Our admissions staff dedicates itself to a meticulous, holistic review of each application. Our ultimate objective is to get a firm sense of each applicant as a person in order to determine if he or she is a good fit for McCombs and to be sure that McCombs is a good fit for him or her. We carefully search for those students whose work and educational experience will allow them to make full use of the opportunities and resources afforded by the program in order to allow McCombs to help them fully develop their potential as leaders and guide them into a world of post-MBA possibilities.

What We Are Looking For

The Texas MBA admissions committee carefully considers each completed application, with particular attention to personal essays, work history, post-MBA goals, undergraduate performance, letters of recommendation, honors, achievements and test scores. All of these components are considered holistically and no specific weight is assigned to any criterion nor formulas used.

Below are some tips to consider as you are putting together your application for the McCombs School of Business: 

• GMAT/GRE
  Test Scores: Texas accepts both the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) and the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE). All applicants are required to submit valid GMAT or GRE scores from ETS. Texas has no minimum score, but the test scores are an extremely important component of each application. You should address this application component aggressively. You are encouraged to take the GMAT or GRE early in your MBA application process so that if you do not perform as well as you would like, you have the ability to retake the exam prior to any deadlines.
  
  You may take the GMAT or GRE as often as you wish. Texas will only consider your highest score and does not average test scores. Should you choose to apply using the GRE, simply apply with that score as no prior approval is needed.
  
  McCombs full-time MBA GMAT code: 396-44-45
  McCombs MBA GRE code: 6882
• Work Experience
  We strongly recommend that MBA applicants have a minimum of two years full-time, post-baccalaureate work experience. The admissions committee is especially interested in the quality of professional skills as evidenced in applicants' level of responsibility, leadership, supervision and teamwork. The committee also considers the relevance of these skills both to the applicant's intended course of study at McCombs and to the career goals as stated in the essays.
• Letters of Recommendation
  References should come from individuals who have a superior working knowledge of the applicant, be professional in nature and should speak to the applicant's professional work, qualities, career potential and potential to succeed in the classroom.
• Undergraduate and Previous Graduate Experience
  The McCombs School has no mandatory minimum grade point average. For admission purposes, the Graduate and International Admissions Center calculates a G.P.A. using undergraduate, upper-division (junior- and senior-level) coursework and any graduate work already completed. McCombs does not require prior coursework in management or business administration.
• Service, Activities and Recognition
  Public, community or military service, travel experiences, extracurricular activities, hobbies or special aptitudes, and any honors or recognition received are all important indicators of an applicant's motivation and character. The most appropriate place to include this information is typically on your resume. It is ok if your resume needs to be two pages to accommodate this information. If it warrants more explanation, the essays may also be an appropriate place to discuss these.
• TOEFL or IELTS Waivers (Pertains only to international applicants who have submitted applications)
  U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents do not need to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score. A waiver of the TOEFL or IELTS is automatically granted (no request needed) if you are an international applicant and have earned an undergraduate degree in a country where the official language is English (not just an English-speaking institution or a country where English is spoken) (see country list here).
  
  In order to request a TOEFL or IELTS waiver you must have submitted a Texas MBA application AND meet one of the following conditions:
  

  1. 1) You have lived and worked full-time in the U.S. or in a country where English is the official language for at least two of the past four years (see country list here).
  2. 2) You hold a masters degree from a college or university located in the U.S. or from a country where English is the official language (see country list here).
  3. 3) You were educated solely in English for your undergraduate and/or prior graduate degree.

  
  If you do not meet any of these conditions, you are required to submit the TOEFL/IELTS exam without exception. If you meet the conditions above, please check the appropriate box requesting the waiver in the test score section of your application. You will receive a confirmation of your waiver decision within two weeks of submitting your application.
• Personal Essays
  Essays are a critical means of assessing an applicant’s reasons and motivation for attending the McCombs School of Business, background and goals, communication skills and presentation skills. Strong applications convey careful research on McCombs and enthusiasm for the program.
• Reapplications
  Having applied in a previous year is not considered a negative factor in your application. We evaluate your new application on its merits, and in the context of the new applicant pool. Consider giving yourself a fresh start when you approach your reapplication. Think through and reassess the essays, addressing any weak areas in your application. Add new information that may be helpful in the admission process.
  
  All reapplicants are required to complete a new application, new essays, a new resume and pay the application fee. Although not required, we suggest you submit new letters of recommendation. Determine if other recommenders may provide a more insightful and thorough perspective. If you choose to use prior recommendations, please enter the current contact information of the recommender in the Recommendation Section of the application and leave the Send Email box unchecked for each recommendation you are reusing. After you submit your application, please email TexasMBA@mccombs.utexas.edu, and provide the name and contact info for each recommendation you plan to reuse. Allow up to two business weeks for the recommendation status to show as complete in your application. Please use the optional essay to let the admission committee know that you are reusing recommendations. Transcripts do not need to be resubmitted unless you have taken additional course work or if you applied more than one year ago.
  
  Consider submitting updated test scores if you feel they can be improved. Regardless, as long as your test scores (GMAT/TOEFL) remain valid, you do not need to have them resent from the test centers. However, you do need to self-report them in the application. If your test scores are no longer valid you need to retake them. ETS mandates that GMAT scores are only valid for 5 years after the date the test is taken. For TOEFL scores, this period is two years. You will need to take these standardized tests again if the scores have expired or if you can improve your original score. The McCombs Admissions Committee only uses the highest submitted score in the evaluation of applications.
• Campus Visits
  The admissions committee strongly encourages all applicants to visit the McCombs School of Business to learn more about the school's offerings from current students, faculty and staff.