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Duke Fuqua MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples

Discover everything you need to know about crafting standout MBA essays for Duke Fuqua.

Posted March 1, 2024

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Are you considering applying to Duke University's Fuqua School of Business for your MBA degree? One crucial aspect of the application process is writing compelling essays that showcase your unique qualifications and suitability for the program . In this comprehensive Duke Fuqua MBA Essays Guide, we will provide you with an overview of the application process, offer valuable tips for crafting outstanding essays , and present you with examples of successful essays that have earned admission to Fuqua. Let's dive in!

Duke Fuqua Application and the Role of Essays

Before we delve into the specifics of the essays, let's first understand the overall application process at Duke Fuqua. Alongside academic achievements and professional experience, the essays play a significant role in assessing your fit for the MBA program. Admissions officers use your essays to gain deeper insights into your personality, motivations, leadership potential, and ability to contribute positively to the Fuqua community.

When it comes to crafting your essays, it is crucial to approach them as an opportunity to portray your authentic self and highlight your unique qualities. The admissions committee is looking for individuals who not only have the academic and professional credentials but also possess the personal attributes that align with the program's core values.

One of the core values at Duke Fuqua is teamwork. They believe that collaboration is essential for success in today's business world. Therefore, when writing your essays, it is important to showcase instances where you have worked effectively in a team setting. Highlight your ability to collaborate, communicate, and motivate others towards a common goal. Provide specific examples that demonstrate your skills in building relationships, resolving conflicts, and fostering a supportive and inclusive team environment.

Another core value that Duke Fuqua emphasizes is community involvement. They believe that business leaders have a responsibility to make a positive impact on society. Therefore, in your essays, discuss your experiences and initiatives that showcase your commitment to giving back to the community. Whether it's through volunteering, mentoring, or leading social impact projects, demonstrate how you have made a difference and how you plan to continue doing so as a member of the Fuqua community.

Lastly, leadership development is a key aspect of the Duke Fuqua MBA program. They are looking for individuals who have the potential to become effective leaders and bring about positive change. In your essays, highlight your leadership experiences and the impact you have had on others. Discuss the challenges you faced, the strategies you employed, and the outcomes you achieved. Show how you have grown as a leader and how you plan to further develop your leadership skills at Duke Fuqua.

Remember, the essays are not just an opportunity to showcase your achievements but also to provide the admissions committee with a glimpse into your character , values, and aspirations. Take the time to reflect on your experiences, goals, and what makes you unique. Craft your essays thoughtfully, ensuring that each response is tailored to Duke Fuqua's values and demonstrates your fit for the program. Good luck!

Duke Fuqua Essay Prompts (2023-2024)

For the 2023-2024 application cycle, Duke Fuqua has provided specific essay prompts. Let's take a closer look at each one and provide you with expert tips on how to approach them:

Prompt 1: [Insert Prompt 1]

When considering Prompt 1, it is important to reflect on your personal and professional experiences that have shaped your aspirations. Think about the challenges you have faced and the lessons you have learned along the way. Duke Fuqua values individuals who are driven and have a clear sense of purpose. Use this essay to showcase your goals and how they align with the values and culture of Duke Fuqua.

Additionally, consider discussing how your background and experiences have prepared you for success in the specific field you are interested in. Highlight any relevant skills or accomplishments that demonstrate your potential for making a meaningful impact in your chosen career path.

Prompt 2: [Insert Prompt 2]

Prompt 2 offers an opportunity to delve into your leadership experiences and how they have shaped your perspective. Reflect on a time when you had to take charge and make difficult decisions. What were the challenges you faced, and how did you navigate through them?

It is important to not only describe the situation but also to analyze your actions and the impact they had. Did you inspire others? Did you face any resistance? How did you handle it? Reflecting on these aspects will help you showcase your leadership skills and your ability to bring about positive change.

Prompt 3: [Insert Prompt 3]

Prompt 3 invites you to share your experiences working in a team and how you have contributed to its success. Think about a time when you collaborated with others to achieve a common goal. What role did you play in the team, and how did you contribute to its overall effectiveness?

Highlight any challenges or conflicts that arose during the team project and discuss how you managed to overcome them. Did you take on a leadership role or support others in their roles? Reflect on the lessons you learned from this experience and how it has shaped your understanding of teamwork.

Remember, the essay prompts are an opportunity for you to showcase your unique qualities and experiences. Take the time to reflect on your past and present, and use these prompts as a platform to articulate your aspirations and how Duke Fuqua can help you achieve them.

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List of Expert Tips for Each Fuqua Essay Prompt

Now that we've outlined the essay prompts, let's explore some expert tips to help you craft exceptional responses:

Tips for Prompt 1: [Insert Tips for Prompt 1]
Tips for Prompt 2: [Insert Tips for Prompt 2]
Tips for Prompt 3: [Insert Tips for Prompt 3]

MBA Essay Tips: How to Write Compelling Essays

Writing powerful and persuasive essays requires careful planning and attention to detail. Here are some general tips to consider as you begin the writing process:

Showcase your uniqueness : Highlight what sets you apart from other applicants, emphasizing your distinct experiences, skills, and perspectives.
Be authentic and genuine: Avoid exaggeration or fabrications. Admissions officers are looking for authenticity and truthfulness.
Structure your essays coherently: Create a logical flow of ideas with clear introduction, body, and conclusion sections.
Support your claims with evidence: Back up your statements with concrete examples, statistics, or personal anecdotes.
Proofread and revise: Ensure your essays are polished and free of grammatical and spelling errors. Seek feedback from trusted advisors or mentors.

Duke Fuqua Essay Examples From Success Admits — With Analysis

To provide you with inspiration, we have gathered some exceptional Duke Fuqua MBA essay examples from successful applicants who were admitted to the program. Each example will be accompanied by an analysis of what made the essay effective and compelling.

Duke Fuqua Essay FAQs

Throughout the application process, you may have questions regarding the essays. Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers to help clarify any doubts you may have:

FAQ 1: [Insert FAQ 1]
FAQ 2: [Insert FAQ 2]
FAQ 3: [Insert FAQ 3]

By following this comprehensive Duke Fuqua MBA Essays Guide, you will gain valuable insights and practical tips to create compelling essays that effectively convey your qualifications and motivations. Remember, the essays provide an excellent opportunity to leave a lasting impression on the admissions committee and maximize your chances of securing a spot at Duke Fuqua's prestigious MBA program. Best of luck with your application!

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2023-2024 Duke Fuqua MBA Essay Analysis + Downloadable Sample Essays

Jun 27, 2023

Who is Duke Fuqua looking for?
How should I answer the essay questions?
Make sure you get into Duke Fuqua

UPDATE : This article was originally posted on October 26, 2018. It has been updated with new information and tips below.

Located in the Research Triangle, one of the greatest concentrations of academic output anywhere in the world, Duke is a haven for collaboratively-minded professionals who seek to have an immersive MBA experience and truly bond with their professors and classmates.

Considering its focus on collaboration, diversity, and community engagement, Duke is a popular choice when it comes to elite MBA programs, meaning it’s no easy task to win a spot in its small class. With Fuqua’s accelerated 1-year MBA, competition is more difficult than ever to join Duke’s next incoming class.

Unlike the majority of other business schools, Duke Fuqua also offers Early Action admissions for students who are sure Duke is their first choice. This does come with certain conditions, so make sure you read up on exactly what Early Action means before applying.

That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your Duke admissions essays to stand out. We’ve rounded up our best tips and links to Berkeley Haas MBA sample essays to ensure you give your Duke Fuqua application your best shot.

1. Who is Duke Fuqua looking for?

(Photo courtesy of @dukefuqua on Instagram)

“You’ll find the Fuqua Daytime MBA program is challenging and very rewarding. Acceptance is based on the ability to excel academically—and in the business community. Our students have a desire to bring out the best in others and succeed while making positive changes in the world.” Duke Fuqua Admissions

Every year, Duke’s admissions team sorts through thousands of applications to find the perfect admits for its class of about 400 students . With a strong emphasis on diversity, teamwork and collaboration, there is no “standard” student at Duke. Surprisingly, in contrast to many US schools, the average age for the Class of 2024 was 29. The average admitted student had a GMAT score ranging from 680-760 and the average GRE was 318.

Beyond the impressive statistics, though, Duke is also a highly community-driven school and tends to look for a certain set of characteristics in prospective students. According to Duke’s admissions committee, these are:

If this sounds like a community in which you’d be right at home, you’ll first have to prove you’ve got what it takes by successfully answering Duke’s admissions essay questions.

2. How should I answer the essay questions?

Before starting your Duke essays, we highly suggest you review Duke’s guidelines on telling your story . It’s clear that Duke wants to learn about more than just your greatest achievements but also wants to see the person behind the impressive CV.

Considering Duke’s relentless focus on storytelling, you might also want to check out our post on how to tell high-impact stories that wow the admissions committee.

Be sure to also keep in mind the following formatting and content tips, as following instructions is also a crucial part of any strong MBA application.

2.1. Required short-answer essay Tips

Instructions: Answer the following question in 100 words.

What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first-choice career plan and your alternate plan.

This year, Fuqua has kept it simple, retaining its questions from the 2020-2021 application cycle. In line with this decision, the “goals” essay that Fuqua introduced last year has remained the same. Considering the short word count, your greatest challenge is going to be providing a complete picture of your future ambitions as concisely as possible.

The first part of the question asks you for your goals while retaining last year’s angle on what you’ll do if your goals don’t quite work out. For this answer, given the length, make sure to be direct. Include what you plan to do career-wise after your MBA in terms of job title and industry.

Statements like: “I want to be an executive” will not be specific enough for this task.

You don’t need to mention specific companies you want to work for unless you’re going sponsored , and then it’s good information to include. If you have space, you can also include why you are interested in pursuing these goals.

TOP TIP : Goals are an essential part of your MBA application, so if you’re not sure how to define your goals for your MBA application, check out our post on the topic here !

Furthermore, it’s always good to have a backup plan, especially considering the tough economic realities present in many places in the world these days. For your Plan B, make sure it relates in some way to your “official” goal so as not to undermine your goals statements.

For example, if your goal is to work in Private Equity, but your Plan B is to start an eco-travel company, the admissions committee is going to wonder just how committed you were to those original goals in the first place.

However, a job that allows you to achieve the same impact, just in a different format, would be ideal.

For example, if you want to work in a biotechnology startup to learn best practices and shape health care, a good backup might be working in a more established biotechnology firm and later making the jump to an earlier-stage venture.

2.2. Essay 1 – 25 Random Things – Tips

The ‘Team Fuqua’ spirit and community is one of the things that sets the MBA experience apart, and it is a concept that extends beyond the student body to include faculty, staff, and administration. Please share with us “25 Random Things” about you. The Admissions Committee wants to get to know YOU – beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript. Share with us important life experiences, your hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you who you are.

Your list will be limited to 2 pages (750 words maximum). Please present your response in list form, numbered 1 to 25. Some points may be brief, while others may be longer.

When detailing this year’s application instructions , Allison Jamison, Duke Fuqua’s Assistant Dean of Admissions, mentioned that this is the essay their admissions team likes reading the most.

It’s also true for our team. Year after year, helping candidates select which fun facts to share about themselves is one of our favorite tasks.

Our best advice here is to have a little fun with this list . After all, they could have asked “How do you feel you can contribute to the diversity of the Fuqua community?” but gave you this more open format instead.

Additionally, the admissions committee encourages applicants to be creative . This means you can include pictures, links to portfolios, and other multimedia. While you don’t want to overdo it, use the 25 things as a way to show off who you are!

Before starting, we suggest you read this post from former Director of Admissions Megan Overby. In it, she talks about why Fuqua created this question, and it’s still just as relevant today.

Then, start thinking about what makes you, YOU. This could include meaningful tipping points in your life, such as a childhood mission trip that ignited your passion for volunteer work, or even more lighthearted information like the origins of your nickname or favorite soccer team. The list is truly endless, but ensure you have a good variety of topics on your list and that you complement (rather than simply repeat) elements of your application that you’ve already discussed elsewhere.

Finally, if you can think of any meaningful way to connect a few of your “things” to the Duke Fuqua experience, this can add a great level of depth to your essay. For example, if you mention your extensive volunteer work starting a local women’s empowerment group, perhaps share how you’ll use this experience to contribute to Duke Fuqua’s Association of Women in Business .

Need more guidance? Our MBA Resource Center has dozens of Duke Fuqua MBA essays that worked to get our clients admitted to help you plan out a winning Fuqua essay. Our library also includes guides for all top global MBA programs, detailed essay brainstorms, interview tips and mocks, CV templates, and recommendation letter guides. Click to join !

2.3. Essay 2 – Fuqua Community – Tips

Fuqua prides itself on cultivating a culture of engagement. Our students enjoy a wide range of student-led organizations that provide opportunities for leadership development and personal fulfillment, as well as an outlet for contributing to society. Our student-led government, clubs, centers, and events are an integral part of the student culture and to the development of leaders. Based on your understanding of the Fuqua culture, what are 3 ways you expect to contribute at Fuqua?

Your response will be limited to 1 page (500 words maximum).

Just like last year, the Fuqua admissions team makes it clear that you need to state 3 specific ways in which you feel you can contribute to Fuqua (rather than leaving the number of items up to you).

Nailing this essay, in our view, depends on three things: research, sincerity, and brevity.

This is even more challenging, considering the fact that you need to list 3 things in 500 words.

First, you will need to do extensive research. If you don’t know much about the Fuqua community, it’s going to be hard to write a compelling essay about why you feel you belong there.

So first start out by doing your homework. What does Fuqua offer in terms of clubs and initiatives? Why do these motivate you and how do you hope to learn and grow by participating in them? Which parts of Duke’s definition of “Consequential Leaders” do you identify with, and how do you see yourself putting those into practice while at Fuqua? Finally, how can you contribute to the Fuqua community?

We suggest you start by selecting three different elements to focus on in your essay. Then, move on to the second critical element: sincerity. How you express yourself in this essay is as important as showing you did your research.

You may want to use a few past examples that demonstrate just why you’re so passionate about a given topic.

For example, let’s say you visited campus, stayed with current students, and got to experience Fuqua’s community firsthand. Using this as a starting point to discuss what the Fuqua community means to you then continuing by demonstrating how you plan to get involved and add value if given two years rather than just two days on campus is sure to develop into a stellar argument.

Second, make sure you’ve got the tone right. Duke Fuqua wants to hear your story , so imagine you’re sitting across the table from a current student, a friend, or even a family member and are explaining to them why you’re so passionate about Duke. This approach makes the letter feel more personal and genuine, helping you win the heart and mind of the Fuqua admissions committee.

Third, make your essay as concise as possible. You want to make sure to give space to fully explain your different examples and ensure you tie each to the Duke community, but this is no place to wax poetic about your love for Duke. Writing such a short essay can be tricky, though, so make sure you review our post on how to write outstanding short essays here !

2.4. Optional Essay Tips

If you feel there are circumstances of which the admissions committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g. unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance). Note that you should NOT upload additional essays nor additional recommendations in this area. The Optional Information section is intended to provide the admissions committee with insight into your circumstances only.

This is not a place for you to retell your life story or sum up your interest in Duke or need for an MBA. It is also not a place to copy and paste a strong essay you wrote for another school. Make sure you focus only on weak spots and also discuss what steps you have taken or took to rectify the weaknesses.

Find additional tips and tricks to help you master the optional essay here .

Do you have other lived experiences that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee that may give us insight into your opportunities, challenges, and/or achievements? If so, please share 200 words or less explaining how those experiences might affect your contributions to Fuqua.

There is really no “right” answer to this question. We have seen clients discuss how growing up in a low-income context fueled them to overcome adversity and, later, share this success with other people in their communities. Other clients have talked about their varied multicultural experiences gave them a unique view of the world.

If you do not have any relevant context, however, it is ok to leave this blank.

Looking for Duke Fuqua MBA essay examples? Check out our real sample essays that got our clients admitted here .

3. Make sure you get into Duke Fuqua

One of the most common mistakes we see in MBA essays is that candidates fail to tell compelling stories . This is important because if your stories are not compelling, they will not be persuasive. At the same time, they must be backed by strong examples that establish a track record of success and prove to the admissions committees why you belong at their school.

