Frequently Asked Questions - Admitted Students
Answers to frequently asked questions on the following topics are included below:- Accepting the Admission Offer
- Advising
- Financial Aid
- Housing/Campus Resources
- Registration/Internship Credit
- Recruiting
For more answers to questions regarding MPA degree policies, McCombs Resources, Registration, and other topic areas, please review the FAQs for Current Students.
Accepting the Admission Offer
I received your admission offer and would like to accept. What do I do now?1) Complete the admissions response form.
2) Submit the enrollment deposit.
3) Set up your academic and career initial advising appointments by calling the MPA Program Office at 512-471-6559 or by sending an email request to: MPA@mccombs.utexas.edu.
4) Have a final transcript sent with degree awarded (if applicable) to GIAC:
P.O. Box 7608
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX 78713-7608
5) Carefully review the information provided on our website for newly-admitted students.
6) All students: submit your Pre-Matriculation Health Record to University Health Services. This form will be mailed to you directly from UHS.
7) International students: submit your Certification of Financial Responsibility form, if you have not done so already, so that the International Office can issue your I-20.
8) International students: schedule your TB screening test (if applicable) at University Health Services at least 2 days prior to registration.
9) International students: schedule your Immigration Briefing and Check-in through the International Office.
I need to start in the summer, but my admission letter indicates I was admitted for the fall. Will this be corrected?
Once your admissions response form and enrollment deposit are submitted, for those students who are required to begin our program in the summer, we will ‘backdate’ your admission so that you are able to enroll in summer courses and so that the Office of Student Financial Services can create your financial aid package for the summer (if applicable). At that time, you will receive a new admission letter from the Graduate and International Admissions Center regarding the change in the semester of admission. In addition, international students will be issued an I-20 based on the new summer start date.
[top of page]
Advising
Can I schedule my initial advising appointment as a phone appointment?Due to the large amount of information covered during the advising sessions, we are unable to schedule phone appointments.
Am I required to attend Orientation?
Yes. Attendance at Orientation is mandatory because important information about our program is disseminated at Orientation and because it provides an opportunity to meet your fellow classmates, alumni, faculty, staff, and employers.
[top of page]
Financial Aid
When will I find out if I received a departmental scholarship or out-of-state tuition waiver?Scholarship decisions are made and awardees are notified via email prior to the MPA admission response deadline. Please note that all admitted applicants are automatically considered for possible departmental scholarships and out-of-state tuition waivers; no separate application is required. Due to limited funding, departmental scholarships are offered primarily to out-of-state U.S. applicants who demonstrate a superior record of academic accomplishment in their application materials.
Are international students eligible to receive departmental scholarships or teaching assistant (TA) positions?
International students are not eligible for federal loans or departmental recruiting scholarships and therefore should be prepared to meet all expenses, for up to a 43 credit hour program, from their own resources. However, international students who completed an undergraduate degree in accounting are eligible to apply for a TA position in accounting.
How do I apply for a teaching assistantship (TA) position in the Department of Accounting?
A very limited number of graduate assistantship positions are available through individual academic departments across the campus. Interested students should request application information directly from the department(s) of their choice. Students interested in Accounting Department TA positions should contact Professor Jan Gillespie at jan.gillespie@mccombs.utexas.edu after receiving an offer of admission from the MPA program. Teaching assistant positions require enrollment in at least nine semester hours and an overall GPA of at least 3.0. Positions are usually 10 or 15 hours per week, and international students are eligible to apply. Assistantships do not qualify a non-Texas resident or an international student for in-state tuition. Positions in the Accounting Department are typically assigned in late summer for the fall semester.
Who should I contact with questions about my financial aid package?
Financial aid packages for graduate students automatically assume the enrollment of 6 hours in the summer and 9 hours in the fall, unless the financial aid office is notified otherwise. If you plan to enroll in more or fewer than 6 hours in the summer or 9 hours in the fall, you will need to contact Santa Garza in financial aid so that she can adjust your financial aid package accordingly. Her email address is: santa.garza@austin.utexas.edu. Alternatively, you may call the financial aid call center at (512) 475-6282, option 4, for assistance. Keep in mind that you will need to have completed a FAFSA in order to be packaged for financial aid.
Do I qualify as a Texas resident for tuition purposes?
In general, to be eligible for classification as a Texas resident for admissions and tuition purposes at the University of Texas at Austin, one must be:
- an independent (not claimed as a dependent for income tax purposes) U.S. citizen, permanent resident (have a green card, also known as card I-551 or the evidence of I-551 stamp in the passport), or international student.
- eligible to establish a domicile in Texas and live in the state of Texas for 12 consecutive months and establish a domicile in Texas prior to enrollment.
[top of page]
Housing/Campus Resources
Do most MPAs live on or off campus? Where do most MPAs find off-campus housing?The large majority of MPA students choose to live off campus. A very limited amount of on-campus housing is available through the UT Division of Housing and Food Service.
Because campus parking is limited and the available options are expensive, we recommend that you select a place within walking or biking distance or one that is on the UT shuttle route or Capital Metro route. Both services are free to UT students with a valid student ID. UT shuttles generally run more frequently than the Capital Metro buses. However, unlike Capital Metro buses, UT shuttles have limited or no service when classes are not in session.
You may find it helpful to utilize apartment finder services to assist you in your search. Locator services can be found in the yellow pages or on the Internet. You should not be asked to pay for this service, as the realtor receives his/her commission through the apartment complex.
