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MBT Admissions
Application Requirements
Online Application
Official Transcripts
GMAT
Personal Statement
Two Letters of Recommendation
Resume
Interview (by invitation only)
Application Fee
International Applicants must also include:
TOEFL
Proof of Financial Support (I-20 Form)
*2009 online application now available
The MBT program accepts applications for the Summer and Fall semesters only. Because admission is competitive applicants are encouraged to apply early. Applicants with undergraduate accounting degree should apply for Fall and applicants without an undergraduate accounting degree or sufficient accounting background (as described below) should apply for Summer. All application materials must be received by the final deadline.
Prerequisite Coursework
The following courses must be completed (grade of B or better) or in progress at the time of application submission:
Introduction to Financial Accounting
Micro or Macroeconomics
Furthermore, accounting majors or those wanting to be considered as having an accounting background (and be waived from taking the Summer Intensive Program) must complete the following upper-division courses (grade of B or better) at an accredited 4-year university prior to enrollment:
Intermediate Accounting I Intermediate Accounting II Advanced Accounting Cost Accounting
Auditing U.S. Federal/Corporate Taxation
Applicants who did not major in accounting or did not complete the above listed accounting prerequisites must apply for the Summer term and take ACCT-525, Intensive Accounting Principles and Practices (Summer Intensive Program). The Summer Intensive Program is designed for admitted students who do not have an undergraduate degree in accounting. Beginning in mid-June and ending in mid-August, this program equips students with the accounting knowledge necessary to tackle the advanced concepts presented in the Fall and Spring semesters.
We reserve the right to review any non-USC courses to determine their equivalency to the upper-division prerequisites. In addition, 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. As such, applicants are not required to have earned their baccalaureate degree when applying but must earn their degree prior to enrolling in the program.
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
GMAT
All applicants to the MAcc and MBT Full-time programs must submit official Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) scores. Test scores are valid for 5 years from the test date; scores more than 5 years old are not accepted. We strongly encourage you to take the GMAT no later than one month prior to the application deadline, and preferably much earlier. If you take the GMAT multiple times, we will consider you highest score for admission purposes.
GMAT Website: http://www.mba.com. The MAcc program code: 389-XR-28
Personal Statement
Part of your application requires you to prepare a statement on your short-term and long-term goals and how the program will help you to achieve them. Please limit your essay to no more than two double-spaced, single-sided pages.
Letters of Recommendation
Applicants are required to include 2 letters of recommendation as part 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 (e.g. professors) that can attest to your ability to successfully complete a rigorous graduate degree program. The other letter may be from a non-academic source (e.g. 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
Applicants are required to provide us with an updated resume that details: academic background, work experience including internships, public, community or military service, travel experience, extracurricular activities, hobbies or special aptitudes, and any honors or recognition received.
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.
International Applicants
General
International applicants from a non-English speaking country, regardless of major, are required to apply for the Summer term and take ACCT-525, Intensive Accounting Principles and Practices (Summer Intensive Program).
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.
TOEFL
International students are required to submit an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score. In order to qualify for the 2009 Summer Intensive Program, the TOEFL must be taken on or after June 2007. 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:
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International students who have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited 4-year university in the United States
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Students whose native language is English. This applies to students from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada (except Quebec)
TOEFL Website: http://www.toefl.org. USC's TOEFL Code: 4852
Proof of Financial Support (I-20 Form)
International applicants (those who are, or will be, in the United States on a non-immigrant visa) must submit documented evidence of financial support. The U.S. government requires that all international applicants provide proof of ability to pay tuition and living expenses for themselves and their dependents (if applicable) before a formal letter of admission and an I-20 or DS-2019 form can be issued.
This document, stating your ability to pay for the first academic year of tuition and expenses, must be verified by a bank and dated within the last nine months. Applicants who are relying on support from their home government or other official agency (e.g., Fulbright, AMIDEAST) must send USC a financial guarantee letter -- preferably a bank letter -- with the sponsor’s name and address. A missing financial statement will delay the processing of the I-20/DS-2019 and notification of admission. Please refer to the Costs & Financial Aid section for appropriate figures.