Master in Professional Accounting Admissions Blog

Insider Information for Prospective Texas McCombs MPA Students

Author: Keri Ledezma (page 6 of 16)

REGISTER: Meet Current MPA Students and Alumni

April 19, 2023 / / 0 Comments

Want to learn more about the Master in Professional Accounting program from students and alumni who have experienced it first-hand? Join our virtual panel on Thursday, April 20 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. CT! Current MPA students and alumni will discuss why they chose to study accounting and provide details about their experiences in the program, including their favorites classes, recruiting and employment opportunities, and life at Texas McCombs. Plus, you’ll have the chance to ask the panelists questions!

Register Now!

Event Details:
Thursday, April 20
5:00 – 6:00 p.m. CT
Virtual – Zoom

Meet the Panelists!

Paul Nabhan  |  MPA ’12
Associate, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP

Paul earned his master’s in accounting through the integrated Master in Professional Accounting (iMPA) program at Texas McCombs. Paul is an attorney and CPA based in New York City. His primary practice involves representing financial institutions, corporate borrowers, and private equity sponsors in complex structured and leveraged finance transactions.

 

Letitia Wu |  MPA ’23
Current Student

Letitia is currently in the traditional Master in Professional Accounting (tMPA) program. She earned her bachelor’s degree in both accounting and operations & information management from Georgetown University. Letitia is pursuing the generalist track within the MPA program and is also a MPA ambassador. She is open to connecting with prospective students as they consider attending McCombs!

 

Alec Weissman  |  MPA ’19
Business Analyst, McKinsey & Company

Alec earned his master’s in accounting through the integrated Master in Professional Accounting (iMPA) program at Texas McCombs. He lives in Dallas, Texas and has experience in both public accounting and management consulting. Alec’s strengths include developing 3-5 year strategies, leading high-performing teams, standing up transformation offices, and driving effective implementation of cross-functional projects.

 

Austin Hayes  |  MPA ’23
Current Student

Austin is a Texas native and is currently finishing his degree in the integrated Master in Professional Accounting (iMPA) program. While in the program, he pursued the taxation track and completed an internship with Deloitte. Austin is now looking forward to rejoining Deloitte after graduation!

 

Get to know Texas McCombs

Visit the Texas McCombs MPA Program…In Person or Virtually!

January 30, 2023 / / 0 Comments

If you’re interested in exploring the Texas McCombs MPA program and would like to visit us here in Austin or from afar, we have several options for you!

In Person Visits

Would you prefer to see the UT campus first-hand? Submit our in-person visit form at least two weeks in advance, and we will customize a visit schedule based on your preferences.  Meet with MPA admissions, academic and career staff, take a tour of McCombs with a current student, walk around the Forty Acres, and more!

Virtual Visits

Are you unable to visit Austin in person? View a virtual tour of Texas McCombs and take a virtual stroll around the University of Texas at Austin to see what makes us a premiere destination. Reach out to an admissions ambassador to set up a Zoom call or attend a virtual panel to learn more about the student experience.

Learn more about the McCombs School of Business, Master in Professional Accounting program, and living in Austin by visiting our website.

AICPA Legacy Scholarships

AICPA Legacy Scholarships: Apply Now!

January 26, 2023 / / 0 Comments

If you are seeking scholarship opportunities for the Texas McCombs MPA program, be sure to check your eligibility to apply for an AICPA Legacy Scholarship. The scholarships have a March 15 application deadline and are limited to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Scholarships include (but are not limited to):

  • The John L. Carey Scholarship provides financial assistance to liberal arts and non-business undergraduate degree holders who are pursuing both graduate studies in accounting and CPA licensure.
  • The AICPA Scholarship for Minority Accounting Students provides financial awards to full-time minority students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in accounting or an accounting-related major.
  • The AICPA Foundation Scholarship for Future CPAs provides financial assistance to undergraduate or graduate degree students interested in pursuing the CPA license after graduation.
  • The AWSCPA Scholarship provides financial assistance to outstanding female students majoring in accounting or an accounting-related field.

