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 Application Deadlines
 Fall Semester (all applicants): June 1
 Spring Semester (all applicants): November 1

MBT-WP Admissions

Application Requirements
   Online Application
   Prerequisite Coursework
   Official Transcripts
   GMAT
   Personal Statement
   Two Letters of Recommendation
   Resume
   Interview (by invitation)
   Application Fee
International Applicants must also include: 
    English Language Exams
    Proof of Financial Support (I-20 Form)


*Spring 2010 online application now available

The MBT-Working Professionals program accepts applications for the Fall and Spring semesters only.
Because admission is competitive, applicants are encouraged to apply early.
All application materials must be received by the final deadline.


Prerequisite Coursework
In addition to the requirements listed below, applicants to the MBT-Working Professionals program are required to have a minimum of one year, full-time work experience in a tax-related field.   Required prerequisite courses are as follows:

  Introduction to Financial Accounting
  Micro or Macroeconomics        
  Intermediate Financial Accounting (I & II)
  U.S. Federal/Corporate Taxation
  Corporate Finance (may apply without completion but, if admitted, must complete during 1st year)

Applicants who list non-USC accounting and business courses as potential program prerequisites should submit syllabi and course descriptions (from official university publications) for those courses. We reserve the right to review such courses in order to determine their equivalency to the prerequisites we offer at USC.

We do not accept community college or extension/online program accounting courses as fulfillment of our upper-division prerequisites. These must be taken at an accredited 4-year college or university. However, we will accept Introduction to Financial Accounting and Economics courses taken at a community college or extension/online program.  

                                                                                                                                                                        

Official Transcripts
A bachelor's degree equivalent to a 4-year U.S. undergraduate degree from an accredited institution (regardless of field or major) is required prior to enrolling in the graduate programs.  

For applicants who received degrees from institutions outside the U.S. please click here for a list of minimum education requirements by country. 

A minimum overall GPA of 3.0 is preferred in order to be considered a competitive candidate.

Official transcripts are required for ALL previous college work (undergraduate and graduate). Transcripts from international universities must be submitted in the original language as well as in English.

Please mail one (1) official transcript (must be sealed) for each college or university you have attended to:
Office of Admission and Financial Aid
GRADUATE
University Park Campus
Los Angeles, CA  90089-0915

If you use a courier service, such as DHL or FedEx, send your official transcripts to this address:
University of Southern California
Office of Admission and Financial Aid
3601 Flower Street, Tyler 1
Los Angeles, CA  90089-0911

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GMAT
All applicants to the MBT-WP program must submit official Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) scores, unless qualified to waive the test as described below.  Test scores are valid for 5 years from the test date; scores more than 5 years old are not accepted.  If you take the GMAT multiple times we will consider your highest score for admission purposes. 

Applicants to the MBT-WP program may waive the GMAT requirement only under the following conditions:

GMAT Website:  http://www.mba.com  The MBT Program code:  389-XR-07

 

Personal Statement
Part of your application requires you to prepare a statement on your professional aspirations and how the program will help you to achieve them. The essay questions will be available in the online application.

 

Letters of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation are required for of your application. References should address your personal qualities, potential to succeed in the profession, and your ability to perform well in the classroom. Choose references who know you in an academic or professional context and who are familiar with your academic achievements, credentials, career aspirations and work history (if applicable). It is preferred (though not required) that one of these letters be from an academic source (professor) that can attest to your ability to successfully complete a rigorous graduate degree program. The other letter may be from a non-academic source (employer) that is familiar with your work history and/or career goals.

All letters of recommendation must be submitted using the online recomendation form found in the online application system. You will find instructions on setting up online recommendations when you start the application process.

 

Resume
Please upload a business resume that includes your educational and professional information. Professional information should consist of employment history in reverse chronological order with titles, dates, relevant information and an indication of part-time or full-time status.  Your resume should not be more than one page in length.

 

Interview
Interviews are by invitation only.  Our goal is to interview all applicants admitted into the program.  Interviews are conducted by the admissions office staff and applicants will be contacted once all materials have been received.  An invitation to interview indicates that your application has reached an advanced stage of consideration.  Depending on where you are located, you will be asked to complete either an on-campus or a telephone interview.

 

Application Fee
The application fee is $85.  The application fee is waived for USC students and alumni.

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International Applicants

International Education Requirements
Applicants must have obtained an equivalent to a 4-year U.S. bachelor's degree from an accedited college or university.  A list of minimum education requirements by country can be found here.


Transcripts
Transcripts from international universities must be submitted in the original language as well as in English.   


English Language Exams 
International students are required to submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic).  The score is only valid for 2 years.  Please note we do not accept the IELTS as a substitute for the TOEFL.     

A minimum TOEFL score of 100 (iBT) / 250 (CBT) / 600 (PBT) is required to apply.  On the iBT exam, you must score no less than 20 on each of the four test components.

Exceptions from taking the TOEFL:

TOEFL Website: http://www.toefl.org.  USC's TOEFL Code: 4852 and department code is 02 (graduate school of management)
PTE Academic: http://pearsonpte.com/PTEAcademic
 

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