TEXAS: MPA program

Okay Longhorns I need your thoughts/opinions.

I'm exploring the idea of going back to school and getting my masters in accounting and needless to say I am interested in UT's MPA program. I was wondering if any of you know exaclty how difficult it is to get into this program and what qualifications make for a competative candidate.

Quick background (though I have mentioned it many times on this site):
Big Ten school with highly regarded business program especially in accounting. Finance major with major gpa ~3.8. Overall gpa ~3.2 (two years premed before jumping into business for my last three years where I maintained ~3.5 overall). V.P. of Investment Association and member of several other university organizations. No GMAT yet, but feel I can score fairly high (650+). Anything else that would help just PM me and I can tell you.

I appreciate your help guys.

 

I am a business undergrad at Texas, I was admitted to the MPA program but declined it to continue with finance.

I had excellent grades in my accounting classes and above average in everything else. From what I can tell, if you do really well in your previous accounting classes then they will accept you. Honestly, I don't think they even read the essay, because I didn't fill it out and was still admitted. I believe they have a >60% offer rate, so its not incredibly difficult (even though they would have you believe it is as hard to get into as Harvard or Wharton).

Overall its a great program with excellent job placement, although its very much geared towards accounting roles.

 

Th only reason why it was so easy for you was because you applied internally, you didn't even have to take the GMAT correct? If this guy applies normally I can bet you that he's gonna have to apply directly to the graduate program, so his application will be scrutinized.

 

Don't listen to models_and_bottles, because to get into the program out of undergrad from UT is a joke, but that is not your situation. It is simply a five year masters program for UT undergrads, so you only need to meet minimum requirements to get in.

For someone like you: the acceptance rate is about 100 students out of 400 applications (this year it may be a little tougher) of which 20 or so are international students moslty from China, South Korea etc. So the acceptance rate is about 20-25% (not 60%).

The those accepted last year, the average GPA was 3.72 and avg. GMAT 671, so it is pretty competitive.

Important factors are your gmat score, GPA, and yes the essay is important.

Why you would want to get into the program:

-Ridiculously easy to get a Big Four position.

-Target school with an opportunity to recruit with all major banks and boutiques.

-A chance to live in Austin.

 

I think there's still great opportunity to recruit for the finance-oriented jobs with a MPA from UT Austin. I do agree that there is a heavy focus on the Big Four accounting firms. However, if you are interested in investment banking and other related fields, having a solid accounting foundation definitely helps! I am currently in the MPA program, and I will be recruiting for investment banking/S&T internships starting next month. The recruitment process is just not as laid out for you or incorporated into the curriculum.

 

Hey Mr. Green,

I'm in the Traditional MPA program at UT right now. I did my undergrad in liberal arts, worked for a couple of years, and am just finishing my first full semester (I had to take a few pre-req's over the summer).

Check out the MPA Admissions Blog (http://blogs.mccombs.utexas.edu/mpa-admissions/) for the inside scoop. There's also a current student blog that may be of interest (https://blogs.mccombs.utexas.edu/mpa-students/).

I've been really impressed with the quality of students in the program. GMAT and GPA scores have a huge range, and though the admissions committee is understandably more comfortable with high scores (for two main reasons, I believe: 1 - the program is fairly intense and requires intelligence and work ethic, which can presumably be predicted by higher scores, and 2 - recruiters are more likely to select students with high scores for interviews), I know of a few students who got in with noticeably low scores. Those with lower scores have a harder time getting interviews with recruiters, especially for investment banking or consulting positions, but with accounting firms as well.

That said, last year pretty much everyone who made it into the program left with a full-time offer from at least one company. This year we're finding we can't be quite as selective as in years past because of the economy (though we're still in our first semester, so it may be too early to say since other opportunities become available throughout the year). My friend received 6 offers last year - one from each of the six accounting firms he interviewed with. I only received two offers (which is one more than I needed, but not as comfortable as six!), and my "stats" and interviewing skills are both respectable.

Again, I highly recommend the Admissions Blog mentioned above for admissions advice and tips. It's a great program and I don't regret choosing it over an MBA for a second (but that's a whole different issue).

 

Jen and EscapingAudit, I'd be really grateful if you could have a look at my query and give me some valuable insight.

I wanted some advice and your opinions on UTAustin's MPA (Accounting) and MFin programs. I will GTFO, but your opinions would be highly appreciated.

I'm looking to get a foot into the door in 3 kinds of roles

1) Buy side - Asset Management/Investing such as Dimensional Fund Advisors/Fisher Investments 2) Consulting - FTI Consulting, Gerson Lehrman Group (dubbed "most valuable NYC company no one outside of Wall Street has ever heard of"), Cornerstone 3) Energy/Nat Res/Commodities Investing/Corporate Finance - BHP Billton, BP, Koch

MPA: Price tag : 50,000 USD Places into a lot of the above kind of roles - http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/MPA/Prospective-Students/MPA-Stats/#tab-p…

The catch is that around 80% of the placements are into public accounting (which I am NOT aiming at); I am aiming for the minority positions. Is there some previous experience required to be recruited into the kind of roles I mentioned above?

The MPA has very nice courses on Petroleum Accounting, Financial Reporting Issues, in addition to the usual Financial Statement Analysis and basic accounting courses which might help me move towards my goals.

MFin: Price Tag : 56,000 USD

Newly launched program, but placements seem solid http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/MSF/Admissions/Placement%20Information.as…

This was the first year of the program, and with these kind of placement stats I expect the competition for places on the program to go up, so I need to make a quick decision.

