Texas McCombs Application Essay Tips, 2024–2025
This year, Texas McCombs has ditched its cover letter essay for a more traditional set of three essay prompts, which the adcom hopes will provide a more straightforward (and fun!) process for applicants like you. According to McCombs, “This change allows you to showcase different facets of your personality, experiences, and aspirations. The most successful essays thoughtfully address the prompt, clearly communicate, and authentically share who you are.”
With just 250 words per essay, you don’t have a lot of space, so your answers will need to be succinct. As you outline your McCombs essays, ensure that you include ways that you demonstrate the school’s values: human centered, future focused, innovator connected, and collaboratively minded. McCombs has also maintained its video assessment, and we will discuss that in this article as well.
So without further ado, let’s talk through how you can ace this year’s McCombs essays!
Prompt #1: At Texas McCombs, we do things a little differently. We embrace those who take the initiative and forge new paths. What ambitious goal or change do you aim to achieve with an MBA, and why is Texas McCombs your ideal launchpad? (250 words)
This essay is where you’ll show how you are a perfect fit for McCombs through your personal and professional goals. You’ll start by outlining your career aspirations and explaining in detail how a McCombs MBA will help you achieve them. What specific and significant achievement are you aiming for in 20 years? What major problems do you wish to solve? Use this opportunity to show that you have big dreams, while showcasing your enthusiasm and potential. To effectively connect those dreams to McCombs, you’ll need to conduct thorough research on the school. Highlight specific elements of the program that match your needs, whether it’s the Fellows Programs, student-led Investment Funds, or soaking up Brene Brown’s wisdom in her latest class, and demonstrate your genuine interest in the school.
You can also use this space to share how you’ll contribute to McCombs and Austin as a whole. With only 250 students per class, McCombs is interested in knowing how you’ll be a value-add to its many student-led initiatives. You might even share your plans to get involved with the start-up scene in Austin. No matter what, be sure to include ways that you’ll be a part of the communities on — and potentially off — campus.
Prompt #2: Here, you are what’s next. At this pivotal crossroads where you’re deciding your future path, the Texas McCombs MBA experience will equip you with the tools and mindset to make “what’s next” happen in your career. Please share unique qualities you possess that highlight your potential to shake up the status quo in your professional life. (250 words)
Self-awareness and leadership potential are high on McCombs’ list of priorities, so use this essay to demonstrate how you are stellar with respect to both. How will your distinctive qualities translate into business success? McCombs looks for candidates who combine big dreams with a track record of execution. They care about your innovative ideas but are more interested in your current capabilities and attitude. I’ve worked with plenty of candidates who have not fulfilled the promises of their MBA essays, and the adcom is totally okay with this — what’s more important is that they believe you are going places and will therefore want to attach their brand to you. Your strengths and enthusiasm are the keys to this essay.
Prompt #3: The University of Texas at Austin’s motto, “What starts here changes the world,” embodies a spirit of impact and transformation. What fuels your drive to lead change and make your mark in the world? (250 words)
What is your purpose, and how will you change the world? This prompt invites you to share the experiences or values that motivate you to make a meaningful impact in the world. McCombs’ well-earned reputation as being “famously friendly” extends into the heart of this essay, which forces you to think beyond yourself and the school when describing the motivations behind your “why.” A post on the school’s MBA Insider blog states, “You can discuss your identity, upbringing, core values, formative experiences, obstacles you’ve overcome, special talents/interests, etc. Feel free to be creative and share anything that you think the Admissions Committee will find interesting.”
While the school invites you to be as creative as you’d like, don’t worry if you don’t have the wildest hobbies or craziest life experiences. For example, if being a runner has fueled you in life and shaped you as a person, feel free to express that aspect of yourself beyond your resume. You can also use this space to reflect on the values you were raised with.
Please provide any additional information you believe is important or address any areas of concern that you believe will be beneficial to the MBA Admissions Committee in considering your application. (250 words)
The optional statement is not your chance to share another story you think is interesting but will not actually add to the adcom’s knowledge or understanding of you in any meaningful way. So, provide this optional information only if there is an element of your candidacy that would benefit from further clarification. One example would be if your recommender is not your direct supervisor. Or maybe you have a disciplinary issue in your past that could be mitigated by some explanation. At any rate, there’s no need to make your response any longer than it needs to be (or even to respond at all!) — just communicate any critical information.
Video Assessment
In addition, you will need to respond to five random recorded video questions within one week of submitting your application. Four of those questions will be evaluative, while the fifth will be non-evaluative and simply watched by the committee — in that one, they’re really just observing your demeanor. For each question, you will have 30 seconds to prepare and 90 seconds to respond, and you do not need to use the full time. Prior to the final recordings, you will have the opportunity to practice questions in Kira and get accustomed to speaking to a camera. We recommend that you take advantage of the practice rounds until you feel comfortable enough to record the actual submissions. Go into your assessment having thought about stories and examples that illustrate the typical behavioral questions you might expect, across dimensions such as competency, empathy/inclusivity, ambition, and your goals.
McCombs doesn’t specify a dress code, but business casual is the best way to go — and don’t worry about the tie. University of Texas colors will also go a long way! Since this could be the only time the adcom observes you “in person” (McCombs does not have a mandatory interview), it’s important to put your best foot forward in these video essays. So smile, relax, and be yourself!