UW Foster Launches Master of Science in Entrepreneurship

A new 12-month Master of Science in Entrepreneurship program is being offered by the UW Foster School of Business and the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship with the first cohort starting in June 2017.

While the domestic application deadline is February 28, the international application deadline is a month earlier on January 27.

UW Foster says the graduate-level program focuses on the core foundations of business. The courses are centred on the entrepreneurial process and lean thinking—the elements th will make you a better entrepreneur.

The participants would be able to avail of connections and advice from leading Seattle entrepreneurs and investors. You will also be working with the School’s best entrepreneurship faculty and startup lecturers besides connecting with the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship’s resources and competitions. A core group of Seattle entrepreneurs will be the mentors and you will have access to venture capitalists, angel investors, and attorneys

While the domestic application deadline is February 28, the international application deadline is a month earlier on January 27.

Who is the Program Meant For?

The program is for people who have an idea that they are passionate about validating and developing. The participants may be drawn from a college senior in engineering, arts and sciences, or informatics with a real drive to bring an idea to fruition or someone with 5–10 years of experience in a company or startup and now ready to invest in the startup of your own.

You, as a participant, would learn, among other things, the difference between a good idea and great business, about finding a market gap that people will actually pay you to solve.

You would also learn how to quickly test your idea without expending large sums of money, pricing the product, hiring the right type of people and managing the startup funds.

You would also be made aware of the common challenges that bedevil startups and how to avoid them besides dealing with and benefiting from competition.

Admission Criteria

Applicants must have completed the equivalent of a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. The minimum GPA is 3.0 for the last 90-quarter or 60-semester credits. Studies conducted outside of the U.S. do not need to be converted to a four point scale, but transcripts should be translated to English.

Application Process

You must create your online application profile via the UW Graduate Admissions website. After creating your profile, you will be asked to select program information. Select your application type: “Graduate”and program: “Business Administration – Foster School of Business – MS in Entrepreneurship”. Indicate your desired entry date (e.g. Summer 2017).

Next is a Personal Statement (750 words maximum) to describe your past entrepreneurial experience and the factors that have influenced your decision to become an entrepreneur.

Two short essays of 500 words each are to be submitted. In the first essay. You have to describe the 5 to 7 skills/traits you think an entrepreneur must have and then rank yourself (1-5, with 5 being high) against that list. You also have to give a brief explaintion why you gave yourself that score.

For the second essay, you have to choose one of these 2 questions: What company, currently in existence, do you wish you’d started? Why? Or what problem that currently exists in the world would you most like to solve? How would you begin?

Next is creating a short video (60-90 seconds) to answer one of these questions: What’s unique about you? Would you rather be lucky or smart? Are entrepreneurs born or made? And which one are you?

Then there is the resume. It should be a complete summary of your education, key student activities, and professional work history (if applicable) in reverse chronological format. You have to submit a copy of the unofficial transcripts along with the on-line application.

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The GMAT or GRE are not required for applicants with an undergraduate degree or higher. However, individuals with scores from 2012 or later may choose to submit them for admission consideration. A GMAT/GRE score, or lack of a GMAT/GRE score, will neither be an advantage nor a disadvantage.

A non-refundable application fee of $85 must be paid by credit card through the online application system.

For applicants whose complete application, including all supplementary materials, is submitted by the application deadline, an admissions decision will be provided in March 2017 (date to be determined). All communication regarding the status of your application, including admission decisions, will be through email only.

The total tuition for the program is $24,900 for residents and $38,900 for non-residents. Tuition payments are paid quarterly and due by the Tuition/Fee Assessment Deadline. Admitted students are required to pay a $1,500 non-refundable and non-transferable tuition deposit. This deposit is applied to your summer quarter tuition balance.

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