We welcome back Brent Nagamine, Director of Admissions at the University of Washington Foster School of Business for this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A.
Brent oversees marketing, recruitment, selection, and scholarships for the Full-Time, Evening, and Global MBA programs. He has been working in the higher education sphere since 2013 when he graduated from the University of Washington. He started his career working in undergraduate admissions and eventually pursued his M.S.Ed from the University of Pennsylvania. After joining the Foster MBA admissions team in 2019, he was also drawn to pursue his own MBA, which he completed in June 2024.
Continue reading for Brent’s insights on the MBA program and campus culture at Foster, the ins and outs of the application process, and how to best prepare for interviews.
Clear Admit: What is the one aspect of your program that you wish applicants knew more about?
Brent Nagamine: The Foster MBA faculty! Not only are they thought leaders in their fields, but they also are involved members of the community, hosting dinners, attending student-organized fundraisers, joining in the annual polar plunge to welcome the new year, and leading many global study tours. Given our comparatively small class size to other top programs, Foster faculty are very accessible to current students and alumni. While Foster is often known for its strong job placement and connections to the tech industry, what really stands out to me is our close-knit and genuinely collaborative community, and our faculty are an integral part of it.
CA: Walk us through the life of an application in your office from an operational standpoint. What happens between the time an applicant clicks “submit” and the time the committee offers a final decision?
BN: We work to communicate with applicants on what to expect once they submit the application. Once you press submit, you can expect to hear from us within a few days with a comprehensive “application received” email which will walk you through what to expect while your application is under review. In addition, shortly after the application deadline, we will send a video interview request (via Kira Talent) to all applicants. Within several weeks of the deadline, the admissions committee does a first review of your application, and if it stands out as competitive, we will invite you for an admission interview.
We have a holistic review process, and multiple members of the admissions committee are involved in your application’s review. Decisions are determined by the Director of Admissions, along with a committee consisting of admissions team members, MBA Career Management leadership, and MBA Program Office leadership. Should you be admitted to Foster, we will notify you at the time of admission of both your acceptance and any merit scholarship awards.
CA: How does your team approach the essay portion of the application specifically? What are you looking for as you read an essay? Are there common mistakes that applicants should try to avoid? What is one key thing they should keep in mind as they sit down to write?
BN: We are looking for applicants who can authentically tell us why they are pursuing the Foster MBA by articulately explaining their motivations and goals. Essays that stand out are well-researched, demonstrate an understanding of our program, and detail how you authentically see yourself achieving your goals/contributing to the community at Foster.
A common mistake candidates make is not spending enough time articulating how the opportunities and resources at Foster, specifically, will help them to achieve their goals. We encourage you to tell us your story while also remembering to connect the dots between your journey and Foster. Before you sit down to write your essays, I encourage you to engage with our community—connect with current students, staff, and alumni—so that when you do write your admission essays you can authentically tell us how you see yourself thriving in the Foster MBA program.
Many are also wondering about it right now, and I am happy to make a note about how we expect applicants to use AI when writing their essays. Applicants are expected to generate their own ideas to ensure authenticity, originality, and creativity in their essays. Although AI tools can be very helpful in refining messages, we have found that candidates do themselves a disservice by relying too heavily on them. Our most successful applicants use their essays as an opportunity to share genuine motivations, stories, and goals that help to create context around their MBA journey. The use of AI tools is not prohibited when writing application essays for Foster, however it should only assist in refining content, not creating it. We also require the use of any AI tools on our application to be disclosed.
CA: Could you tell us about your interview process? Approximately how many applicants do you interview? Who conducts the interview and what is the nature of the interview? Will your admissions interviews be in-person or virtual for the 2025-2026 admissions season?
BN: Foster’s admissions interviews are by invitation only, and interview invitations are sent within 4-6 weeks of the application deadline. The number of applicants invited to interview varies from round to round, but our aim is to offer an admission interview to all applicants who have a competitive application.
