Hello Everyone,
We recently had a chat with Foster Admission Director - Megan Lewis - on GMAT Club. For those who missed this event, we are posting here important questions and Admission director's answers to them. You can also download entire session transcript which is attached to this post.
Good Luck!!
razordude1717: Hello Megan. A very good morning to you! If possible, could you tell me if the video interviews of R1 applicants have all been reviewed and subsequent invites sent?
Megan: Hello Razordude - We have reviewed all of the R1 videos. We have sent invites to a handful of those that conducted the videos, so if you have not yet received an invitation for an in person interview, it is unlikely that you will, but the truth is we do continue to send out interview invitations throughout the application period and we may decide to put certain candidates on the wait list.
app2: I want to ask a couple of questions about the scholarships that foster offers. What percent of the class gets them? What is the quantum of scholarships awarded? And on what parameters are these scholarships awarded?
Megan: Typically, we give scholarships to our most competitive candidates, mostly during the first two application rounds. By the time January comes around, we don't have much money left to gift. Those who receive scholarships are notified in their letters of admission. Roughly half of the incoming students will get a scholarship.
The range is between 4,500 and 20,000 typically, which is not a lot compared to some other schools, but we also have a much lower tuition, so your out of pocket cost might be similar. We also have the ability to award an out of state tuition waiver, which means that student from outside of WA state pay the in-state tuition.
sai: Good Morning Megan! I am a re-applicant. What's the application process for re-applicants? Was unable to find it on the website.
Megan: I suggest updating your application, especially your resume. We can use your essays and letters of recommendation from the last application cycle. I recommend that you email Arlo (
arlo@uw.edu) so that he can put a note in the application database at the very least. It could also be advantageous to write in your optional essay about anything you have done to improve your candidacy since then. I hope you asked our admission director for feedback!
drivn2b: Hi Megan, I'm interested in the process/requirements for taking electives from other UW schools and colleges? I'm hoping that I can enroll in some data science courses as part of my MBA electives so wondering how that works.
Megan: In order to take courses from other UW schools (typically in your second year of the program) you would meet with your academic coach to advocate for why that particular course fits within your academic/career goals. You will also have to look at whether the course fits within your schedule and the price of the course. If the course is part of a state supported program, you will not pay additional tuition, but some courses function independently as private programs located on campus. In that case, you would pay extra tuition.
drivn2b: Do we have to then apply to the other schools? Or it's a matter of working with the coach to fit this into the Year 2 schedule?
Megan: You will not have to apply to another school unless you intend to complete a dual degree. You'll simply work with your coach and the other on campus graduate school.
app2: Is there a way to know whether we have been put on waitlist or rejected before the decision deadline?
Megan: We do not issue any admissions decisions individually until internally, all decisions have been made for any particular round.
yoursparab88: Kindly throw the light on difference between r1, r2,and r3 just for sake of admission rather scholarship.
Megan: We have four admissions rounds, three for international candidates. There really isn't any difference between them in terms of chances of being admitted.
yoursparab88: But for third deadline there won’t be any scholarship also no out of state waiver? even if profile in non-IT Indian Male
Megan: We do have limited scholarships for R3 from R1 candidates who were awarded funding and have decided to attend another school, but the amount of funding left at that point is very limited. The same goes for the out of state tuition waiver.
sai: Typically which employers other than Amazon, Microsoft, and Boeing offer internships to Foster's students?
Megan: our employment stats are here:
https://miburl.com/H966M5NOTE:- Employment Stats for 2013 and 14 can also be downloaded from the first post of “Calling all Foster Applicants Thread” for Class of 2017. Check here
https://screencast.com/t/RxGXYGvRsecondtimesthecharm: Roughly what percent of applicants who are invited for a face-to-face interview are accepted? If this is too specific, are a majority of interviewed applicants accepted?
Megan: I don't have stats in front of me, and this changes from year to year, but less than half of those interviewed face - to - face are admitted.
sai: Are there any student ambassadors whom we can reach out to?
Megan: To connect with current students, please email
mbalink@uw.edu You will reach our Student Ambassador Coordinator
Narenn: Can you shed some light on the process for waitlisted applicants? If gets waitlisted without interview in R1, how can one increase his/her chances of getting an interview?
Megan: We essentially hold a wait list of candidates than we may or may not decide to move forward in the application process during the entire application cycle 21014-2015. A wait listed candidate can't really do much to increase chances of moving forward. If they could, it would be giving them an unfair advantage. Once an application is submitted by the deadline, we have to be fair about not letting folks continue to add to their application. That said,it doesn't hurt to email the director to say thank you for the notification and reiterate interest in the program if you are on the wait list.
zozoo: Are there any day boarding/play schools available in the campus for toddlers? I am evaluating an option to bring my toddler to the b school.
Megan: There are plenty of options for preschools/Montessori, etc. I would recommend emailing the student ambassador program to ask to be put in touch with a current student with small children for recommendations.
Chat Trascript
Attachment: