Master in Professional Accounting Admissions Blog

Insider Information for Prospective Texas McCombs MPA Students

Category: Traditional MPA (page 1 of 2)

MPA Tailgate Event: Texas vs Florida Football

The recent MPA tailgate was more than just pre-game fun—it was a testament to the camaraderie within the MPA community. One student shares their unique experience as a former University of Florida undergrad cheering for the Texas Longhorns while donning a Florida Gators jersey!

The MPA tailgate was a great bonding experience for students within the MPA program. It was great seeing my friends from different classes come together, wear burnt orange, and get excited for the Longhorns’ SEC matchup against the Gators. Many of us rooted for different teams throughout our undergrad, but this game meant much more to me since I did my undergrad at the University of Florida and was a photographer for the Florida Gators’ athletics program. When I showed up to the tailgate with a Texas Longhorns hat and Florida Gators jersey, my fellow MPA students made sure to get a good laugh, and it made for a lot of fun. This MPA community really thrives off of each other as we are all battle the stresses that come with a prestigious academic program together. I also made sure to fuel up with some catered Chick-fil-A.

As for advice I have for new/prospective students, prioritize and make time for friends and meet fellow students through social outings such as the MPA tailgate. Having friends in all of your classes will make you look forward to your 8 am classes, give you a sense of home away from home, and provide you with lifelong friends down the road. I am looking forward to what the next semester brings and hope we can all get together for a baseball or basketball outing.

-Craig Haas

Learn more about the Master in Professional Accounting program

MPA student at football game MPA students enjoying tailgate

MPA students at tailgate

Register: Join Us for a Traditional MPA Info Session

Join us for a traditional MPA info session! Gain valuable insights into our top-ranked traditional Master in Professional Accounting program. Learn about our curriculum, application process, and career outcomes, and explore the benefits of studying at the University of Texas at Austin

Register Here: tMPA Info Session

Wednesday, November 20, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Zoom Webinar

Register: Join Us for Our Virtual MPA Panel Night

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.

Register: MPA Panel Night

Thursday, November 14, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Zoom Webinar

The Traditional MPA Early Deadline Passed – What’s Next?

Congratulations! You completed your traditional MPA (tMPA) application by the November 1 early deadline! What happens next? 

The MPA Admissions Committee is beginning to review all completed* applications. We anticipate releasing early decisions for U.S. applications in mid-December. Early decisions for international applications will be released in mid- to late January. Your admissions decision will be posted on the Office of Graduate Admissions MyStatus portal, and you will receive a separate message from the Texas McCombs MPA program if you are accepted.

What should you do if your application is incomplete?

U.S. applicants: If you are still working on submitting your materials, you can expect to receive a decision approximately four to six weeks after your application is complete.*

International applicants: Aim to complete* your application no later than January 14 (final application deadline). Decisions will be released by late March/early April.

*All required materials must be received before an application will be reviewed for a decision. Be sure to check the status of your application in the McCombs application portal and in the Office of Graduate Admission’s MyStatus portal on a regular basis.

If you reported (optional) GMAT or GRE test scores or a future test date in the admissions application, we will hold on a decision until the official test scores are received from the testing agency. Please notify the MPA admissions team if your testing plans change after you submit your application.

You were admitted to another university, and the acceptance deadline is approaching, but you haven’t received a decision from the Texas McCombs MPA program. What should you do?

If you receive an admission offer from another university and need to respond to the offer before you receive a decision from us, please send us an email with the name of the university and the admission response deadline. Although we cannot guarantee an earlier admission decision, we will do our best to accommodate your request.

You are a Texas resident. How can you establish your residency status at UT Austin for tuition purposes?

If you are a Texas resident, you will be required to submit Residency Core Questions so that UT Austin can verify your residency. You are eligible to complete the questionnaire after submitting your online application. You do not need to wait for an admissions decision first. Additional information regarding Texas residency is available on the UT admissions website. Feel free to contact UT’s residency officer if you have questions regarding Texas residency.

Tip for tMPA U.S. applicants: Complete the residency questionnaire soon after submitting the admissions application so that your UT record is updated before the MPA program determines scholarship awards.


Note to MPA Bridge applicants: Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis. Apply at any time until the May 6 application deadline!

Texas McCombs Master in Professional Accounting Degree is Now STEM Certified!

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.

Read more…

 

Traditional MPA Applicants: November 1 Early Deadline is Approaching!

The early November 1 deadline for U.S. and international traditional MPA applicants is just around the corner. If you are working on completing your application by this deadline… great! Early U.S. applicants should receive an admissions decision in mid-December, and your application will be first in line for consideration for potential scholarships. Early international applicants will receive a decision in January.

However, do not be concerned if you are still working on your application. Why?

  • We use a rolling admissions process for U.S. applicants in which we review completed applications on a continuous basis until the final May 6 deadline. Your chances for admission would not be affected if you complete your application after November 1 but still early in our admissions cycle. And, although scholarships become more limited later on, we do award scholarships throughout the admissions cycle.
  • International applicants still have time to submit an application by the final January 14 application deadline. Completing your application by November 1 will allow you to receive an earlier decision, but your chances for admission would not be affected if you complete your application by the final January 14 deadline. Those who complete their application by the final deadline should receive a decision by the end of March.
  • You should take your time to submit the strongest application possible. For example, you may be planning to submit (optional) GMAT or GRE test scores or TOEFL or IELTS test scores (international applicants) and need more time to study.

Your application will not be considered complete and reviewed for a decision until all application materials have been received. If you reported GMAT or GRE test scores or a future test date in the admissions application, we will hold on a decision until the official test scores are received from the testing agency.* Please notify the MPA admissions team if your testing plans change after you submit your application.

*Plan ahead: it takes about 3-4 weeks for the score report to be sent and added to an applicant’s record.

Do you have any concerns about your application? Contact the MPA admissions team or schedule an appointment for an application consultation.


Note to MPA Bridge applicants: Admissions are rolling all year. Apply for summer 2025 anytime before 11:59 pm CT on May 6, 2025.

 

Stop By to Chat with MPA Students and Admissions Staff!

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

REGISTER: Join the October 23 Traditional MPA Information Session!

Join our upcoming virtual information session to learn more about the traditional Master in Professional Accounting program. This info session will provide valuable insights into our top-ranked accounting program, including the MPA admissions process, curriculum, career outcomes, and the benefits of studying at the University of Texas at Austin. Don’t miss this chance to see how the Texas McCombs MPA program can help you achieve your professional goals!

REGISTER: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23 – 5:00 PM CT

We look forward to meeting you soon!

Jasmin Blas-Mendieta

Jasmin Blas-Mendieta, MPA Senior Recruiting and Admissions Officer.

 

Application Tips: Crafting Your Resume

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:

  • 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: Submitting Your Transcripts

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. 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 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.)

  1. Order official transcripts from every four-year university or college you attended, and have them sent to you directly. Applicants who attended The University of Texas at Austin should download a PDF copy of a UT Academic Summary instead of ordering a 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, scan your paper transcripts to a PDF.
  2. List all colleges and universities attended, including junior or community colleges, on the “Educational Information” page of your McCombs online application. (Tip: Select Add Record to add a college or university to your list of institutions attended.)
  3. Upload a PDF copy of each transcript. Current and former UT Austin students should upload a free Academic Summary in lieu of a UT transcript.
  4. Pay your Application Fee in UT’s Office of Graduate Admissions MyStatus portal after submitting your application.
  5. After paying your application fee, upload the transcripts to the MyStatus portal or have your 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: 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.

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, 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 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!

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