Calling all McCombs(UT Austin) Applicants:(2016 Intake) Class of 2018!

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Hi all,

I'm a first year (soon to be second year? Yikes, time flies...) McCombs FT MBA student and wanted to pass along this information on our summer coffee chats. These events are a great way to talk to first year McCombs MBAs like myself who are interning at various companies around the country. These meetings take place in various cities in the United States, offering an informal way to connect to the Texas MBA. We encourage you to take the opportunity to engage with a current student in a candid conversation about the program, asking any questions you may have about academics, student life at McCombs, or Austin, Texas.

https://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/MBA/Full- ... Off-Campus

Hello,

I'm your usual clichéd techie from Bangalore. Looking to apply to McCombs this year.
I was wondering how does McCombs look at Entrepreneurs, especially those who are quite recent (i.e. I resigned from my job in March and have started a tech based company).
I have a good profile (honestly, not trying to show off). Besides the normal run off the mills job in a product company many Indians do, I have 5.5 years of experience, 5 patent applications and I was a former National level Tennis player. But I am unsure how schools look at international tech Entrepreneurs. Austin would be a great start to join a tech based accelrator and expand my company, but how does the school view us?

Any input would help!

Thanks,
Varun

In general, McCombs does look very closely at entrepreneurs. We have an entire fellows program (Texas Venture Labs) that looks to increase and foster entrepreneurship at McCombs. Along with that, Austin's start-up scene is fantastic with numerous opportunities to work alongside and for startups that are in various stages of growth and maturity.

More than that though, McCombs strongly prefers candidates that can clearly and strongly elucidate why they want to be at McCombs and how they can add to the unique culture that we have. As long as you have a clear and convincing story, along with your great stats, you'll have every opportunity to show the admissions committee why they should offer you a spot.

Thanks Schrodinger!
That was helpful!

But my apprehension was on the point of view of being an international applicant. Especially when it comes to Visas/work permits. Yes, the school does have a strong tech outlook and a great history at that, and there is the city of Austin to boot, but do you see issues for international entrepreneurs?

Varun

At any US business schools visas / work permits are going to be a little strenuous for any international applicant looking to get into entrepreneurship here in the states. I'm not sure what McCombs has in place to offset that, though. I do know that several of my classmates from international backgrounds were able to find ways to work on their startups over the summer. I'd reach out to TexasMBA@mccombs.utexas.edu to get a more detailed response on your question.

The Texas MBA Insider blog at UT McCombs School of Business recently posted tips for applicants wondering what is the best way to approach this year’s updated MBA essay prompts. Although the advice is specific to the questions asked at McCombs, we feel that these suggestions will work for you no matter where you’re applying.

With that in mind, here’s a rundown of things the Texas MBA program suggests you think about before starting on your application essays:

• First impressions are important in person and are equally important in an admissions application.
• What makes you interesting and unique are both your personal and professional interests and attributes. Give a rounded mix, so that AdCom better understands who you are in a more complete sense.
• Convey your passion, excitement, personality, and experience, while also addressing how that experience relates to your MBA and career goals.
• Meditate on “how do I love McCombs, let me count the ways,” and write a list of your top reasons why McCombs is total MBA perfection.
• Clearly connect how McCombs will help you achieve your career objectives and personal goals.  Create a 5 and 10 year plan for yourself, then see what classes, organizations, and experiential opportunities specifically relate to this career plan.
• In what ways will you contribute?  How will you give back while you are there? How can you leverage the program offerings and combine it with your skill set to propel the entire program forward.
• In any submission, just be yourself have fun with it.
• And last but not least, don’t reuse essays from other schools (the McCombs’s admission team says they can totally tell)!

Remember, avoid any attempt to manufacture a memorable impression. Simply by allowing your individual personality to shine through, you’ll be able to differentiate yourself from the rest of the applicant pool. Good luck!
You may also be interested in:
UT McCombs 2015-2016 MBA Application Essays

UT McCombs 2015-2016 Application Deadlines


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If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

Any current student/alumn with some perspective on international applicants?

A great many MBA programs now accept the GRE as an alternative to the GMAT as an entrance requirement, but applicants may still wonder whether business schools truly view both equally. If you find yourself on the fence about which exam to take, the recent post, Which Test is Best?, on the Texas MBA Insider blog at UT McCombs School of Business should be required reading.

Kimberly Jones, author of the article, makes a strong case for making the choice between the GMAT and GRE based on your career and degree goals,  as well as your more personal perception of both tests’ reputations.

For instance, consulting and investment banking companies use the GMAT score as a baseline qualifier for the recruiting process, Jones explains.

“If Consulting or I-Banking are in your sights, this means that the GMAT is the best choice because you could take it once and use your score for both your Admissions application as well as your career recruitment profile.”

