Join us for an evening of insight and connection at the MPA Panel Night! This event offers a unique opportunity to hear from Texas McCombs faculty, current students, and alumni. Learn about the program’s academic strengths, explore student experiences, and discover how an MPA can shape your career.
Thursday, November 14, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Zoom Webinar
As of this fall, the Texas McCombs Master in Professional Accounting (MPA) degree is now STEM certified by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
The STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) designation acknowledges the MPA program’s heavy emphasis on quantitative methods, statistical analysis, and technological applications. Students in the program receive a traditional accounting education along with an abundance of wide-ranging opportunities to apply technology and data analysis skills in nearly every course.
The certification benefits international students, as graduates with STEM designated degrees can stay in the U.S. to work for three years, instead of just one year, through the Optional Practical Training program.
Connect with the Specialized Master’s recruiting and admissions team to discover the range of master’s programs offered at McCombs. As a UT undergraduate, you can take advantage of the opportunity to earn a master’s degree by staying just one more year at UT.
The info session will cover admission requirements, career outcomes, important dates, and more. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and dive into what makes the McCombs School of Business Specialized Master’s programs highly ranked and well sought after.
Specialized Master’s programs for UT undergrads include:
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5 | 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. CT
BERNARD AND AUDRE RAPOPORT BUILDING (BRB) 2.136
Are you a current UT non-accounting major interested in expanding your career opportunities? Join us in person at the MPA Bridge Meet and Mingle to learn how you can complement your bachelor’s degree with our Master in Professional Accounting (MPA) degree. Meet and mingle with MPA staff and current MPA students who started their program with a non-business background. Plus, enjoy some Plucker’s on us! Open to all UT majors.
REGISTER: MPA BRIDGE MEET & MINGLE
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 6-7 pm
ROWLING HALL SPECIAL EVENTS ROOM, RRH 5.210
Interested in the Master in Professional Accounting program? Stop by for some coffee in the McCombs Hall of Honors to speak with a current student or an admissions team member, and learn more about earning your accounting master’s degree in just one year! No registration is needed.
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Hall of Honors, CBA 2.200
Are you a current UT undergraduate looking to expand your career options? This program allows you to begin working towards a Master in Professional Accounting (MPA) while finishing your bachelor’s degree in your senior year—regardless of your major.
Join our upcoming virtual info session to discover how the MPA Bridge program can fast-track your path to success. You’ll hear all about the admissions process, curriculum, career prospects, and what life is like in the program.
We look forward to meeting you soon!
Jasmin Blas-Mendieta, MPA Senior Recruiting and Admissions Officer.
Your resume provides an important opportunity to showcase your accomplishments and skills. Be sure to highlight honors, awards, language or computer skills, extracurriculars, volunteer and leadership experiences, internships, full-time work experience (if applicable), and other experiences outside of the classroom that developed your skills.
You may have noticed on the MPA admissions website that we provide MPA application resume guidelines (See tMPA resume guidelines or MPA Bridge resume guidelines) and an MPA application resume template (See tMPA resume template or MPA Bridge resume template). Although this resume format is not required, we highly recommend using the MPA template if you are in the process of reconstructing your resume. If admitted, you will be required to use this format during the recruiting process, and our MPA career coaches will work with you to fine-tune your resume.
The MPA application resume guidelines include:
If you need to submit an updated version of your resume after you submit your application, you can do so in the McCombs application portal (Submitted Applications tab > Submit an Update). Be sure to submit any updates as soon as possible. We cannot guarantee that updates will be included in your application review, as it will depend on when you submit the updated resume and where your application is in the review process with the admissions committee.
What exactly are the steps for submitting your transcript(s) for your MPA application? Read on for the details!
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.)
You will provide your transcripts in two locations: 1) in the McCombs application portal (for the MPA admissions committee application review) and 2) in the MyStatus portal (for UT’s Office of Graduate Admissions). 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 graduate courses, if applicable).
Steps: (See the tMPA admissions packet for additional details.)
Tip: Store any official paper transcripts safely. If you are offered admission and intend to enroll, you will then send your official paper copy transcripts to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
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.
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:
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 14 application deadline, even if the fall grades are not posted. After your fall grades are available, you can provide a copy of an updated transcript in the McCombs application portal.
Please contact the MPA admissions team if you have additional questions!
The Texas McCombs traditional MPA and MPA Bridge admissions applications require at least two letters of recommendation. Keep reading for answers to frequently asked questions about recommendations.
Through the recommendation letters (and admissions essays), we aim to learn about your strengths, personal qualities, skills, and the potential for success in the classroom and as a business professional. Choose references who know you in an academic or professional context and are familiar with your abilities, achievements, and career aspirations. Also consider references who can provide unique and diverse viewpoints. If you are currently in school, we prefer recommendations from faculty members, although feel free to supplement with a third recommendation from a professional work or extracurricular experience. Although only two recommendation letters are required, the MPA admissions committee will review all that are submitted.
Letters are received directly from the recommender via a secure portal. You will be asked to provide the names and email addresses of at least two recommenders in the “Letters of Recommendation” section of the application. When you select “Continue,” your recommenders will be sent an email notification with a link to a secure portal where they will be asked to complete an online questionnaire and upload a recommendation letter.
Tips:
After you submit your application, you will have the option in the McCombs application portal to add recommenders and send them an email request.
Traditional MPA and MPA Bridge applicants,
Are you working on your Texas McCombs MPA admissions essays and need some guidance? Are you wondering, What should be the focus? How long should the essays be? Do I need videographer skills to create my video essay? Here are some tips that will help you get started:
There is no “right answer” to the written or video essay questions. MPA applicants come from a variety of academic backgrounds and have diverse professional goals… exactly what we prefer! The essays can help you stand out from the applicant crowd and provide us an opportunity to learn about your strengths, skillsets, and aspirations. Avoid cliched responses and instead provide a genuine portrayal of why you are interested in the Texas McCombs MPA program. Take a moment to reflect. How will the MPA program assist you in reaching your goals? If you are a non-accounting major, why have you decided to pursue a graduate accounting degree? What has been your journey up to this point, and what have you learned about yourself along the way? How have your experiences prepared you for success in our program and the business world? What will you contribute to the Texas McCombs MPA community?
Although you should focus more on content than length, essay #1 should be between 350-500 words, essay #2 should be between 250-350 words, and the video essay should be approximately one minute in length. Avoid repeating information that is readily available in other parts of the application. For example, rather than simply listing your experiences, let us know how these experiences helped you to grow personally or professionally. We want to get to know you from a perspective that cannot be achieved by reviewing resumes, transcripts, or test scores.
The written essays capture your reasons for pursuing the MPA degree, career goals, preparedness for graduate school, and an example of your analytical aptitude. They also are a demonstration of your written communication skills. Avoid being too wordy, stay focused and organized, and proofread. The formatting of the essays is flexible (line spacing, margins, font), but we do appreciate an easy-to-read layout!
Instructions:
The video essay helps your application “come to life” and provides you with an opportunity to showcase your verbal communication skills and personality. Be professional, relax (Try not to sound like you’re reading a script. We want to see you as your peers, instructors or employers see you!), and don’t worry about fancy editing techniques. Also, please do not include a link to a photo slideshow or PowerPoint presentation. Slideshows do not allow us to actually see and hear from you, which is really what we are looking for in a video submission.
Video link instructions:
If you prefer, you can submit an optional admissions essay to address address any information that you believe your application would be incomplete without and that sheds more light on your unique potential to succeed in the MPA program and contribute to the University community and the profession.
Ready to apply? Start your traditional MPA or MPA Bridge application today!
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