Striking this balance between content and creativity can be tough, however, as succeeding means not only choosing the right stories but ensuring they are told in an optimal manner.

This is why our iterative developmental feedback process here at Ellin Lolis Consulting helps you mold your message through the application of our storytelling expertise until it reflects exactly what makes your profile stand out and show fit with your target program.

That’s the approach we took with Andre, who was admitted to Duke. In their words, “I can’t fully describe what an amazing job Ellin has done with me, but I will try. A good admission consultant can put you in a good school if you have a 700+ GMAT, but an excellent admission consultant can put you in a top school with a 660, and this is what Ellin has done with me.

Her job is professional and complete, from the beginning – developing a road map, millstones, and essays – to the end – preparing for interviews and scholarships. Thank you very much, Ellin, for changing my life and making my dream come of going to Duke come true.”

Not only can you take advantage of our editing expertise through multiple edits – you can also benefit from it after a single review! If your budget is tight, our editors will be happy to help polish your text as much as possible and leave “bonus comments” so you can keep working on it on your own!

No matter how long we work with you, we will always ensure your essays shine . Sign up to work with our team of storytelling experts and get accepted.

4. Deadlines

Here are the deadlines for the 2023-2024 season. You can access the online application here .

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before you go

Help us keep in touch — it won’t take long, tips on writing your "25 things" essay, admissions counselor claire garst has some suggestions.

If you've taken a look at an application for any of the programs we offer at Duke's Fuqua School of Business, then a unique essay prompt has likely caught your eye—"25 Random Things About Yourself." Yes, you read that correctly. While we're interested in learning about your reasons for applying to Fuqua and your future goals, the most important thing we want to know is what makes you, YOU.

We read hundreds of applications per admissions cycle, and many people have similar motivations for studying quantitative management—but no one has had the same life experiences as you. Sharing your experiences with us is the easiest way to make your application stand out! Most of my teammates in admissions save reading the "25 Things" essay until last when we review applications. We're really rooting for you to demonstrate how interesting you are!

After reading many "25 Things" lists from amazing applicants—and even creating my own list—I have a few tips on what makes a great "25 Things" essay.

Think of it as a list, not an essay. We truly mean it when we say to number your points 1-25 and that some points can be just one sentence.
Avoid repeating what we already know about you. The work experience and leadership and involvement sections of the application, as well as your resume and transcript, tell us everything we need to know about your academic and professional accomplishments. Reiterating that you graduated top in your class or that you were the student body president wastes valuable space you could use to share something else about yourself.
Make it personal. For example, many of our applicants are very well-traveled, so we commonly see statements like, "I have visited 38 of the United States and 17 additional countries." A more specific and personal demonstration of your wanderlust would be, "I have visited 38 of the United States and 17 additional countries, but my most memorable trip was when I traveled to Italy the summer after graduating from college. I saved up during college by working a part-time job to afford that trip." Here, you don't just tell us you're well-traveled; you show us your strong work ethic. Plus, it's unlikely another applicant would share this exact same story!
Phone a friend. Ask your family and friends—those who know you best—for help identifying your most unique traits and interesting stories. Something you may not think is noteworthy may be someone else's favorite thing about you!
Take your time. This list shouldn't be written at 11:00 pm the night of the application deadline. Come up with as many facts as you can for your first draft, and then think on it for a week or so. During this time, get help from friends and family, reflect on childhood memories, make a list of your favorite anecdotes, and consider your hobbies. Then revisit your list, and you'll likely have plenty of great inspiration to reach the magic number 25!

I hope these tips help as you begin to tackle this very fun essay prompt. For more inspiration, check out this post from some of our Daytime MBA bloggers. Happy writing!

Homepage > MBA Admissions > MBA Application Process > Duke Fuqua MBA Essays – Analysis & tips for 2023 intake

Duke Fuqua MBA Essays – Analysis & tips for 2023 intake

Posted by Suheb Hussain | Oct 13, 2022 | Business Schools , GMAT Focus Edition , MBA Admissions , MBA Application Process

Duke Fuqua MBA program that seeks ‘leaders of consequence’ is known for a culture that is “more supportive, more collaborative, more immersive and more diverse.”Fuqua has made a few minor changes to the 2022-23 application. The word limits for Essay 2 and the optional essay have been increased from 300 words to 500 words. Allison Jamison , Assistant Dean of Admissions, explains the reasons for the changes: “We wanted to be sure applicants had the space needed to be able to explain not just what activities or groups they want to be involved in, but why they want to be involved with them. So take advantage of the additional space!” Additionally, the 25 random things essay now comes with a word limit of 750 words.

Fuqua continues to require one LOR. You may also submit one optional LOR.

Reapplicants can replicate their application from last year, but they can update any information they like. Reapplicants also have the option of submitting one or two new letters of recommendation if they wish.

In this article, Poonam Tandon from myEssayReview, who has been helping students with their MBA applications since 2011, shares her tips on the Duke Fuqua MBA essay for the 2023 intake. But, let’s first take a look at the essay guidelines and application deadlines.

Guidelines for the Fuqua MBA Essay Questions 2022-23

The basic guidelines for all the Duke Fuqua MBA Essays are as follows:

You are required to use 1.5-line spacing, and the font size should not be smaller than 10-points.
Respond concisely and fully
Do not repeat the questions in the essay document that you upload with your application
Two Short answer questions – 500-character equivalent to 100 words each
Two Long answer questions – Not more than two pages each
Optional Essay – One page
Re-applicants Essay – Not more than two pages
Do not copy-paste your responses as all the essays are scanned using plagiarism detection software
The short question responses should be written in the space provided on the Duke MBA application form
The applicant needs to upload the long question responses, where they would be able to preview their answers once the document is uploaded.

Application Deadlines 2022-23: Duke Fuqua MBA Program

The following are the deadlines for the Duke Fuqua Full-time MBA program:

Learn more about the Duke’s Fuqua School of Business MBA Program Class Profile, Employment Reports, and Notable Alumni .

Duke MBA Essays Analysis and Tips

The Duke Fuqua MBA program made a few changes in the essay questions this year. The first longer response question, the iconic 25 random things remains unchanged.

But, the required length of the second longer response essay has been reduced from two pages to only 300 words. Additionally, the short answer questions have also been further revised this year.

Instead of two short questions, the candidates will be answering only one short answer question this year. The three essays allow applicants to cover a lot of ground about their personal and professional traits and accomplishments.

The first required essay is Duke’s favorite for many years- ’25 Random Things about Yourself’ prompt; the second essay prompt asks applicants about their ‘fit’ with ‘Team Fuqua’, while the third one asks them about their post-MBA goal and their alternate plan.

Required Short Answer Question

Instructions: Answer the following question in 500 characters only (the equivalent of about 100 words).

What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first-choice career plan and your alternate plan. (500 characters, or about 100 words)

For this question, you will elaborate on your post-MBA career goals as well as your alternate plans if your first-choice plans do not materialize. Please identify the position that you hope to hold immediately after your MBA, specifying your role, position, industry, and 1-2 organizations/companies for which you would like to work for. Articulate your goal and explain why this goal is interesting and important to you. Please note that your post-MBA goal shows a logical progression from your current skill set, and skills and knowledge acquired through an MBA degree. Also, make sure that your goals are ambitious as well as realistic.

Then think about your plan B. Duke admits that ‘life is full of uncertainties, and you may come across situations that might prevent you from realizing your post-MBA goals. So you must be prepared for plan B. Please make sure that your alternative career path is not an altogether different path that does not allow you to leverage your skills and experience to the fullest. It should be in alignment with your experience, skills, and knowledge gained from your MBA education.

First Required Essay: 25 Random Things About Yourself

Instructions: Present your response in list form, numbered 1 to 25. Some points may be only a few words, while others may be longer. Your complete list should not exceed two pages.

For context: Fuqua believes different types of people, points of view, and experiences bring out the best in everyone. And above all, we place a premium on succeeding while making a positive impact on businesses, organizations, and the world.

These ways of thinking set the Duke MBA experience apart, and this concept extends beyond the student body to include faculty, staff, and administration.

When a new person joins the Admissions team, we ask that person to share with everyone in the office a list of “25 Random Things About Yourself”. As an Admissions team, we already know the new hire’s professional and academic background, so learning these “25 Random Things” helps us get to know someone’s personality, background, special talents, and more.

In this spirit, the admissions committee also wants to get to know you–beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript.

You can share with us important life experiences, your likes/dislikes, hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you who you are. Share with us your list of “25 Random Things” about YOU.

This question about ‘a list of 25 random things’ about applicants is Duke’s favorite for many years. It is my favorite, as well. For years, I have enjoyed working with applicants on this question as it offers me a glimpse into the ‘fun’ side of their personalities.

As stated in the essay prompt, the purpose of this question is to get to know you–beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript . This means that the admission committee wants you to share with them your ‘ important life experiences, your likes/dislikes, hobbies, achievements, fun facts or anything that helps them understand who you are as a person “.

Thus, the purpose of this essay is to show the admission committee your multidimensional personality.

Over the years, I have noticed that the candidates initially find this question a little daunting and are tempted to discuss their professional accomplishments, but when they dig deeper and begin brainstorming ideas about unique and exciting things about themselves, and the unique personal experiences that have made them who they are, they start enjoying this process of self-discovery.

I advise them to do these brainstorming sessions with their family and friends and ask them what they find interesting and funny about them.

Please note that the word ‘ random’ allows you to include little fun things that you have done or are doing in your day-to-day life, your hobbies/ habits that have become an integral part of your personality.

The unique component of this essay question is the “fun” part of it. So you don’t need to get too serious about yourself. You want to share something about you that draws your reader in.

Also, please resist the temptation of drifting away from your accomplishments, career goals, or leadership experiences because this is NOT what the Admission Committee seeks to know about you through this question. For ideas, you may refer to the following examples on Duke Website:

Examples of “25 Random Things”

25 Interesting Facts About Me
My 25 Random Things
More Random Things

Bottom Line: Be Yourself

Second Required Essay: The Fuqua community and you

Instructions: Your response should be no more than 300 words.

Fuqua prides itself on cultivating a culture of engagement. Our students enjoy a wide range of student-led organizations that provide opportunities for leadership development and personal fulfillment, as well as an outlet for contributing to society. Our student-led government, clubs, centers, and events are an integral part of the student culture and are vital to providing you with a range of experiential learning and individual development experiences.

Based on your understanding of the Fuqua culture, how do you see yourself engaging in and contributing to our community, outside of the classroom?

This essay is primarily about your contribution to the school. Duke emphasizes greatly on how their students will make their community more productive. Hence for this question, you must do your homework and research the school thoroughly.

You need to think beyond your contribution to the classroom and discuss how your involvement in clubs, organizations, and student communities will add value to the program.

In addition to understanding the school’s resources (curriculum, faculty, clubs, organizations, and student activities) through the website, you should reach out to alumni and current students to gain additional insights about the school’s culture and resources.

Please note that it is vital to support your claims about your potential contribution to specific clubs and organizations by specific examples from your past experiences- personal or professional- in the given area.

In order to demonstrate your ‘fit’ with the program, you must showcase what you have done in the past and how you will be a strong contributor to Duke as a student and as an alumnus.

Allison Jamison’s advice: “ Our second essay will still ask you about how you plan to engage with the Fuqua community, but we would like you to limit it to the three most meaningful ways you expect to engage as a student. While there are so many opportunities available, one of the first skills you must develop as a student is how to prioritize what’s most important to you. There will also be a 300-word limit on this essay. Again, we hope this change helps you to focus on things that spark your interest, while also providing the Admissions Committee with helpful insights into the unique contributions you will bring to the class.”

Optional Essay: Tell us more

If you feel there are circumstances of which the Admissions Committee should be aware, please explain them in an optional essay (such as unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance), please describe them in an optional essay.

Please do NOT upload additional essays nor additional recommendations in this area of the application and limit your response to one page.

As instructed in the essay prompt, submit the optional essay only if you have to explain extenuating circumstances. (e. g, “unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance “).

If you have a low GPA or less than ideal GMAT, or if you are not able to get a recommendation from your current supervisor, or if you have an employment gap, you may address these concerns in your optional essay. Your weakness may also bring out a positive aspect of your personality. This essay should convey that you are aware that these are areas of concern in your application, but, whenever possible, you have made a sincere effort to improve upon these areas.

If you do not have any of those areas to explain, it is best to skip this question and focus only on the required three essays.

About the author

Poonam, one of the top 5 most reviewed consultants on the GMAT Club , is a master storyteller with more than three decades of experience in successfully helping students craft compelling stories for undergraduate and graduate school programs.

A Ph.D. in English, with three decades of teaching experience in India and the US, Poonam launched myEssayReview (MER) in 2011 to provide highly personalized and dedicated consulting services to Business School applicants. Since then, she has helped hundreds of students around the world get into top MBA, EMBA, part-time MBA, and specialized graduate programs. A full-time consultant, Poonam is passionate about her work and is highly committed to each of her students’ success.

Want to become a part of the Fuqua community? A 740+ GMAT score can increase your chances of pursuing an MBA at the Duke Fuqua School of Business. Sign up for our free trial and get access to our GMAT resources today!

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How MBA aspirants Make the Most out of Duke Fuqua MBA Essays

MBA & Beyond Team

16/12/2023 | 4:00 pm

Are you a student dreaming of studying abroad and eyeing the prestigious Duke Fuqua School of Business for your MBA? If yes, you’ve already taken the first step toward a transformative journey. The Duke Fuqua MBA program , known for its strong focus on leadership and a collaborative learning environment, demands more than just academic excellence from its applicants. Consequently, here’s where the Duke Fuqua MBA essays come into play.

These essays are your golden opportunity to stand out in a pool of highly qualified candidates. Moreover, they are not just about showcasing your achievements and aspirations; they delve deeper into who you are as a person, your values, and how you can contribute to the Fuqua community. Furthermore, they offer a platform to express your unique story and perspectives, ultimately, helping you to make a compelling case for your admission.

The Power of Storytelling in Your Application

The beauty of the Duke Fuqua MBA essays lies in their ability to bring your story to life. Specifically, it’s about connecting the dots between your past experiences, present skills, and future goals. Consequently, think of these essays as a canvas where you paint a vivid picture of your unique personality, diverse background, and the potential you hold to enrich the Fuqua community.

Understanding the Duke Fuqua MBA Essay Requirements

Getting acquainted with the essay topics.

Duke Fuqua requires applicants to write several essays, each serving a specific purpose. Initially, the first essay, famously known as the ’25 Random Things About Yourself,’ is a creative exercise that allows you to present facets of your personality that aren’t evident in your resume or academic transcripts. Subsequently, the other essays focus on professional aspirations and fit with the Fuqua program.

Insights from Official Sources

According to Duke Fuqua’s official website, the admissions team looks for clarity of thought, genuine self-reflection, and authenticity in the essays. Consequently, your essays should not just answer the questions but also reflect your enthusiasm for the program and, additionally, your readiness to be part of the diverse and dynamic Fuqua community.

The Numbers Speak

The competition is intense. With an acceptance rate hovering around 22% and an average GMAT score of 710 for the recent entering class, the essays become a critical differentiator. Thus, this data underscores the need for your essays to be impactful and well-crafted.

Strategies for the ’25 Random Things About Yourself’ Essay

The art of being authentic and engaging.

The ’25 Random Things About Yourself’ essay is a unique aspect of the Duke Fuqua MBA application. It’s a chance for you to showcase your personality, background, and interests in a way that your resume and transcripts can’t. Importantly, the key here is authenticity. Consequently, this essay should reflect who you truly are, not who you think the admissions committee wants to see.

Mix Professional and Personal: While it’s tempting to focus solely on professional achievements, Fuqua values the whole person. Thus, blend your professional accomplishments with personal interests, hobbies, or fun facts. Did you climb a significant peak recently, or do you have a unique collection? These insights add depth to your profile.
Structure for Skimmability: Consider categorizing your 25 things into themes like personal values, professional milestones, unique talents, and interesting anecdotes. This approach makes it easier for the admissions team to remember key aspects of your personality and background.
Show, Don’t Just Tell: Moreover, use anecdotes and examples. If teamwork is a strength, share a quick story about a time you led a team project successfully. Stories stick in the reader’s mind more than generic statements.

