Ready to Apply?

We have outlined our application process on our apply page. Please read the information carefully and remember, our dedicated admissions staff is here to help if you have any questions- don’t hesitate to contact us.

Important Information to Know Before You Apply

Admission to the MBA at Houston program at the McCombs School of Business is highly competitive. The Admissions Office reviews applications on an individual basis looking at both quantitative and qualitative aspects of an applicant's professional and academic background. The committee seeks to assess an individual's potential for leadership, academic success and future professional growth. The McCombs School seeks highly-motivated, mid-career professionals who have diverse experiences and perspectives to add to the program. Our students are collaborative and enjoy sharing their skills and knowledge, adding to the classroom experience and challenging their classmates to aim for the best results.

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 and achievements, and test scores. All of these components are considered holistically; no specific weight is assigned to any criterion and no formulas are used.

The selection of candidates for the Texas MBA at Houston program is based on the following considerations:

• Does the candidate demonstrate the capacity to do outstanding academic work at the graduate level?
• Does the candidate bring significant managerial or professional experience from which his or her classmates will benefit?
• Will the candidate ultimately reach a position of greater responsibility and will a Texas MBA genuinely enhance his or her career?
• Is the candidate capable of making and sustaining a two-year commitment to a rigorous MBA program?
  

Work Experience

MBA applicants must have a minimum of two years full-time, post-undergraduate work experience. Work experience is highly valued and desirable, but the admissions committee looks at each case on its merits with an eye to developing influential business leaders. Applicants with wide and varying backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Undergraduate and Graduate GPA

The Texas MBA at Houston program has no mandatory minimum grade point average. The typical average is a 3.4. For admission purposes, the university calculates a GPA using undergraduate, upper-division (junior and senior level) coursework and any completed graduate work. If you have questions about the calculation of your official UT Austin Admissions GPA, please contact GIAC directly. The Texas MBA at Houston program does not require coursework in management or business administration. The quality and reputation of the applicant's undergraduate institution may be taken into consideration, as will extracurricular involvement during one's undergraduate experience. Applicants may upload the unofficial transcripts to their online application and will be required to submit the official transcript if admission is granted.

Test Score

The Texas MBA at Houston program accepts either the GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions) or the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations). For the most current class, the typical GMAT scores fell between 600-750. All applicants are required to submit official GMAT or GRE scores. Texas has no minimum score, but test scores are an important component of each application. Candidates should address this application component aggressively.

GMAT and GRE scores are valid for five years. You are encouraged to test 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 test as often as you wish-just be sure to be in contact with the admissions team to let us know you will be retaking. Texas will only consider your highest score -- the Texas MBA does not average scores. Applications are not considered complete -- and will not be evaluated for a final decision -- until official test scores have arrived at UT Austin.

Important Note about A pplying without Test Scores: The admissions committee recommends that you go ahead and start filling out the online application even if you have not taken the test yet. This enables you to get into our system so that we may contact you with admissions updates. You can enter the test score once you take it and then submit the online form at that time (or you can go ahead and submit the application without the test score and send it in to us on a later date).

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. Essays can be uploaded with your online application or they may be emailed to the Program Office: application-texasmba@mccombs.utexas.edu  

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. The Texas MBA program application requires two (2) letters of recommendation. 

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.

International Degrees

Applicant must have the equivalent of a four-year U.S. bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. The Bachelor of Arts, and Bachelor of Science degrees from India and Pakistan are three-year programs and are not considered equivalent to the U.S. bachelor's degree. If you hold one of these three-year degrees you are not eligible for admission to graduate school. Partial completion of the master’s program will not make you eligible for our graduate programs. To obtain further clarification of this equivalency requirement please contact GIAC directly by phone at (512) 475-7391 or fax (512) 475-7395.

English Language

Students whose native language is not English are required to demonstrate English language proficiency through acceptable TOEFL and GMAT (verbal) scores (The TOEFL score is valid for two years from the exam date). Applicants will be granted an automatic TOEFL waiver if they have earned an undergraduate degree in a country whose official language is English. The Texas MBA at Houston program may be able to waive the TOEFL based on work experience in the U.S. and English-speaking skills as assessed in an in-person interview.

Interviews

McCombs utilizes an invitation-only interview system. This means that the Admissions Committee will review applications and invite selected candidates to interview. The Program Office will contact applicants via email to set up the interview for select candidates after the submission of the online application, resume, unofficial test score and unofficial transcript.

Admissions Event

When deciding whether or not the Texas MBA is right for you, we strongly recommend scheduling an Information Session or Class Visit. Attending one or both of these can help you get a feel for what it would be like to be a McCombs student as you interact with current students, faculty and staff.