Tag: EveMBA (page 1 of 2)

person's hand holding a pencil on top of an open notebook. Text reads "Writing Your MBA Application Essays - Working Professional and Executive MBA

Working Professional and Executive MBA Essay Questions

Your MBA application essays are an important part of sharing your unique story with the Admissions Committee. The most successful essays will thoughtfully address the prompts, clearly communicate why you want to attend Texas McCombs, and authentically share who you are.

There are TWO required essays for the Working Professional MBA and only ONE required essay for the Executive MBA. Additionally, you can provide an optional essay if there is something you wish to explain about your candidacy that is not addressed elsewhere in your application.

Texas McCombs MBA Essay 1 – Working Professional MBA only

Evening MBA, MBA at Dallas/Fort Worth, MBA at Houston

We want to get to know you beyond your resume and professional experience. Tell us about yourself. You can discuss your upbringing, core values, formative experiences, special talents/interests, etc. Feel free to be creative and share anything that you think the Admissions Committee will find interesting. Select only one communication method for your response.

Write an essay (250 words)

Share a video introduction (one minute in length)

First, this prompt is purposely open-ended. It grants you the freedom to introduce yourself in a way that is genuinely “you.” Think about what defines you, what energizes you, or an event that has shaped or influenced who you are today. We want to see what drives you outside of your work and career, and that you are well-rounded and have passions in your personal life.

Don’t forget about the first sentence of the prompt: “We want to get to know you beyond your resume and professional experience.” The Admissions Committee has already read the rest of your application (resume, transcript, recommendation letter, etc.). We want to better understand you outside of your professional life.

Finally, the choice is yours: written essay or video. We have seen significant success with both mediums and do not have a preference for one over the other. Therefore, play to your strengths! If your skill is in writing, focus on the essay. Make sure there is clear organization and a flow to your essay. If you’re not shy in front of a camera, then record a video. However, for the video submission, we do not advise submitting a photo slideshow; this doesn’t allow the admissions committee to actually see and hear from you, which is really what we are looking for in a video submission. Have fun with either submission and do not take this essay for granted— it can go a long way in setting the stage for your MBA application and creating another great impression.

Texas McCombs MBA Essay 2 – Working Professional and Executive MBA

Essay Two provides an opportunity to explain why you want an MBA and why you’re excited about Texas McCombs.

Take time to reflect on your MBA journey and the direction you want to take in your professional career. Explain how the Texas McCombs MBA program will help you realize your professional goals, and how you will contribute to the McCombs MBA community. (500 words)

In your response, we want to understand why the Texas McCombs MBA is right for you, your aspirations and career plans, and how you want to develop yourself both in and out of the classroom. What resources, organizations, classes, and experiential opportunities specifically relate to your career plan?

TIP: Connect the dots between your career goals and how McCombs will get you there.

By answering the second part of the prompt, we will learn what you will bring to the program to make it better than when you arrived. How do you envision yourself becoming an active member of our MBA community? Do you plan on being an active member or leader of a student organization, or even starting a new club? Let us know!

Make sure to give us specifics. If you’ve engaged with the program, you know there is a lot to look forward to: challenging classes, organizations, student/alumni networking, award-winning professors, unique career-oriented opportunities…the list goes on. Illustrate what attributes of the program you plan to take full advantage of and how you plan to make a positive impact while you are a student. What will be your MBA legacy? Convince us that you have a unique contribution and are indispensable to our community.

MBA Optional Statement – Working Professional and Executive MBA

Please provide any additional information you believe is important or address any areas of concern that you believe will be beneficial to MBA Admissions in considering your application (e.g. gaps in work experience, choice of recommender, academic performance, or extenuating personal circumstances). If living outside of the metro area that the program is held in, please provide an explanation regarding your plans to commute or relocate to the program location. (250 words)

Optional statements should focus on filling gaps or answering questions we are likely to have about you and your candidacy. Remember that it is just that – optional. Only applicants who feel some piece of their profile deserves more explanation should submit an optional statement. This section of the application is not to tell us more about your extracurricular activities or expand upon your personal or professional introduction. While we love to see how excited you are to share additional information with us, the bottom of your resume or your interview are likely better ways to let the Admissions Committee know about additional projects or information.

