Maggie Polachek (Foster, ‘20) decided to pursue an MBA to build a career at the intersection of business and public policy, at the University of Washington (Foster.) After moving across the country from Washington D.C., Polachek appreciated the city of Seattle, and found herself at home due to the culture at her MBA program. During this interview, Polachek spoke about why she chose to attend Foster and her reasons for why she appreciates the culture at Foster.
MBASchooled: What were your big questions coming into making your decision on which school to attend?
My main questions as I decided between schools were about culture fit. Once I had applied, I had already sold myself on the ROI of business school, so it really came down to the culture and the people. Questions I asked myself on various welcome weekends were: Can I see myself in this community? Where will I add value in this community? Will I be supported to learn and grow here? Using culture as a decision-making framework made Foster a standout for me.
MBASchooled: What characteristics were important to you in selecting the right MBA school to attend?
Several! I wanted to be in a city where I could see a long-term future, beyond the two years of business school. I was moving with my then-fiance, now-husband, and wanted to make sure that the MBA program had a strong partners network that he could engage in and that there were job opportunities for him in the city we moved to. Coming from the political/government/nonprofit world, I was also looking for a socially-conscious student body. Finally, scholarship funding was very important to me.
MBASchooled: What were some of the reasons you chose Foster?
I had the opportunity to attend Foster’s Welcome Weekend in April 2018 and that experience really sealed the deal for me. I was so impressed by everything — the students were warm, passionate, friendly, and helpful. The campus was gorgeous — especially in the beautiful springtime sun. In addition to covering my travel expenses, Foster even paid for my husband’s flight from Washington, DC so that he could get a feel for the school as well. The weekend felt so inclusive and was full of enthusiasm.
In addition to Welcome Weekend, I was sold on Foster because of its location in Seattle, it’s 99% job placement rate, and because of a very generous scholarship which made my MBA education very affordable, relatively speaking.
MBASchooled: Oftentimes, students cite culture as one of the reasons why they select a school. What about the culture at Foster stood out to you?
Yes, overall Foster’s culture was the primary selling point. It was clear to me through conversations with Foster students and through my Welcome Weekend visit that Foster students are collaborative, supportive, down to earth, and socially conscious. Foster is a really small program, with about 125 students per class, which creates an extremely tight-knit community. As an admitted student, I loved the idea of a small, but powerful community.
MBASchooled: How would you describe your Foster classmates?
They are amazing! They are incredibly passionate, curious, supportive, and inclusive. I truly believe my classmates represent the best of MBA students. There are not a lot of egos, everyone is bright, and we all like to have fun together.
MBASchooled: What factor did your career goals/interests play in deciding on Foster?
I was pretty set on wanting to work in the intersection between business and policy post-MBA. Obviously this is not a typical MBA career trajectory, so I felt like going to school in a city where I could network on my own was really important. I was also very encouraged by Foster’s 99% job placement rate.
MBASchooled: What resources, programs or information were helpful to you in making your decision?
Welcome Weekend was a great way to get to know the Foster community and was really helpful to me as I made my decision. While this year admitted students won’t be able to come to our beautiful campus in person, I am hopeful that Foster’s amazing culture will shine through in the upcoming Virtual Welcome Weekend.
MBASchooled: Looking back on your first year of business school at Foster, in what way did this experience meet or exceed your expectations?
I’ve loved my experience at Foster and would say it definitely exceeded my expectations. I’ve made friends who I know will stay in my life for years to come, I’ve learned a ton both personally and professionally, and Seattle has really started to feel like home.
MBASchooled: What advice do you have for those who are deciding on where they want to attend business school?
I’m sure it’s so hard right now to make a decision about business school without the opportunity to participate in a visit program like Foster’s Welcome Weekend. That being said, before I visited any schools, I had a feeling that Foster would be the right school for me. So on that, I’d say, trust your gut. Try to learn as much as you can about the schools you’re deciding between, but you’ll probably have a gut-feeling about one of them. This is a perfect time to honor that!
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