Our admission interviews are a mix of discussing your background & experiences, exploring your motivation for the MBA, and genuinely getting to know more about how you could see yourself excelling in the Foster MBA program. Ultimately, we want to use this time to better understand how you align with our values and program resources.
Our admissions interviews are conducted virtually, by a mix of current MBA students and admissions staff.
CA: If your application features an impromptu video interview/video essay, how does it differ from the main interview? What should applicants know about this step in the process?
BN: Foster does feature a video interview as a part of our review process! Shortly after the application deadline, we will send a video interview request (via Kira Talent) to all who have submitted a complete application. The video will be considered alongside all other submitted materials as we make our decisions on who we are able to invite for a one-on-one admissions interview.
The video interview is intended to give the admissions committee a quick (two-question) snapshot to help us understand your communication style, your ability to think on your feet, and your professionalism. However, these recorded interviews are only just a snapshot and we generally do not expect perfection. Our recommendation is to find a quiet space with a stable internet connection and take advantage of some of the practice questions on the platform to make sure you’re comfortable with the recording process.
CA: Is there anything in particular international students should keep in mind during the Foster admissions process?
BN: Now, more than ever, it is crucial to reaffirm how deeply we value the global perspectives that international students bring to our classrooms, teams, and experiential learning opportunities. A diverse, global cohort enriches the MBA experience for everyone, and quite frankly, without our international students, Foster would be a less complete community.
That said, we also recognize that the path to earning an MBA—and ultimately securing employment in the U.S.—can be uniquely challenging for international students. Navigating the admissions process alongside immigration requirements demands tremendous grit, resilience, and adaptability.
Here’s my advice for international applicants:
- Stay Organized
Keep a close eye on all application and immigration-related deadlines. Submit complete materials on time and in accordance with university and government guidelines. Due to the strict parameters of the U.S. immigration process, schools often have limited flexibility to accommodate late submissions or exceptions. - Stay Flexible
While it’s important to have clear goals, approach the MBA journey with an open mind. Research multiple programs that align with your aspirations, and be open to a range of internship and job opportunities. Having a well-considered “Plan B” can open doors you might not have initially expected. - Stay Positive
Balancing the demands of an MBA program with the complexities of immigration can be a grind. But it’s also a time of incredible growth and opportunity. Build lasting friendships, take time to enjoy the experience, and celebrate your milestones along the way.
International students are a vital part of the Foster community, and we are committed to supporting you every step of the way.
CA: What is your favorite spot on campus?
BN: Without a doubt, my favorite spot on campus is the UW Quad during the annual sakura (cherry blossom) bloom. Each spring, the Quad is transformed into a breathtaking canopy of soft pink petals—a moment of natural beauty that feels both special and fleeting. Despite the headache that it means for campus parking, I love the throngs of UW community members and visitors who flock to campus to take it all in, often with cameras in-hand for a good social media post.
For me, the sakura are more than just beautiful—they’re deeply symbolic. They remind us of the importance of being present, of appreciating the moment, and of the cycles of renewal and growth that define both nature and our own personal journeys. In many ways, they mirror the MBA experience: intense, transformative, and over before you know it.
CA: Is there anything else you’d like to highlight about your MBA program or admissions process (e.g. supporting diversity, popular classes, new curricular offerings, etc.)?
BN: Get to know us! It isn’t just a cliché statement – at Foster, we genuinely want to get to know you through the admissions process. Community is incredibly important to Foster. Students in the program benefit from a small, intimate cohort size and the ability to know both faculty and classmates extremely well and to make bonds and a network that last a lifetime. The best way to discover this for yourself is to engage with admissions staff, students, and alumni – reach out, schedule a coffee chat, attend an information session, connect with an alum. As Foster’s Dean, Frank Hodge, recently wrote, “We are committed to being a purpose-driven business school that truly believes in bettering humanity through business, doing so according to a set of values that focus on integrity & excellence in an inclusive & respectful community.” We welcome you to be a part of it!