Our Top Essay Writing Tips

Take time to reflect, brainstorm, write, and rewrite. It will likely take more than one draft to realize your final submission.
Stay on prompt. Make sure you are completely addressing the essay question prompts. If you bypass the actual questions in an effort to tell us something you think we want to hear, you will not provide the information we are looking for. This includes sticking to the word counts and time limits that are given.
Keep in mind the reader. They are reading your entire application including your essays, so do not re-use content from one essay to another or assume the reader knows the professional acronyms or jargon from your job.
Don’t copy and paste. Do not use the same content for multiple business schools. We can always spot recycled content.
Be honest. These essays are our way to learn more about you. Our community values authenticity and we look for essays that reflect your authentic self.
Edit and revise. Have someone you trust read over your essays. Those closest to you can provide valuable insights, feedback, and perspectives as you highlight your personal gifts and qualities.

We hope these insights were helpful and gave you some ideas to think about when writing (and rewriting) your essays. Good luck and happy applying!

Please email us if you have any questions. Join us at an upcoming event to connect and learn more about Texas McCombs. Please sign up for MBA news and follow us on Instagram at @UTexasMBA to stay updated.

Hook ’em!

The working professional & executive mba application: essay writing tips

Working Professional and Executive MBA Essay Questions

October 19, 2021 / Texas MBA Admissions / Comments Off

The essays in your MBA application are an important part of sharing your unique story. The most successful essays thoughtfully address the prompts, clearly communicate why you want to attend Texas McCombs, and authentically share who you are. We’ve shared some tips below to aid you in submitting a strong set of essays.

Texas McCombs MBA Essay 1

We will learn a lot about your professional background through your resume and letter of recommendation, but we want to get to know you further. Please introduce yourself. Select only one communication method for your response

a. Write an essay (250 words)
b. Share a video introduction (one minute in length)

First, this prompt is purposely open-ended. It grants you the freedom to introduce yourself in a way that is genuinely “you.” Think about what gives you energy and recharges you. When you first meet someone, what’s your personal elevator pitch? How does it share your values? Give us a well-rounded mix of information in this essay so we can better understand you beyond your work life.

Don’t forget about the first sentence of the prompt: “We will learn a lot about your professional background through your resume and letter of recommendation.” The admissions committee already read your resume, letter of recommendation, education history, and goals. While your professional life is important, this essay is your opportunity to share who you are outside of those components.

Finally, the choice is yours: written essay or video. We have seen significant success with both mediums and do not have a preference for one over the other. Therefore, play to your strengths! If your skill is in writing, focus on the essay. If you’re not shy in front of a camera, then record a video. However, if you do submit a video, keep in mind that sending us a photo slideshow isn’t advisable. These slideshow submissions don’t grant the admissions committee the chance to actually see and hear from you, which is really what we are looking for in a video submission. Have fun with either submission and do not take this essay for granted— it can go a long way in setting the stage for your MBA application and creating another great impression.

Texas McCombs MBA Essay 2

Describe how the Texas McCombs MBA will help you realize your professional aspirations, and the unique knowledge and experiences you have to share with your classmates. (500 words)

Essay Two provides an opportunity to explain why you’re applying to Texas McCombs.

By answering the first part of the prompt, we will understand why the Texas McCombs MBA, your career plan, and discover how you want to develop yourself both in and out of the classroom. What classes, organizations, and experiential opportunities specifically relate to your career plan? Connect the dots between your goals and how McCombs will get you there.

By answering the second part of the prompt, we will learn what you will bring to the program. How do you envision yourself becoming an active member of our community? What personal and professional attributes and experiences will you be sharing with your classmates?

MBA Optional Statement

Please provide any additional information you believe is important or address any areas of concern that you believe will be beneficial to MBA Admissions in considering your application (e.g. gaps in work experience, choice of recommender, academic performance, or extenuating personal circumstances). If living outside of the metro area that the program is held in, please provide explanation regarding your plans to commute or relocate to the program location. (250 words)

Honestly, the most important piece of advice we can provide you on the optional statement is to remember that it is just that– optional. Only applicants who feel some piece of their profile deserves more explanation should submit an optional statement. This section of the application is not to tell us more about your extracurricular activities or expand upon your personal introduction. While we love to see how excited you are to share additional information with us, there are other ways to let the admissions committee know about additional projects or passions. The bottom of your resume or your interview are likely better forums for these details. Optional statements should focus on filling gaps or answering questions we are likely to have about you.

Our Top Essay Writing Tips

Be patient with yourself. Take time to reflect, brainstorm, rewrite, and EDIT. It will likely take more than one draft to realize your final submission.
Don’t Copy and paste. Do not use the same content for multiple business schools. We can always spot recycled content.
STAY ON PROMPT. If you bypass the actual questions in an effort to tell us something you think we want to hear, you will not provide the information we are looking for. This includes sticking to the word counts and time limits that are given.
Be honest. These essays are our way to learn more about you. Our community values authenticity and we look for essays that reflect your authentic self.
Have someone you trust read over your essays. Those closest to you can provide valuable insights, feedback, and perspectives as you highlight your personal gifts and qualities.