We encourage you to apply and check for other scholarships through the national scholarship search.

Accounting++ Energy Blog Post January 2023

REGISTER: Accounting in the Energy Industry

January 9, 2023 / / 0 Comments

Interested in learning about the importance of accounting in the energy industry? Join us on for a panel discussion with successful accountants working in energy, brought to you by the Master in Professional Accounting program at the McCombs School of Business.

Event Details:
Tuesday, January 24
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. CT
Virtual – Zoom

Register Now!

Meet the Panelists!

Ann KluppelAnn Kluppel
General Auditor, Phillips 66 (Accounting BBA ’89)

Ann Kluppel is currently the General Auditor for Phillips 66. In the more than 20 years she has been with Phillips 66, Ann has held a variety of roles within operations, finance and human resources. She is a licensed CPA and a Certified Internal Auditor.

 

Josh ShermanJosh Sherman
Partner, Opportune LLP (MPA ’98)

Josh Sherman is a partner at Opportune LLP, a global energy business advisory firm. Josh oversees Opportune’s Complex Financial Reporting group. He has over 25 years of experience in providing clients across the energy spectrum with technical research, capital markets and SEC reporting assistance. Prior to joining Opportune, he worked in the audit and global energy markets department with Deloitte & Touche.

 

Hillary SwallenHillary Swallen
Managing Director, KPMG (MPA ’10)

Hillary Swallen is a Managing Director at KPMG in Houston. She concentrates in the tax area, providing federal, state and international tax consulting services to a wide range of businesses from small privately held domestic companies to large publicly traded multinational companies, primarily in the oil and gas industry.

Is Accounting The Right Fit

Is Accounting the Right Fit for You?

September 27, 2022 / / 0 Comments

If you enjoy working with numbers and analyzing data but also love solving problems and communicating outcomes, accounting may be the perfect fit for you. Accountants determine the financial position of a company so that it can make forecasts about the future and manage risk. They prepare budgets and forecasts, analyze expenditure and revenue and identify where a company can save money or afford to spend more money. Sitting behind a desk all day crunching numbers is a common misconception! In reality, accountants have a variety of roles and responsibilities such as presenting financial information to management, providing financial advice to clients, or investigating fraud.

VARIETY OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Accountants are needed in every organization and every industry, from large corporations to small start-up companies and nonprofits, high-tech companies, the energy industry, sports organizations, the entertainment industry – you name it!  Accounting skills are beneficial in a variety of fields such as public accounting, investment banking and financial consulting.

STABILITY AND GROWTH
Accountants are in high demand despite fluctuations in the economy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, globalization, a growing economy, and a complex tax and regulatory environment are expected to continue driving a strong demand for accountants. The field provides job security and skills that translate across industries and geographic regions.

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
Successful accountants require a variety of skills and knowledge such as:

  • Budgeting, forecasting, financial statement preparation
  • Ability to analyze data
  • Proficiency in accounting software
  • Communication skills
  • Leadership ability
  • Organization skills
  • Ability to think critically and problem-solve

These skills, along with many others, are gained while earning an accounting degree and continue to develop as you move up in the workplace.

UPCOMING INFO SESSIONS
Want to learn more about the Master in Professional Accounting degree program at Texas McCombs? Join us for an upcoming virtual info session!

REGISTER NOW

GMAT and GRE Test Scores are Optional

July 12, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Traditional MPA applicants:

GMAT and GRE test scores are optional for the Texas McCombs MPA admissions application. Applicants will not be disadvantaged in the admissions process if they do not submit test scores, and applicants who feel that their test scores reflect their potential for success in graduate school may submit scores for consideration. 

If you opt to submit GMAT or GRE scores, you will provide either your test scores or a future test date in the online application and arrange to have an official score report sent directly from the testing agency to The University of Texas at Austin. If you report test scores or a future test date in the application, the admissions committee will hold on a decision until the official test scores are received. Please notify the MPA admissions team if your testing plans change after you submit your application.

Should you submit GMAT or GRE scores? Here are some factors to consider.

