After spending seven years in the retail industry, Sasha Duchin (Foster, ‘22) decided to get her MBA to pursue other functional and business opportunities in the retail and consumer industry. Ultimately, she decided to attend the University of Washington (Foster) MBA program, and also serves as an MBA Student Admissions Ambassador. During this conversation, Sasha spoke about her desire to get an MBA, and why she chose Foster. She also shared advice for how prospective MBA applicants can choose the right MBA program.
Name: Sasha Duchin
Year: 2022
Hometown: Menlo Park, CA
Career Interests: Brand Management, Marketing, or Consulting
MBASchooled: What did you do before business school, and why did you choose to apply?
One of the things I am most passionate about is creating experiences for the consumer. I spent the last seven years of my career on the front lines of the retail industry, working for iconic brands like Target and Stitch Fix. Over my career, I have enjoyed getting great in-store experience that involved merchandising, leading teams, and being a complete business owner of my departments. I also loved working closely with the consumer to make personalized experiences. I wanted my next position to be one where I could still be consumer-facing but also run the back end of any business. I also wanted to continue to explore other opportunities in different industries other than retail. This led me to Foster and to pursue brand management.
MBASchooled: When did you find out when you got admitted? How did you navigate your decision process if you were evaluating multiple schools?
I was admitted to Foster at the end of March of 2020, right in the middle of the lockdown with COVID. As I evaluated offers from various business schools, I assessed my desired criteria for the community, location, and academics. I had gone to a large school for my undergraduate degree and loved it, but I was looking for a smaller program where I could make personalized connections with the majority of my classmates.
I wanted to attend a program in a city that I would enjoy living in for at least two years (if not longer) and that was nearby several of my target companies. Since I come from a non-traditional background, academics were also important to me, so I wanted to go to a school where I would be challenged.
MBASchooled: What were the most important questions you asked in order to help make your admissions decision?
A few that come to mind:
- Can you provide some examples that showcase the culture of the Foster program?
- What is the relationship like between the first and second years at Foster?
- What are some of your favorite things that you have done with your classmates academically and socially?
- What has been your favorite class and why?
- How does career management support you in your job search?
- I made sure that I spoke with several students from both classes to make sure I got the best picture possible. Especially since it was during COVID and I couldn’t visit the campus in person.
MBASchooled: Who did you talk to that was most helpful in learning information to help you make a decision? What questions did you ask?
I spoke to my friends, family, and some current MBA students to help make my decision. I remember one second-year student was very helpful to me during this time; she had an internship similar to the one I had in mind, and she was taking a full-time offer with the company after graduation. From her, I was able to get a great sense of the community at Foster as well as her recruiting and academic experience.
MBASchooled: What’s something you’ve learned about Foster this semester, that you didn’t know when you made your admissions decision last year?
It is not necessarily new information, but I would say when you hear about the stories of a supportive community, you can only imagine it. Experiencing it has been the best surprise. The Foster community is so supportive, and I experience it on every level. From both first and second years, career management, program office, and alumni. The MBA experience can throw a lot at you at one time, so having a support system has been invaluable to me.
MBASchooled: Now that you’ve been at Foster for a semester, what’s been your favorite experience, and why?
It is hard to choose my favorite experience since there have been so many. One experience that comes to mind is working closely with our VPs of Wellness to put on a breathwork/meditation session which I led last quarter. Wellness has been important to me over the last few years, and it has been a topic of discussion throughout my experience at Foster.
I loved this experience because I was able to share something I am passionate about with my classmates. Some of them had never experienced it before, so it was great to share my knowledge and support wellness for our community.
MBASchooled: Oftentimes, the word “culture” gets thrown around when talking about MBA programs. Can you characterize the culture at Foster?, and share an example of an experience that you think personifies this?
At Foster, I am surrounded by bright and humble people who care about everyone succeeding. We are supportive of one another. We are at the height of recruiting season, which means that several classmates are interviewing for the same positions, and some classmates are receiving rejections while others are receiving offer letters.
Classmates who are interviewing for the same position will prepare together and communicate throughout the interview process. We support one another through our rejections and a classmate is always there if you need someone to talk to. Lastly, we make sure to celebrate the interview invites and the job offers!
MBASchooled: Obviously, it’s a little more challenging to find out what a school or program is like as a result of COVID-19. What advice do you have, or what specific actions would you recommend admitted students take, to really get to know a school before selecting a school?
It is a challenging time we are living in. My advice would be: if you are torn between schools, talk to a wide variety of first and second-year students in each program to get a sense of the school. When speaking with the first-years, ask yourself if these are people you want to attend a program with and if you see them as your classmates.
First-years can talk about what it has been like to be in business school during COVID and what they have enjoyed about the process. Second-years are great resources to give you an overview of the entire program. Outside of that, I would really look at your true goals for the MBA program and make sure that the school you choose can help achieve those goals. Your goals might have to do with location, culture, academics, recruiting, etc. Everyone will have a different mix of what is most important to them, so try to choose a school that aligns with what you are looking for.
MBASchooled: As an MBA Ambassador, what are some of the most common questions that you get from prospective students? What are some questions you wish more prospective students would ask?
I love being an MBA Ambassador for the variety of conversations I have with prospective students. Some of the most common questions I have received have been:
- What has virtual learning been like?
- What is the admissions team looking for? (My answer is: for you to be your authentic self!)
- What is the culture at Foster?
I would love for prospective students to ask more about the clubs on campus and the different panels that we have access to. Business school has so much to offer, so looking at all aspects of the program through the lenses of professionalism, academics, and social connection is a great way to understand the program. But above all, just keep asking questions!
MBASchooled: What advice do you have for admitted students on how they can make the best decision?
Business school is an investment in time, money, and yourself. Do your own research but come with an open mind and a sense of curiosity. There is no right or wrong path–you have multiple paths and journeys. Choose the one most aligned with your values and goals so you stay true to who you are.