Texas McCombs combines rigor with a passionate community, including passion for the MBA program. The school’s essay questions reflect this value; the adcom invites you to demonstrate deep familiarity with the program, connected to your unique vision for the future. It has a practical slant. Convey concrete goals, and make a case for how McCombs is ideally suited to prepare you to achieve them. The school has introduced some significant changes to its essays this season, going from one required essay to two, plus a video component.

The school’s admissions page states,

The essay prompts serve as a powerful storytelling tool, allowing you to share narratives and insights that may not be captured elsewhere in your application. The essay section has been refreshed for the 2025-2026 cycle, now featuring two prompts with a 250-word limit for each response. These are purposefully designed to elicit thoughtful and introspective responses that reveal your motivations, values, and aspirations.

So, to begin, the purpose of these essays is twofold. First, the adcom wants to see what information you consider most pertinent about yourself and how you present that information, and second, it wants evidence that you have truly researched their program. What you say in these essays can reveal a lot about you and your reasons for wanting to pursue an MBA at McCombs, so don’t just copy and paste sentences from your resume or your essays for other schools! Keep your answers thoughtful and concise. The adcom wants a story, not just a list of facts.

Ready to get to work on your Texas McCombs application? Read on. 

McCombs application essay tips

Essay 1

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.

This essay will require some thorough research on your part. Because more than 70% of the Texas MBA curriculum is self-selected, you must review both required and elective courses to discover what is offered, and you’ll also need to decide which concentration you will follow.  Writing about yourself in the future is a clever way to require you to do just that – discover what is there and how specific courses will benefit your career path. For example, it isn’t enough to talk about finance classes in general. You will need to choose which field in finance you want to pursue, such as energy, investment, private equity, or real estate. And there are more options within the interdisciplinary concentrations, such as cleantech, entrepreneurship, global business, healthcare, and social enterprise. But your involvement doesn’t stop with academics. Texas offers a wide range of hands-on learning opportunities through industry-specific clubs (there are more than 40 MBA student organizations!), fellows programs, and investment funds. Open yourself to in-depth learning in specific fields, such as cleantech, healthcare, marketing, operations, non-profit board fellows, leadership and ethics. The fellows programs will require a considerable amount of time on your part, so think about how you will use your time wisely for the best and broadest experience. And don’t forget the expanded Hilderand MBA Excellence Fund for leadership development.

Are you planning on pursuing a dual MBA program? Be aware that Texas McCombs offers more than ten dual MBA degrees, and each one requires a separate application. 

One of the best ways to filter out the information that is most useful to you is to make contact with students and/or alumni. They are more than happy to talk about their journey of self-discovery during their two years at McCombs. Then, think about what you want your legacy to be – where will you make your mark? What will you be remembered for? The content of this essay will show that you know the McCombs program, the culture of the community, and why it is right for you.

​​Essay 2

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.

This is not an easy essay, either! You’ll need to reflect on your core values – how did they come about? Did someone in your family or church instill certain values in you when you were younger, or did you acquire your values and beliefs as a result of a specific incident? Next, you need to show how your values have provided guidance on your career or community service path. This might be a very personal statement, so don’t be afraid to show who you are and what has brought you to your current destination. McCombs seeks candidates who demonstrate intellectual curiosity and a growth mindset, and who are focused on success. 

Optional Statement

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. (Limit: 250 words)

If you write this optional essay, present information that is essential for the adcom to be able to fully understand your candidacy. If you do not have any concerns to address, you could explore a relevant topic not discussed elsewhere in your application, but above all, be succinct. If you believe your candidacy is well represented without the optional essay, that is totally fine; don’t write an optional essay just to write one.

Video Assessment

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 5 question prompts and applicants will have 1-3 minutes to answer each prompt.

This Video Assessment gives the McCombs adcom a more holistic view of who you are, including how you communicate and what you choose to communicate about yourself. These will not be trick questions or case questions. Rather, the questions are designed to help you show your adaptability and resilience, your empathy and inclusivity, your ambition and goals, and your personal interests. You should dress professionally (i.e., business casual) and demonstrate poise and comfort while speaking. Avoid using too much jargon and filler words, such as “like,” “uh,” “I mean,” and “you know,” and try to quell any nervous tics, such as fiddling with your hair, giggling, and waving your hands around. Consider this video a conversation with a friend; keep your eyes focused on the camera, take a deep breath, and be authentic. Practice first, and remember, you only have to fill 90 seconds!

McCombs application deadlines

	Application due	Decision delivered
Round 1	October 15, 2025	December 16, 2025
Round 2	January 15, 2026	March 26, 2026
Round 3	April 1, 2026	May 7, 2026

Source: Texas McCombs website

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with Texas McCombs directly to verify its essay questions, instructions, and deadlines.***

McCombs Class Profile

Here is a look at the Texas McCombs MBA Class of 2026 (data taken from the McCombs website):

Class size: 255

Average age: 29

Age range (middle 80%): 25-32

Female students: 33%

International students: 29%

U.S. minority students: 23%

Underrepresented minority students: 18%

Consortium members: 29

Forté MBA fellows: 49

Dual degree students (MD, JD, Social Work, Master of Public Affairs): 22

Average years of work experience: 6

Range of years of work experience (middle 80%): 3-8.6

U.S. military service: 14%

Average GPA: 3.48

Undergrad institutions: 165

First-generation college: 15%

Advanced degree holders: 18%

Undergraduate majors:

• Business/Economics: 34%
• STEM: 33%
• Other: 25%
• Humanities: 8%

Average GMAT: 704

Middle 80% GMAT range: 650-740

Average GRE Verbal: 159

Middle 80% GRE Verbal range: 152-165

Average GRE Quant: 162

Middle 80% GRE Quant range: 153-170 

Dr. Christie St-John has more than 25 years of higher ed and admissions experience, including ten years in admissions at Dartmouth Tuck. She was formerly the director of MBA recruiting and admissions, director of international relations, and an adjunct faculty member at Vanderbilt University. Having also served on the board of directors of the MBA Career Services & Employer Alliance and the Consortium for Graduate Studies in Management, Christie has a deep knowledge of MBA and other graduate admissions. Want Christie to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources

• Should You Apply to MBA Programs in Round 1 or Round 2?
• The Business School Selectivity Index: GMAT Scores, GPAs, and MBA Acceptance Rates, a free tool
• Showcasing Leadership in Admissions, a free guide