Holistic Application Review

MPA admissions decisions are based on a holistic review process that considers your entire application and serves to assess the overall strength of your candidacy, including, but not limited to, readiness for academic rigor, leadership potential, career goals and fit with our program.  Previous academic performance, non-academic achievements, essays and letters of recommendation play an important role in the application review. The admissions committee will look for evidence of skills and attributes that contribute to success in the MPA program, such as maturity, determination, attention to detail, analytical aptitude, evidence of personal and/or professional growth, and communication and interpersonal skills.

Academic History 

Does your undergraduate or graduate transcript accurately reflect your academic ability? If not, one way to demonstrate your ability to succeed in our rigorous MPA program is to submit strong GMAT or GRE test scores.  

Are your quantitative abilities reflected elsewhere in your application? If you do not have a quantitative or business background, you can demonstrate your quantitative abilities through the GMAT or GRE. Both tests include a quantitative section. As an alternative or in addition to submitting GMAT or GRE scores, you can highlight areas in your background that demonstrate quantitative or business skills, such as strong grades in the pre-enrollment courses, a relevant internship or a leadership role in a student or volunteer organization.

Internships and Other Extracurricular Activities 

Although full-time work experience is not required to apply to the Texas McCombs MPA program, full-time employment or internships and volunteer, leadership and other extracurricular activities are viewed positively in the application review. For those with limited experiences, a strong standardized test score can make your application more competitive. 

Additional Considerations

  • Overall class profile: For MPA incoming classes, the average GMAT total score (for the new “GMAT Focus” edition that launched in November 2023) was 628 for the fall 2024 incoming class, with a range of 565-685. For the previous GMAT (10th edition, which ended in January 2024), the average score was typically 650, and the average GRE total score (V+Q) is typically 320. The average GPA in upper-level classes is typically 3.75.
  • The admissions committee does not have a preference for either the GMAT or GRE exam. Either test can demonstrate academic potential for business school.
  • Be sure to plan ahead! It typically takes at least 3 weeks for your official score report to be received and uploaded to your application record.
  • Once an official score report has been received, it becomes a part of a submitted application record and cannot be removed.
  • If you retake a test, we will consider only the score report with the highest total score. Please notify the MPA admissions team if you plan to retake an exam.
  • View additional application tips in this admissions blog before crafting your application.

Need more advice?

Attend an information session, send us an email with your questions, or schedule a consultation with our admissions team.

REGISTER: Meet Current MPA Students on July 12

July 8, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Join us at the Texas McCombs MPA Current Student Panel to meet people who have experienced the Master in Professional Accounting program first-hand. You’ll hear about their time in the program, why they chose to study accounting, and what they enjoy about the UT campus and living in Austin, TX. Plus, you’ll have the chance to ask the students questions.

Tuesday, July 12 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. CT (virtual)

REGISTER NOW

Meet the Panelists

McKinley BodenMcKinley Boden
tMPA ’22
Tax Track

McKinley grew up in the Atlanta area and went to Florida State University for her undergraduate degree. She came to UT to pursue her master’s because she liked the city of Austin and wanted to go to a top program. She is a traditional MPA student on the tax track and will be starting on the tax staff with EY in Denver come January. Until then, she will be working on studying for the CPA exam. Outside of school, she enjoys live music, trying new restaurants, and running.

Joshua CostoJoshua Costo
iMPA ’23
Audit Track

Josh is an integrated MPA student on the audit track. He interned with Caterpillar during his junior year, PwC during the spring 2021 busy season, and will be moving to Connecticut in January to work for the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) after graduation. He is a member of Longhorn Powerlifting and Camp Texas, two beloved organizations that he has been a part of for the past three years. He is excited to work at the FASB post-graduation to help companies and investors understand and solve complex accounting issues.

Francisca GuerreroFrancisca Guerrero
iMPA ’23
Tax Track

Francisca is originally from Quito, Ecuador and moved to The Woodlands, Texas when she was two years old. She is a Canfield Business Honors student, as well as an integrated MPA. Throughout her college career, she has been interested in attending law school and learning about other cultures. As a result, she did an internship abroad in Shenzhen, China, wrote her Honors Thesis on e-commerce in China, and she hopes to pursue a career in international tax accounting at EY where she is currently interning.