We hope these insights into the essay prompts give you some ideas to think about and some points to revisit as you write (and rewrite) your essays. Good luck and happy applying!

Please reach out to the MBA Admissions Team with any questions.

Hook ’em!

Meet Your Working Professional and Executive MBA Career Team

April 24, 2019 / Texas McCombs MBA / Comments Off

This Insider insight comes from our Working Professional and Executive MBA Career Team.

Texas McCombs MBA Career resources are truly unmatched among other top business schools. Our Career Management team‘s vision is focused on the future, adapting and growing to meet the needs of tomorrow’s career landscape. And they understand that the MBA career path for our Working Professional and Executive (WPE) MBA student differs from full-time students, dedicating a team of career support specifically for our WPE students in Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Austin (Evening & Executive).

The McCombs Difference

MBA program administrators realized they needed to rethink their approach to career management for part-time students.

“We developed an entirely new career management framework that emphasized students’ strengths and interests and better prepared them not only for OCR (on-campus recruiting), but also for other channels that led to experienced hires and will allow them to continually progress in their careers.” – Joe Stephens, Assistant Dean, Working Professional and Executive MBA programs.

The framework, which can be applied in any phase of a student’s career and is tied to students’ career management curriculum and one-on-one advising, includes a market assessment (self-assessment, career exploration, and network creation); value proposition (your brand and competitive advantage, and elevator pitch); sales tools and channels (resume, LinkedIn profile, interview prep, and network cultivation); and launch (plan execution and offer negotiation).

“This career management framework has served as our WPE team’s vision and mission,” says Janet Huang, Director of MBA Career Management at McCombs. (source: Medium)

Meet the WPE Team

All Testing Options for Working Professional & Executive MBA Candidates

April 11, 2019 / Texas McCombs MBA / Comments Off

This MBA Insider Insight comes from our Directors of MBA Admissions, Sharon Barrett and Rodrigo Malta.

Preparing for and taking an MBA admissions exam is one of the best ways to get your mind back into academic mode. The most common questions we receive from candidates are about the standardized tests– how to prepare for them and if there are average or minimum scores. (Hint: There are not. Exploring the Class Profiles gives you the best idea of where our students tend to fall.)

Now, the Texas McCombs MBA Admissions Committee is excited to share that Professional or Executive MBA candidates– for Evening, Executive, Dallas/Fort Worth, or Houston— have more options than ever when considering which graduate entrance exam to submit.

Submitting Expired GRE or GMAT Scores

Many of our Professional and Executive MBA candidates come into the program with a master’s degree that was earned immediately following their undergraduate degree. Until now, only valid GRE or GMAT scores within the past five years were accepted from applicants. The reality is, prior graduate education and quality work experience are strong indicators of success in graduate business curriculum.

So if you hold a master’s degree and have your expired GRE or GMAT score report, a current exam score is not required and you may submit your expired scores.

The Executive Assessment (EA)

Three years ago, GMAC (who also delivers the GMAT) saw the need for a new test, tailored to the needs of MBA programs and their applicants who have significant years of work experience. Originally conceived for Executive MBA programs, the Executive Assessment (EA) was created in 2017. Today, over 40 MBA programs, both Professional and Executive, accept the EA. Unlike the GMAT or GRE, the EA is a readiness exam and a benchmark for academic preparedness.

If you have at least 8 years of work experience post-undergrad, you may consider submitting the EA with your Professional or Executive MBA application.

Student Spotlight: Dara Chike-Obi, MBA Class of 2019

April 8, 2019 / Texas MBA Admissions / Comments Off

Dara Chike-Obi, Evening MBA Class of 2019

Dara Chike-Obi,
Evening MBA ’19

Dara Chike-Obi is an Evening MBA student from Houston and a new mom who recently shared her experience of being a new parent while in the MBA program. “Unthinkable exhaustion” is the very honest first response that comes to mind when she is asked about her experience, which was also rewarding and very possible with realistic expectations and family support on her side.

On Being A Student and a Mom

“Ignorance truly is bliss. I was naive and had no understanding of the amount of mental, physical, and emotional energy that is required of a new mom. But I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world. As graduation nears, and my child gets older; I feel stronger, smarter, and quicker than I’ve ever felt before. If I can get through this, I can get through almost anything.”