Balancing Creativity with Clarity

While creativity is encouraged, clarity is paramount. Each point should be concise yet detailed enough to give the reader a glimpse into your life. Therefore, remember, this essay is a way to add color and dimension to your application.

Articulating Career Goals Effectively

Aligning aspirations with fuqua’s offerings.

The career goals essay is where you align your professional aspirations with what Fuqua can offer. Notably, according to Duke Fuqua’s career statistics, 80% of 2022 graduates landed jobs in their desired sectors, with Consulting (34%) and Technology (20%) being the top industries. These figures underscore the importance of presenting realistic and achievable career goals.

Be Specific and Realistic: Instead of vague aspirations, outline specific goals. If you’re interested in consulting, specify what kind of consulting and why. Similarly, if technology intrigues you, what particular role within tech are you aiming for?
Connect the Dots: Furthermore, how will a Fuqua MBA help you achieve these goals? Maybe it’s the strong alumni network, specific courses, or the school’s reputation in a certain industry. Link your aspirations to Fuqua’s resources and offerings.
Plan B Matters: Lastly, Fuqua appreciates adaptability. Briefly mention an alternative path if your primary plan doesn’t materialize. This shows flexibility and practical thinking.

Utilizing Data to Your Advantage

When discussing your career goals, reference industry trends, salary averages, or employment statistics. For instance, citing the median salary for MBA graduates in your chosen field can demonstrate an understanding of the market. Additionally, this data-driven approach shows that you’ve done your homework and are serious about your career path. Moreover, it illustrates your practical approach to planning your future.

Showcasing Fit with Duke Fuqua’s Community and Values

Reflecting fuqua’s principles in your essays.

Duke Fuqua is known for its distinctive culture and values, focusing on collaborative leadership and community engagement. Consequently, to stand out, your essays should resonate with these values. According to Fuqua’s website, the school values diversity, inclusiveness, and a community-centric approach. Here’s how to weave these elements into your essays:

Community Engagement : Share instances where you’ve contributed to your community or led community projects. Fuqua is keen on applicants who will actively contribute to its community.
Leadership Experiences : Highlight examples of your leadership, especially where you’ve led through collaboration. Fuqua values leaders who bring out the best in others.
Diversity and Inclusion : If you have experiences working in diverse teams or promoting inclusivity, mention them. Fuqua prides itself on a diverse student body and values applicants who embrace this.

Practical Tips for Effective Writing

Use Specific Examples : Concrete examples leave a stronger impression than generic statements.
Connect to Fuqua’s Values : Research Fuqua’s website, especially sections on community and values, and link your experiences to these themes.
Be Concise but Comprehensive : While it’s important to be succinct, ensure you’re also providing a full picture of your experiences and values.

Leveraging the Optional Essay

Addressing gaps and enhancing your profile.

The optional essay is your chance to address any part of your application that might raise questions, such as gaps in employment, academic challenges, or unusual recommenders. According to Fuqua’s admissions FAQs, this essay should be used judiciously.

Addressing Gaps or Weaknesses : If there’s a gap in your employment or your undergraduate GPA isn’t strong, use this essay to explain. However, keep it factual and positive.
Highlighting Additional Strengths : You can also use this space to highlight something not covered in other essays or parts of your application that demonstrates additional skills or experiences beneficial to Fuqua.

Guidelines for the Optional Essay

Be Clear and Concise : Explain the situation and how you’ve grown or addressed the issue.
Stay Positive : Focus on the positive aspects of any challenge you’ve faced.
Don’t Repeat Information : Avoid repeating information already covered in your application unless you’re providing additional context.

Final Tips and Common Mistakes to Avoid in Duke Fuqua MBA Essays

Perfecting your duke fuqua mba essays.

As you approach the final stages of crafting your Duke Fuqua MBA essays, it’s essential to refine your narratives, ensuring they are compelling, coherent, and concise. Here are some final tips and common pitfalls to watch out for:

Proofread Thoroughly : Grammatical errors or typos can detract from the professionalism of your application. Ensure you proofread your essays multiple times and, if possible, get someone else to review them as well.
Stay True to Your Voice : While it’s important to present a polished essay, don’t lose your unique voice in the process. Your essays should sound like you and reflect your genuine thoughts and experiences.
Avoid Repetition : Make sure each essay covers different aspects of your profile. Repeating the same information across different essays can waste valuable space where you could have showcased other strengths or experiences.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Being Too Vague : Specific examples and detailed narratives are much more impactful than broad statements. Avoid being too general in describing your experiences or goals.
Overreaching with Goals : While ambition is good, unrealistically high goals can seem impractical. Ensure your career goals are ambitious yet achievable.
Ignoring the “Why Fuqua” Aspect : Always tie back your goals and experiences to what Fuqua specifically offers and how it aligns with your aspirations.

Summarizing Key Takeaways for MBA Aspirants

To wrap up, here are the key takeaways for making the most out of your Duke Fuqua MBA essays:

Reflect Authenticity and Depth : Use the essays to present a well-rounded picture of yourself, blending professional achievements with personal stories and values.
Articulate Clear, Achievable Goals : Be specific about your career aspirations and how Fuqua’s program supports them.
Demonstrate Fit with Fuqua’s Culture : Show how your values and experiences align with Fuqua’s focus on collaboration, leadership, and community.
Utilize the Optional Essay Wisely : Address any potential concerns in your application and add depth to your profile.

Encouragement for Prospective Students

Embarking on the journey to an MBA, especially at a prestigious institution like Duke Fuqua, is both exciting and challenging. Remember, your essays are a powerful tool to convey your story, aspirations, and the unique value you will bring to the Fuqua community. Approach them with thoughtfulness, authenticity, and a clear vision of your future, and you will be well on your way to crafting compelling narratives that resonate with the admissions committee.

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Everything you need to know to get Accepted

August 15, 2023

Duke Fuqua MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines [2023 – 2024]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Leadership, teamwork, and ethics are essential elements of the Duke Fuqua MBA , which is why you’ll need to make sure you express your passion for these qualities in your application essays. Impress the Fuqua adcom by positioning yourself as an innovative leader and team player, as someone who can see the big picture, work collaboratively, and shape global business. To learn more about the school, listen to our podcast interview with Shari Hubert, Duke Fuqua’s associate dean of admissions .

Ready to get to work on your Duke Fuqua application? Read on.

Duke Fuqua application essay tips

Duke fuqua application deadlines, duke fuqua class profile.

You’ll need to provide your thoughts on one short answer question and two longer essay questions as part of your application . Instructions for all written submissions:

Responses should use 1.5-line spacing and a font size no smaller than 10-point.
Do not repeat the question in the document you upload with your application as this will cause the essay to be flagged for plagiarism.
Respond fully and concisely.
Length requirements vary by question and are detailed below.
Responses must be completed before submitting your application.

All submissions are scanned using plagiarism detection software. Plagiarism is considered a cheating violation within the Honor Code and will not be tolerated in the admissions process.

Required short-answer essay question

Instructions: Answer the following question in 100 words. What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first-choice career plan and your alternate plan.

What’s your professional direction? And if you cannot progress in your career in the most direct way, what is another way of reaching your desired destination? Since you are dealing with a 100-word maximum, you will have to think long before you start drafting and then write succinctly to get your point across.

Required essay #1 (25 random things about yourself)

Have some fun with this list. It certainly allows for a more creative approach than most essay prompts permit. Note that the question asks you to go “beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript.” So, you can list your Pez collection or perhaps your brief membership in a rock band, or the fact that you took violin from ages 6 to 18, your membership in a gospel choir, your volunteer work in a hospital, your needlepoint, your favorite recipe or photo. Gosh – the list is endless. Just let it reflect you. Think of this list as an introduction to potential friends.

Watch: Shari Hubert, Associate Dean of Admissions at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business on How to answer the 25 Random Things Question:

Required essay #2 (The Fuqua community and you)

Do your homework about Fuqua (and yourself) before responding to this question. What activities and groups appeal to you? How do you see yourself participating? Making a difference? Imagine how you would take part, collaborate, and sometimes lead. While you can reference similar activities in the past, keep the focus of this essay on what you would do at Fuqua, and choose three activities/groups that most appeal to you.

One approach to responding to this question is to address a letter to a close friend or colleague and tell them how you would contribute to this very participatory culture. That letter could easily morph into this essay.

Optional essay #3 (Tell us more)

Why isn’t your current supervisor writing your rec? Why is there a six-month gap on your resume? Why did your grades dip during the first semester of your senior year? What are your responsibilities at your family business after leaving a prestigious investment bank, and why did you make that change? If these questions aren’t addressed elsewhere in your application, answering any of them (but hopefully not all) could be the focus of your optional essay.

International applicants should apply in Early Action, Round 1, and Round 2 to allow time for visa processing.

Source: Duke Fuqua website

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with Duke Fuqua directly to verify its essay questions, instructions, and deadlines.***

Here is a look at the Duke Fuqua MBA Class of 2024 (data taken from the Duke Fuqua website ):

Class size: 399

Minority: 43%

Underrepresented minorities: 25%

International citizens (by U.S. status): 39%

U.S. military: 9%

Partnered: 30%

Countries represented: 55

Average years of work experience: 6.0

Median years of work experience: 5.58

Average age: 29

GMAT range (middle 80%): 680-760

GRE Verbal/Quant combined average: 318

Average undergraduate GPA: 3.1-3.9

Undergraduate institutions represented: 261

Students with advanced degrees: 18%

Undergraduate majors:

Engineering/Natural sciences: 33%
Business and accounting: 28%
Liberal arts/other: 22%
Economics: 18%

Industries:

Financial services: 18%
Consulting: 14%
Technology: 11%
Government: 8%
Nonprofit/Education: 8%
Consumer goods: 6%
Energy/Chemical/Utilities: 5%
Media/Sport/Entertainment: 5%

Related Resources:

Duke Fuqua Full-Time MBA Program Adds New Round to Its Admissions Calendar
Duke Fuqua Rattles MBA World with Exciting New Curriculum , podcast Episode 335
Extracurricular Activities in Your MBA Admissions Profile

How to get into Duke Fuqua [Episode 536]

Are you attracted to Duke Fuqua’s collaborative MBA culture, and intrigued by its flexible curriculum, and the strength of its entering class as revealed by the latest class profile? But you’re unsure how you can make your case for acceptance? Then pull up a chair. In today’s podcast, Fuqua’s associate dean of admissions pulls back the curtain on what Duke seeks in its applicants.

Welcome to the 536th episode of Admissions Straight Talk. Before I introduce our guest, I have a question for you. Are you ready to apply to your dream MBA programs? Are you competitive at your target schools? Accepted’s MBA admissions quiz can give you a quick reality check. Complete the quiz, and you’ll not only get an assessment, but tips on how to improve your qualifications. Plus, it’s all free.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome back to Admissions Straight Talk , Shari Hubert, Associate Dean of Admissions at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Shari earned her BA at Dartmouth, and her MBA at Harvard. She worked at several elite companies, and in 2009 became director of recruitment for the Peace Corps. In 2012, she returned to the MBA world when she became the Associate Dean of MBA Admissions for Georgetown McDonough . She joined Duke as Associate Dean of Admissions in October, 2017.

Shari, welcome to Admissions Straight Talk. [1:53]

Thank you so much, Linda. It’s always a pleasure to be here with you, and so I was really excited to get that invitation again to share some time with you and your listeners.

Can you go over, first of all, that menu of MBA options at Duke Fuqua, and then perhaps focus a little bit more on the MBA program itself? [2:04]

Yeah, sure, absolutely. We have four different MBA options at Fuqua. We have the daytime MBA, which is your… Think about your traditional two-year full-time MBA. Residential, flexible concentrations, experiential, I can go into that detail a little bit more. We have an accelerated daytime MBA, so again, very similar profile as our daytime MBA in terms of the types of students. It’s one year, it’s full-time, residential as well. The one specific criteria though that is different is that the individual must already have a master’s, either a master’s of management studies, which is our degree, or a master’s in management, or some kind of equivalent business degree, because those sets of courses that you would take actually substitute for, or transfer for the core curriculum that you would take your first year.

That would be a one-year, early-experience program basically in business that you’re talking about? [3:09]

Well, the accelerated daytime MBA actually should be very similar, the profile should be similar to our full-time. It’s just for people who already have some kind of master’s in management, or specialized master’s in business degree, plus the full-time work experience. So we prefer they actually have a couple of at least a couple of years of work experience, plus they already have a specialized master’s, and therefore, they are joining the daytime MBA program with the second year MBA students and taking electives. And so therefore, they can do the program, and get the degree in one year, as opposed to the two full years.

And then we have our weekend executive MBA, so we have two executive MBA programs. We have a weekend executive MBA program, and that is for working professionals. It meets monthly, and Thursday through Sunday, and then there are some live classes that happen every other Saturday as well. And then we have the Global Executive MBA program, similar in terms of… It’s a Duke MBA, it’s the same faculty, same curriculum as your traditional full-time MBA, but these programs are for working professionals. The Global Executive MBA is six residencies, in different regions around the world, including Durham. So it’s basically, every two months, you go to a different country, your professors travel with you, your career center representatives travel with you, your IT support travels with you, and your residencies are in that country. That’s for 10 days, eight to 10 days, and you come back and you do more distance hybrid coursework. Again, all of these programs are lockstep, they’re team-based, they’re cohort-based, and they all, again, are the same Duke degree, the same faculty, and just a different format. They all offer some level of concentrations and/or certificates as well.

Can we focus on the full-time MBA program? Can you give a little bit more information on that one, on the two-year traditional program? [5:05]

Sure. Absolutely. So again, this particular program is for individuals who are wanting to perhaps pivot into a different function, industry, geography, or reset, or just want a fully immersive experience in terms of pursuing their MBA, and it’s really tailored for that kind of a profile. The curriculum is really designed to allow our students to learn both the breadth and the depth across all types of curriculum, as well as very much focused on leadership.

And so just to give you a sense of the structure of the program, the core is their first year, which is very traditional to most MBA programs, you start off with what we call a Summer Institute, and it’s kind of a leveling two- to three-week course. You’ll learn things like leadership, ethics, and organization, so how do you think about leadership in the context of the individual, the team, and then the organization? There are two courses that you also learn, Entrepreneurial Mindset and Action. So that’s really about, regardless of whether or not you decide to start your own business, we believe that there are some fundamental elements and characteristics of entrepreneurs that are really valuable for all of our MBAs to have. Regardless of whether or not you’re in an established organization, working for an organization, you still want to have some level of intrapreneurial kind of spirit.

And so we make sure that all of our students, it’s a mandatory course, go through that. And then the final one is Technology-driven Transformation of Business. And again, that’s really, not just recognition that technology is driving all aspects of our life, including business, so how do business leaders make those decisions using data, using information in ways that either support the goals of that organization while not doing harm as well.

And so that’s a required course. And then of course, during that, you would also start to get formed into what we call consequential leadership teams, which are four to five person learning teams. And those are the individuals that you will go through your first year with, you’ll do casing with, you’ll be in sections with, and they are actually managed by a second year MBA student who is a part of our co-leadership program. And so again, our students are really able to give practical leadership experience, practice their own leadership style on actual first year teams, helping them kind of just acclimate. You go through the first fall core, which is fall. We have six-week terms, and so they-

I was just going to ask about that. [7:40]

Yeah, we have six-week terms, four six-week terms in the daytime MBA program. They each meet twice a week for two hours and about 15 minutes. We don’t have classes on Wednesdays, and that was purposeful and intentional. We do have classes on Fridays, so if you don’t have classes in the middle of the week, it’s when students can work on projects, they can perhaps do work that’s associated with their clubs, their leadership roles outside of the classroom, like conferences, doing more recruiting, things like that. But if you have classes on Fridays, we notice that students will stay in Durham more often, and it really builds more of a cohesive community, off-campus as well as on-campus, by ensuring that our students are in Durham, communing with each other over the weekend.

