombs every day to the many rankings where we are among the best schools in the nation. We strive to be a top business school, giving our students the best possible experience. Recently, we landed on six Top 10 lists in Princeton Review’s 2021 rankings, including No. 1 Best Campus Environment for the third year in a row!

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!

Banner announcing STEM Certification

Full-Time MBA Program Receives STEM Certification

December 17, 2020 / / Comments Off on Full-Time MBA Program Receives STEM Certification

Top-Ranked Programs Emphasize Quantitative Management and Analytics

We are excited to announce that the Texas McCombs Full-Time MBA Program has received STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) certification for 14 of its 22 concentrations, demonstrating a high level of quantitative rigor across the program. 

“The breadth and depth of our full-time MBA curriculum is a unique complement to our close-knit class of 260 students, and we wanted to focus our STEM certification efforts on areas where we’re seeing strong and active job recruitment post-graduation, such as business analytics. The fact that these 14 concentrations were judged to meet STEM standards after an exacting review by our faculty, university office of graduate studies, UT System, and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board points to the strength of our offerings in these subject areas.”

– Tina Mabley, Assistant Dean for Full-Time MBA

Texas McCombs received the STEM designation after a rigorous review of the MBA curriculum and how the programs are categorized by the National Center for Education Statistics under a Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code. The approval process went through several levels including the McCombs School of Business faculty, the University of Texas at Austin Office of Graduate Studies and Provost, the University of Texas System, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. As a result, the existing single Full-Time MBA degree program was split into three degree programs, two of which (Management Science & Quantitative Methods and Financial Mathematics) are classified with STEM codes. These degrees are earned by completing specific concentrations within the Full-Time MBA program.  

Beginning with the graduating Class of 2021, the following  concentrations will have the STEM degree designation.

Management Science & Quantitative Methods degree code:

  • Information Management 
  • Supply Chain & Operations Management 
  • Business Analytics 
  • Brand & Product Management
  • High Tech Marketing
  • Marketing Analytics & Consulting 

Financial Mathematics degree code:

  • General Finance 
  • Corporate Accounting 
  • Investment Management 
  • Corporate Finance 
  • Energy Finance 
  • Clean Tech 
  • Private Equity 
  • Real Estate Finance  

Several of McCombs’ one-year, specialized Master of Science programs are also STEM certified, including Business Analytics, Information Technology and Management, Finance, Marketing, and Technology Commercialization.

“Our goal at McCombs is not only to educate students from across the globe but also to make them competitive for business professions that the market is dictating. STEM certification is an indication that our programs and our curriculum are both thorough and rigorous.”

– Interim Dean Lillian Mills

The STEM-designated degree program was established by the U.S. government to address a shortage of qualified workers in STEM fields and benefits all students by providing exceptional educational experience and broadening career opportunities. Additionally, the degree designation benefits international students by giving them up to three years to work in the U.S. without an H1-B visa through OPT (Optional Practical Training), instead of just one-year for non-STEM degrees.

Student Spotlight: Daniel
Hinkson, MBA at Houston Class of 2021

November 11, 2020 / / Comments Off on Student Spotlight: Daniel
Hinkson, MBA at Houston Class of 2021

For Daniel Hinkson, a veteran MBA at Houston student, a degree from Texas McCombs is a way to transform his military experience into a successful career in business.

From the Army to the Business World

Photo of Daniel Hinkson

“Following my transition out of the Army, I realized my peers in the corporate sector had significant business experiences and knowledge I lacked. Conversely, the knowledge and experiences I had in the Army were vast and invaluable, but I felt a needed to close the business knowledge gap.”

After graduating from the United States Military Academy in 2012 Daniel commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer in the Army. He got married and then moved six times in six years, including two tours in Afghanistan. His career is most notably highlighted by his time serving as an Army Ranger in the 75th Ranger Regiment. Now, Daniel has transitioned out of the Army and works as a Project Engineer for Enerflex Ltd. 

“The military exposes leaders to a vast number of different personalities and backgrounds. It is the ultimate melting pot of societies coming together to be greater than themselves. The McCombs School of Business strives for this same type of diverse unification in support of greater purpose, even to change the world.”

Balancing Work, Life and Family

The biggest advantage of the Working Professional MBA program for Daniel has been the alternating weekend class format that allows him to prioritize family time with his wife and two young children.

Daniel with his wife and kids outside of the McCombs School of Business building in Austin Texas.

