Enrollment: 491
Average GMAT: 688.00
GMAT Range (25-75%): 660-720
Average Undergrad GPA: 3.38
Regular Application Deadline: 10/15
Rolling Admission: No
School Type: Public
Average Age: 29.00
Average Work Experience (months): 72
Student Faculty Ratio: 8:1

Part Time Program: No
Evening Program: Yes
Executive MBA Program Offered: Yes
Total Faculty: 173

Average Starting Salary: $86,667.00
Hired Consulting: 12%
Hired Finance: 32%
Hired Operations: 4%
Hired Marketing: 25%

Out-of-State Tuition: $32,451.00
In-State Tuition: $21,782.00
Financial Aid Deadline: 04/15
Students Receiving Some Aid: 70%
Average Annual Total Financial Aid: $15,000.00

Best Campus Environment
2010 Entrepreneurial Programs: Business Schools

School Says - General Information
The University of Washington enjoys a long-standing reputation for excellence in education and research, receiving more government research funding over the past 26 years than any other public university in the United States. The low faculty-to-student ratio and collaborative culture create a dynamic entrepreneurial learning community where connections are easily made. Its sixteen schools and colleges provide education to 34,000 students, who can choose from more than 100 academic disciplines and 5,000 courses.

School Says - Academics
Focus on your goals with international business, elective courses Complete three quarters of academic coursework, including cross-cultural communication, ethics and corporate governance, and U.S. business practices. Elective courses also provide an opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with students from the Full-time and Evening MBA program. You may choose to earn a specialized certificate by completing the required elective courses. Earn an MBA degree or a dual degree. The UW MBA staff is here to help you determine which options will best meet your education and career goals. Call or e-mail our admissions counselors to get the information you need to make an informed choice. Call 1.206.543.4661.

School Says - Admissions
Successful applicants will have earned an undergraduate degree with extensive coursework in business administration or economics, and have at least two years of international business experience. (International travel is useful preparation, but will not meet the requirement for business experience.) Selection will favor candidates who have lived and worked outside the United States and those who have developed cross-cultural communication skills based on their experience. Applicants must: · Complete the equivalent of a four-year U.S. bachelorÂ's degree with extensive coursework in business administration or economics from an accredited college or university · Meet a quantitative analysis requirement and possess minimum English language skills · Take the GMAT · Apply to each school, college or department of interest if pursuing a dual degree Applications are accepted in rounds. The deadlines are 10/15, 11/15 and 1/15, with notifications for those rounds on 12/10, 1/25 and 3/30.

Students Say - Academics
The Foster School of Business at the University of Washington draws on its Seattle locale to inform the focus of its program. The curriculum emphasizes a global perspective (especially as it pertains to countries in the Pacific Rim), and there is an overall focus on technology reflecting UW's proximity to such tech heavyweights as Microsoft and Amazon ("Think tons of Microsoft alums"). There are also numerous opportunities to learn about entrepreneurship, in keeping with the city's relaxed and independent vibe. In fact, many students choose UW for its "entrepreneurship and technology focus." This plays out in case studies, projects, and real-world examples drawn from these areas during core courses, as well as in areas of concentration.
Those core courses comprise about half of the Foster MBA program. Foundation subjects such as accounting, finance, human resources, ethics, and marketing are included in the required core. Toward the end of the first year, each student selects three Advanced Core Electives, which allow closer exploration of areas available for concentration in the second year of the program. Students say, "All classes require a good bit of teamwork." "The level of involvement is left up to individuals, but most take part in a lot of the activities." Most students take an internship between their first and second years and return for the second year to specialize in fields such as entrepreneurship and innovation, international business, e-commerce, or marketing.
Washington's MBA students are happy with the quality of teaching, as well as the support from the university's administration. "UW has excellent professors who value teaching and helping students learn. That means everything!" The "mix of case and lecture method and small class size" also are helpful, as are professors who "go beyond to make sure that students get all the education they want." That same student adds, "I haven't met more dedicated professors than the professors at UW." Another MBA candidate says, "The core professors are superstars-far and away the best instructors I've ever had in my life." The evening MBA program is also well staffed: The "Evening program generally is taught by full-time established professors who are very good at their fields, and have made themselves available via e-mail if 'in person' is not convenient for working students."

Students Say - Admissions
Those making admissions decisions for the Foster MBA program look for leadership potential, academic strength, communicative ability, and intellectual ability. They evaluate quantitative and language skills through transcripts, GMAT scores, GPAs, and, if needed, TOEFL scores. UW does not have minimum GMAT score or GPA requirement. "If a student is lacking in one area but strong in others, he or she may still be admitted," the school says on its website. For the most recent class admitted, the average GMAT score was 688, and the average GPA was 3.38. These students averaged 6 and a half years of work experience.

Students Say - Campus Life
Students find much to like about their classmates, the lifestyle, and the opportunities offered at the University of Washington. "UW has a collaborative, rigorous, and challenging academic environment, plus a sense of work/life balance that many schools do not have," says one student. "When I visited [before enrolling], I met several students, faculty, and staff, who all impressed me with their intelligence, enthusiasm, kindness, and humor. I knew that this was the type of community I wanted to be a part of." "Smart people without the attitude," is how another MBA candidate described his classmates. Another says, "One of the greatest things about the MBA program is that there were activities and clubs for my wife. Some of these activities were social, while others were community-related." But improving the "quality of child care or providing child care for all students" is area that needs to be addressed, student agree.
Another issue is facilities. "The buildings are the ugliest ones on campus," one student complains. Another says, "UW is behind the curve for business school facilities. Another student adds, "The business school buildings are getting up there in terms of age and facilities. There is a plan to upgrade these, but it probably won't happen while I am a student there. Future students will certainly benefit from the improvements, though."Indeed, new state-of-the art-facilities will open in autumn 2010.

Students Say - Careers
The Business Connections Center in the University of Washington program offers network events, career-evaluation tools, a mentorship program with local business leaders, an online jobs data base, and personal career counseling. They "excel at connecting students with alums and other business leaders in the community and elsewhere. They stress the importance of networking and help students to establish a network." The center boasts "great connections to the Seattle business community," and "relationships with world-class companies like Microsoft, Starbucks, [and] Amazon.com." "In most cases, students are extremely successful in landing desirable internships and jobs."
Students also say there's room for improvement: "UW could improve getting access to companies and jobs outside the Pacific Northwest," one student says, and others' comments echo his opinion. However, the career center now subsidizes travel to other regions for interviews.
AT&T Wireless, Alaska Airlines, Hewlett-Packard, Washington Mutual, Intel, Microsoft, Hitachi Consulting, Samsung, Starbucks, Tektronix, and Wells Fargo are among the companies that recruit on campus.

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