However, there are many cases where applicants, particularly those targeting a dual degree, coming from a humanities background, or applying to both business school and other graduate programs, will benefit from going with the GRE instead.

For MBA candidates with career aspirations outside of banking and consulting, the choice may boil down to perception. As Jones points out, companies that hire MBAs are very familiar with the score scale of the GMAT but may need clarification regarding how GRE scores compare.

“MBA Admissions Officers are also new to the GRE setting,” Jones says. “However, many of us have worked with the test and have recruited amazing candidates to our programs since we started accepting it a few years ago and are more comfortable assessing verbal and quantitative skill sets based on those scores.”

As MBA admissions consultants, we generally advise clients to go for the GMAT exam. After all, the GMAT has long been considered the gold standard for the specific academic skills needed in graduate business school, and therefore the admissions committees’ level of familiarity with it compared to the GRE is still nowhere near equal.

If you are a great test-taker and it’s all the same to you, I would stick with GMAT for now. It’s more of a known entity and “tried and true” for the schools—no questions asked about why you chose it.
You may also be interested in:
Applicants Overwhelming Favor GMAT Over GRE, Kaplan Survey Reveals

HBS Admissions Director Talks GMAT/GRE Scores

GRE vs. GMAT, Which Test is Right for You?


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If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

Hi,
I am Mechanical engineer working with the PM function of a major automobile company in India for 2 years now. i plan to apply for MBA in this year for admission in 2016. My profile is as follows:
GMAT : Q50,V41,760..IR-5
Academics: Xth: 91.2 %, XIIth: 86.5 %, Grad: 8.6/10
Have been working with the PM department of R&D of a major automobile company. Have managed a number of projects in a number of phases, have plenty to talk about in this regard.
Extra Curricular: Have received awards and scholarships in many national level quiz competitions whilst in school. Took on a number of technical research projects during mechanical engineering, have been volunteering with a local group in Pune.
I was planning to apply for McCombs for the 2016-2018 program. I aim to get into mangement consultancy after my MBA. I've heard that generally these companies look for relatively fresher faces. In that regard is it the right time for me to apply to McCombs right now? Are there any students who are doing their MBA with 3 yrs of work ex? How good/bad do they have it?
Thanks in advance!

FROM Mccombs(Texas Austin) Admissions Blog: From Texas MBA Admissions: Application Tips & Tricks

the Texas MBA program, we offer you two options for submitting the recommendation for your Texas MBA application.[/*] [/list] Send a recommendation request via our admissions management system Utilize the recommendation function within LinkedIn A couple helpful hints: Complete this part of your application first. This will launch email notifications to your recommenders and allow them to get started on the form while you’re working on the other components of your application. Contact your recommenders ASAP to let them know they should receive an email as soon as you save the section. Sometimes these emails end up in a junk folder since they come from a generic Texas MBA email address. Monitor the status of your recommendations on your “My Status” page to ensure they’re completed within a reasonable amount of time and by the deadline. You can resend notifications from within the application as needed. Read More: Application Recommendations & References: Providing an Austin Twist 4. Test Scores – As long as you’ve taken the test and have made the request to have official score sent to UT by the round deadline, your application will be considered “on time”. During the admissions process we sync what you reported in the application with what’s received by UT. It can take several weeks for your official score to be received by the university, and the one-stop status check in your application marks this item complete once it arrives. If you’ve decided to retake the exam after you’ve submitted your application, please notify the appropriate program as soon as you have your score. Please note there is no guarantee that your updated test score(s) will be considered in the evaluation of your candidacy, as this depends on when the McCombs Admissions Committee receives the update from you. Again, it’ll take several weeks for the official score to reach UT, but be sure you’ve made the request to have the updated score sent. If you’re applying to multiple programs at McCombs, you don’t need to send separate scores to each program. UT has a central repository for official scores that all departments can access. 5. Application Fee – You will not be able to pay the application fee for about two business days after you hit the submit button, depending on when you submit your application. Your application is considered “on time” if submitted by the deadline, regardless if the fee is paid on that date. However your application will not be evaluated if you do not pay the fee once it’s due. For information about where to pay the fee, and application fee waivers for select applicants, please review After Applying under the Admissions Process section of the website. Feel free to reach out to us if you have any further questions! Hook ‘em! You Might Also Like: Advice On Leaving Your Job How To Crush Your Interview Full-Time MBA vs. Part-Time MBA Write A Successful Application Essay

Hi McCombs Applicant!

I just finished an analysis of McCombs acceptance rates, looking at how GMAT, GPA and application round affects your chance. Check it out if you are interested.

Good luck with your application!