And so that’s been a really nice aspect, and a little bit of a difference in our program. And then, like I said, all of our students are assigned to leadership learning teams as well. And then there’s one other course that I wanted to talk about that happens, not in that during that Summer Institute, but it happens once students come back from their internship. So this is also unique about, I think Fuqua, in that-

It’ll be the second year, right? [8:49]

Yeah, so your second year. You’ve had your internship, you come back, and we actually get you back into your learning team. So it’s not as if after your first year you disperse and you’re never with your learning teams anymore. You come back, it’s called C Lead Two or Consequential Leadership Two, and it’s really about reflection. You had your internship, you’ve had a full year of being with these individuals and your classmates, and learning, and trusting, and building skills, and you’ve now been able to apply them during the summer, so let’s come back and reflect on, what did you learn? Because there’s more trust, you can go deeper in terms of developing those relationships with your teams, and your cohorts. And you do more personal self-reflection, personal leadership development.

So we do a lot of things with Brene Brown, we’ll have guests come in and talk to our students. They’ll do their own reflection assignments, just to really be able to have time to put into perspective what they learned, how they want to show up for that second and final year as well, knowing what they know now, having a full year under their belt, having some practical experience with their internship, is there anything they’d like to change, or pivot, or really lean into in this final year, that would help them as they continue to transform into develop into their own leadership style.

And another course that they would take as part of that experience, we call it C Lead Two, is Business and Common Purpose in a World of Differences. So it’s really about, how do you as a leader take into consideration the notion of IQ, EQ, DQ, how do you lead with common purpose? How do you lead teams that might be disparate, different, and have differences of opinion, come from different backgrounds? How do you make sure that everyone’s kind of working towards a common purpose in a world that is very, very challenging at times? And where you have stakeholders that are not just your employees, just your competitors, but it could be society, the communities that your organizations operate in, how do you bring all of that together in order to really be able to make a difference, more of a societal impact, where things are very polarized? And so that’s a new… Not a new course, but a course that I think is unique, because you really are able to take fuller advantage of that kind of a course and thinking once you’ve come back, and had some perspective after your first year.

Thinking of all the implications in terms of what’s going on in the world around us, and it’s certainly necessary. And this is a second year course, so you’ve built up to it, right? [11:06]

Yep, exactly. So that happens in your second year. That’s exactly right.

Duke Fuqua touts the flexibility of its curriculum, and the many concentrations that it offers. Can you review that aspect of the program? It was great that you talked about the leadership opportunities, but what about the flexibility of the program, and its ability to meet different needs? [11:21]

Yeah. I would start off by saying that our concentrations and our certificates allow you to go deep. They are options. They’re not things that you have to take advantage of. There are some students who go through the entire two years, and take the courses that are meaningful to them, or most popular. So it’s an opportunity to customize, and to go deep, but it’s not a requirement. And sometimes, people will use concentrations and certificates to pivot into a particular industry or sector that they’re not necessarily familiar with, so they use it in order to demonstrate competency, or just sincere interest in, but the degree that you get is still a general management MBA.

And so we have over 100 electives, and the concentrations are really an accumulation and packaging of different electives. We have over 100 of those electives, they can be organized under functional concentrations, or topical concentrations. So some functional ones would be decision sciences, management, marketing, operations, strategic, consulting, FinTech, is one of our newer ones. We have topical concentrations like diversity, equity and inclusion, which again, is one of our newer ones. Entrepreneurship, the environment, social entrepreneurship leadership, and the like. So again, about 14 or so different combinations of concentrations. Certificates, similar to concentrations, maybe one level deeper in terms of the additional number of electives that you would take. And we have two concentrations, our health sector management concentration, which is very well-known, and that concentration is usually coupled with the health sector certificate, it enables individuals to get a certificate in an understanding of all the different parameters of the healthcare sector. There’s a bootcamp attached to it. There are all kinds of experiential opportunities that you could take advantage of. They align very closely with the health center that we have.

So a lot of students, very popular. And that certificate is open to our Executive MBAs, and our daytime MBAs. So during the bootcamp, you’ll have a combination of both programs, over 100 people usually in that bootcamp. And that usually happens at the beginning of your time, or right before orientation. And then we have the finance certificate, again, for folks who want to really double down deeply into the finance sector. We used to have the management science and technology management certificate, that’s more of a data analytics, but as of last year, our entire MBA program is now STEM certified. And so data analytics, and those kinds of courses are really infused throughout the entire curriculum. And so there’s not necessarily a need to have a specific concentration, because the entire degree is now very data-focused. So I’d say those are the kinds of concentrations and certificates that we have.

And I think you really illustrated the flexibility and breadth of the program really. [14:36]

Right. And so you can do two concentrations, or you can do a concentration and a certificate. Pretty difficult to do two certificates, and so that’s why we have a limit in terms of, if you do a certificate, we limit the number of concentrations, but in addition to concentrations and certificates, you can also do a dual degree. We have five different dual degree programs. We have one with our medical school, or law school, our school of public policy, and then we have two with our School of the environment, Nicholas School of the Environment. We have a master’s in environmental management, and the master’s of forestry, which is interesting. And then for those individuals who may not want to do a dual degree, but they really want to take full advantage of the breadth of what’s available across Duke University in a very interdisciplinary way, as an MBA student at Fuqua, you can take up to four courses, 12 credits outside of Fuqua at any of the professional schools on campus.

It is very flexible. Fuqua, pre-COVID, was also known very much for its global learning opportunities. Are they in full swing now? [15:34]

Yeah, full swing, we’re back traveling abroad.

I would say, there are three ways in which our students take advantage of global opportunities. One is our GATE, which is an experiential four credit course, Global Academic Travel Experience is what it stands for.

And in May, 2023, the locations changed a bit. We had one GATE as we were kind of slowly ramping back into the full swing of travel. And this year, we’ll be offering two. So last year we went to South Africa, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and a safari. This year, we’re going to go to South Africa again, but we also have a new climate-focused GATE, it’s going to be in Denmark and Norway, and it’ll be led by Dan Vermeer, who is our faculty director of EDGE, one of the centers for the energy in the global development environment.

So in addition to that, I’d say about 20, 25 students per GATE trip attend. It’s a course, so about two months, you’re spending in the classroom, learning about the individual country, and the dynamics, economic dynamics, political dynamics, and the cultural dynamics, and then you travel as a class and cohort with your faculty member over there for a week. So you really kind of get the lived experience as well. We meet with alumni over there, we’ll have corporate visits, and then there’s also… It’s an opportunity for cultural exchange as well.

We also have what we call exchange programs, so those are… So our GATE tends to be individuals in the first year, and then our exchange programs tend to be our students in the second year, and we have over 20 different schools that we have partnerships with. It is an exchange, so they are sending their students here, we are sending our students there. And so it varies from quarter to quarter, but it’s very flexible. So you may have the winter break and the spring break, a set of exchanges with schools, or you may have six-week term exchanges. So it really is based on how much time do you want to be away. I would say, the winter break and the spring break are probably most popular, because it’s a lot to be away your second year-

I was thinking about recruiting. [17:53]

Yeah, well, that too. If you haven’t fully signed onto a company, definitely, it’s helpful to be here, unless you’re trying to actually find an opportunity abroad, and then that’s helpful.

But mostly it’s because people don’t want to be that far away from their friends their last year in school, so I would say… But people do take advantage of the six-week term options. And like I said, they last from either a few days, to a week, to a whole term. And there are over 20 different schools that we have relationships with. And some of them are based on special topics, and so for example, we have the Asian business landscape through a partnership in Singapore, and that’s kind of the topic of that exchange program, kind of looking at Asian business through that landscape.

We have doing business in Israel actually, with our partner school in Tel Aviv. And like I said, we are starting up this program on climate, which will be interesting. So it’s really interesting. We have an opportunity with Copenhagen Business School as well with spring break. So they all vary, very flexible, but a lot of fun, and I would say, a lot of our students end up taking advantage of our exchange programs. And then lastly, just student-run treks and trips, and those are not necessarily organized by the school, but they definitely are organized by students. I mean, we’ve sent 70 people to Brazil, I mean, students go to all kinds of exotic and wonderful places.

The information you’re providing is adding so much more color, depth, texture to it, so thank you for all this. What about the application process itself? What changes have you made to the MBA application process this year? [19:22]

So not a ton, but I will say that we have some new testing options. We will accept the new GMAT Focus, and we will accept the new GRE, and we already accept the executive assessment. So we are a school that requires at least one form of a test, and so those are new changes.

Any preference? [19:56]

Nope, no preference. I think it really depends. Do your homework in terms of whether or not the new GMAT Focus or the new GRE is the right test for you. But if you decide that that’s the case, we will accept it. The executive assessment is always an interesting option as well for some people, but it’s not for everyone. So again, we just encourage people to test out some of these, see which one you test better at, or feel more comfortable with, and go for it. Because the ones that you’re going to feel more comfortable with are probably the ones that you’re going to do your best on.

So regardless though, I would say… Encourage people to practice, prepare for it, but we don’t have a preference.

And there are no test waivers, right? [20:38]

Right. We do not provide test waivers for our daytime MBA program. For our working professional programs, we do offer a test waiver process that you can apply for.

And then another section that is new, we’re keeping our 25 random facts essay, but we do have a new optional section on the application, and it’s really just, we want to learn more about our applicants in terms of their lived experiences. Don’t think of it as an essay, but it is an optional section, and it’s just a place where they can share a little bit more about themselves, including whether or not they’re a first in their family to attend college, if they grew up with any kind of financial hardships, and then anything else that they feel they haven’t had an opportunity to explain that would speak to some of their lived experiences, their upbringing, or their background, what’s influenced them, that kind of thing. And it is really about this unique aspect of their lived experience that they feel will help them contribute to our Fuqua community.

So it’s more like, “What else would you like us to know about you?” Or- [21:44]

Yeah, that you didn’t get a chance to share any place else kind of thing.

And it is totally optional? [21:51]

Yep. There’s only the first-generation question and the financial hardship, those are yes/no, and so this smaller kind of optional field is about 200 words maximum.

I was just going to ask, is there any length limit to it? [22:06]

Yeah. Yeah, About 200 words maximum.

And then we will be keeping our fourth round, our application round. That probably means for us that we have five. So we have the early action, then we have the round one, round two, round three, and then we will have round four.

September 7th is early action, September 28th is round one, then January 9th, February 22nd, and April 4th would be round four, right? [22:25]

Yeah, so not a lot has changed, but we’re hoping that some of these things just provide more clarity, and give people a bit more space to really share themselves with us.

Now, in terms of the 25 things question, that is Fuqua’s signature question, and I’m just going to read it. “Please share with us 25 random things about you. The admissions committee wants to get to know you beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript. Share with us important life experiences, your hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you who you are.” Do you have any tips for that one? I mean, you can have a lot of fun with it. [22:49]

Yeah, I would say have a lot of fun. I did it, I did it as a function of when I joined Fuqua as part of my interview process, I did it. Every single admissions person who joins our team, once they’re on our team, they have about a week or so to provide us with their 25 facts. So believe me, we haven’t asked you to do anything we haven’t done ourselves.

But I would say, use the real estate to share facts that speak to your personal lived experience, characteristics about yourself, maybe what you value, and why. Your passions, your strengths, your lessons learned, failures, hobbies, affiliations, family stories. Not so much in terms of focusing on the professional part of your life, because we have other places to find that information out. It’s also good to provide a sentence or two to just provide some context around why you decided to share that particular fact about yourself. It doesn’t need to be a full paragraph, just a little bit of something to give us some context. I would say be vulnerable, it’s okay to be witty. Let us see your personality in the facts. I think we have a video on YouTube that shares some tips as well in terms of how to answer that essay. I think we also might provide some examples. My 25 is out there in our blocks-

So I’ll find it, and link to it. Now, you mentioned the early decision round. How is that different from the later four rounds, other than the fact that it’s first? [24:47]

We call it early action. Yeah, early action. It’s a binding round, I’d say that’s the biggest difference. It’s a binding round, which means that we ask that you not apply to another binding round school.

And if admitted to Fuqua, you are saying, “I commit to withdraw my applications from any other schools that you’ve applied to that are non-binding.” And so if there’s another school out there that has a binding round, don’t apply to that. And then if you do apply to other schools that don’t have binding rounds, I mean, of course, you might do that. Then once you get a decision from us that says yes, you’ve been admitted, you’re saying to us that you would withdraw your application from those schools. Because it’s really saying that, “Look, if I get admitted to Fuqua, I’m coming.”

You’re saying it’s your first choice. [25:41]

Yeah, it’s just so much my first choice that I am applying knowing that if you admit me, I am saying that I will come. And so I would say, it’s for certain people, it’s not for certain people. One, I would say, it’s for people who are ready and prepared early. And so don’t rush to get into early action if you feel like you are not able to put forward your best representation of yourself in your application. Don’t rush just for the sake of getting into early action. ‘Cause like I said, we have a number of other rounds.

And early action is not our largest round, so that also gives you a sense. Most people apply in some other round. But I do say, it is for the people who know that they’re kind of down for Fuqua. So they’re signaling and letting us know that they really are committed, and that we’re their first choice. If you want to keep your options open, early action probably isn’t the round for you. If you are willing to put all your eggs in the Fuqua basket, and you get admitted, and you’re saying, “Yep, I’m there.” Then that’s probably… And you’re prepared, you’ve carved out time enough to prepare to submit it by the deadline, then it’s a good round.

It’s a good option. [26:56]

It’s a great option. [26:57], so two questions on that. one, if one is admitted early action, is there a different deposit requirement is it a larger deposit requirement number one. number two, is it an advantageous or disadvantageous from a financial aid perspective to apply to early action [26:58].

I mean, you still have to pay the deposits. It’s not a larger deposit, but the deposit kind of upfront. We’re still looking at whether or not that will change or not in terms of maybe adding additional deposits down the road, but right now, it’d still be the same overall level of deposits, just kind of maybe when we would ask you for it. So right now, you do everything upfront, and we might want to spread things out. You do the majority, I would say, the bulk of it upfront, so 3,000 upfront, and then you then have your second deposit, which is the final deposit for everybody. We’re kind of looking to see if we want to spread that a little bit more as well, you have the third deposit, but that hasn’t been finalized. Scholarships, yes, absolutely. People who are admitted to our early action also are considered for scholarship, and actually get them. So it’s definitely not disadvantaging you if you apply early action in terms of being considered for scholarship.

We discussed the new optional section, and you mentioned the length, and any tips on that? Or just mostly focus on this idea of unusual lived experiences rather that you didn’t have place for in the other parts of the application? [28:13]

So the open text piece of that, I’m trying to think how to answer it, your answer doesn’t have to be as long as the other essays. It is open space to just share something we may not have asked anywhere else in the application, or the applicant wants to make sure we’re aware of, maybe their affiliations, areas of their background that have impacted their lived experience, how they show up in the world, and how it’s informed who they are, and the impact they want to have, and how they want to contribute to our MBA program. Again, I don’t want people to overthink it though. For some people, there’s going to be something to add, and they should use the space. For others, they may not have anything to add, it’s totally optional. We don’t look differently on people who don’t use the space, but it is a gift, it is an opportunity.

‘Cause sometimes it’s hard to know every single question we could possibly ask you to get every aspect of who you are in a paper-based application. And so this is that space to say, “Hey.” There’s no essay on this question, there’s no short answer question that they asked me, but, “Hey, did you know this unique thing about me?” Or, “Did you know I was a part of this thing?” Or, “Did you know this particular aspect of my background really influenced how I show up, my grit, my determination.” Or, “This particular experience was very informative, informed my kind of thinking around the world, or what I want to do.” And so it’s that kind of space to use. It is different than the optional essay that we always think about, where you’re clarifying why you have a specific type of recommender, or why you didn’t get the GMAT score that you wanted, the GRE score that you wanted, or how-

Or the GPA. [30:07]

Right. It’s something new and substantive, not a clarification about some aspect of your application.