Her Biggest Challenge

“My biggest challenge was figuring out how to balance school, new baby, marriage, and a full time job. Many times I had no other option but to put my head down and power through. You soon realize that the toughest parts of your journey are ALWAYS temporary. Take one day at a time, one breath at a time. Eventually, you look up and see how far you’ve actually gone.”

Dara’s Advice

“I have two pieces of advice:

1. Make sure you have help.

This cannot be done alone. Your support system needs to understand that this is an ‘all hands on deck’ situation for the next two years. My wonderful husband rearranged his work schedule so he can be home on class nights to put our son to bed. My mother in-law would drive 4 hours from Dallas with a trunk full of freshly prepared food for my entire family. You must allow people to help you.

2. Accept that there is no balance.

Madeleine Albright said it best: ‘Women can have it all, just not at the same time.’ You’re going to be pulled in multiple directions by multiple people. Learning to prioritize will get you far.”

We encourage you to review our Parental Accommodation Policy for details on the kind of accommodations it can provide. When you enter a working professional MBA program, we understand that family support is a key element. Please let us know if you have any questions or need further info.

Working Professional/Executive MBA Final Round Applicants

April 5, 2019 / Texas McCombs MBA / Comments Off

This MBA Insider content comes from the Working Professional & Executive MBA Admissions team.

See if you can spot the two true statements and one myth about applying to the Texas McCombs Working Professional or Executive (WPE) MBA programs:

The MBA is seeking the most qualified candidates for its WPE programs in Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and Austin.
We consider a candidate’s academic performance, work experience and overall motivation in reviewing an application.
Candidates must apply early in the process to have a chance at being considered.

Meet the Evening MBA Class of 2021!

March 20, 2019 / Texas McCombs MBA / Comments Off

A new class of Evening MBA students have joined us at Rowling Hall in Austin this spring to kick off their MBA journey! During their January orientation, our first group of ’21s prepared for their classes, got to know each other, met MBA faculty & staff, and had a great week of networking and fun. Evening MBA students start their program annually every January, with classes held Monday and Tuesday evenings in Austin. With their weekends more flexible and their careers un-interrupted by their class schedule, our Evening MBA students are truly unique.

We had a very strong and enthusiastic pool of applications to pull from when putting together our Working Professional MBA classes this year, and the numbers certainly reflect that. The Evening MBA welcomed a larger class than last year, with 65 new Texas McCombs students.

8 different nationalities and citizenships are represented, including India, Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, Spain, Syria, Italy and the U.S.

This is also one of the most diverse classes in terms of job functions and industries, that the MBA program has ever seen.

In addition, over half of the Class of 2021 earned their undergraduate degree outside of Texas. After entering the workforce, these students earned an average of 5.8 years of work experience before applying to the MBA with notable companies like Apple, Tesla, Whole Foods, Facebook, IBM and Yeti.

The class has 25% women, holding steady within the overall growth in the number of women in our Working Professional programs. The number of underrepresented minorities in the class doubled this year, marking another success as we continue to advocate for the inclusion of individual perspectives and diverse backgrounds in our classes.

Our Evening students come from a wide range of companies and some of the most exciting and innovative employers in the U.S.

18 members of C/O 2021 already spent their undergraduate years at UT Austin… Welcome back Longhorns! 🤘

We feel humbled and privileged by the amazing experiences and perspectives making up the Texas McCombs MBA Class and cannot wait to see what they accomplish during their time in the program. If you’d like to join them as part of Texas McCombs MBA network, our 2019-2020 application is open!

Hook ’em!

Student Spotlight: Srija Dasika, MBA Class of 2019

January 22, 2019 / Texas MBA Admissions / Comments Off

Srija Dasika, MBA 2019

Srija Dasika, Texas McCombs MBA ’19, recently shared her experience of becoming a new mom while working and being part of the Evening MBA program. She is originally from Portland, Oregon and works as an R&D engineer at Verizon. She says it was, “tough, but very rewarding and not impossible!” to become an MBA parent. Srija had her first baby in April 2017, during her first year as an MBA in Austin.

Being A Student and a Mom

“Becoming a new parent is one of the best things in the world, but it’s not easy. Your whole world changes, your responsibilities and priorities shift, you are actively learning to live a new way of life with very little sleep. The moments that make parenthood wonderful are what inspire me to do well and work hard. Having strong support at home, school and work helped me a lot. My MBA cohort is very close and that was a huge motivation for me to work hard and stay with my class without taking a break. My company also had a generous maternity policy that allowed me to recover and bond with my baby before going back to work. Overall, I have learned a lot, it has been a satisfying experience and I am very thankful for my support structure.”

