Washington / Foster MBA Recommendation Questions
The Michael G. Foster School of Business of the University of Washington MBA application requires at least two letters of recommendation, however, applicants may submit three. Preferably, recommenders should be professional contacts rather than academic or personal. Your recommenders will be asked to write about your strengths, discuss areas where you could improve, discuss your leadership abilities, interpersonal skills, motivation and initiative, and comment on your accomplishments, managerial potential, and other personal qualities. The Foster MBA recommendation questions for the 2026-2027 application are below.
2026-2027 Washington / Foster MBA Recommendation Questions
Applicant Information and Relationship
How long have you known the applicant?
How well do you know the applicant?
- Very well
- Moderately well
- Minimally
In what capacity do you know the applicant? Please select all that apply.
- Employee / Supervisor
- Colleague / Coworker
- Instructor / Professor
- Other
Evaluation
Please rank the applicant relative to their peer group:
- Truly Exceptional (top 1%)
- Outstanding (highest 10%)
- Good (75 – 90%)
- Above Average (60 – 74%)
- Average (41 – 59%)
- Below average (lowest 40%)
- Inadequate Opportunity to Observe
Overall Evaluation:
- Truly Exceptional (top 1%)
- Outstanding (highest 10%)
- Good (75 – 90%)
- Above Average (60 – 74%)
- Average (41 – 59%)
- Below average (lowest 40%)
- Inadequate Opportunity to Observe
Letter of Recommendation (upload)
In your letter of recommendation, consider addressing the below questions when describing the applicant. Your comments provide the committee with a balanced view from which to evaluate the candidate.
What are the applicant’s strengths?
Discuss areas where the applicant could improve.
Discuss the applicant’s leadership abilities, interpersonal skills, motivation, and initiative.
Comment on the applicant’s accomplishments, managerial potential and other personal qualities.
Recommendation Concerning Admission (dropdown menu)
- I highly recommend this applicant
- I recommend this applicant
- I recommend this applicant with reservations
- I DO NOT recommend this applicant for admission
MBA Applywire
I do not have a strong academic background, but I believe I have a strong professional background to offset. I have over 10 years of progressive finance experience starting as an analyst moving all the way into a Director level role with line of sight into a VP role within the next 2 years. My background consists of financial acumen and cross department engagement resulting in tangible business outcomes and deliverables. I have experience managing upwards, managing downwards with my direct reports, and managing sideways with various department directors and VPs.
- Engineer at a top Aerospace & Defense company (Blue Chip / Fortune 100 company)
- 3 years of FT experience, have had 1 promotion so far, expecting 1 more before matriculation in Fall 2028
- Will have 4.7 Yrs FT experience (+2 undergrad internships) at matriculation
- Applying R1 2027 for Fall 2028 Full Time Entry
- Mechanical Engineering BS with Aerospace Engineering Minor, GPA 3.53
- Undergraduate volunteering included leadership role for a Pediatric Cancer philanthropy that raised $XX,XXX / yr.
- Also had an undergrad internship with a Blue Chip / Fortune 100 automotive company
- Hold a Masters in Engineering Management from Washington University in St. Louis, GPA 3.94
- Masters Capstone was a consulting project sponsored by a boutique firm in NYC
- Currently in MIT Sloan's Pre-LGO Pipeline Program
- Currently prepping for GMAT Focus, I am a strong test taker and expect 95th Percentile+. First attempt will be in early Q1 2027.
- Post-MBA goal: MBB Consulting in the Aerospace & Defense or broader industrials sector. Also considering a pivot to A&D/Industrials Investment Banking. (Any/all advice on how either of these map better to my profile is appreciated!)
29, applying R1 2027 for Fall 2028 entry. GMAT Focus not yet taken; targeting ~670. 3.49 GPA, B.B.A. Finance (magna cum laude, full-tuition scholarship) from a state school.
~3 years at GS (margin lending ops to internal audit), now an Audit Manager in internal audit at TD covering Global Markets (fixed income, munis, prime services, counterparty credit risk). Lead audits as Auditor-in-Charge, manage small teams, support regulator exams. Use SQL/Alteryx in audit work. CIA in progress. Fluent in Spanish. Starting Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteering.
Goal: move from risk/controls into strategy or product roles at an established fintech (lending, brokerage, payments). Long term: run a fintech business line.
Schools: Wharton, Columbia, Yale SOM, Tuck, Stern, Fuqua, Ross/Johnson, Georgetown. Planning to use the Consortium for several. Also considering Stern part-time.
MBA LiveWire
It's not over until it's over. Super excited though!
Received the interview invite via email, very excited!