Master in Professional Accounting Admissions News

Insider Information for Prospective Texas McCombs MPA Students

Category: MPA Bridge (page 1 of 2)

MPA Bridge Meet and Mingle

Join Us on October 30 for the MPA Bridge Meet & Mingle Event

October 27, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Are you a current UT undergraduate student interested in expanding your career opportunities? Join us in person at the MPA Bridge meet and mingle event to learn how you can complement your non-accounting bachelor’s degree with our Master in Professional Accounting (MPA) degree. Connect with current MPA students, learn about career opportunities in accounting, and get your questions answered by faculty and admissions staff.

REGISTER: MPA BRIDGE MEET & MINGLE

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 5:30-6:30 pm

LOCATION: Rowling Special Events Room, RRH 5.210

Application Tips - Resume

Application Tips: Crafting Your Resume

October 22, 2025 / / 0 Comments

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 the tMPA admissions packet or MPA Bridge admissions packet) 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:

  • Resume length
  • Font and font size
  • Margins
  • Tips for listing education, achievements, experience, and work eligibility

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.

Application Tips - Transcript

Application Tips: Submitting Your Transcripts

October 16, 2025 / / 0 Comments

What exactly are the steps for submitting your transcript(s) for your MPA application? Read on for the details!

MPA BRIDGE 

You will provide a copy of a (free) UT Academic Summary in the admissions application.

Steps (See the MPA Bridge admissions packet for additional details):

  1. List all colleges and universities attended, including junior or community colleges, on the Educational Information page of the admissions application. (Tip: Select Add Record to add a college or university to your list of institutions attended. Then type University of Texas Austin in the Institution Name field to search for UT Austin.)
  2. For UT Austin only, upload a PDF of a Academic Summary in lieu of an official UT transcript.  You do not need to provide copies of transcripts from any other colleges or universities attended.

TRADITIONAL MPA

You will provide a copy of your transcripts in two locations: 1) in the McCombs application portal (for the MPA admissions committee application review; unofficial transcripts are accepted) and 2) in the MyStatus portal (for UT’s Office of Graduate Admissions; official transcripts only). The Office of Graduate Admissions is responsible for verifying the validity of transcripts and degrees and calculating an upper-division GPA (based on junior- and senior-level courses and any graduate courses, if applicable).

Steps (see the tMPA admissions packet for additional details):

  1. List all colleges and universities attended, including junior or community colleges, on the Educational Information page of your McCombs online application.
  2. Order official transcripts from every four-year university or college you attended. Applicants who attended The University of Texas at Austin should download a PDF copy of a UT Academic Summary instead of ordering an official transcript. Transcripts from junior or community colleges should be requested if you completed our pre-enrollment requirements or any accounting courses at these institutions. If you are unable to obtain an official transcript in PDF format, you can scan your paper transcript to a PDF. Alternatively, if your college or university uses SPEEDE or Parchment, you can have your official transcript sent electronically to the Office of Graduate Admissions and upload a copy of an unofficial transcript in the McCombs application.
  3. Pay your application fee in UT’s Office of Graduate Admissions MyStatus portal after submitting your application. (Note: It will take 1-2 days for the application to transmit from the McCombs application portal to UT’s MyStatus portal.)
  4. After paying your application fee, upload your official transcripts (PDF format) to the MyStatus portal or have your official transcripts sent electronically via SPEEDE or Parchment (see the Submit Transcripts section of this Office of Graduate Admissions web page for detailed instructions). Former University of Texas at Austin students will pay a  $20 transcript fee in lieu of uploading UT Austin transcripts.

Tip: If you attended a university outside the U.S., a foreign credential evaluation from WES or another organization is not required. However, if a transcript is written in a language other than English, a complete and official English translation must be uploaded together with the original transcript.

Should I submit my transcript without my fall grades? 

If you are a traditional MPA U.S. applicant or MPA Bridge applicant, we recommend submitting a transcript (or UT Academic Summary) without your fall grades if you are aiming to apply early and your fall grades are net yet posted. We will reach out to you if we need your fall grades before making a decision. That said, we recommend waiting to submit your transcript with your fall grades if:

  1. (For non-accounting majors:) You are taking pre-enrollment courses in the fall (see tMPA pre-enrollments or MPA Bridge pre-enrollments),
  2. (For accounting majors:) You are enrolled in several upper-level accounting classes in the fall, and/or
  3. Your upper-level GPA will be improved substantially with your fall grades.

If you are a traditional MPA international applicant (not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident), you should submit your application with transcript before either the early November 1 or final January 13 application deadline, even if the fall grades are not posted. After your fall grades are available, you have the option to provide a copy of an updated transcript in the McCombs application portal (Submitted Applications tab > Submit an Update).