Juggling School and Parenthood

Student Spotlight: Natalie Tyrrell, MBA Class of 2019

December 14, 2018 / Texas MBA Admissions / Comments Off

Many Working Professional MBA students, given their average age range and typical experience, may also be contemplating starting (or expanding) a family. Texas McCombs has an official Parental Accommodation Policy in order to support your family choices during your MBA, whether that means a pregnancy (you or a partner), adoption, or other specific family circumstance requiring leave.

We recently chatted with Natalie Tyrrell, Texas McCombs Evening MBA 2019, about her experience becoming a new mom while being in business school. She navigated this transition within our parental accommodation policy and hopes her experience can help future students face this challenge. Natalie is originally from St. Louis, MO and in addition to school and family, she currently works as a Director of Talent Development for a school district. She had her daughter, Edith Marie Tyrrell, in October 2018. Congrats, Natalie!

MBA Student Natalie Tyrrell and her family

The Tyrrell Family

Beyond the Numbers: A Holistic MBA Application Evaluation

October 17, 2018 / Texas McCombs MBA / Comments Off

In the world of MBA Admissions, your numbers are not everything. By “numbers,” we’re referring to the stats and scores that applicants tend to focus on when they submit an MBA application– undergraduate GPA, total GMAT/GRE score, percentiles, etc. With limited seats in MBA classes, organizing applications by measurable figures is logical and helpful. That’s why preparing and doing your best on the GMAT/GRE and putting your best numbers forward in your application is important.

But, you are not just a simple sum of your numeric parts– You’re an individual. And your scores are just part of your story. Answering, “who are you?” is a much bigger question.

In our review of a typical MBA candidate, GMAT/GRE and GPA alone do not offer any consistent indication of success in the program. Even if you have a 780 GMAT score, this does not automatically indicate to us that you will make high grades, find an internship, thrive in your study groups, stay positively active and engaged, or find a good job after graduation. It is the combination of strong numbers, your unique story, a commitment to Texas McCombs, and many other factors that indicate how well you’ll do in our MBA program.

Because MBA programs are limited & competitive— many candidates are enthusiastic and have strong professional backgrounds and scores— we have adopted a holistic approach to evaluating your application. So what are the intangible qualities we look for? And what will make you stand out so that you secure a spot in the class over another applicant with similar scores and background?

There is no single answer to these questions, but here are some good tips to offer some insight on the Admissions Committee’s process:
Continue reading

Texas McCombs MBA Insider

Tag: EveMBA (page 1 of 2)

Working Professional and Executive MBA Essay Questions

Texas McCombs MBA Essay 1 – Working Professional MBA only

Texas McCombs MBA Essay 2 – Working Professional and Executive MBA

MBA Optional Statement – Working Professional and Executive MBA

Our Top Essay Writing Tips

Working Professional and Executive MBA Essay Questions

Texas McCombs MBA Essay 1

Texas McCombs MBA Essay 2

MBA Optional Statement

Our Top Essay Writing Tips

Meet Your Working Professional and Executive MBA Career Team

All Testing Options for Working Professional & Executive MBA Candidates

Submitting Expired GRE or GMAT Scores

The Executive Assessment (EA)

Student Spotlight: Dara Chike-Obi, MBA Class of 2019

Working Professional/Executive MBA Final Round Applicants

Meet the Evening MBA Class of 2021!

Student Spotlight: Srija Dasika, MBA Class of 2019

Student Spotlight: Natalie Tyrrell, MBA Class of 2019

Beyond the Numbers: A Holistic MBA Application Evaluation

Search

Recent Posts

Texas McCombs MBA

More Texas McCombs News

The Latest RSS Items

Subscribe By Email

Tag: EveMBA (page 1 of 2)

Texas McCombs MBA Essay 1 – Working Professional MBA only

Texas McCombs MBA Essay 2 – Working Professional and Executive MBA

MBA Optional Statement – Working Professional and Executive MBA

Our Top Essay Writing Tips

Texas McCombs MBA Essay 1

Texas McCombs MBA Essay 2

MBA Optional Statement

Our Top Essay Writing Tips

Submitting Expired GRE or GMAT Scores

The Executive Assessment (EA)

Search

Recent Posts

Subscribe by Email

Texas McCombs MBA

More Texas McCombs News

The Latest RSS Items