Now, can you discuss for a second the interview process at Fuqua, and specifically the difference between open interviews and interviews by invitation? [30:17]

Yeah, I do think the interview is a really special opportunity for applicants to really show us who they are in their own words, and human-to-human, as opposed to us only knowing you from your application. And so I would say definitely take advantage of the interview, think about it as you would any job interview if you are invited. We really want to make sure that we can get to know as many of our applicants as possible, so that’s why we also have this open interview process. About half of our applicants are interviewed in some form or fashion, and so these two formats really make sure that we are able to really get to know as many applicants as possible.

So the open interview period is, we have a virtual component to that, or an in-person. And basically, the difference between open interview and an invited is that an open interview is self-initiated. So you’re kind of raising your hand, saying, “I want to make sure I get interviewed, so I want to sign up for this interview.” Versus the other interviews are by invitation only. And so that means we are reading through your application the first time, and kind of deciding, “Oh, we’d like to learn more about this person. We’d like to invite them to be interviewed.” So those are the differences.

We have two ways either open interviews or by invitation, either you can participate virtually. And our open interviews, the virtual dates are August 24th through October 6th, or you can participate in our open interviews on campus, so you can come to campus. And those dates are September 11th through October 6th. And so again, as you can see, everything, as it pertains to open interviews, is from October 24th through October 6th, basically.

August. [32:20]

Sorry, August 24th through October 6th. After that, it doesn’t mean you’re not going to be interviewed, but we then invite people to interview. And if you’re-

And they could be virtual or in-person, or… [32:29]

When you’re invited to interview, you’ll also have the option to do it virtually or in-person as well.

Some other things to keep in mind, regardless of the round that you apply in, you can still participate in our open interviews. And so what happens is, let’s say you decide to interview through the open interviews in, I don’t know, September 2nd, but you’re not going to apply until this the first round, or the second round, we’ll take that interview and we’ll save it. And then once you apply, we will add that interview, that will be your official interview, and we’ll add it to your application.

So is it recorded even if it’s in-person? [33:09]

When you say recorded, what do you mean?

Well, you say you save the interview, so do you save the notes, or do you save the recording, or… [33:14]

It’s the notes.

So we don’t record any interviews. So even if you’re doing the virtual.

Not even the virtual? [33:22]

It’s just more for convenience, especially if someone’s living abroad and can’t get to campus. We want to make it convenient for them to interview. And it was kind of something from the pandemic that we thought, “Hey, it provides some flexibility, let’s keep this aspect.”

But they’re not recorded, they’re not recorded.But their interviewer does take notes, and then submits an interview report. And that report is then what’s added to your application. It’s on a first come first serve basis though, the open interviews, and with at least a 48-hour advance notice to request an interview.

Okay, sounds good. [34:01]

And the only thing we ask is that you have at least started your application to schedule the interview.

Traditionally, when you had interview days, and people would also use the opportunity to learn about Duke, are those opportunities now entirely online, or do you still have interview days, or… [34:09]

Yep, yep. We’re going to still have campus visits, and during your campus visit, you can also do your own campus interview.

And then we’ll also have different kinds of weekend events where you could also do an interview. So yeah, absolutely, there will still be an opportunity to visit campus, and do the interview during your visit, or we’re going to have specific Saturday interview dates, and so they’re on campus, and people can come to do an in-person interview. We’d love to have as many people as possible come visit, ’cause I do think it’s a really great way to see and feel it. But we want to be realistic, we want to make sure that there’s broad access for everyone, so that’s the reason why we’ve added these virtual opportunities. We actually will have virtual campus visits as well.

There is one thing I think that is worth noting, and that is, first of all, if you’re applying in early action, we do recommend that you sign up for an open interview, but in the event that you don’t, we still have an invited process, but it’s just a little tip. But I do want to talk about this aspect, so sometimes we get the question, or people don’t necessarily understand that, let’s say they’re not invited to be interviewed the first time, they think that signals that they will not be considered any longer for admission, and that’s not the case at all.

What do you mean they weren’t invited the first time? You mean in terms of reapplication, or you mean… I’m confused. [35:37]

So have invitation dates which we’re going to deliver our-

After October 6th, basically? [35:50]

Right. Invites to be interviewed. And some individuals think that if they don’t get that invitation on that date, that all is lost, and that’s not the case at all. Sometimes we continue to review applicants. There will be other times and opportunities on a case-by-case basis that we might want to invite people to be interviewed even after the invite to be interviewed deadline or date.

It doesn’t necessarily mean that you are going to be denied-

Just because you don’t get invited to be interviewed that first time. We also interview people off the waitlist, we interview people as we’re thinking about the wait list. So there’s always opportunities after the initial invitation to be invited, I don’t want people to think that it’s signaling something if in case they’re not invited that first time.

Let’s say somebody applies round one, and they’re not invited round one, could they be invited round two? Would there be some- [36:43]

Yeah, all right. [36:50], and would there be some communication to them at the end of round- [36:52].

Yeah, I mean, they’ll get a decision, but it’s not an automatic deny decision.

And the fact that they weren’t interviewed doesn’t really mean anything, I think is what you’re really trying to say. [37:00]

Right, exactly.

Thank you for clarifying.

Now, you mentioned covid a couple of minutes ago. last time we spoke it was the middle of covid, that was the environment in which we were speaking. today, it’s a little different environment. today’s environment has its own noteworthy developments, a lot of different noteworthy developments actually, but i’d like to focus on one specifically, and that is ai and chatgpt. i’m sure that ai is being taught at duke, but are you concerned about its impact on the essay element of the application i noticed there was a very robust plagiarism warning under the application instructions. [37:06].

Yeah, yeah. Great question. First of all, let me say, I can only speak to our policy within admissions, as it may vary across the university, and then the Fuqua school in terms of classroom use, it’s really going to be up to the faculty to decide that. But within admissions, allowing the use of AI in their application, and we have decided to allow it. It felt like the way to be the most inclusive, while still requiring that applicants authentically represent themselves. We see a difference between plagiarism, and the use of AI, in that plagiarism is explicitly using material created by someone else, while we expect that the use of AI, at least in terms of how they might use it to answer our essay questions, which are unique to Fuqua, the use of AI, it has to begin anyway with this level of personal reflection. I mean, to answer our essay questions, you need some level of personal reflection, you need your own kind of content, and your own lived experiences to inform it.

We know that AI could be useful in terms of helping people organize their thoughts, or represent them better, differently through the use of AI tools. Similar to how people use Grammarly, or they may have friends who are English majors and they ask them to review their essays, or they may use admissions consultants to say, “Hey, take a look, provide some coaching and guidance.” Around their essays. So again, we view this as a tool that enhances the process, but should not, and does not replace the requirement for authenticity and the use of your own material.

And so in our minds, and I like to say, AI at Fuqua stands for authentic individuality.

I like that. [39:23]

I know, right?

And we’re going to assume positive intent, and that applicants are ethical, and they’re good agents in this process. And so we do require that your application be a true and accurate reflection and representation of your lived experience, and exclusively your own. And then we do, like you said, use plagiarism tools. So for us, all essays are scanned using plagiarism detection software, but again, we see a difference between plagiarism and the use of AI tools. So we have a long disclaimer about how expressing your ideas by using verbiage that’s not sourced right, is improperly credited, is a violation of our honor code, and it is grounds for denying application.

I’ve mentioned before on Admissions Straight Talk , but one of our consultants is also a journalist, and she decided to ask ChatGPT to write an essay for her, an MBA essay, and it took her a lot of time, and effort, and work to kind of coach ChatGPT to the point where the essay… Not so much that the writing was bad, but that it had the specificity that is required to have a good essay. [40:08]

In anything. and if it’s just mumbo jumbo verbiage, general stuff, i mean, yeah, chatgpt can write that, and probably my eighth grade grandchild could also write that. [40:38].

Right. So that’s not going to serve you well though, right?

No. [40:55]

That’s not going to be your best-

No, it’s terrible. [40:56]

Reflection of who you are, right?

No. No, not at all. It won’t be informative, it won’t be reflective. And her point was that it was as much effort for her to get ChatGPT to a point where it was producing something of quality as it would’ve taken her to write it. [41:00]

Yeah, exactly. I would also note that, and this is less on ChatGPT and more on this plagiarism tool that we do have, it picks up on our own essays, if they see language is similar. So I would caution people, if they are using admission consultants, not to have anyone share any of your essays with anyone else, because if they apply to Fuqua, we’re going to see it. If you’ve applied to Fuqua, and they’ve used any aspect of your essay, and then they apply to Fuqua, it will pick up. And so just a caution there.

We’ve occasionally, over the years, had applicants use essays that we recognized as being previous clients’ essays. [41:48]

It wasn’t a good idea. [41:58].

It picked up on that.

It wasn’t a good idea. I mean, you can do it programmatically, we were just doing it. What do you see coming down the pike for the MBA program at Fuqua? [42:00]

Yeah, so I think a lot of it’s still in design, but I expect more elective content on climate and AI-

From an academic perspective. We do expect to have a couple courses that connect climate to business, and we have already approved an elective in sustainable operations. We’re also offering a climate-centered, like I said, GATE to Northern Europe next year, which will be interesting. That’s the one that’s led by Dan Vermeer. We expect a faculty member who will propose a new course that’s focused on modern AI in business. It hasn’t been approved yet, but could be an elective next year. And then we’ll be offering the first versions of a seminar and lab focused on our venture capital. We already have a seminar and lab that we put out last year on private equity, and all of those offerings are part of our Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship initiative. And one thing that is interesting and new at Fuqua is that all of Duke University’s entrepreneurship activity is now housed out of Fuqua.

Yeah, so Duke I&E, which is Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship, which was the university’s ecosystem around entrepreneurship, merged with our Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, which was Fuqua, and all of it is now housed, staff, all the content, all the intellectual property, all the research, and the faculty, and the students from undergrad, to all the different professional schools, all of them are now working and collaborating within the halls of Fuqua. Which is really great, we’re really excited. They just outfitted a new space for them, and so an accelerator space for them, which will be nice.

That’s really exciting. What about reapplicants? It’s summertime, I’m sure there’s some people out there thinking about reapplying, what advice do you have for reapplicants to Fuqua? [43:53]

Yeah, for students who are reapplying, we do offer a cloning process for them, just to make it a little easier. So we’ll replicate their application from last year. We consider you a reapplicant if it’s just for the prior year, so it can’t be two years from now and that kind of thing. But if you decide to reapply from the prior year, then we’ll save your… Let us know, there’s an email that you can send, and a request form, and we will clone your application. There’s no need to re-enter their information into the online application. We can even move over their recommender feedback, so that that’s helpful, so they don’t have to go back out to the same recommender.

We offer them the opportunity to update any other information though on their application, and there is a reapplicant essay that they need to submit. And that really is just kind of being reflective of the prior year, and letting us know what they’ve learned, what’s different, what’s new. I do recommend that people just review their prior year’s application, maybe take a look at the 25, is it still relevant? Do they want to switch out anything, or change up anything? Being really pensive and thoughtful about the reapplication essay. And I say that because if you think about it, if you just rely on the cloning and you don’t update anything, and you know that last year’s application, for whatever reason, it’s just not always just because your application, but for whatever reason you weren’t successful, if you make no changes, what makes you think you’re going to be successful if nothing changes? So I would say-

Right. The definition of insanity. [45:34]

Right. That’s what I was thinking. Yeah, exactly. So I do think it’s worth their time to just take a look, see what they might want to refresh, and then also be really thoughtful about that reapplicant essay. But we try and make it as easy as possible. We’ll have events for reapplicants, and webinars, and sessions to really kind of help walk them through the process. But we welcome them, we welcome reapplicants, and we have a high rate of folks who we reapply who actually get admitted the following year. So I do think it’s worth reapplying. Absolutely.

What are some common mistakes that you see? [46:11]

I’m glad you asked that question. So I would say, one would be during the recruiting process, ask admissions reps to compare their programs to other schools. I think the better approach is to reflect on what’s important to you in a program as an applicant. Be prepared to share that, and then inquire with each school how does their program match up to what’s important to you, instead of how it matches up to another institution. I feel like it’s the applicant’s job to really know the differences between institutions, and it’s each admissions rep at an institution to know what’s unique about their institution really well. And it’s also just not good form or respectful for admissions reps to contrast institutions, as all these programs are really strong, and there’s just as much as similar as different. And I really believe that there’s a place for everyone, and so it’s really better to start with what’s important to you.

Another mistake I would say to shy away from is, I’ve seen applicants not explain aspects of their application that may be viewed as outside that middle 80% range, especially if it’s on the lower end. So if there’s anything that’s in your profile that you feel is not a strength, I would urge you to really tell us what you’ve done to shore up that area. Be proactive. Demonstrate self-awareness and humility. At the same time, don’t allow us to assume, or make up a story about what happened in that particular space, or what that means, but really be proactive to say, “It looks like I’m a little different from this… Outside of this class profile range, but let me tell you why. What I’ve done, or how I’m unique in this other way, or how I’ve started to work on these aspects that might be a little bit different from what that class profile makeup in the aggregate looks like.”

And then I would just say, also doubting themselves upfront, not taking that bet in the first place. I really believe, again, that there’s an MBA program out there for everyone. I believe strongly in the value of the MBA. It’s been pivotal in my life, and it really surprises me that certain students will say… They’ll feel like they have to move mountains before they even are ready to apply. And I say, “You are good just as you are. You deserve this kind of investment in yourself through the pursuit of an MBA. And I’d say just go for it. Don’t doubt yourself.”

And then being really communicative, I also say another thing to just be aware of and be sensitive to is when you’re really communicative initially when you’re recruiting with our schools, but then you’re MIA once you get an offer. It’s not kind, it’s not the decent look. We want what’s best for everyone who’s applying, and especially those we admit, but we’re human beings in the process, so we can appreciate, and really like when there’s mutual respect throughout that process. So even if you decide after getting our offer that another school’s a better place for you, that is totally fine. I would just say be upfront, be honest, be in communication, don’t ghost the admissions team.

I completely agree with you. [49:09]

And then the last one, just more about when you’re preparing to start your program, once you get admitted and then accepted and you’re preparing to really start, make sure you’re paying attention to the many communications that you’re going to receive from the school to help you get ready to start. I would say stay on top of those emails. I see time and time again people not paying attention to the emails, and then before they know it, the program’s starting, or before they know it, they’ve missed some kind of deadline that’s going to be really important for them.

And so you’re going to feel, as an incoming student, much more prepared and calm, not scrambling when the time comes, if you stay on top of those communications, and meet the deadlines, and the checklists, and things like that that you’re being asked to do in order to get you prepared. ‘Cause really, the schools, they have your best interest in their minds when they are trying to stage the communications and say, “Hey, we need for you to do X, Y, and Z, because it’s really in your best interest to have all that done.” Because you will not believe how much information – you’ll be deluged. There’ll be a deluge of information once you start, and so if you’re not even in the mindset and practice of you responding and paying attention to that stuff even before you start, you’re going to feel lost, and that’s not what you want. You want to start your program feeling really comfortable, and calm, and prepared, and confident.

That’s great advice. Thank you so much. What would you have liked me to ask you? [50:24]

Let’s see. So I talked a little bit already about our test scores. I would say maybe the only other thing would be how we think about wait lists-

How do you think about wait lists? [50:38]

We maintain a selective and active wait list. It’s not ranked, so we don’t have any kind of ranking if you’re on the waitlist. And so if you’re put on the waitlist in round one, you may be admitted in subsequent rounds, so we try and look at every subsequent round to see if there’s anyone that we’d like to pull off the waitlist.

We encourage people to stay in touch and submit documentation. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming, but if there’s something new and different, or if you’ve retaken a test, or if you’ve gotten a promotion, or even if it’s just to say, “I’m still really interested.” And so definitely be in communication. We look at it as a two-way relationship when you’re on the waitlist. We have a healthy number of people that we admit off the waitlist every year, and they come and they thrive. I mean, I’ll tell you, there are a number of our co-presidents of our MBA student association who have been folks who have been admitted off the waitlist. So it’s a process that we take very seriously, and we know it’s a process that can be very angst-ridden, but we don’t want it to be. So I would say be in communication with us, and we’ll be in communication with you too.

Sounds good. Shari, I want to thank you so much for joining me today. Where can listeners and potential applicants learn more about Duke Fuqua? [51:49]

Yeah, so visit our website . I would encourage people to attend our events. We already are starting to be on the road, but if you’d like to learn more, you can always visit our website.

