Get ready for a deep dive into MBA admissions at the Texas McCombs School of Business with Rodrigo Malta, Managing Director of MBA Marketing, Recruiting & Admissions, in this installment of our MBA Admissions Director Q&A series.
Rodrigo is originally from Brazil and immigrated to the United States during high school. He earned his MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business in 2007, and his bachelor’s degree in management from Missouri State University in 2000. Before and after his MBA, Rodrigo worked for Fortune 100 companies in internal audit and marketing within the telecom and technology industries.
One of Rodrigo’s proudest moments was becoming a U.S. citizen in 2008, the same year he joined Texas McCombs as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions and Lead Diversity Recruiter for the full-time MBA Program. He now serves as the Managing Director of MBA Marketing, Recruitment, and Admissions, overseeing Texas McCombs’ Full-Time, Evening, Weekend – Dallas, Weekend – Houston, and Executive MBA programs.
Rodrigo is passionate about building a collaborative and inclusive educational environment where individuals can be their authentic selves. He lives in Austin with his husband and their three dogs, and he enjoys margaritas and tacos. Rodrigo invites you to connect with him on LinkedIn here.
Continue reading for his insights into the MBA program and the admissions process.
Clear Admit: What is the one aspect of your program that you wish applicants knew more about?
Rodrigo Malta: One aspect of our program that I wish applicants knew more about is our award-winning faculty members. Having the resources of UT Austin—a large, world-class university—supporting the McCombs School of Business means we can recruit the best and brightest from around the world to join our faculty. Add our diverse students to the mix, and this creates the perfect recipe for lively class discussions and an amazing learning environment.
Another aspect of the program always worth highlighting is that 14 of our 23 concentrations in the full-time MBA program are STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) certified, demonstrating a level of quantitative rigor across the MBA program. Learn more about STEM-certified concentrations here.
Additionally, 2024 has been designated as the “Year of AI” at UT Austin, showcasing our commitment to advancing artificial intelligence research and education. This initiative includes a significant investment in the Center for Generative AI, which focuses on interdisciplinary AI research and applications. Lastly, McCombs offers extensive AI resources, including seminars, training sessions, and access to cutting-edge AI tools and technologies. These resources are designed to support faculty, staff, and students in navigating the evolving AI landscape.
CA: Walk us through the life of an application in your office from an operational standpoint. What happens between the time an applicant clicks “submit” and the time the committee offers a final decision?
RM: At Texas McCombs, the evaluation of your application is a collaborative effort, and we take pride in making all application components accessible to all applicants. Once the application review is complete, the video assessment is evaluated, and the (optional) admissions interview is conducted, the committee meets to discuss the applications and make a final decision.
After these steps, the committee convenes to discuss the applications and make a final decision. Our admissions process is holistic and collaborative, meaning that while we have standardized many steps, each application may be reviewed slightly differently.
Applicants can receive one of three decisions: deny, waitlist, or admit. If admitted, they will also be informed about any scholarships they have been awarded, as all applicants are automatically considered for scholarships as part of the admissions process.
CA: How does your team approach the essay portion of the application specifically? What are you looking for as you read an essay? Are there common mistakes that applicants should try to avoid? What is one key thing they should keep in mind as they sit down to write?
RM: For the 2024-2025 admissions cycle, we’ve refreshed our essay section to provide applicants with more opportunities to share their unique stories. We’ve transitioned from a single essay to three focused prompts, each with a 250-word limit. This change allows you to showcase different facets of your personality, experiences, and aspirations. Check out the new essay prompts here.
When you approach the essay portion of the application, please note we are looking for authenticity and depth. We want to see your true self and understand what drives you. As you write, keep in mind the following:
- Be Patient and Reflective: Take the time to reflect on your experiences and brainstorm ideas. Don’t rush the process; allow yourself to rewrite and edit your essays to ensure they are polished and thoughtful.
- Stay on Prompt and Adhere to Word Count: Make sure your essays directly address the prompts and stay within the 250-word limit. This demonstrates your ability to communicate concisely and effectively.
- Complement Other Application Components: Your essays should enhance and complement the other parts of your application, providing a fuller picture of who you are.
- Be Honest and Authentic: Authenticity is key. While AI tools can assist with research and editing, ensure that the content is your own original work. Your essays are your chance to go beyond your resume and bring your application to life.
Common mistakes to avoid include straying off-topic, exceeding the word limit, and failing to proofread for errors.
CA: Could you tell us about your interview process? Approximately how many applicants do you interview? Who conducts the interview (students, admissions officers, alumni) and what is the nature of the interview (resume-based, application-based, behavioral)? Will your admissions interviews be in-person or virtual for the 2024-2025 admissions season?
RM: One of the most vital parts of the MBA application process at Texas McCombs is the human component – “Human-Centered, Future-Focused” is part of our core values for a reason. We invite all MBA applicants to close out their application process in a human-centered way with an MBA admissions interview. Yes, that is right, all applicants can complete an interview at Texas McCombs.