Daniel with his wife and children on campus at UT Austin .

“Like many looking to advance their careers through an MBA, I was not ready to pursue a full-time education. The MBA at Houston program offered me the greatest flexibility while still providing an interesting and challenging curriculum. The every-other-weekend format also allowed for decompression time that I could dedicate to my family.”

Daniel’s “Why McCombs?”

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Student Spotlight: Jonathan Razack, MBA at Dallas/Fort Worth Class of 2021

November 5, 2020 / / Comments Off on Student Spotlight: Jonathan Razack, MBA at Dallas/Fort Worth Class of 2021

As a 17-year-old high school graduate, Jonathan (Jon) Razack was faced with the universal life decision of what to do next. He had a goal of joining  the military; however, his parents encouraged him to take a different direction. Below, he tells the compelling story of how he was able to make both paths work for his future, eventually landing at Texas McCombs.

Jon Razack

Jon Razack, MBA 2021

The American Dream

Jon was born in Fort Worth to immigrant parents who came to Texas hoping to find new opportunities. Eventually they became naturalized U.S. citizens and started a business where Jon worked as a teenager. Upon graduating high school, he was at a crossroads: should he follow the route of heading to a traditional college, as his parents always wanted, or follow his dream to go into military service?

I learned the meaning of a strong work ethic from my parents who bootstrapped capital to start their own business. I gained a big appreciation for how much work it takes to own your own business. My parents are my heroes, and while I always wanted to be in the U.S. Army, college was really important to them, especially as immigrants.

Jon eventually chose to attend college at the  Virginia Military Institute, where he studied economics and business. He didn’t give up on his military dream, but instead put it on hold just a little while, deciding to prepare himself for business success with a degree before enlisting in the military. After graduation he became an infantry officer, fulfilling his dream and starting a new chapter of his life in the U.S. Army.

Military Life

In 2011 Jon became a Ranger qualified Infantry Officer, leading specialized teams of Paratroopers, from groups of less than 10 up to 200.

two soldiers holding an American flag

Jon Razack’s team during his time in the military.

After spending five years in this role, Jon retooled his skill set and spent his last two years in the Army as a Battalion Senior Intelligence Officer at Fort Lewis, Washington. From there he began to look at industry options outside of the military where his problem-solving and leadership skills would transfer. This eventually led to his career transition back in Dallas.

Transition was surprisingly easier and harder in some respects. I was away from home for 12 years doing a lot of traveling, so I was ready to come back home.

As soon as he got out of the military, he was recruited for the Leadership Development Program at CoreLogic, where he worked in Product Management and did internal consulting for company process optimization. Eventually, he was leading his own sales team.

I liked sales because it was similar to the leadership skills I used in the infantry for over five years. I had the right mentorship, and it made my industry transition so much easier.

To Jon, one of the biggest reasons why he enjoyed his time at CoreLogic was because of the mentorship. He says his mentors took time to help him apply his military skills towards both the training program and his current job as Director of Operations for CoreLogic’s mortgage business. After two years of working there, however, Jon knew that his transition still needed an extra push.

I’ve always known that I’d be needing an MBA to bridge the seven year gap I didn’t spend in an industry. I had developed leadership and problem solving skills from my time in the Army, but I needed to learn how to apply that conceptually in the business world and accelerate my learning curve.

Jon’s MBA Journey

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How to Have a Successful MBA Interview

October 21, 2020 / / Comments Off on How to Have a Successful MBA Interview

We understand that if you are planning to apply this application cycle , you may be affected by challenges posed by COVID-19. The University of Texas continues to prioritize your safety and you can stay updated on safety measures and announcements via Protect Texas Together.

After you submit your MBA application, you may receive an invitation to interview.  The weeks after submitting create a new set of questions, especially because of the current restrictions for on-campus visits and virtual interviews. Common questions include:  What interview format options are there? What sort of questions will I be asked? Who conducts the interview? How should I prepare?

Different schools have different interview processes. It’s important to be familiar with how the Texas McCombs MBA runs the virtual interview experience. Be sure to read all confirmation emails and instructions very carefully.

Interviews Are Invitation Only 

Currently, all interviews are being conducted virtually.

Full-Time MBA Program Interviewers
For our Full-Time MBA program, interviews will be conducted by a current MBA student, MBA Alumnus, or MBA Admissions staff.

Working Professional MBA Program Interviewers
For our working , interviews will be conducted by the dedicated Admissions Officer for your program.