FROM Mccombs(Texas Austin) Admissions Blog: Which Round Should I Apply? Advice on When To Hit Submit

At first thought, you might stick with tried and true “early bird gets the worm” strategy. You might be tempted to think about the applicant pool in terms of pure numbers and assume that the best chance of your application being ruled upon favorably is to submit when the maximum amount of spots are available. But there’s a caveat – you should NEVER rush to submit your MBA application. Imagine this: You’ve heard that applying in Round 1 gives you a better likelihood of getting accepted so you skip taking a formal GMAT prep class, take the test and end up with a score you aren’t exactly thrilled with. In this case, submitting in Round 1 might not be a great idea, especially if you know that you can improve your score. Waiting to apply until all aspects of your application are strong is the best approach. …BUT LATER IS OKAY TOO: There is a reason we have three rounds. If we filled up the class in Round 1, the admissions committee could just kick back for the rest of the year on a beach somewhere and sip fruity beverages with frilly umbrellas. But that’s not the reality, as many strong applicants apply in later rounds. So if you read the above “Earlier Is Better” and thought that it means final round folks don’t have a fighting chance, or at the very least have a much smaller chance of getting in, it is not exactly black and white. The truth is that a strong application will stand out in any round, anytime. Remember that if you scramble to throw together your essay to get in your application by the first deadline, how can the admissions committee know that normally you are an eloquent and concise writer if what you’ve written doesn’t reflect that? SOME DON’TS: We are committed to courteous and fair consideration for all applicants, and therefore, there are a few things we just can’t allow when it comes to the timing of your application submission. Obviously, we are not able to accept applications submitted after 11:59pm CT on the day of the deadline. That’s just not fair to those who made sure to meet the deadline. Also, we aren’t able to look at any “works in progress” before the deadline, meaning we can’t read drafts of your essays, give feedback on your resume and work experience, or tell you who should write your letters of recommendation. The purpose of these policies is to ensure that everyone has a fair shot and is considered by the admissions committee on even ground. Check out our website for more common admissions questions. So remember; if your application couldn’t possibly smell any sweeter, submit in Round 1. But if you aren’t ready yet (you need to retake your GMAT/GRE, rework your essay or wait for that promotion at work to come through), don’t risk it – wait until you’re 100% confident in your application before hitting the “Submit” button.

FROM Mccombs(Texas Austin) Admissions Blog: What’s the Best Way to Get to Know the Texas MBA Program? Attend an Event!

The top-ranked Texas MBA program offers a prestigious degree from acclaimed McCombs School of Business faculty across six programs in four cities. We strongly encourage you to check out our many events happening this fallso you can learn more about the value proposition of an MBA and how the Texas MBA program can unlock your full potential.   Get to know current students, alumni, and admissions staff at an event near you. A few of the events coming up soon are below, so register now! If you have any questions, please send us an email. Texas Full-Time MBA Program Information Session | September 18th in Austin Texas MBA Special Info Sessions October 1st in Oklahoma City October 1st in New Orleans Texas MBA at Dallas/Fort Worth Program Lunch and Learn | October 3rd in Dallas Texas MBA Programs Information Session | October 6th in Houston Texas Executive MBA Program Lunch and Learn | October 17th in Austin We look forward to seeing you soon! Hook ‘em!

FROM Mccombs(Texas Austin) Admissions Blog: Full-Time MBA Admissions Update: Round 1 Deadline & Meet Your AO’s