Another aside which I think I must mention is that I am not a US citizen, would a work visa be a big issue if I perform well in the program? I was thinking MPA+CFA should be the ideal path to follow.

What do you bros think?

 

Texas graduate here...the MPA is a great program.Recruiting is definitely geared towards Big 4 job seekers, but a few do end up in IBD. Keep in mind that your opportunities will be limited to energy, whereas you have more of a diverse industry selection with other schools. Alot of MPA graduates end up at MM firms like Raymond James, etc...The BB firms tend to favor the undergrad honors kids.

 

Nothing is guaranteed. The program is very competitive to get into and even more so once you get in (lots of 4.0 Asians). But, if you are in the top 10% of your class you will have no problem. Audit and tax are less competitive to secure (I doubt either will be your first choice though). If Big 4 is your goal, then TAS is where you want to be.

 

I think a majority of students at the top MAcc programs (say top 25) get Big4 audit/tax jobs if they want them. They are just regional.

I'm pretty sure that the better MSF programs will place more students in IBD than MAcc programs. Mostly because MAcc programs are generally geared to public accounting and not finance.

I'd only do a MAcc if you want public accounting as your likely near-term career path. It's probably not a good move if you're trying for IBD or something in finance.

 

I made a post about UT some time ago and I was told by someone that he has a couple of colleagues in Houston IB w/ UT MPAs

 

If you want to do IB in Texas and you didn't get it directly out of UG, then the UT MPA may be the way to go. It definitely sends people to IB. You will come in as an analyst so be prepared.

disclaimer: this is all 2nd hand knowledge

 

Thanks for your suggestions, guys. My plan will probably be to go w/ the Texas MPA and try to obtain an IBD job. If I am unsuccessful in this, then I will likely get a Big 4 TAS position. After a few years in the Big 4 role, I could get a top MBA and hopefully get a PE job (I read that B4 -> PE is more likely than B4 -> IBD).

 
MrPaulAllen:
Thanks for your suggestions, guys. My plan will probably be to go w/ the Texas MPA and try to obtain an IBD job. If I am unsuccessful in this, then I will likely get a Big 4 TAS position. After a few years in the Big 4 role, I could get a top MBA and hopefully get a PE job (I read that B4 -> PE is more likely than B4 -> IBD).

Are you ok if you need to take a Big4 audit or tax job? You're assuming that if you don't get the (unlikely) IBD analyst role you'll just safely land in Transaction Advisory at a Big4, not something, even at UT, you can count on.

 
NorthEastIdiot:
MrPaulAllen:
Thanks for your suggestions, guys. My plan will probably be to go w/ the Texas MPA and try to obtain an IBD job. If I am unsuccessful in this, then I will likely get a Big 4 TAS position. After a few years in the Big 4 role, I could get a top MBA and hopefully get a PE job (I read that B4 -> PE is more likely than B4 -> IBD).

Are you ok if you need to take a Big4 audit or tax job? You're assuming that if you don't get the (unlikely) IBD analyst role you'll just safely land in Transaction Advisory at a Big4, not something, even at UT, you can count on.

I would be take an audit/tax position. I am just thinking that TAS is very likely coming from Texas MPA.

So you are suggesting that landing an IBD analysyt role is likely coming from Texas MPA?

 
Best Response
MrPaulAllen:
NorthEastIdiot:
MrPaulAllen:
Thanks for your suggestions, guys. My plan will probably be to go w/ the Texas MPA and try to obtain an IBD job. If I am unsuccessful in this, then I will likely get a Big 4 TAS position. After a few years in the Big 4 role, I could get a top MBA and hopefully get a PE job (I read that B4 -> PE is more likely than B4 -> IBD).

Are you ok if you need to take a Big4 audit or tax job? You're assuming that if you don't get the (unlikely) IBD analyst role you'll just safely land in Transaction Advisory at a Big4, not something, even at UT, you can count on.

I would be take an audit/tax position. I am just thinking that TAS is very likely coming from Texas MPA.

So you are suggesting that landing an IBD analysyt role is likely coming from Texas MPA?

I'm suggesting the exact opposite.

If you are okay taking audit or tax and want to stay in Texas then the MPA is probably a great fit. You'll have some shot at IBD and TAS and you'll have a really good shot at Houston/DFW/Austin Big4 audit or tax.

 

Doing the MPA solely with expectation of landing an IBD gig would be a tremendous mistake. And if you got stuck in audit or tax, beware, IBD --> Big 4 tax is quite a prestige / pay / satisfaction difference, and the latter will not significantly improve your chances to land at a top MBA --> PE

 

You are all over the place. You need to focus on what you want.

MPA is one of the best (if not the best) accounting graduate program. Big 4 tax/audit is almost handed to you (unless you are retarded in which case you would not get into UT MPA).

With that said you will be long ways from ibanking starting from audit/tax. If your end goal is banking I would shoot for TAS, banking, or consulting....

http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/MPA/MPA-Facts.aspx

  • my brother went to UT MPA and now works for MBB.
 

My goal is to get a FT IBD job. I will to do whatever I can to do this. So, ideally I would land an analyst position immediately upon completing an MSF/Macc; however, I know that this may not happen immediately out of a grad program. If I am unable to land an IB job after the grad program, then I will get work exp and attend a top MBA. The Macc is enticing since it provides a great opportunity to work in the Big 4 for pre-mba work exp.

 

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