Please contact the MPA admissions team if you have additional questions!

Stop by for coffee and chat with MPA

Stop by on October 15 to Chat with MPA Students and Admissions Staff!

October 8, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Interested in the Master in Professional Accounting program? Stop by for some coffee in the McCombs School of Business 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 15, 2025
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Hall of Honors, CBA 2.200

MPA Bridge Info Session

Join the MPA Bridge Info Session on October 8

October 2, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Are you a current UT undergraduate looking to expand your career options? The MPA Bridge program allows you to begin working towards a Master in Professional Accounting (MPA) degree while finishing your non-accounting bachelor’s degree in your senior year.

Join our upcoming virtual info session to discover how the MPA Bridge program can fast-track your path to success. You’ll learn about the admissions process, curriculum, career prospects, and what life is like in the program.

REGISTER: Wednesday, October 8, 5-6 PM CT

We look forward to meeting you soon!

Application Tips: Recommendation Letters

September 29, 2025 / / 0 Comments

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.

Who should write my letters of recommendation?

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.

How should my references submit their recommendation letters?

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:

  • Complete this part of your application first. This will allow your recommenders to get started while you’re working on the other components of your application.
  • Contact your recommenders to let them know they will receive an email. The message is sent from a general McCombs School of Business email address and may end up in their junk/spam email folder.
  • Monitor the status of your recommendations in the McCombs application portal. You can resend notifications from the portal as needed.

What should I do if I already submitted my online application but need to send a request to an additional recommender?

After you submit your application, you will have the option in the McCombs application portal to add recommenders and send them an email request (Submitted Applications tab > Manage Recommenders).

Essay Tips

Application Tips: Preparing Your Admissions Essays

September 26, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Traditional MPA and MPA Bridge applicants,

Are you working on your 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:

Review the questions and prepare in advance.

Traditional MPA Admissions Essay Questions

MPA Bridge Admissions Essay Questions

Let us know why you’re unique!

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?

Develop your ideas… but be concise.

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 and other application materials.

Written essays: Mind your writing technique.

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!

Please be aware that applicants are not permitted to submit materials that were generated by artificial intelligence (AI) systems or completed by anyone other than themselves. This includes using AI or support from any individual to write answers to essay questions. You may use AI as part of your research or as a text/grammar editor, and you may also seek outside assistance in reviewing your materials, but all text that is ultimately submitted must be written by you.

Instructions:

  • Upload your essays in PDF format to your admissions application.

Video essay: Show us who you are!

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:

  • Upload your video essay to a video-sharing platform like YouTube or Vimeo or to a cloud storage site such as Google Drive. Provide the URL in the admissions application.
  • Do not submit a video link from TikTok.
  • Review your video’s privacy settings and ensure that they are not overly restrictive. For example, YouTube videos should be “Unlisted” or “Public” rather than “Private.”
  • Make sure that your link does not expire and that you do not remove your video until you receive an admissions decision.

Optional essay: Add some clarification.

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!

FAQs MPA Bridge Applicants

FAQs: MPA Bridge Applicants

September 15, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Have questions about the MPA Bridge admissions process? Find answers to frequently-asked questions below!

What are the eligibility requirements to apply to MPA Bridge?

You must satisfy the following criteria to be eligible to apply to the MPA Bridge program for summer 2026 entry:

  • Be a current UT undergraduate student completing a non-accounting bachelor’s degree
  • Have a minimum 3.5 grade point average, both overall and in your major
  • Have senior standing (90 or more credit hours) prior to summer 2026
  • Complete the course pre-enrollment requirements before applying to MPA Bridge (ideal) or before enrolling in MPA classes (required)
  • Have an expected bachelor’s degree completion date of summer 2026, fall 2026, or spring 2027
    • If you plan to finish your bachelor’s degree in spring 2026 or sooner, apply to the traditional MPA program for fall 2026 (with a potential summer 2026 start date)
    • If you will finish your bachelor’s degree in summer 2027 through spring 2028, apply to MPA Bridge next year for summer 2027 entry

When are MPA Bridge admissions applications reviewed for a decision?

The MPA admissions committee reviews completed MPA Bridge applications on a continuous, rolling basis. Eligible applicants may apply anytime during the admissions cycle until the final May 5, 2026 application deadline. We encourage you to apply as soon as you have completed the majority of the pre-enrollment courses.

Should I submit my application and transcript before fall grades are available?

If you’re aiming to apply early so that you can receive an earlier admissions decision, you can submit a transcript without fall grades. (We will reach out if we need your fall grades before making a decision.) That said, we highly recommend waiting to submit your application until fall grades are posted if:

  • You are taking pre-enrollment courses in the fall, and/or
  • Your GPA will be improved substantially with your fall grades.

