Trent Alsin, Washington Foster’s MBA Class of 2024
Age: 29
Hometown: Olympia, WA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Whitworth University; Economics
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): Military (Air Force and Space Force), Acquisitions/Program Management, 6 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I have received some great training and education through the military on how to manage people and organizations, but I wanted to deepen my understanding by learning from academic and industry experts at business school.
Why did you choose Washington Foster? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I only applied to three schools in total, and Foster was my top choice from the beginning. I wanted a small class atmosphere with the resources of a large research institution, so this ruled out a lot of the other top business school programs. The Seattle area was also a huge draw for me, since I would like to eventually settle in the Pacific Northwest.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Foster MBA Class of 2024?
I think I bring a unique perspective to the Class of 2024 as one of the first transfers from the Air Force to the Space Force after its creation. I have gotten to be a part of the historic standup of a new service, and that’s something that very few people will have the opportunity to experience.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I did a road trip in college with a group of friends from Spokane, WA, to Santa Monica, CA, to play in a Spikeball tournament. We drove 30 hours through the night each way because we needed to be back in time for class on Monday. And we definitely did not win.
Post-MBA career interests:
I’ll be returning to active-duty service and am excited to instruct within the Department of Management at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I would apply for my prioritized schools in the earliest window available. There’s really not a reason to wait if you know you’re interested in business school, and you can always look into deferral if you need to.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
Relax! I put a lot of pressure on myself during the application process, but I wish I’d taken a breath and acknowledged that some things are out of my control.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Writing all those essays starts to drag, but it helped me to focus on the fact that they were an opportunity to introduce myself, my interests, and my passions to the admissions committee. It was important to me to be authentic, because I wanted to end up at a school that aligned with my values.
What is your initial impression of the Foster students/culture/community?
Love it! I appreciate that it doesn’t feel like an internally competitive culture; rather, my peers are supportive and seek to help each other grow. I also appreciate the emphasis on contributing to the local community, which was something that was emphasized during the admissions process but now I’m getting to see it lived out by the community.
What is one thing you have learned about Foster that has surprised you?
The professors are deeply involved with our education. I expected TAs to be handling more responsibilities, but it’s been awesome to have so much interaction with the excellent professors here.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Balancing heavy coursework with having a life!
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I’m excited to build relationships with my peers. This is a unique opportunity as an active duty member to connect with incredibly impressive colleagues from diverse backgrounds and learn from their experiences.
Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your personal application or admissions process in any way? If so, how?
It prevented me from getting to visit the campuses of my top choices. I think this made the admissions process and people that much more important, since I needed to rely on them to answer my questions and help me understand what life would look like as a Foster student.