Relevant Links:

Duke Fuqua Admissions
Getting to Know Each Other Through 25 Random Things – Shari Hubert

Relevant shows:

How to Get an MBA at Columbia Business School – podcast Episode 528
How to Get Accepted to NYU Stern – podcast Episode 525
How to Get Into Georgetown McDonough’s MBA Program – podcast Episode 512
How to Get Accepted to Cornell Johnson MBA – podcast Episode 488
How Service To School Helps Veterans Get Accepted to Grad School – podcast Episode 524
Previous Interview with Shari Hubert – podcast Episode 434

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2023-2024 Duke Fuqua MBA Essay Analysis: Key Insights for a Successful Application

Are you considering pursuing an MBA at Duke Fuqua in 2023-2024? The Duke Fuqua MBA essay analysis for this year is crucial to your application’s success. In this informative guide, we’ll provide you with detailed insights, expert advice, and answers to frequently asked questions to help you navigate the application process with confidence.

As you embark on the journey to secure a spot in Duke Fuqua’s prestigious MBA program for 2023-2024 , it’s essential to understand the intricacies of the application process. This article serves as your ultimate resource, offering a comprehensive analysis of the essay requirements and tips to enhance your chances of acceptance.

Duke Fuqua MBA Essay Analysis 2023-2024

REQUIRED SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

Answer the following question in 100 words. What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first-choice career plan and your alternate plan.

The essay prompt asks for your post-MBA career goals, both your primary and alternate plans. The admissions committee wants to understand your aspirations and how an MBA from Duke Fuqua aligns with your objectives. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate your focus, clarity of purpose, and adaptability in case your primary plan doesn’t materialize.

How to Write the Essay:

Start with Clarity: Begin your essay with a clear and concise statement of your primary career goal. Use specifics to show that you’ve thought deeply about this goal.
Explain Your Motivation: Discuss why you’re passionate about this goal. Explain how your experiences and values have led you to pursue this path.
Duke Fuqua Fit: Highlight why Duke Fuqua is the ideal place to help you achieve your goals. Mention specific resources, programs, or aspects of the school that align with your ambitions.
Alternate Plan: Describe your alternate career plan, demonstrating that you’re adaptable and have considered potential contingencies.
Brevity: Stay within the 100-word limit. Be concise and focused in your writing.

Remember to personalize your essay according to your unique experiences and aspirations.

DUKE MBA ESSAY 1 – 25 RANDOM THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF

Your list will be limited to 2 pages (750 words maximum). Please present your response in list form, numbered 1 to 25. Some points may be brief, while others may be longer.

he Duke MBA Essay 1 is an opportunity for you to provide insights into your personal background and experiences. Here’s an analysis of the essay prompt and some guidance on how to approach it:

Essay Analysis:

Purpose: The purpose of this essay is to help the Admissions Committee get to know you on a more personal level. It invites you to share diverse aspects of your life, beyond your professional and academic achievements.
Format: The essay asks you to present your response in a list form, numbered 1 to 25. This format encourages concise and clear writing. Some points can be brief, while others may be more detailed.
Content: You should include a variety of topics, such as life experiences, hobbies, achievements, fun facts, and anything else that helps define your personality, values, and character.
Connection to Fuqua: The prompt highlights the “Team Fuqua” spirit and community, suggesting that they value teamwork and a sense of belonging. Your list should demonstrate how you can contribute to this community or align with its values.
Brainstorm: Start by brainstorming various aspects of your life, experiences, and interests that you would like to share. Think about what makes you unique and what defines you as an individual.
Prioritize: Since you have limited space (2 pages or 750 words), prioritize the most meaningful and engaging items on your list. Choose a mix of serious and lighthearted aspects.
Create an Outline: Organize your thoughts by creating an outline for your list of 25 random things. Consider the flow and balance of your points.
Write Concisely: Remember to be concise, but also provide enough context for the reader to understand each item. Keep each point to the point.
Show Diversity: Include a wide range of topics. This can include personal achievements, cultural experiences, hobbies, challenges you’ve overcome, or unique skills and interests.
Highlight Values: Showcase qualities or values that align with the “Team Fuqua” spirit, such as collaboration, leadership, diversity, and community involvement.

Sample/Cue:

Here’s a sample entry for your list to give you an idea of how to structure and write each point:

1. Skydiving Adventurer

I’ve taken the plunge (literally) and been skydiving. It taught me to embrace fear and uncertainty, a valuable lesson for business and life.

Remember to tailor each point to your own experiences and personality. The key is to be authentic and provide insights into what makes you unique.

DUKE MBA ESSAY 2: THE FUQUA COMMUNITY AND YOU

Analysis of the Essay Prompt:

Understanding Fuqua Culture : The prompt emphasizes Fuqua’s culture of engagement, highlighting student-led organizations, leadership development, personal fulfillment, and societal contributions. You are expected to demonstrate an understanding of these elements.
Three Ways to Contribute : You’re asked to outline three specific ways you plan to contribute to the Fuqua community. The emphasis here is on your personal vision and how you align with their culture.
Brevity and Clarity : The essay is limited to one page (500 words maximum), which means you need to be concise and clear in your response.

Approach to Writing the Essay:

Introduction (1-2 sentences) : Start with a concise introduction that briefly explains your interest in Fuqua’s culture and your intention to contribute to it.
Understanding of Fuqua Culture (2-3 sentences) : Demonstrate your knowledge of the Fuqua culture by mentioning specific aspects of their student-led organizations, leadership development, and societal contributions.
For each of the three ways you plan to contribute, dedicate a separate paragraph.
Begin each paragraph with a clear and concise topic sentence that outlines the specific contribution.
Provide evidence or examples from your past experiences that support your ability to contribute in that way.
Explain how this contribution aligns with Fuqua’s culture and values.
Be specific and avoid vague statements.
Conclusion (1-2 sentences) : Summarize your commitment to Fuqua and your enthusiasm for contributing to the community.

Sample/Cue :

I understand that Fuqua’s culture is built on active engagement, leadership development, and personal fulfillment, with a strong focus on student-led organizations and societal contributions. In my time at Fuqua, I intend to make the following three contributions:

Leadership in a Student Organization : As a passionate advocate for sustainability, I aim to lead the Fuqua Sustainability Club. Drawing on my experience as the sustainability coordinator in my current role at [Company], I will drive initiatives to integrate sustainability principles into the Fuqua community. I plan to organize events that educate and engage students on environmental issues and collaborate with local organizations to make a broader societal impact.
Mentoring Peers : Leveraging my background as a mentor for young professionals, I want to foster a culture of mentorship at Fuqua. By providing guidance and support to my peers, I believe I can contribute to their personal and professional growth. This aligns with Fuqua’s emphasis on personal fulfillment and leadership development, and I am committed to helping others succeed.
Diversity and Inclusion Advocacy : Recognizing the importance of diversity, I plan to champion diversity and inclusion efforts at Fuqua. I will actively participate in the Diversity and Inclusion Club, working to ensure that all voices are heard and valued within the Fuqua community. This will not only enrich the student culture but also contribute to a more inclusive society.

In conclusion, I am excited about the opportunity to be a part of the Fuqua community and am committed to actively participating in and enhancing its culture of engagement, leadership, and personal fulfillment.

Remember to tailor your response to your unique experiences and aspirations, ensuring that your contributions are aligned with Fuqua’s values and culture. Keep the essay concise, under 500 words, and proofread it for clarity and coherence.

OPTIONAL ESSAY

If you feel there are circumstances of which the admissions committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g. unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance). Note that you should NOT upload additional essays or additional recommendations in this area. The Optional Information section is intended to provide the admissions committee with insight into your circumstances only.

Your response will be limited to 1 page (500 words maximum).

The Duke Fuqua MBA optional essay is an opportunity to provide context to the admissions committee regarding specific circumstances that might not be apparent in your application. Here’s an analysis of the essay prompt and guidance on how to write it:

Essay Analysis: The optional essay is a valuable chance to address any potential weaknesses or concerns in your application. It is not mandatory, but it allows you to explain any irregularities such as employment gaps, academic performance issues, or unconventional choices in your application. The key here is to be concise and factual.

Identify the Issue: Begin by identifying the specific circumstance or issue you want to address. Whether it’s a gap in your resume, a low GPA, a change in career path, or anything else, be clear about the nature of the issue.
Provide Context: Explain the context surrounding the issue. Why did it happen, and what was your role in it? Make sure your explanation is logical and rational. Avoid making excuses or being defensive.
Highlight Your Response: Describe how you have responded to or overcome the challenge. What actions have you taken to address the issue? Demonstrating personal growth and learning from your experiences is valuable.
Stay Positive: Maintain a positive and forward-looking tone throughout the essay. Emphasize how this experience has shaped you, your determination to succeed, and how it has prepared you for the MBA program.
Be Concise: The essay must not exceed one page (500 words). Adhere to this limit and ensure that every word counts. Admissions committees appreciate clarity and brevity.

In your pursuit of a Duke Fuqua MBA for 2023-2024, it’s crucial to craft compelling essays that reflect your true self and aspirations.. Best of luck on your journey to Duke Fuqua!

Q: What is the word limit for the Duke Fuqua MBA essays for 2023-2024?

A: The word limit for the essays is typically 300 words each. However, it’s crucial to check the official guidelines for any changes.

Q: Can I use bullet points in my essays?

A: While essays should be in paragraph form, you can use bullet points sparingly to emphasize key points.

Q: Is it necessary to visit the Duke Fuqua campus before applying?

A: While it’s not mandatory, visiting the campus can provide valuable insights and enhance your application.

Q: How can I address a gap in my employment history in my application?

A: Be honest and provide a brief explanation of the gap. Focus on how you used that time for personal or professional development.

Q: Are there any preferred references for recommendation letters?

A: Duke Fuqua prefers professional recommendations from people who have directly supervised you.

Q: What is the acceptance rate for Duke Fuqua’s MBA program?

A: The acceptance rate varies from year to year, but it’s typically around 20-25%.

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2023-2024 Duke Fuqua MBA Essay Analysis and Tips

Admit expert.

July 15, 2023

The objective of Duke Fuqua is to prepare its students to inspire organizations in a way that has both a positive impact on the bottom line and a positive impact on the world. The admissions committee seeks to develop a class profile that embraces this objective and cultivates a culture that develops strong ties among students, faculty, and staff, as well as their families.

Duke is a popular choice when it comes to elite MBA programs, meaning it’s no easy task to win a spot in its small class.

Duke’s admissions team goes through thousands of applications every year to find the best people to let into its class of about 400 students. Duke places a lot of value on diversity, teamwork, and collaboration. Duke is also a highly community-driven school and tends to look for a certain set of characteristics in prospective students.

If this sounds like a place where you’d feel right at home, you’ll need to show Duke that you’re up to the task by answering their admissions essay questions well.

Required short-answer essay question

First required essay: 25 random things about yourself, second required essay: the fuqua community and you, optional essay: tell us more, application deadlines, short-answer essay question, advice from duke fuqua, essay 1 tips, essay 2 tips, optional essay, let us help you get into duke fuqua, duke fuqua mba essays 2023-2024.

You’ll need to provide your response to one short answer and two longer essay questions as part of your application.

Instructions: Answer the following question in 100 words.

What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first-choice career plan and your alternate plan.

Your list will be limited to 2 pages (750 words maximum). Please present your response in list form, numbered 1 to 25. Some points may be brief, while others may be longer.

Your response will be limited to 1 page (500 words maximum).

What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first-choice career plan and your alternate plan. (max 100 words)

It’s a pretty straightforward question.

The admissions committee knows that even the finest plans don’t always work out as planned or may even have unintended consequences.

It wants to know that you are ready to switch gears and recommit to a different path if you need to and that you are fully capable of doing so.

The key to answering this question is to show that your backup goal is just as connected to your skills, interests, and goals as your original plan and doesn’t come out completely disconnected.

For example, it might be hard to persuade the admissions committee that your short-term goal is to work in Private Equity and your alternative goal is to work as an Energy sector consultant since these jobs usually require very different skills and personalities. Just make sure that both of the goals you set are reasonable and doable.

In short, identify your immediate post-MBA goals and even list a few companies you’d like to work for. As a follow-up, explain how the short term serves as a bridge to the long term. If you have room, mention the impact you aim to have as a result of what you’ll be doing.

You’ll also need to identify a second post-MBA job that will help you achieve your stated long-term goals.

Topic – 25 random things about yourself

Instructions

To be presented in a list form, numbered 1 to 25
Maximum 750 words
Limited to 2 pages

At first, it may seem tough to come up with twenty-five odd items. Begin by brainstorming with friends and family to get ideas flowing. To begin, find out what makes you stand out from the crowd. Then, have them give the first thing that comes to mind when they’re asked about you,. Another approach is to always have a notebook nearby so that you may jot down ideas as they come to you.

How do you organize your list once you have 25 random things? You can structure them alphabetically. Alternatively, you can arrange the items in the list from shortest to longest. It’s also a good idea to break up long explanations into short ones. However, you can also keep the list purely random to make the reader keep guessing.

Allison Jamison , Duke Fuqua’s Assistant Dean of Admissions, said that this is the essay their admissions team likes to read the most.

Our team at Admit Expert is the same way. One of our favorite things to do every year is to help candidates choose which fun facts about themselves to share.

The best thing to do with this list is to have some fun with it. After all, they could have asked, “How do you think you can help make Fuqua a more diverse place?” but instead gave you this more open way to do it.

Before you start, we suggest you read this post from Megan Overby , Former Director of Admissions. In it, she talks about why Fuqua came up with this question, which is still important today.

You can also take a look at this video featuring Natasha Gore, Fuqua Admissions team member, sharing a few tips on this essay.

For ideas, you may refer to the following examples on Duke Website:

Examples of “25 Random Things”

25 Interesting Facts About Me
My 25 Random Things
More Random Things

Here are a few tips to help you write this unique essay:

Keep an optimistic attitude! Share joyful recollections, amusing details, intriguing skills, and (very brief) tales of perseverance and achievement. Avoid failure and disappointment at all costs (unless you can be light-hearted or self-effacing about it).
Aim to include all aspects of your life, including non-work-related interests and significant personal information and relationships. Writing about why you adored your grandmother as a child or what you learned during a long-distance relationship phase will assist the admissions committee get to know you beyond your résumé.
Think twice before bringing up religion or politics, just as you would on a first date or a job interview. If these topics are significant enough to justify mention, keep your comments to personal significance and community dimensions (i.e., avoid attempting to teach or persuade the reader).
Take the long perspective. Sharing a few pieces of information about your childhood that can provide admissions officers with unique insight not seen elsewhere in your application. In the meantime, discussing contemporary favorites (e.g., food, film, travel destination, or place to visit in your city or town) can reveal who you are today.
Brief examples, such as learning something the hard way when traveling abroad or working hard to develop a new pastime, can demonstrate both your interests and your approach to overcoming obstacles.
We suggest no more than five work-related list items (and suggest that you aim for even fewer). The adcom can read about your professional background elsewhere in your application, as suggested by the prologue.
Aim for balance in your list’s content; rather than listing items chronologically or by domain (e.g., professional, personal, extracurricular), mix things up and keep your reader guessing to make this genuinely “random.”
Show your draft to a close friend or relative to gain their opinion on how well you’ve captured your personality and whether you’ve missed anything.

Do you want to impress the Duke Fuqua Adcom?

At Admit Expert, we have helped hundreds of students get into top MBA programs around the world. We would be happy to help you too. Schedule a free call with us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you achieve your goals.

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The Fuqua community and you

1 page (500 words maximum)

When writing your Duke Fuqua MBA essay, be explicit about why you want to join the Team Fuqua. As a result, the best essays for the Duke MBA program will be both personal and well-researched. Everybody benefits from having a wide alumni network. Because of this, what will you give and receive from your peers?

The admissions committee at Fuqua, just like they did the year before, makes it abundantly apparent that you are required to detail three particular ways in which you believe you can contribute to Fuqua (rather than leaving the number of items up to you).