If you receive an interview invitation, an email will point you to our online platform and allow you to select an interview time slot that works with your schedule. There is a deadline to complete your interview, so be sure to schedule it as early as you can.

Interview invitations can come at any time during the application round. You will want to check your email (and  your Spam Folder) regularly after you submit your application  so you can  respond to our invitation and secure your preferred time slot.

An Un-Biased Approach  

Going into each interview, our interviewers do not have access to anything about you or your application, except for your resume. (Even so, it’s always a good idea to have a copy of your resume on-hand during the conversation.)

All of our interviewers are fully trained on conducting an interview that is professional, fair, impartial and helpful. Interviews typically last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

Most interviews follow the general framework of introductions, questions from the interviewer for you to answer, then leave time  at the end for you to ask questions about the program and/or application process.

Top Tips

  1. Be On Time: Arriving on time is “Interviewing 101,” yet it still manages to trip up even the most prepared of candidates. Please follow all the instructions in your confirmation email about how to connect with your interviewer.
  2. Test Technology: Virtual interviews are being conducted through Zoom. If you don’t have one already, create a Zoom account. You’ll want to find a good space to conduct your interview, ideally with good lighting, stable internet, and access to a plug. We recommend connecting directly to your internet for the most reliable internet connection.
  3. Pace Yourself: You’d be surprised how many times, at the end of an applicant’s long answer, we are asked to repeat the original question. Most often this happens to people who try to put too much into the first answer for fear of not being given an opportunity later on to address their prepared examples.  Don’t worry, you will have time to get to it.  Plus, there is often an opportunity at the end of an interview to mention anything you didn’t address in the formal line of questioning.
  4. Be Professional But Loosen Up: Given our program’s famously friendly culture, our interviews are relatively informal.  If you still find yourself nervous, practice your answers in front of a mirror or with a friend or colleague and ask them how you did. Did you answer the question? Did you rush through it? Take a moment to outline your answer in your mind first, and then address it calmly and confidently.  Don’t get too comfortable, though. While we’re an easy-going group, maintaining an appropriate level of professionalism is always a good idea. This includes professional language and attire, as if you were interviewing for a job.
  5. Know What We’re Looking For: We listen for confidence, clear and concise communication of career goals, concrete examples of teamwork and leadership, in-depth knowledge of our MBA program, and overall genuine enthusiasm.  Also, the interview can be a place to showcase secondary skills that are difficult for us to determine solely based on your application: interview skills, self-awareness, communication style, and “hire-ability.” Keep these in mind so we can get a feel for the application intangibles.
  6. Come with questions: A good list of questions for your interviewer can illustrate a few key things about you as a candidate: You’ve done your research, you care about our program, you have envisioned yourself as an MBA, and you can formulate coherent thoughts under pressure. We usually leave anywhere from 10-15 minutes for questions, so limit your list to 2-3 good ones and have a few backups.

Some applicants anticipate an interview and feel nervous, which is natural. If you are nervous, here is some key advice: The interview is your official opportunity to share your story, provide examples, and tell us why you chose McCombs like no one else can. Take advantage of this opportunity; It can be just the thing the Admissions Committee needs to understand the rest of your application elements and gives us the chance to get to know you better!

If you have any questions during the application process, we’re here to help. Please visit our website for details on applying to each program and follow us on Instagram for an inside look into the the Texas McCombs MBA.

Hispanic Heritage Month with LAHMBA at McCombs

September 25, 2020 / / Comments Off on Hispanic Heritage Month with LAHMBA at McCombs

Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from September 15 – October 15, is a national celebration of the accomplishments and cultural history of Hispanic and Latinx individuals and organizations in the United States. At Texas McCombs, our students are a constant reminder of the positive impact that diverse backgrounds and perspectives bring to our communities. We are proud to highlight some of our Latin American & Hispanic MBA Association (LAHMBA) students’ stories, their “Why McCombs?” and LAHMBA initiatives this year.

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Student Spotlight: Elsa Wright, MBA at Houston Class of 2021

September 3, 2020 / / 1 Comment

When Texas McCombs MBA at Houston student, Elsa Wright, has a goal, she meets it. While working in the waste management and sustainability industry in Houston, Texas, her goal was senior leadership at her company. Like many professional women, Elsa wondered if she would be able to achieve all her career goals alongside her personal goal of having a family. Below, Elsa shares how she navigated these goals & priorities, overcame her struggle with imposter syndrome, and eventually enrolled in the MBA program. Juggling graduate degree work, motherhood, and marriage in the midst of a pandemic has definitely been a challenge, but Elsa has shown that determination and belief in oneself will ultimately lead you to success.

