Admissions

Online Application Profile

Create your online application profile via the UW Graduate Admissions website

1. Select “Graduate” as your application type, and “Business Administration – Foster School of Business – Executive MBA” as your graduate program.
2. Indicate the quarter and year you wish to enter (e.g. Autumn 2021).
3. Select your area of interest – i.e. “Monthly Cohort,” “Weekly Cohort,” or “Either Monthly or Weekly” (NOTE: By selecting “Either Monthly or Monthly Cohort,” applicants permit the Foster EMBA program to assign class designation based on program needs). Select “Master’s” as your ultimate degree for this program.

Transcripts & GPA Reporting

Unofficial transcripts are required for your undergraduate and graduate, if applicable, institutions attended. Transcripts must be uploaded within the online application; do not send official transcripts to our office via mail. Please see detailed instructions regarding the content and format of acceptable unofficial transcripts below. **Please note that official transcripts sent directly from institutions are required only after an offer of admission is accepted by the applicant. Instructions for submission of official transcripts will be provided to admitted students at a later date.

Required format for all transcripts

We require scanned copies of transcripts submitted via PDF file within the online application. Please make sure to include any transcript keys that describe the institution’s grading scale (typically found on the back side of most domestic transcripts).

Required content for all transcripts

• Full name of applicant (former names are acceptable if indicated on application)
• Name of degree-granting institution
• Title(s) of academic degree(s) awarded
• Dates of enrollment, including date of graduation/degree conferral
• Names of individual courses
• Grades, marks, or ratings of individual courses
• International transcripts must include official English translations
• If applicable, both marks sheets and degree statements are required

GPA Requirement

The University of Washington Graduate School has a minimum grade point average (GPA) requirement for all graduate admission applicants. A minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 (U.S. scale) or better is generally the standard for a competitive candidate. However, we holistically review all aspects of your application including prior academic performance when making an admission decision. If you have specific concerns related to your undergraduate GPA, please email the program admission director with “Admission GPA requirement” in the subject line.

Reporting your Grade Point Average

The Graduate School Application asks applicants to report their Grade Point Average (GPA) on a 0.0 – 4.0 (U.S. scale) for the last 90 quarter or 60 semester graded credits. Specific instructions are provided on the Graduate School Application for converting and calculating your GPA if your university was not on such a system, and for converting from an international grading system to a 4.0 scale. Please read and follow the instructions carefully for converting your GPA to a 4.0 scale to complete this question. If you’d like to assess your GPA ahead of applying, the application refers applicants to the Foreign Credits website and to use the GPA calculator for this process.

If you attended a university (ex: The Evergreen State College) that does not grade courses or provide a GPA, check the “I do not have a GPA” box.

Personal Statement

This item is very important in the review process. It is your opportunity to explain why an MBA is good for you and your career and how you will add value in the Executive MBA learning environment. The personal statement should minimally address the following five topics:

1. How do you know this is the right time in your career to pursue an MBA?
2. What knowledge and skills do you hope to develop in the Foster Executive MBA Program?
3. Which five characteristics most appropriately describe you and why for each?
4. Based on your educational training, professional roles, managerial and leadership understanding, and life experience, how will you add value in the Foster Executive MBA learning environment?
5. What are the essential elements of a successful team and how have you been instrumental to build and maintain a high functioning team, as both a leader and team contributor?

There is no minimum length. Most statements are two to four pages. The document is uploaded as part of your online application submission.

Résumé / Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Your resume/CV is the most important part of your application. It outlines your professional work history to help EMBA admission readers understand how you might contribute to classroom discussions. You are not limited to one page – more is better. If submitting a CV, we recommend listing your full-time work experience toward the top; this allows highlighting of your work experience for admission readers.

We consider full-time professional work that preceded an undergraduate degree. On the other hand, we typically do not consider experience from graduate research (RA)/teaching (TA) assignments during graduate school. We do, however, consider medical residencies following medical school. We may consider some Post-Doc experience, especially when the role was full-time and included leadership/management responsibilities.

FORMAT – we recommend using a chronological listing, starting with your current or most recent role, rather than functional, targeted, or combination formats. The chronological format more easily shows role/career progression.

ROLES – you should include all roles that you consider part of your professional experience record.

RESPONSIBILITIES – you should indicate the MAJOR job functions for each role listed.

LEADERSHIP/MANAGEMENT – we take a very broad view in this area. When applicable, you want to list experience related to formal direct supervision, cross-functional team leading, and major program, project, or product management responsibilities.

SCOPE – this assesses the impact/reach of your role responsibilities. In addition to knowing your major job functions and leadership/management responsibilities for each role, it is valuable to know the size of teams you led/managed, size of budget you oversaw, or number of customers/patients/clients your efforts impacted.

Recommendations

Three (3) recommendation sources are required (four recommenders if self-employed or plan not work upon EMBA enrollment). Applicants are encouraged to have their recommenders use the online submission option instead of mail-in option. Using the online submission option allows the candidate and the EMBA program to monitor recommender progress/submission.

Good recommendation sources include current and former managers, mentors, executive/career coaches, clients, or peers. A good recommender is familiar with your skillset and familiarity with your potential for senior leadership and/or executive roles. View recommenders’ overview.

Recommendations can be submitted after you file your application. Applicants do not have to wait until recommendations are completed. In fact, the Foster EMBA program is unable to view your application until you submit the application.

Organizational Acknowledgment

EMBA candidates must supply the Organizational Acknowledgment form from their employer. The form acknowledges that the employing organization agrees to support an EMBA applicant’s attendance at all required class days and activities. The acknowledgment does not imply financial support nor job promotion assurances.

The acknowledgment form can be signed by a company agent authorized to approve an applicant’s time away from the worksite to attend EMBA classes. In most cases, an applicant’s direct manager can sign the form. However, policies vary from organization to organization; if unsure, applicants are encouraged to seek guidance from their direct managers.

Individuals who are self-employed, not currently employed, or will not be employed upon EMBA enrollment need not supply this form. However, these applicants should notify the EMBA admission staff of this fact.

Download the Organizational Acknowledgment form.