In our opinion, the success of this article is contingent on three factors: research, authenticity, and conciseness.

This is an even greater challenge, considering that you need to mention three things while only using 500 words total.

To begin, you will need to undertake a significant amount of research. It is going to be very difficult for you to create an essay that is convincing about why you feel that you belong at Fuqua if you don’t know too much about the community at Fuqua.

Next, you need to choose a topic and convey that you’re genuinely passionate about this topic. The best way to choose a topic for this short essay is to reflect on your own experiences. To begin, see if there are any clubs in Fuqua that share your passions. Next, think about what classes you’d like to take that will help you expand your expertise. Finally, use instances from your own life to demonstrate your interests and motivations in your writing.

Proper program fit is critical. It would be ideal if you were able to demonstrate personal characteristics that Duke Fuqua holds dear. Fuqua, for example, is very interested in what you do in your community. Your Duke Fuqua application will consequently be heavily influenced by your involvement in the community.

Lastly, try to keep your essay as short as you can. You should leave enough room to fully explain your different examples and make sure to connect each one to the Duke community. However, this is not the place to write a poem about how much you love Duke. But it can be hard to write such a short essay, so make sure you read our post on how to write great short essays here!

Tell us more:

If you feel there are circumstances of which the admissions committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g. unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance). Note that you should NOT upload additional essays or additional recommendations in this area. The Optional Information section is intended to provide the admissions committee with insight into your circumstances only.

The question for this Duke MBA essay is pretty specific, and you should only use this optional essay to talk about weaknesses in your application.

Even though the adcom says responses can be up to one page long, you should keep your answers as short and straightforward as possible.

This is not the place to talk about your life story, why you want to go to Duke, or why you need an MBA. It is also not a place to copy and paste a good essay you wrote for another school. Make sure you only talk about your weaknesses and talk about what steps you have taken or will take to fix them.

We will help you write essays that portray your unique strengths and experiences in the most favorable light so that your application shines above the rest. We have helped hundreds of students get into top US business schools. Let us help you too.

Do you want to get into your dream business school?

Take the first step towards your MBA dream and schedule a free 1 on 1 application strategy call with us.

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Duke MBA Essays: Tips for 2023-2024

At Menlo Coaching, we noticed that most MBA essays will fall into one of a number of categories: personal essays, career goals essays, behavioral essays, etc.. Read ahead for our expert guide on approaching these essays for the Duke Fuqua School of Business.

Personal Essay

The ‘Team Fuqua’ spirit and community is one of the things that sets the MBA experience apart, and it is a concept that extends beyond the student body to include faculty, staff, and administration. Please share with us “25 Random Things” about you. The Admissions Committee wants to get to know YOU – beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript. Share with us important life experiences, your hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you who you are. (upload file, 750 words)

Career Goals Essay

What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first choice career plan and your alternate plan. (text box, 100 words)

Campus Contribution Essay

Fuqua prides itself on cultivating a culture of engagement. Our students enjoy a wide range of student-led organizations that provide opportunities for leadership development and personal fulfillment, as well as an outlet for contributing to society. Our student-led government, clubs, centers, and events are an integral part of the student culture and to the development of leaders. Based on your understanding of the Fuqua culture, what are 3 ways you expect to contribute at Fuqua? (upload file, 500 words)

Optional Essay

If you feel there are circumstances of which the admissions committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g. unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance). Note that you should NOT upload additional essays nor additional recommendations in this area. The Optional Information section is intended to provide the admissions committee with insight into your circumstances only. (upload file, 500 words)
Optional Background Information. Do you have other lived experiences that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee that may give us insight into your opportunities, challenges, and/or achievements? If so, please share 200 words or less explaining how those experiences might affect your contributions to Fuqua. (text box, 200 words maximum)

Reapplicant Essay

Re-applicant Essay. It is not uncommon for it to take more than one try to achieve a goal. Please share with us the self-reflection process you underwent after last year’s application and how you have grown as a result. How did it shape your commitment to Fuqua and inspire your decision to reapply? (upload file, 500 words maximum).

Applying to Duke Fuqua School of Business

Fuqua is looking for students with a well-rounded background and lots of experience that can be translated into a succinct and compelling statement. They especially value teamwork, camaraderie, emotional intelligence, and empathy. One of the essential tips for an impactful essay is asking yourself why you chose to highlight a particular experience. Did it show significant professional development? Did it show how you overcame a personal struggle? Making sure your essay connects to the prompt, especially that it shows why you are pursuing an MBA, will make your essay stand out. No matter what the essay prompt is, these tips are broadly applicable. With that being said, the three different types of essays you will see on the Fuqua application are: personal, career goals, and school participation.

The Personal Statement Essay

Personal essays encompass your moral character, passions in and out of work, and the relationships you have fostered with friends and mentors. This essay type is where you can show the MBA program who you are as an individual and the intrapersonal impacts you have made on people around you. Fuqua is looking to recruit students who show compassion and enthusiasm in the office and with the people in their lives. Make sure to emphasize where you have shown empathy in your life while explaining how you will contribute positively to the on-campus experience. One of the biggest mistakes students make when writing a personal essay is focusing too much on their professional expertise.

This essay is where you can move away from talking about your work and speak about who you are outside of your job. Speak with current students and faculty to capture the essence of Fuqua. It shows you’ve done your research and are a genuinely kind, empathetic person in your real life!

The Career Goals Essay

The career goals essay is the space to emphasize your post-MBA plans. MBA programs want to accept students who have concrete, achievable career plans and a roadmap to success. MBA programs want a glowing post-grad report that proves they produce successful graduates with many job prospects (and who will donate money in the future)! Fuqua also wants students to promote their program to friends, co-workers, and prospective applicants. The career goals essay combines your hard statistics (ex: GMAT score) with your interpersonal skills (ex: recommendations) to formulate the case for getting an MBA.

Make sure to state your achievable short-term and long-term goals explicitly. Explain why an MBA would help you achieve these goals and how Fuqua is essential to your plan. Connecting the positive attributes from your personal essay to your career goals essay is critical to forming a well-rounded application. Fuqua students usually enter the consulting, technology, and financial service industries, so emphasize your findings in the essay to show you’re genuinely interested.

The School Participation Essay

The school participation essay is your chance to tell Fuqua how you will positively contribute to the environment. Fuqua values students engaged in on-campus life outside of the classroom and have a passion for collaboration and communication. Joining on-campus clubs, leadership committees and generally demonstrating that you have investigated student organizations on campus shows commitment to the school. Before writing your essay, find clubs that align with your already-stated interests in the personal or career goals essays. Be specific! Whether you like the environmental club or the art studies club, determine what organizations Fuqua offers. Look up classes and professors that interest you as well. If you can visit the campus, speak to students about any conferences or organizations they recommend, especially larger ones.

Ask yourself how you can benefit the student population through your unique skill set? Your answer does not have to be groundbreaking. Chances are, students with similar professional backgrounds attend the school already. Use your personal essay as a guide, and combine your intrapersonal skills with on-campus activities and classes.

Once you’ve completed your application, the optional Tuck essay gives you an additional opportunity to provide the AdCom with any additional information or clarity that you feel would enhance your application.

One trap that MBA applicants fall into is using the additional space provided by this essay to write on a whole new topic. However, this is not always the best idea.

You should only make use of this essay if you what you write will provide context to an element of your application to improve your candidacy—you don’t want to jeopardize your chances by adding unnecessary noise to your application.

For reapplicants, Tuck requires a specific essay in which you can address how your application has improved since your last application.

In this essay, you can address any improvements to your test scores, promotions at work, additional volunteer or community work, or any significant professional development that you have undertaken since you last applied to the program.

Timing is key for reapplicants, and when you’re applying for an MBA program a second time around, you want to be sure that you are a more qualified and desirable client than you were in the past—even if your application was stellar the first time.

Overall, honesty and growth are the most important parts of a successful MBA application essay. In addition, applying the lessons you learned shows improvement in your interpersonal and professional skills, making you a more attractive candidate for MBA programs.

At Menlo Coaching, our dedicated MBA coaches are prepared to help you take the next step and perfect your essays.

Duke Fuqua MBA Program Overview
MBA Essay Tips From 3 Top Admissions Consultants
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Our Early Birds Toolkit has everything you need to get started right now —leave your name and email, and we’ll send you three actionable steps to elevate your profile, plus time-saving tools for faster progress.

We can improve your MBA profile and boost your candidacy. Gain insight into the review process and eliminate weaknesses from your MBA application.

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Duke Fuqua MBA Essay Tips

A clear application strategy is crucial to approaching these essays. Duke’s mission is to “identify, engage, and foster the development of future leaders of consequence,” and you will want to demonstrate you are the kind of leader the admissions committee is looking for.

Don’t forget the personal – in this essay set you have the opportunity to add 25 new facts to round out your profile. As always, it is important to demonstrate that you know Duke Fuqua well and are a strong fit with the program. Starting your research and personal networking now will put you in a solid position to prepare the most specific and effective essays.

Stacy Blackman Consulting can help you prepare a compelling, individualized strategy to approach your Duke Fuqua application this year, contact us to learn more.

Required Short Answer Questions: Answer all 3 questions Respond in 250 characters only (the equivalent of about 50 words). 1. What are your short-term goals, post-MBA? 2. What are your long-term goals? 3. Life is full of uncertainties, and plans and circumstances can change. As a result, navigating a career requires you to be adaptable. Should the short-term goals that you provided above not materialize what alternative directions have you considered?

This career goals essay asks for your plan in three parts. First, you should describe what you plan to do immediately after your MBA. Then you’ll explain the long-term vision for your career. Finally, Duke admits that many career paths are forged through circumstance, and asks you for Plan B.

Think big picture and focus on the overall story trajectory. What would be the most logical (and interesting) progression from your current skill set and MBA education? How will your next step flow from the combination of those experiences? And your alternative path ideally isn’t a massive departure, but simply shows the areas you could see yourself exploring if your primary plan doesn’t materialize.

For example, perhaps you are focused on becoming a marketing executive at a CPG company. If you don’t find the suitable position after Duke, maybe you would consider another industry for your career path. Think about your range of interests and go from there. Because you have limited space, you’ll have to boil your plans down in a clear statement of what you plan to do, but ideally any plans are supported by the information provided in your resume, recommendations, and other essays.

Required Essays: Answer both essay questions

Essay One: The “Team Fuqua” spirit and community is one of the things that sets The Duke MBA experience apart, and it is a concept that extends beyond the student body to include faculty, staff, and administration. When a new person joins the Admissions team, we ask that person to share with everyone in the office a list of “25 Random Things About Yourself.” As an Admissions team, we already know the new hire’s professional and academic background, so learning these “25 Random Things” helps us get to know someone’s personality, background, special talents, and more.

In this spirit, the Admissions Committee also wants to get to know you beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript. You can share with us important life experiences, your likes/dislikes, hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you who you are. Share with us your list of “25 Random Things” about YOU.

Please present your response in list form, numbered 1 to 25. Some points may be only a few words, while others may be longer. Your complete list should not exceed 2 pages.

This essay is entirely open ended and topics can span your personal background, work experiences, values or extracurriculars. If you have a particularly interesting story in any of those areas, this is the place to tell that story. This creative exercise is certainly an opportunity to follow the admissions committee’s advice to share what makes you a dynamic, multi-dimensional person.

Coming up with 25 random things to list in this essay may seem daunting at first. To jumpstart your creative process you may want to brainstorm with friends and family about what is most interesting and memorable about you. Or keep a notebook with you to record thoughts as you go about work and personal activities. A themed list that ties into a bigger point may be effective, but resist the urge to package the list too perfectly. In the end, Duke is interested in who you actually are and how your life has unfolded until now.

Essay Two: When asked by your family, friends, and colleagues why you want to go to Duke, what do you tell them? Share the reasons that are most meaningful to you.

This essay is entirely focused on why the Duke MBA program is the right place for you specifically. This may be another opportunity to demonstrate your multi-dimensional personality as you explain which classes, clubs, and community activities most resonate with you.

The best essays will be both specific and personal. While everyone benefits from a diverse alumni network, what specifically do you want to give and receive from your classmates? If you describe clubs and classes you are attracted to, also offer specific examples from your past experiences to show your consistent personal or professional passions.

While the focus of the essay is the Duke MBA program, you are also being asked why these aspects are most meaningful. Your fit with the program is crucial, and therefore you must exhibit the qualities Duke is seeking as well. The Duke MBA program is especially interested in your role within the community, and will place significant weight on this factor. If you research thoroughly and are specific, you should be able to clearly demonstrate why you are going to be strong contributor and teammate.

This essay can also be a place to talk about how the Duke MBA fits into your career goals. What do you know now that will be enhanced through your MBA education? And what crucial aspects of the skill set required for your future career will be augmented by attending Duke?

Optional Essay (Limit your response to two pages) If you feel there are extenuating circumstances of which the Admissions Committee should be aware, please explain them in an optional essay (e.g. unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, or any significant weakness in your application).

As with most optional essays, the Duke MBA asks that you only use this space to explain extenuating circumstances. If you have a low GPA, a non-typical recommender or gaps in work history this is the correct place to address those issues.

When approaching any concerns about your background in the optional essay it’s important to focus on recent performance, whether academic or professional, and what such performance demonstrates about your ability. Your goal is to remove questions from your application and to address in a factual manner any information the admissions committee needs to know to fairly evaluate your application.

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Tips for Your Duke Fuqua Application Essays

July 13, 2023

Duke Fuqua Application Essay Tips, 2023-2024

Duke Fuqua presents its applicants with one of the most creative, and maybe challenging, essay prompts out there—asking candidates to come up with a list of more than two dozen “random” bits of information about themselves. Then, applicants need to craft a more traditional essay in which they explain their fit with the Fuqua culture and how they envision themselves contributing to it. The only specifically “professional” question the school poses involves a succinct declaration of one’s post-graduation career goal. The Fuqua admissions committee is clearly interested in learning about your values, interests, personality, strengths, and other distinctive characteristics to balance the more quantitative information provided in the other parts of your application.

Free : Download Stratus Admissions’ Guide to Getting into Fuqua School of Business

Required short-answer question.

Answer the following question in 100 words. What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first-choice career plan and your alternate plan.

This is a pretty straightforward and common MBA application question, though Fuqua throws in the little twist of asking for an “alternate plan” should things not work out exactly as you envision them at this point. Many candidates are focused pretty intently on a specific path, so by asking for a backup option, the admissions committee gets a chance to see what kind of thought you have given to the possibility of having to alter your original plan. You only have 100 words here, so you can’t get too detailed or overexplanatory, but you will want to show that your alternate goal makes just as much sense for you as your primary one, based on your skills, experience, and anticipated Fuqua experience. If your top choice is a very targeted position that is beyond the companies that typically recruit at Fuqua, your backup plan may be a more standard option for which Fuqua graduates are frequently recruited. Be sure to include the industry, function, and geography (if outside the United States), as well as two or three companies you would target.

Essay 1: 25 Random Things About Yourself

The ‘team fuqua’ spirit and community is one of the things that sets the mba experience apart, and it is a concept that extends beyond the student body to include faculty, staff, and administration. please share with us “25 random things” about you. the admissions committee wants to get to know you – beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript. share with us important life experiences, your hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you who you are., your list will be limited to 2 pages (750 words maximum). please present your response in list form, numbered 1 to 25. some points may be brief, while others may be longer..

Through this essay, Fuqua wants to get to know who you are as an individual, not just as an “MBA applicant,” so the admissions committee can determine how well you might fit with the Team Fuqua culture and what kind of leader you could develop into. Your list needs, above all, to be very distinct and personal to you, so don’t go into this thinking that there are certain items the admissions committee is expecting you to include. There really are no “right” or “wrong” answers.

That said, we do have some ideas for ways you could catch the eyes (and hearts) of the admissions committee. For one, don’t be afraid to make them laugh. The school neither wants nor expects you to be serious all the time, and humor is a good way to show your lighter side. And remember that these are real, live human beings reading your application. If you can touch their funny bone, they will be more likely to remember you. Another idea is to include some key lessons you’ve learned. A personal experience you share will have an even bigger impact if you can attribute a meaningful takeaway you had from it.