PHOTO: Elsa's Headshot. She has short brown hair and is wearing a red dress shirt with a black blazer.

Elsa Wright, Texas McCombs MBA ’21

Getting Her MBA

Elsa was eager to gain the foundational knowledge and skills needed to move into a leadership role in her career and knew an MBA from Texas McCombs could get her there. As a minority woman and mother, Elsa faced the realities of the world head-on.

“With recent events in the news, a lot of people have become more aware of the struggles that minorities face every day — struggles that stem into career growth,” she says. “I struggled with the idea that I had to achieve a master’s degree to be on the same playing field as many of my white male counterparts who hadn’t. Intelligence could be equally distributed among our society, but opportunities are not always.”

Elsa says she has struggled with imposter syndrome her entire life and her biggest piece of advice to anyone, especially women and mothers, considering an MBA is: “Just do it!”

“I have personally spent more time considering the idea and deciding to make the leap than I have spent actually getting my MBA,” Elsa says. “I felt that maybe I wasn’t ready, that I should wait for my son to get older, or that an MBA is just too competitive and I might not get in.”

Impostor syndrome— the false belief that others have overestimated your capabilities or that you’re not good enough— disproportionately affects women more than men — especially women of color. One of the direct factors contributing to impostor syndrome is the lack of women in organizational leadership, according to a 2019 Lean In study. The business world, including the realm of business education, has made strides in recent years, but there is still much work to be done toward equity and gender parity.

When narrowing down her prospective MBA schools, Texas McCombs appealed to her because of the prestige, atmosphere, and flexibility it offered.

PHOTO: Elsa standing in front of the University of Texas tower.

Elsa Wright standing in front of the UT tower at sunset.

“As I researched MBA programs, I found that Texas McCombs was the highest ranked in Texas. I attended the info sessions, and instantly felt what I like to call ‘the warm and fuzzy feeling.’ I felt welcomed with open arms, and could feel such a forward-thinking attitude that I could not resist being a part of.”

“The Working Professional program understands and respects that, as a working professional, we’re undergoing a journey,” she says. “The program didn’t require a specialization, but instead teaches you how to speak all languages of business, which allows me to explore where my career may take me instead of fixating on a specific career path.”

The moment she stepped on campus, Elsa knew that Texas McCombs would be her home for the next two years.

“I’ll never forget, it was our very first day of Austin Intensives and Assistant Dean, Joe Stephens, spoke in front of the entire Working Professional class of ’21: He said:

‘For those of you that may suffer from imposter syndrome and feel like you don’t belong here or deserve to be here, I am here to tell you that you do belong, and you do deserve it. We chose you because you have something to offer this program.’

To this day, those words resonate inside me and push me forward to make a difference.”

Pivoting to Online Learning

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Women at Texas McCombs

August 26, 2020 / / Comments Off on Women at Texas McCombs

Today, Texas McCombs celebrates Women’s Equality Day, which commemorates the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting some women the right to vote 100 years ago in 1920. The Texas McCombs MBA program is proud to have made strides to increase the number of women in our programs, but in both business and business education, we acknowledge there is still much progress to made toward gender parity.  Meet some of our Texas McCombs women who are already leading the way below.

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Everything You Need to Know About the Texas McCombs MBA COVID-19 Test Waiver

August 20, 2020 / / 3 Comments

 

Standardized exams like the GRE, GMAT, EA, TOEFL & IELTS help us to evaluate a candidate’s academic preparedness for the rigor of business school and is one metric used to compare candidates within a large pool of applicants.

In addition, studying for and taking the exam – for some, even taking it multiple times – can show the admissions committee your commitment to the competitive business school application process and how you may approach academic challenges as a student. 

However, we understand that many are experiencing hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic and that these challenges may be affecting your applications plans and ability to take an exam. Due to the unprecedented circumstances, we are providing applicants who are unable to take an exam in person or online the opportunity to petition for a test score waiver.

Here, our Admissions Team answers some questions you might have about the Texas McCombs MBA COVID-19 test waiver, including who the waiver is for and how it might impact your application. 

Who is eligible for a COVID-19 test waiver? 