As a rough estimate, the most popular graduate student neighborhoods are Hyde Park (older rustic houses and apartments close to campus), Far West (apartments further from campus and serviced by the UT Shuttle System), the Enfield/Tarrytown/Lake Austin area (older houses, duplexes and apartment building along 15th street and serviced by the UT Shuttle System), South Congress/Riverside (new apartments serviced by the UT Shuttle System). West Campus is closest, and the Riverside Drive area is serviced by the UT Shuttle System, but both of these areas tend to be populated by undergraduates.
For more information about housing and the city of Austin, please visit our relocation website.
Am I required to purchase a laptop?
Purchasing a laptop is completely optional. Laptops can be very convenient for group work, checking email, presentations in class, etc. If you would like to buy a laptop, you may be interested in purchasing it through the McCombs Notebook Program. A benefit to purchasing a laptop through this program includes the McCombs SWAT Shop support. If you have any questions about the McCombs Notebook Program, please call 512-232-6690 during regular business hours or send an email to: notebooks@mccombs.utexas.edu.
Please note that ITS provides the campus community with both wired and wireless access to UTnet (the university's network), as well as the external Internet. Business students also have the option to check out laptops (and other media equipment) through the McCombs Media Services for occasional use.
When and where can I get my student ID card?
Because you have been admitted to the MPA Program, you may obtain your UT ID card at any time and avoid the lines during Orientation week. Be sure to ask for a proximity ID card, which will grant you access to the MPA Lounge (CBA 4.352) and MBA/MPA study rooms (GSB 3.140) in the McCombs School of Business. Please note that if you do not ask specifically for a proximity card, we will not be able to program your ID to grant you access to these rooms. Once you have received your card, you can bring it to the MPA Program Office to have it programmed. Also note that when you pick up your ID card, your EID will also be upgraded to "high assurance." Highly confidential information and transactions are only available with a high assurance EID, such as accessing student loan information and viewing your grades online.
The ID Center is located in the Flawn Academic Center (FAC), on campus between the Texas Union (UNB) on Guadalupe and the Main Building (MAI) ("The Tower") [Click on Region 2 of the campus map]. Go through the second set of glass doors to the lobby area. The ID Center is at the left end of the Information Desk, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. You must show a photo ID (e.g., either a driver's license or passport).
Will I receive a business school email account? When can I start using this email account?
After we receive your enrollment deposit, a McCombs technology and email account will be created for you. Your McCombs email address will be: firstname.lastname@mpa(last 2 digits in year of graduation).mccombs.utexas.edu. For example, if John Smith is admitted for fall 2008, his email address would be: John.Smith@mpa09.mccombs.utexas.edu. Instructions on setting up your McCombs technology account can be found on the technology orientation website. We encourage you to set up your account and begin using your McCombs email address in the summer. Once your account has been set up and you are ready to use your McCombs email account, please update your email address in the UT directory. If you need assistance with setting up your McCombs account or if you would like to change your first name in your email account to reflect a preferred name instead of your formal name, please contact the technology training team at: Trainers@mccombs.utexas.edu or at 512-232-6693.
What student organizations can I join?
A list of possibilities can be found on our student organizations website. The Master in Professional Accounting Council (MPAC) is the student organization specifically designed for MPA students. Officer elections are held in the Fall semester each year.
[top of page]
Registration/Internship Credit
When do I register for Summer and/or Fall, and which classes will I be taking? How many hours will I enroll in, and how to I register for classes at UT?Please visit our website with important dates for Summer and Fall, including registration dates. The registration process is described on the Registrar’s website and will also be covered in initial advising. Students who have not completed Introduction to Financial Accounting prior to the start of the summer should enroll in ACC 311 at UT (or the equivalent at another 4-year university or community college) in the first summer session, and those who have not completed Intermediate Accounting 1 will enroll in ACC 381-Financial Accounting and LEB 380.30-Law for MPAs in the second summer session. Because each student’s degree plan is customized, your Fall schedule will be determined during your initial advising appointment. MPA students take between 10-16 hours in the first fall semester (three to five 3-credit-hour courses, plus the 1-credit-hour Lyceum course).
Where can I purchase my textbooks?
Textbooks can be purchased at the University Coop. There are three Coop locations throughout Austin; the main store is located across campus on Guadalupe Street. You can search for your textbooks and them online at the University Coop website.
Am I required to complete an internship as part of the MPA degree program?
Internships are an optional component of the MPA curriculum. The internship program is designed to give students an opportunity to combine their formal academic preparation with an exposure to the accounting profession. For more information about internships, visit our internship website.
I’m completing an internship this summer and starting the MPA program in the fall. Can I receive MPA degree credit for this internship?
Internship credit cannot be granted for internships completed prior to entering the MPA program.
[top of page]
Recruiting
What types of career fields can I enter with an MPA degree? Which employers recruit MPAs? What are the placement statistics? What are the MPA graduates’ average starting salaries? What is the MPA recruiting environment like? Can international students work in the U.S. after graduating from the MPA program?Recruiters from various industries pursue our students to fill a diverse range of internship and full-time positions. Detailed information about MPA careers and recruiting can be found on the Career Services website and will be covered further during your initial career advising appointment and at Orientation. More specifically, the website contains placement and salary statistics, a sample of employers who recruit MPA students, and recruiting information specific to international students.
[top of page]
