UT Austin McCombs

Austin, TX · Public · 2-year full-time

Median GMAT Focus: 655 (615–695 (middle 80%))
Median GPA: 3.53
Class size: 235 (Class of 2027)
Median base salary: $150,000 (Class of 2025)
Program tuition: $122,428 (≈ 2 × first-year tuition, nonresident)

Deadlines

Round 1: Oct. 15, 2026
Round 2: Jan. 15, 2027
Round 3: April 1, 2027

Essays

Essay 1 (250 words)

Imagine yourself at the completion of your MBA journey. Why was pursuing your MBA at Texas McCombs the right decision for your personal and professional growth? Reflect on how you made the most of your time in the program—academically, through hands-on learning opportunities, and within the McCombs community. Highlight how you contributed to the McCombs community and used its resources to grow both professionally and personally.

Essay 2 (250 words)

Reflect on a core value that defines you. Share a specific example of how it has guided your decisions and actions, and explain how it will shape your contributions and growth as a McCombs MBA student. Highlight how this value has influenced your leadership style and life path, and how it will shape your MBA experience.

Optional statement (250 words)

Please explain any gaps in work experience, choice of recommender, and/or academic performance issues that may help the admission committee in reviewing your application.

Video assessment (6 prompts, 90 seconds each)

All applicants will be required to complete the Video Assessment shortly after submitting an application. Applicants have 7 days to complete the assessment upon receiving access to the video submission platform. There will be 6 question prompts, and applicants will have 90 seconds to answer each prompt. Two questions will be viewed by the Admissions Committee, but will not be evaluated for a score.

Editor's notes

If you want the Hildebrand full-tuition scholarship, Round 1 (Oct. 15, 2026) is your only shot. McCombs invites candidates to apply for it only after admission, and only from Round 1. The admissions blog also says scholarships are more likely early. So the real question is whether your application is ready by mid-October, not whether you can squeeze it into January.
Two 250-word essays, one recommender and a six-question video. That's a thin written file, so every piece has to carry weight. Choose the recommender who can answer the constructive-feedback question with a real episode, and save your extra stories for the video rather than the optional statement.
The interview is optional for full-time applicants and open to everyone. McCombs frames it as a chance to reaffirm your motivation. If you skip it, you're skipping the only live conversation in this process.
Think hard before petitioning for a test waiver. McCombs says a strong score can help you with a lower GPA, light quant coursework or a career switch, and may help with scholarships. Admits without a score also owe a paid one-week quant course. And once you send scores to UT, a waiver is off the table.