It is better to wait and submit the strongest application possible rather than overly rush to apply!

I submitted my application. When will I receive an admissions decision?

Your application will not be considered complete and reviewed for a decision until at least two faculty recommendation letters have been received. Verify the receipt of your recommendation letters in the McCombs application portal (Submitted Applications tab > Manage Recommenders). If needed, send additional requests for letters through the portal. Decisions are released approximately six weeks after application completion.

Any questions we missed?

We recommend that you attend an upcoming MPA Bridge information session, schedule an admissions consultation, or send us an email! We’re happy to help.

 

It's time to apply to the MPA program

Apply Now to Join the Master in Professional Accounting Program in 2026!

September 4, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Are you ready to take the next step in your educational and career journey? The McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin is excited to announce that the Fall 2026 Master in Professional Accounting application is now open! Whether you will have a bachelor’s degree and are interested in pursuing the one-year traditional MPA (tMPA) program, or you are a current UT undergraduate (non-accounting major) and would like to get an early start via MPA Bridge, Texas McCombs offers a top-quality learning experience that will provide you with a solid background in the language of business and prepare you for a variety of careers.   

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

Our admissions committee takes a holistic approach to evaluating MPA applications, taking all of your application materials into account. Your essays, previous academic performance, letters of recommendation, and non-academic achievements all play an important role in your acceptance into the MPA program. Find tips on enhancing your application in this admissions blog!

  1. Online admissions application
  2. Application Fee (traditional MPA applicants)
  3. Academic Transcripts: Traditional MPA applicants: provide copies of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. MPA Bridge applicants: provide copy of UT academic summary.
  4. Resume: Highlight your accomplishments and skills, such as 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 professional skills.
  5. Two Recommendations: Preferably from faculty if you are currently in school, or if you already graduated with your bachelor’s degree, individuals who can speak to your professional capabilities and leadership potential. 
  6. Two Written Essays and One Video Essay: These essays provide additional insights into your strengths, skillsets, and goals. 
  7. English Proficiency Test (international applicants): Traditional MPA: All international applicants must submit either a TOEFL or IELTS official score report for the MPA application unless exempt (view exemptions for qualifying countries). MPA Bridge: MPA Admissions will review the official TOEFL or IELTS scores on your UT record; you are exempt if you were allowed to waive the test requirement for admission to UT Austin. 
  8. Optional Test Scores (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. See this blog post for tips on whether you should consider submitting test scores.

 APPLICATION DEADLINES

MPA Bridge (all applicants) and traditional MPA (U.S. applicants) admissions decisions are made on a continuous, rolling basis throughout the admissions cycle. Traditional MPA (international applicants) decisions are released in two rounds: after the early and final deadlines. Online applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM Central Time on the final deadline date, and all application steps must be completed by the final completion date. 

TRADITIONAL MPA DEADLINES

Early – U.S. and international applicants

Deadline to submit online application: November 1, 2025

Deadline to complete application: November 8, 2025

Final – International applicants

Deadline to submit online application: January 13, 2026 

Deadline to complete applicati0n: January 20, 2026

Final – U.S. summer starts*:

Deadline to submit online application: March 15, 2026

Deadline to complete application: March 22, 2026

Final – U.S. applicants:

Deadline to submit online application: May 5, 2026

Deadline to complete application: May 12, 2026

*Students who are unable to waive ACC 381 ideally should start in the summer (see tMPA core course waivers), and U.S. applicants are highly encouraged to apply by the summer start final deadline. We cannot guarantee a summer start date for applications received after this deadline. Depending on your academic background, starting in the fall may result in a delayed graduation date.

 

MPA BRIDGE DEADLINE

Final – All applicants:

Deadline to submit online application & all recommendation letters received: May 5, 2026

 

READY TO BEGIN?

Start by attending an upcoming information session to explore our program and admissions process in depth. Then thoroughly review the following resources before applying:

TRADITIONAL MPA 

Traditional MPA website

Traditional MPA admissions packet

MPA BRIDGE 

MPA Bridge admissions website 

MPA Bridge admissions packet

QUESTIONS?

Connect with our admissions team. We’re here to support you every step of the way!

MPA Bridge Info Session

Join the MPA Bridge Information Session on August 28

August 21, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Are you a current UT undergraduate looking to expand your career options? The MPA Bridge program allows you to begin working towards a Master in Professional Accounting (MPA) degree while finishing your non-accounting bachelor’s degree in your senior year.

Join our upcoming virtual info session to discover how the MPA Bridge program can fast-track your path to success. You’ll learn about the admissions process, curriculum, career prospects, and what life is like in the program.

REGISTER: Thursday, August 28, 4-5 PM CT

We look forward to meeting you soon!

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