These interactive virtual sessions present a valuable opportunity for our applicants to connect with Full-Time MBA students, showcasing their collaborative skills, reaffirming their motivation for pursuing an MBA, and leaving a lasting positive impression on Texas McCombs.
The admissions interview will last approximately 20-25 minutes and is available throughout the round. The student ambassador will introduce themselves and ask you up to 3 questions that focus on collaboration and motivation. The rest of the time is yours to ask a few questions that are top of mind.
We recommend having 2-3 questions prepared for your student interviewer about the program and student experience. You are also welcome to discuss information about your candidacy that is not addressed elsewhere, as the interviewer can in turn provide this information to the Admissions Committee via a post-interview form. You can learn more about the admissions interview here.
CA: What is your testing policy? Do you offer exam waivers? Why or why not?
RM: Texas McCombs MBA Admissions is excited to share that MBA candidates have more options than ever before when considering how to complete the standardized test requirement in their application.
All applicants are required to submit a GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment (EA) test score. We will waive the testing requirement if:
- An expired (taken 5+ years ago) GMAT, GRE, or EA test score is submitted or
- General Test Waiver (merit-based) is approved
Applicants should remember that standardized exams like the GMAT, GRE, EA, TOEFL, and IELTS help us evaluate a candidate’s academic preparedness for the rigor of business school and are one metric used to compare candidates within a large pool of applicants.
Additionally, preparing for and taking an MBA admissions exam is one of the best ways to get your mind back into academic mode as you prepare for business school. Learn more about navigating your testing options here.
CA: In the application data form, many schools ask for information about work experience, activities, hobbies, and much more. What advice would you give to applicants as they approach this component of the application process?
RM: When approaching the application data form for the Texas McCombs MBA program, it’s important to provide a comprehensive and authentic picture of yourself. Here are some tips to help you navigate this component effectively:
- Be Thorough and Honest: Ensure that all sections, including work experience, activities, and hobbies, are filled out accurately and honestly. This helps the admissions committee get a well-rounded view of your background and professional trajectory.
- Highlight Relevant Experiences: Focus on experiences that showcase your leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Emphasize roles and activities that have helped you grow professionally and personally.
- Showcase Your Unique Interests: Use the hobbies and activities sections to highlight what makes you unique. This is your chance to show the admissions committee aspects of your personality that might not be evident from your professional experience alone.
- Proofread: Finally, proofread your entries for any errors or inconsistencies. A well-polished application reflects your attention to detail and professionalism.
By following these tips, you can create a compelling and authentic application that highlights your strengths and aligns with the values of the Texas McCombs MBA program.
CA: Tell us briefly about two popular courses at your institution.
RM: Business & Policy in the Age of Inequality
About the Course: Both within the United States and in a number of other developed countries, wage inequality has risen dramatically over the past forty years. Everyone in society, and especially in business, should be deeply concerned with rising inequality. In particular, inequality threatens the vision most of us have of our capitalist system, which now provides less social mobility than in prior decades. Business leaders have increasingly realized that rampant inequality threatens the foundations upon which the success of their companies relies and that they can, with some creativity, do something to ameliorate the problem.
As part of this course, students take a closer look at the causes and consequences of rising inequality, with an eye towards examining how recent business trends and popular business practices may contribute to its rise. Should business play a role in softening the blow of these practices and if so how? These are the types of questions students will discuss and debate in this course. The goals if for this class to teach students how to think about inequality and its implications in their role as managers and as citizens, and how to deal proactively with the consequences of this pervasive phenomenon.
This course is taught by Adam Cobb, Associate Professor – Business, Government & Society Department at Texas McCombs. Adam holds an MBA from Texas McCombs and a Ph.D. in Management from Michigan Ross.
Innovation and Leadership
About the Course: Effectively generating innovation and change is critical to the survival and growth of organizations and is an essential component of leadership. This course draws on various theoretical foundations and business cases to develop knowledge and skills in enhancing organizational performance through effective leadership of innovation and change. Among the components of innovation and change leadership covered in the course are: understanding and overcoming organizational barriers to innovation and change, developing organizational capabilities for innovation, leading innovation and change at various levels in the organization, stimulating individual and group creativity, developing and nurturing an innovative culture, structuring innovation activities, managing the innovation implementation process, challenging orthodoxies and assumptions to develop innovations and implement change, and directing planned and emergent change.
This course is taught by Alex Davern who is the former CEO of National Instruments (Ni). He is a current Board Member of NI, Inc, Cirrus Logic, FARO Technologies, and Chairman of ESI-Group.
CA: Is there anything else you’d like to highlight about your MBA program or admissions process?
RM: As part of our commitment to enabling applicants to showcase their unique voices, we are bringing back the video assessment component and implementing an open admissions interview policy. These enhancements provide greater opportunities for self-expression and authentic conversation. At Texas McCombs, all applicants have the chance to complete every application component. Our aim is to create an inclusive and welcoming admissions experience, ensuring that prospective students have an equal opportunity to shine and contribute to our vibrant community.