Texas Full-Time MBA application deadline is October 13th! Apply before the deadline to receive priority consideration for admissions scholarships & fellowships. Receive your admission decision by January and prepare to join our prestigious Class of 2018! Meet Your Full-Time Texas MBA Admissions Officers The Texas MBA Full-Time Admissions team is dedicated to helping you navigate the admissions process, learn #WhyMcCombs, and get all your questions answered. Learn more about who you can expect to meet on your journey to McCombs below. Julia Campbell Senior Admissions Officer, Texas MBA Full-Time Program How long have you been with the Texas MBA and what is your background? I joined McCombs in February 2011 in the Development and External Relations department and moved to the Texas MBA Program Office full time admissions staff in August 2012. I earned my business degree in Finance and Operations at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and moved to Texas where I worked in sales, analysis, donor relations, and event strategy. My focus on the full-time admissions is women’s recruitment, management of the McCombs Admissions Committee student volunteers, interview operations, waitlist management, alumni engagement and recruitment/yield event strategy. What has been your most rewarding experience so far working on the Texas MBA admissions team? Oddly enough, the most rewarding experience I’ve had in admissions isn’t related to admissions at all, although many professionals in admissions will tell you that this job is a total blast (you get to meet new and interesting people every day, travel the planet, read thrilling essays, and make those incredible congratulatory phone calls to admitted students.) The winner for me, though, is attending MBA Orientation after everyone has been admitted to see them off to begin this exciting new phase of their lives. I’ve spent many, many hours getting to know these people as applicants on paper and in person. By the time summer orientation rolls around, I know them well and it’s a rewarding experience to see them take the first real steps to pursue what they’ve worked so hard to convey to me during the application process: their dreams and ambitions begin. In your opinion, what are some of the strongest attributes of a Texas MBA class? My focus in admissions is women’s recruitment, a very interesting area to watch these days. With studies and headlines coming out all the time swinging the pendulum on where a woman’s position is in the business world, it’s incredible to witness this movement on an individual level. I work with inspiring, capable, driven, self-aware women MBA candidates and current students who choose to pursue their business careers with such commitment and sense of purpose that I can’t help but have full faith that this “gap” will continue to close. Rene Martinez Senior Admissions Officer, Texas MBA Full-Time Program How long have you been with the Texas MBA and what is your background? I joined the Full Time Texas MBA Admissions team in August of 2014. Upon completing my degree in Communication Studies at The University of Texas at Austin, I began working for International Studies Abroad’s (ISA) high school division where I managed program recruitment, admissions and served as the on-site Director in Mexico, Costa Rica and Spain. Following my work with ISA, I managed Texas teacher recruitment for the student travel branch of the Discovery Channel. Prior to joining the MBA admissions team, I worked in the UT International Office where I coordinated all aspects of an 18-month Foundation Year program for non-matriculated business and engineering students from Saudi Arabia. What has been your most rewarding experience so far working on the Texas MBA admissions team? So far my most rewarding experience has been having the opportunity to travel to China and South Korea to interview highly qualified candidates for our next incoming class. I enjoyed meeting a number of bright candidates, hearing their stories and learning about how they plan to use a Texas MBA to elevate their careers and take a giant leap toward their goals. In your opinion, what are some of the strongest attributes of a Texas MBA class? I think diversity and cohesion are what make our Texas MBAs so special. Our students come from a wide range of cultures, backgrounds, and industries. It is inspiring to see how they come together on campus with a shared vision of not only working toward their own goals but also going above and beyond to collaborate and ensure the success of each one of their classmates. Stephen Sweeney Director of Admissions, Texas MBA Full-Time Program How long have you been with the Texas MBA and what is your background? I have been working at the Texas MBA for slightly over a year. I am also an alum of the full-time program and volunteered with admissions as a student. Prior to enrolling in McCombs, I worked in the hedge fund industry and taught fourth grade through Teach For America. After I graduated, I worked in management consulting until returning to McCombs. What has been your most rewarding experience so far working on the Texas MBA admissions team? Interacting with such high caliber, driven individuals from all over the world who are interested in McCombs has been incredibly rewarding! I love hearing each applicant’s reasons pertaining to why they are passionate about attending McCombs. In your opinion, what are some of the strongest attributes of a Texas MBA class? Our accessible faculty along with the hands-on opportunities that McCombs offers truly sets our program apart. Whether being selected for one our Fellows programs or doing an MBA+ project, our students have ample ways to apply what they learn in the classroom to current issues facing companies. I also feel that our Career Management team is the best in the business. This is evident in our placement rates, but you have to see how students transform over the two years and much of this can be attributed to our stellar Career Management team. Our location in Austin also creates a learning environment that is competitive and collaborative at the same time. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us via email at TexasMBA@mccombs.utexas.edu and we encourage you to check out our many upcoming events. We look forward to seeing you soon! Hook ‘em!

Hi all.. Myself Rohit from India.

I was looking forward to applying to McCombs 2 year MBA program. But I recently realized that the school doesn't provide non-cosigner loans to international students. Schools like UNC, Emory, Teppr, Olin etc. which are all currently ranked below McCombs (by UsNews) provide No cosigner loans to all international applicants. So McCombs' policy on the matter comes as a shock to me. I am really disappointed and i consider it as a lack of commitment to the students from McCombs.

Providing Students a No cosigner loan is a very small risk for the school compared to the risks an international candidate takes joining their school, with no guarantee of even being able to work in the country upon graduation. I mailed them in detail asking more specifics, but the school hasn't even cared to respond yet.

I would really love to see what other applicants think on the same.

More importantly, i would like to know how international students in the past were able to finance their McCombs MBA. I am particularly interested in options that didn't require a Cosigner. I would to see some responses from current students as well as alums.

Please share your insights. Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone,

I am applying to McCombs' Full Time MBA program starting Fall 2016 in Round 1.
Can any current student comment on the scholarship point of view?

Thanks,

Aravinth

Prodigy Finance does provide non-cosigners loans for International students who have secured an admit at McCombs (upto cost of tuition). Check this link : https://prodigyfinance.com/mccombs-scho ... iness/loan
There are other lenders too such as Discover and CommonBond who provide no-cosignor loans to International students.

But it would be great if current international students/alums from McCombs too shed a light on this aspect.

Hope this helped.