Texas McCombs MBA Essay Tips 2023-2024
The following essay topic analysis examines Texas / McCombs (McCombs) MBA admissions essays for the 2023-2024 admissions season. You can also review essay topic analyses for other leading MBA programs as well as general Essay Tips to further aid you in developing your admissions essays.
Texas McCombs Essay Topic Analysis 2023-2024
Let’s take a closer look at the McCombs MBA essay prompt.
Essay 1
Please write an application cover letter summarizing your aspirations, qualifications, and personal and professional experiences that make you a strong candidate for the Texas Full-Time MBA program. (500 words)
MBA aspirants, just like job applicants, need to demonstrate that they know how to market themselves. This may be why McCombs has adopted the cover letter style for their admissions process.
As you approach this assignment, keep in mind the many standard cover letter themes: your attributes and skills, why you are interested in joining the ‘company’ (Texas McCombs), and what you feel you could contribute. These certainly intersect with the ideas covered by other schools’ “career goals” essays, so much so that it may be tempting to simply tack a greeting onto the beginning of a career goals essay you’ve prepared for another program. Mccombs’ request for these ideas in a cover letter format, however, actually makes it very easy to spot recycled material, so it’s important that you tailor your response to the school’s unique process.
A potential outline for this McCombs MBA essay might open with a couple detailed sentences about who you are and what you would bring to the school; then a short statement of your career goals with a summary of the ways in which your experience to date has prepared you to accomplish them; and finally a “why McCombs” section explaining why it is the best place for you to earn an MBA and, more importantly, your fit with the school/what you would contribute, concluding with a thank you.
Prospective students should also note that the adcom is looking for applicants who feel very strongly about attending McCombs and are likely to have pride in the school. To write convincingly on this point, it will be necessary to conduct very thorough research on the school and student culture, and to identify programmatic elements that are unique to the McCombs MBA. Taking the time to learn the ins and outs of the school’s special programs and extracurricular activities—whether through a virtual event, or conversations with students or alumni—will pay dividends here.
Optional Essay
Please provide any additional information you believe is important or address any areas of concern that you believe will be beneficial to MBA Admissions in considering your application. (e.g. gaps in work experience, choice of recommender, academic performance, or extenuating personal circumstances). (250 words)
Both the tone of this prompt and the examples of potential topics the candidate might address suggest that this essay will be best used to address liabilities or extenuating circumstances related to one’s application rather than to provide “bonus” information to the adcom. Candidates with questionable quantitative records, gaps in employment, or unusual recommenders should take advantage of this opportunity to offer explanations or outline plans to address potential issues. As is always the case with this sort of response, the comments in this essay should be straightforward and fact-focused, offering explanation without making excuses and humbly suggesting other areas of your candidacy that might compensate for identified weaknesses.
Clear Admit Resources
Before you start crafting your UT Austin McCombs essay responses, check out some of our resources to help you along the way:
- UT Austin McCombs School of Business Profile on the Clear Admit website: up-to-date advice and admissions information
- Clear Admit LiveWire: admissions updates submitted in real time by applicants to McCombs
- Clear Admit DecisionWire: school selections in real-time by admits to McCombs