Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Student Life

We’re happy to answer your questions if you don’t find them listed in our FAQ section. Contact us at mba@u.washington.edu or 1-866-778-9622.

I need to take next quarter off. How do I apply for a leave of absence?
First, discuss your situation with Barby in the MBA Program Office. They can advise you on whether you need to go on leave or help you find other solutions (such as temporarily decreasing your course load). If you do need to go on leave, complete a Petition for On-Leave Status form available from the MBA program office and submit it to the Graduate School before the first day of the quarter in which you wish to be on leave. You can apply for a leave of up to four quarters.

How can I find a teaching assistantship?
Each academic department (both inside and outside the Business School) handles the hiring of teaching assistants independently and has its own hiring process. You should contact whatever department you are interested in directly to find out what their procedures are. Most TA positions are posted on the Husky Jobs Web site. NOTE: At the Foster Business School, generally only the Accounting and ISOM Departments hire MBA students as TAs.

How can I get a letter verifying my student status/degree completion?
Send a request for such a letter to Barby or Linda in the MBA Program Office, indicating precisely what information the letter should include.

How can I request a classroom for a student/club meeting?
If your meeting will be held during the lunch hour, contact the MBAA Executive Vice President about the availability of rooms. If you are holding your meeting at another time of day, email times@u.washington.edu to request a room. Be sure to specify how large a room you need and if you need computer projection equipment. NOTE: At certain times of the day, classrooms will be fully booked with classes and will not available for student club use.

How do I add an event to the online calendar of events?
Contact the MBAA Secretary to have your event added to the calendar.

How do I get reimbursed for a club activity?
First approach your club treasurer who can request reimbursement through the MBAA Treasurer.

How do I get parking passes and gifts for guests/speakers for our club event?
Parking passes are available for VIP guests and speakers for club events through the front desk of the MBA Program Office. Each club has a pre-arranged allocation of passes, but must provide the names of parking pass recipients to the MBA Program Office. Gifts for visitors and speakers are coordinated through the MBAA Executive Vice President.

When does my e-mail account expire after I graduate?
Your e-mail account will remain valid for one quarter plus 10 days after you graduate.  You can also choose to convert your e-mail account to a permanent alumni account by following the instructions on the UW Alumni Association Web site.

Why can’t I see one of my courses on my Blackboard screen?
There may be a couple of reasons for this. One possibility is that the professor is not using Blackboard for the course and you may want to check with your instructor about his/her use of Blackboard. If the instructor is using Blackboard, another possibility is that the instructor has not yet made the course available to you on Blackboard. A final possibility is that you have not been enrolled in the course on the Blackboard system. Contact SPOC@bschool.washington.edu to resolve Blackboard issues.

Why don’t I appear on the Dean’s List for last quarter even though I got a 3.7 GPA?
Having a 3.7 quarterly GPA is only one of the criteria that determine which students are on the Dean’s List. While students on the list must have at least a 3.7 GPA, the other criteria include completing a minimum of 12 graded (on a 4.0 scale) credits and having a GPA that falls within the top 10 percent of GPAs for their class.

How do I obtain student health insurance?
Please visit the UW Student Insurance Web site for information about signing up for health insurance. You sign up for insurance on MyUW when you register for classes. You must sign up for insurance before the seventh day of the each quarter.

Is my insurance valid during my summer internship and after I graduate?
Unless you sign up for annual insurance, your student insurance is only valid during quarters in which you are registered for classes. If you sign up for annual insurance, your policy will be valid during the summer (either during your internship or during the summer after you graduate).

How can I obtain an official copy of my transcript?
You can obtain an official transcript through the UW Registrar’s Office.

Can I continue working while pursuing the MBA?
Students are strongly discouraged from working during the first year of the program due to the intensive structure of the MBA core. However, many students pursue graduate assistantships or other part-time work opportunities during their second year, as the class schedule is more flexible. If you plan to continue working full time while pursuing the MBA degree, you should consider the Evening MBA Program, a part-time program with a schedule designed to accommodate working professionals.

Do you have campus housing? Where do MBA student usually live?
The University of Washington Housing and Food Services (HFS) offer on-campus dorms, off-campus student housing for singles, and off-campus family housing. Graduate student housing is particularly attractive to students who bring their families with them to Seattle, however the waitlists for Married Student and Family housing can be long; students are encouraged to apply early to the UW MBA Program and file the HFS application as soon as an offer of admission is received. The majority of MBA students live in non-UW housing in one of Seattle’s many unique neighborhoods. The bus system to and from the UW campus is very convenient.

How many hours per week will I have to devote to the Full-time MBA Program?
The Full-time MBA Program is intensive, involving a full schedule Monday through Friday. Generally students are on campus at least 40 hours per week, with an average of 20 hours per week devoted to studying or other business school-related activities outside of class.

What is the required attire for Business School events and for classes?
Although the general atmosphere of the business school is casual, there are many events for which professional attire and demeanor are expected. This is particularly true of off-campus events such as company visits, meetings of professional organizations, or dinners. Students are advised to always obtain information about appropriate attire prior to attending any event.