Zoe McDowellZoe McDowell
ECON-MPA ’23
Generalist Track

Zoe is from Livingston, Texas and recently graduated from UT Austin with a bachelor’s in economics and anthropology. As a student in the ECON-MPA program, she began taking graduate accounting courses last year. Her favorite course so far has been Intro to Audit with Professor Johanns, and she is pursuing the Generalist Track so she can curate her own course selection. Zoe is currently a Summer Analyst at an investment banking firm and plans to move to New York City after graduation to continue her career in investment banking.

REGISTER: MPA Current Student and Alumni Panel

February 15, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Join us at the Master in Professional Accounting (MPA) Current Student and Alumni Panel to meet four people who have experienced the MPA program 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 get the chance to ask the students and alumni questions.

Register here! We’ll see you Thursday, February 24 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. CT.

Meet the Panelists:

Courtney Crosby, MPA ‘14  –  University of Houston Law Student
After graduating from the MPA program in 2014, Courtney worked at Southwestern Energy as a Joint Venture Accountant. She then transitioned into law and interned at a District Attorney’s office before going back to school to earn her law degree from the University of Houston.

Arjun Naganathan, MPA ‘22 –  Current Student
Arjun is originally from Southern California and is currently finishing up his MPA degree while double majoring in film. After graduation, he will join McKinsey & Company as a Business Analyst. His career aspirations include working in sports and pursuing entrepreneurial ventures.

Anthony Saenz, MPA ‘22 – Current Student
Anthony graduated from Texas A&M University in 2015 with an Industrial Distribution degree. After working for a few different energy and engineering companies, he decided to go back to school to earn his graduate degree in accounting to better understand how an organization operates. Anthony is currently studying tax and will graduate this summer.

Sarah Stiff, MPA ‘17 –  ESG & Sustainability Senior Consultant, Deloitte
Sarah started her career at Deloitte as an auditor in their Houston office. After three years of working with real estate clients in financial statement audit, Sarah joined Deloitte’s Sustainability & ESG services team. She currently helps clients with their disclosure outlook and strategy, enhancement of ESG data processes and controls, as well as complete and accurate reporting in accordance with industry-recognized ESG frameworks and standards.

Register Today!

AICPA Legacy Scholarships – Apply Now!

February 7, 2022 / / 0 Comments

AICPA Logo

If you are seeking scholarship opportunities for the Texas McCombs MPA program, be sure to check your eligibility to apply for an AICPA Legacy Scholarship. The scholarships have a March 1 application deadline and are limited to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Scholarships include (but are not limited to):

  • The John L. Carey Scholarship provides financial assistance to liberal arts and non-business undergraduate degree holders who are pursuing both graduate studies in accounting and CPA licensure.
  • The AICPA Scholarship for Minority Accounting Students provides financial awards to full-time minority students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in accounting or an accounting-related major.
  • The AICPA Foundation Scholarship for Future CPAs provides financial assistance to undergraduate or graduate degree students interested in pursuing the CPA license after graduation.
  • The AWSCPA Scholarship provides financial assistance to outstanding female students majoring in accounting or an accounting-related field.

We encourage you to apply and check for other scholarships through the national scholarship search.

Register for an Upcoming MPA Program Info Session

November 9, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Attend upcoming MPA info session

Learn more about the top-ranked graduate accounting program in the nation! Sign up for a virtual Master in Professional Accounting program info session:

At our info sessions, you’ll hear information about the Master in Professional Accounting admissions process, curriculum, and career outcomes, as well as what life is like at McCombs.

Whether you’re currently in college or just starting your career, move ahead fast by earning a one-year specialized master’s degree in accounting at the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin.

We look forward to meeting you soon!

Register Today!

Older posts Newer posts

Categories

© 2025 Master in Professional Accounting Admissions Blog

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