Applicants who meet both of the criteria below have the opportunity to petition for a special test waiver:

  • You are unable to take an exam in-person at a designated testing center due to lack of availability in your region, or because you or someone in your household is immunocompromised, AND    
  • You are unable to take an exam online due to lack of availability in your region, technology or other test-taking requirements (e.g. device availability or compatibility, slow internet connection, testing environment) 

If you do not meet both of these criteria, we require that you complete the standardized tests prior to submitting your application.  Both GMAC and ETS have introduced remote testing options for the  GMAT, GRE, EA, and TOEFL exams for candidates impacted by coronavirus, and the majority of testing centers have re-opened globally with stringent health and safety precautions.   

How do I request a COVID-19 test waiver? 

If you meet both requirements above and would like to request a COVID-19 test waiver, please email TexasMBA@mccombs.utexas.edu to receive a link to the petition and to learn more about the test exception process.  

Is there a deadline to request a COVID-19 test waiver? 

The test waiver petition must be approved by the admissions committee before you submit your application to McCombs. The admissions committee may take up to five business days to review your petition, so please complete the petition 10-15 days prior to your planned application submission date.

How does a test waiver impact my application? 

If you are approved for the COVID-19 test waiver, you may be asking yourself, “What are my chances for admission?” 

The truth is that by removing one component from your application, your other components will carry more weight in the committee’s final decision. Below are some items to consider as you craft your application. 

Academic History 

Does your undergraduate or graduate transcript accurately reflect your academic ability? If your GPA is low, and you do not submit a GMAT or GRE score, the admissions committee may have concerns about your ability to succeed in the rigorous MBA curriculum.  

One other factor to consider is whether or not your quantitative ability shines elsewhere in your application. While many of our MBA students come to McCombs from non-quantitative majors, these applicants are typically able to prove their quant prowess through the GMAT or GRE. If you come from a non-quantitative background and qualify for a test waiver, you will need to find other areas within your background or experience that can demonstrate your quantitative skills. At the end of the day, we want to make sure that you are set up to succeed academically in the program. If the admissions committee has concerns about your quantitative ability, it may impact your chance of admission, or you may be required to complete pre-MBA coursework prior to admission and/or prior to enrollment.  

Work Experience 

Your work experience will be reviewed thoroughly by the committee for leadership potential, progression and/or increasing responsibilities, and achievements. Generally, the level of responsibility someone has within a company correlates positively to how they will perform in a rigorous graduate educational program.  For those with less than the average work experience, a standardized test score may make your application more competitive. 

If you have any professional certifications, such as the CPA, CFA, Series 7, or others – be sure to highlight these on your resume and within your application, as attaining these types of certifications helps show the committee your academic readiness.  Advanced or terminal degrees should also be highlighted.  

Career Goals 

If your post-MBA career goal is to work in management consulting or investment banking, employers in these industries may ask that you provide your GMAT score when applying for internships or full-time positions. If you qualify for a test waiver and are considering pursuing post-MBA jobs in these industries, it is important that you are aware of this before enrolling because you may end up having to take the exam to apply for these roles. 

Scholarships 

Scholarship awards are competitive and limited in number. Scholarship decisions are based on a longstanding holistic review process that takes into account your entire application and serves to assess the overall strength of your candidacy, including readiness for academic rigor, career goals, leadership potential, and fit with our program culture. Submitting an application without a test score may limit the information available to award a merit-based scholarship.   

One other note: Admission deferral requests for the Full-Time MBA program will not be considered if you gain admission to Texas McCombs and have a test exception. 

What if I’m an international student and am not able to take the TOEFL or IELTS? 

If you are an international student who does not qualify for our standard TOEFL/IELTS waiver based on work experience and/or education history, but you meet the criteria for a COVID-19 test waiver, you may be asked to prove your mastery of English via other avenues, such as a meeting with an admissions committee member or an additional essay request. In addition, if admitted you may be required to enroll in and pay for the pre-MBA Business English Program, which occurs in June 2021.  

Final Thoughts on the COVID-19 Test Waiver

The COVID-19 test waiver is intended only for those who cannot take the exams in person or virtually due to circumstances beyond their control.  If you qualify for a test waiver and believe that your application will not be negatively impacted by the lack of a test score, we encourage you to submit the petition and apply when you are ready. However, it is important to remember that we have multiple application rounds for a reason! For some, it may be best to wait to apply until you can submit with test score in-hand.  The decision will be different for every applicant, and we encourage you to approach this thoughtfully.   

We wish you well during these difficult times. Please contact us if you have any questions, and best of luck on your application! 

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