Tips and Tricks for Your MPAc Application

I'd like to share insights about the UC Davis Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAc) program’s admissions process by reviewing a few of my best tips and tricks. MPAc employs a holistic admissions process that carefully considers each candidate’s academic readiness, professional promise, and personal qualities.

What’s Included in the Application?

Our application consists of:

• The application
• Responses regarding our four prerequisite courses
• Resume
• Personal statement
• Transcripts from all institutions attended/credit earned at
• GMAT or GRE scores
• TOEFL or IELTS scores
• Two recommendations
• Application fee
• Optional: Information regarding activities, awards and honors
• Optional: Optional additional essay regarding your background and/or additional personal experience

Resume

Outline the progression and milestones of your career.

Tip: Candidates should ensure their resume is current and tailored. MPAc does not require that candidates have professional work experience, but we do recommend highlighting other indicators of success. Indicators of success may be highlighting relevant projects, internships, volunteer work, or other transferrable skillsets to accounting.

Trick: Share your resume with a friend to get some honest feedback.

Statement of Purpose

There is no right or wrong way to write your statement of purpose, however, it is important to ensure this document is well-written and accurately conveys you and your rationale for applying.

Tip: The statement of purpose of a fabulous vehicle to convey points that relate to our three pillars of our holistic admissions process-academic readiness, professional promise, and personal qualities. As you are writing your document, consider if you are conveying information that addresses these areas.

Trick: We find statements of purpose that have a clear “why” for why a candidate wants to attend the MPAc program can be very impactful. We like to recommend the 5 Why writing exercise to begin crystalizing your why and help you in your writing process.

Transcripts

Candidates are required to submit unofficial transcripts from all institutions where they have earned credit.

Tip: For the admissions process we only require unofficial transcripts, official transcripts only need to be ordered if you have been made an offer of admission.

Trick: You can check your application checklist to ensure all transcripts have been uploaded. You will see a green check mark indicating the materials have been uploaded.

Required Exams

GMAT or GRE

The GMAT and GRE are standardized tests that measure individuals across various competencies. Individuals can take either the GMAT or GRE to include in their MPAc application. A strong exam score can be an indicator of academic readiness, which is key is an individual wants to bolster this component of their application.

This examination requirement can be waived for individuals who have completed their undergraduate degree for all four years at a U.S. institution with a cumulative GPA or 3.2 or above.

Tip: GMAT and GRE scores are valid for 5 years.

Trick: Our website has a variety of GMAT and GRE resources, including free study guides and practice tests 

TOEFL iBT, IELTS and Duolingo

There are three standardized tests you may take: the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) assessment and the Duolingo English Test. Unless you are exempt from the standardized English language proficiency test requirement per above, you must take the TOEFL it, IELTS assessment, or the Duolingo English Test.

TOEFL iBT, IELTS and Duolingo exam scores are valid for two years from the date the test was taken. Scores may be used in your application only if the official score report is valid through September 1 of the year you plan to start your program. It is your duty to confirm with the admissions office receipt of your official test score prior to its expiration.

Tip: Minimum TOELF iBT score requirement is 5.5; the minimum IELTS score requirement is 7.5; the minimum Duolingo score required for admissions is 130. See Language Proficiency Exams. 

Recommendations

In the application portal, you will identify two individuals who will act as your recommenders. There is no required combination for recommenders.

Tip: As soon as you input your recommenders' contact information, they will get an automated email notifying them you listed them as a recommender. You do not need to submit your application for the recommender to be notified you have listed them.

Tip: Select a recommender who knows you best!

Trick: If your recommender is suddenly unresponsive, you can go into your application portal to remove and add an alternative recommender.

Application fee

We require a $125 application fee to submit your MPAc application, however, if you are interested in waiving your application fee just attend a MPAc admission event to get a waiver code! Learn more about upcoming MPAc events.