Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) regarding Admissions

Following is a brief listing of some of the common questions students have regarding admission to the Master of Business Taxation Program.  You can either preview the questions, as listed below, and link to a particular answer or scroll past this index to browse through all of the questions and answers together.  If you have any questions that are not included on this page, please contact us at mbt@csom.umn.edu.



How long does the admission process take?

Both the Graduate School and the MBT Program Office review applications. After we have come to a decision on an application, the Graduate School notifies applicants about the decision. The entire review process takes about four to six weeks.



What criteria do you use to evaluate a student?

The following factors are considered in the decision to admit students:

  • Academic record as evidenced by transcripts;
  • aptitude test scores (GMAT or LSAT);
  • and additional factors, such as special circumstances, work experience, and certification (CPA, CMA, CIA)



Do you need to have an accounting major to be admitted to the MBT Program?

No. No specific major is required for admittance to the program. Our graduates have achieved success coming from a variety of academic backgrounds. However, students do need to possess a common body of knowledge in business. Students can meet this requirement by completing introductory course work at the undergraduate level in each of the following areas:

  • Finance
  • Financial Accounting
  • Information & Decision Sciences
  • Law of Contracts & Agency
  • Macroeconomics
  • Management
  • Managerial Accounting
  • Managerial Statistics
  • Marketing
  • Microeconomics
  • Operations Management
Although not prerequisites for admission to the MBT Program, these courses must be completed before the degree is granted. If necessary, they can be taken concurrently with MBT Program courses. Usually students who enter the program with business degrees have completed most, if not all, of this course work.



Should you be a CPA in order to be admitted to the MBT Program?

No, it is not a requirement. However, we do recommend that students ultimately obtain a CPA certification along with an MBT degree, since it opens doors in the field and helps students more easily grasp some of the tax concepts covered in the program.



What types of financial aid do MBT students have access to?

There are three major sources: teaching assistantships, a few competitive scholarships, and loans or loan deferments for which a number of our admitted students qualify, even as part-time students. Additionally, we have funding available for minority students.



What admittance procedures should international applicants be aware of?

If your native language is not English, you are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB). Otherwise, there are no special requirements for international students.

 

International students may find it helpful to refer to the “New & Prospective Students” link offered on the University of Minnesota’s International Student and Scholar Services’ (ISSS) website at http://www.isss.umn.edu/new/default.html.



How do I register to take the GMAT exam?

For details on taking the GMAT, go to the Web address http://www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT.  You can register for the Graduate Management Admission Test online or by phone and pay the test fee by credit card, or you can register through the mail and pay by check. 

 

When you take the test, be sure to request that your GMAT test scores be sent to the Carlson School MBT program.  The new MBT GMAT program code is D2N-VJ-88, effective January 6, 2006.  Requesting by code will only be necessary if you make a request by mail after testing.  Otherwise, you may elect to send your scores to a program electronically without using a code.

 

The College of Continuing Education (CCE) offers GMAT preparation courses through classroom-based instruction or self-directed online instruction.  For more information, call (612) 624-4000 or visit the website http://www.cce.umn.edu/testprep/.