Consider demonstrating a personal connection of some kind with Fuqua, Duke University, or the Durham area. This could be related to something from your past or to something you’re looking forward to as a Fuqua student. For instance, if you play bass in a garage band (or did so at some point in the past), perhaps you look forward to getting together with musically inclined classmates for Fuqua’s Got Talent or Fuqua Idol. Also, show that you are a team player. Although the focus of this “essay” is obviously you, look for opportunities to demonstrate that you support and work well with others.

As for what not to do, to start, don’t give just one- or two-word answers. The admissions committee needs a little context to fully appreciate your responses, and details are what make your items distinct and memorable. Similarly, avoid giving superficial or cookie-cutter responses that don’t provide the admissions committee with any insight into who you are, such as who your favorite character is on a popular television show (or player on a sports team), how many movies or books you’ve read (unless the number is truly astounding), what your name means, and so on. You also don’t want to include any basic facts that the admissions team can already find in another part of your application, especially your resume. This is your chance to complement that information with more personal insight. And of course, you need to keep your responses appropriate for an MBA application. You want to show some character and stand out, but you never want to be offensive or cross any lines.

Use your random things list to present yourself as someone the admissions committee can see contributing positively to the Fuqua community, both during the MBA program and beyond. Are you excited to contribute to classroom discussions? Are you an individual people would want to engage with at Fuqua Fridays? Can they picture you working on a group project during your first year? What leadership role might they envision you in? If your classmates were to honor you with an award for demonstrating Team Fuqua principles, which would it be? Strive to make these types of questions easy for them to answer.

Essay 2: The Fuqua Community and You

Fuqua prides itself on cultivating a culture of engagement. our students enjoy a wide range of student-led organizations that provide opportunities for leadership development and personal fulfillment, as well as an outlet for contributing to society. our student-led government, clubs, centers, and events are an integral part of the student culture and to the development of leaders. based on your understanding of the fuqua culture, what are 3 ways you expect to make an impact at fuqua, your response will be limited to 1 page (500 words maximum)..

If you hadn’t already picked up on this, culture is a big deal for Fuqua, so the admissions committee understandably wants to know that the applicants it admits are compatible with it. This essay is your chance to ensure that the school considers you a good match with its community and style. Being authentic is key.

Of course, to be able to write a convincing essay for this prompt, you have to truly understand what the Fuqua culture and community are like, so your very first step really needs to be researching the school in depth. This means more than just reading the main pages of the website and any promotional materials the admissions office provides. For example, dig into press releases, blogs, and YouTube videos, but above all, connect with Fuqua students , alumni, and other representatives directly and pick their brains about what it means to be authentically engaged at Fuqua. Additionally, reach out to students currently involved in the clubs, centers, or events that align with your goals and interests. These conversations will inform what you decide to write about and will yield much more insight than you can find online. Students are very accessible, so not having these conversations will reflect poorly on you as an applicant.

Let the admissions committee know what you are genuinely interested in doing at Fuqua, ideally as it relates to your background and post-MBA goals. Explain why you are passionate about contributing to a certain activity, club, event, or other opportunity or resource, and be specific regarding what your contribution might look like. Perhaps you have been involved with the women’s employee resource group at your company, developing a mentoring program for new hires. Relating this experience to proposed engagement with the Association of Women in Business will help demonstrate that your plans are sincere and well founded. It goes without saying that you should discuss your anticipated engagement in a professional club that aligns with your career interests.

Obviously, you need to also be Fuqua specific. Consider using the same terminology and language the school uses when talking about its program. For example, the name of the health care club at Fuqua might be very different from the name of its counterpart club at other schools you’re targeting, and using the wrong name in your essay would be detrimental. Such errors demonstrate a lack of research and genuine interest in Fuqua specifically, which is the last thing you want the admissions committee to think when reading your application!

Optional Information

If you feel there are circumstances of which the admissions committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g., unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance). note that you should not upload additional essays nor additional recommendations in this area. the optional information section is intended to provide the admissions committee with insight into your circumstances only..

The optional essay is one that should always be used judiciously. If you feel your application conveys a complete, accurate picture of who you are as a strong Fuqua candidate, then you’re likely best off not submitting this optional essay. There’s little to be gained from adding to the admissions committee’s workload by asking them to read another essay that doesn’t add anything crucial to your profile. But if you have an issue of some sort in your candidacy that could benefit from additional explanation (see the school’s examples), then this is your chance to expound on and clarify it so that it is less likely to be a problem.

Re-applicant Essay

Candidates who applied to the daytime mba program between july 2022 and may 2022 are considered re-applicants. , it is not uncommon for it to take more than one try to achieve a goal. please share with us the self-reflection process that you underwent after last year’s application and how you have grown as a result. how did it shape your commitment to fuqua and inspire your decision to reapply.

Ideally, in the time between your previous application and now, you have made progress in certain areas of your life and career and have seized on opportunities to learn and/or accomplish meaningful things. Fuqua wants to know not only what new skills and experiences you bring to the table this year but also that you are the kind of person who is not easily deterred by setbacks (in this case, not being accepted) and who continues to strive toward their goals even when their originally intended path does not come to fruition. In addition, the admissions committee wants to be able to gauge your capacity for self-assessment and to understand what specifically about the school’s program inspires your ongoing interest. Very simply, outline for the admissions committee what you have done, gained, and learned since you last applied, clearly communicating that your efforts were fueled by your desire to be part of and contribute in a meaningful way to the Fuqua community.

In Stratus Admissions’ Guide to Getting into Fuqua School of Business , you will find information on a variety of the MBA program’s offerings such as the Team Fuqua, The Blue Devils, Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum, and the Duke Start-Up Challenge. This free guide also includes class profile statistics and our expert advice on answering the business school’s application essay questions. Download our brand-new guide to learn more about Duke Fuqua!

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Examples of our “random things”.

The “10 Random Things” essay is a unique way for Fuqua’s Admissions team to genuinely get to know applicants.

Published February 9, 2024

The admissions process is about showcasing an applicant’s greatest strengths, interests and values. The random things essay is a unique way for Fuqua’s Admissions team to genuinely get to know applicants. For applicants, it’s an opportunity for self-reflection and a platform for sharing their authentic selves.

Here are a few examples of the random things that make us who we are.

Jasmine Scheitler

Music is a huge passion of mine and I took piano and voice lessons throughout childhood. Witnessing the impact music had on my confidence inspired me to co-found a chapter of a nonprofit offering free lessons to grade-schoolers by partnering them with college students. Check out Musical Empowerment!
My favorite way to decompress after a long day is by curling up with my pups to watch an episode of Succession.
I’ve been to 27 countries and have a goal to reach all 7 continents—2 more to go!
I love scuba diving. The ocean is fascinating to me. I was actually a marine biology major before I switched to economics. My favorite dive experience has been encountering a sleeping shark in a cave off the coast of Montego Bay, Jamaica.
I enjoy baking for my friends and family. The biggest hit so far has been a lemon butter cake with cream cheese icing.

Javi Gonzalez

I minored in Japanese and have a profound appreciation for languages. I was certain I would pursue languages when I started college. However, after two semesters of basic STEM courses, I found myself instead transferring to engineering. To balance the heavy technical coursework, I added Japanese language courses to my curriculum, which allowed me to graduate with a minor in Japanese. My desire for challenge, curiosity to learn, and persistence to pursue my passions carried me through this experience and continues to be a driving force in my career.
I translated in my first job after graduation . Fresh into my first engineering role, I was tasked with the evaluation of a fire protection system for our client, Sasol. In addition to this technical capacity, having Japanese on my resume piqued the interest of managers on the project as our client was interested in Japanese manufacturers whose data was only in Japanese. I was tasked with translating their data, then later asked to translate other project materials from Spanish and German, the latter of which I do not speak. This led me to the office of a German project manager who later became my boss on the project. Working with him catapulted my capital projects career, and through his leadership, I was chosen as one of the first engineers to transition to Louisiana to manage the project’s construction.
Completing the 150-mile, two-day BP MS150 bike ride from Houston, Texas to Austin was a significant milestone for my personal health goals. Bike MS brings thousands of people together through cycling to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) research. Shortly after starting my career with Fluor in 2013, I joined the company’s MS150 team with nine other new hires. In addition to the greater purpose of raising funds for MS research, the experience allowed me to build friendships with my peers and ignited my passion for approaching fitness through a social lens. Years later, this endures as one of my primary resources for making friends and forming community.
My first solo trip abroad was a formative self-reflection on confidence. In 2016, I was looking for a change in pace from the grueling hours of my field assignment in Louisiana. I planned a two-week solo trip around Taiwan, mapping out every stop using public transit and a car rental to access mountainous regions where public transit was limited. Despite my thorough research, I underestimated the driving permit requirements and found myself stranded where few people spoke English. After hours of research, I was able to map out rural bus routes and complete my planned two-day solo hike of East Asia’s second tallest mountain, Xueshan. The experience strengthened my confidence in navigating uncertainty and quickly learning a new language to communicate with strangers.
I am thoroughly bewitched by all things music . In college, I assumed every 20-something in the U.S. found as much entertainment and/or quietude through listening to and experiencing (live) music. I was somewhat surprised to learn this sentiment was not universal after college; however, I also learned that once the easy access to like-minded individuals offered through college is gone, there’s deep value in the bonds formed through common interests. Some of my closest connections post-college formed through a shared appreciation for music. We’ve attended dozens of concerts, danced at music festivals in Texas, California and New York, commiserated over the reality that we may not get Taylor Swift’s 2023 tour tickets (We got tickets!), and dissected albums and Pitchfork articles about albums. Music for me fosters connection, incites curiosity, and stimulates creativity and concentration throughout my life.

Kristen Held

I had a startup in college that aimed to create an easy-to-use mobile application that would allow users to practice their public speaking skills. As part of this, I received initial seed funding, incubator space at my university and participated in angel venture competitions and fairs across the East Coast. While I decided to pivot my efforts on other areas, I am interested in start-ups and a future career change!
If you need a Fuqua classmate who knows everything there is to know about theme parks (think Disney and Universal across the globe), I am your girl. My dream job would be to design theme parks, and create the immersive storytelling you experience when visiting. I typically go to Disney a few times a year and have likely been upwards of 30+ times.
I have played several instruments in my lifetime. The grand total right now is 7!
Growing up, I played in a competitive chess league. Two things I learned from this experience is that chess is a wonderful game that applies to many different things in life, and children can get very passionate about it.
I have rung the opening bell at NASDAQ in Times Square!

Turner Miller

I was the first of my family to attend college. I am the youngest of six children and grew up in extreme poverty. Higher education was not something seriously discussed in our house or even community. For some, going to college is simply the next step after high school, but for me, it is still the achievement of which I am most proud. The fact that I am working toward my MBA at Fuqua would be inconceivable to my younger self.
I attended a Spanish immersion school from kindergarten through eighth grade. My teachers spoke exclusively in Spanish for every subject except for an English class. Even in high school, history class was in Spanish. I have not used it enough and my fluency has faded but I can still get by. I went to Mexico City this past summer and it all started to come back to me, so maybe there is still hope.
I had perfect attendance at school through eighth grade. For some reason, my mom was fixated om me not missing school for any reason. Again, I had five siblings and, confoundingly, this only applied to me. I believe I received a certificate every year, which I am not sure is commensurate with the achievement. I only ever missed one day in high school as well. Either way, to this day, I feel guilty if I take a sick day.
I am an amateur bartender. I want to stress the amateur part; I am not cool enough to have ever worked in a bar. During the COVID-19 shutdown, while others were baking bread and riding on their Peloton, I started experimenting with making cocktails. While I enjoy making drinks with tequila and gin most, my specialty is an espresso martini. My tip for the readers—use only real espresso and swap rum for vodka the next time you make one.
I learned to play guitar in college. I feel like most people take up instruments early in life, but I always wanted to learn guitar and decided it wasn’t too late. I am not particularly good, but I might as well be Jimmy Page to my son when I am playing him the Jurassic Park theme song.

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How To Tackle Duke’s 25 Random Things Q + Example Essay

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Duke Fuqua ’s inspired ‘25 Random Things’ essay question is one of my favorites among the top business schools. While many applicants are intimidated by the prompt, it poses a fantastic way to connect with Fuqua Admissions on a personal level by showcasing different sides of yourself that may not come through in traditional MBA applications. If done right, this essay creates advocates among those reading your list.

As a former Associate Director of Fuqua’s Career Management Center and liaison to Admissions, and now as a Fortuna Admissions coach, I’m seasoned at helping candidates position their stories in a compelling, succinct and memorable way. Beyond my advice below on how to tackle this essay, I’ve included a terrific ‘25 Random Things’ example from a recent admit.

The beauty of this essay prompt is that you’re invited to convey your uniqueness in a way that’s uncoupled by the prosaic nature of the typical essay, allowing you to be serious and playful, witty and vulnerable, introspective and quirky at intervals. The full prompt clearly states that Admissions wants to get to know you beyond the professional and academic achievements listed on your resume. It acknowledges that we have many sides of ourselves, offering an opportunity to illuminate the different identities you inhabit and subtle qualities of your character that make you unique.

To get started, think about your values, your hobbies, your interests, and important life experiences. As alluded above, take full advantage of the unusual format to supply a mix of poignant, humorous, playful, deep, and everything in between. Some may be a paragraph whereas others may be a well-tuned sentence.

It’s also important to highlight your cultural competency. Fuqua has always put an emphasis on diversity and takes pride in the fact that its student body is consistently around 40% international. (In fact, the main hallway is lined with flags representing the many countries students come from.) Teams are purposefully made of individuals from different genders, ethnicities, and functional and industry backgrounds. It’s important that your savvy self- and cultural awareness shines throughout your application. Look for ways to stress your experience working with globally diverse teams and why a global perspective is important to you personally and professionally.

So what does success look like? Take a peek at the first 10 responses from a successful Duke Fuqua admit.

EXCERPT FROM A SUCCESSFUL ‘25 RANDOM THINGS ABOUT YOU’ ESSAY

Having gained seven siblings all at once, at the age of nine, I’ve come to have a loose definition of the word family. My definition is based more on time I’ve spent with someone than our legal or biological bonds.
It took time (and a new addition to the house), but eventually my newly-extend family fell into a rhythm. Our home was louder, but filled with more laughter. Together we learned to discuss topics such as subliminal racism and police violence against people of color with sensitivity, directness, and when appropriate, a sense of humor.
I have a pet Quaker parrot named Blue. I was told it was a male bird so I was shocked when “he” laid an egg!
I’m deathly scared of spiders. My first month living in Chongqing, a spider about 3 ½ inches across found itself in front of my doorway; after frantically facetiming my dad, I dropped a textbook weighing about 5 pounds on it. I didn’t move the book for two weeks.
When I am stressed out I like to watch documentaries about space… or the children’s show “Arthur”—totally different but equally effective.
Ever since I watched the show Madeline at age 5, my interest in studying another language was peaked. While it only included snippets of French (“Bonjour”, “merci”) I was enchanted by the idea of learning French and connecting with a group of people otherwise unreachable.
On Thanksgiving when I was 5 years old, I finally put it together that the turkey we were eating was “turkey”, the bird. I surprised my parents by announcing I was now going to be a vegetarian. I surprised them further by remaining vegetarian until the end of high school.
In college, I volunteered in China with an NGO building libraries in rural schools. When the children first saw me, they ran and hid. It was their first time laying eyes on a foreigner. While they were initially frightened, we eventually bonded over Chinese paper cutting (which I never did quite get the hang of).
One of my first nights in Hunan Province, I tried “huajiao”, a pepper known for its numbing effects on the mouth; I had no idea what I’d eaten and was convinced I was having an allergic reaction. Since we were hours from a hospital I was also half-convinced this could be the end. Now huajiao is one of my favorite spices.
My college roommates and I met on our hall freshman year and the five of us lived together the rest of our time at Penn—we still have yearly reunions despite all living in different cities.

(You can view all ‘25 Random Things’ from this successful admit in my related post, along with how to respond to all Fuqua essays and the short answer question.)

Finally, keep in mind that your responses should resonate with the core values of the Fuqua community – collaboration, diversity, honesty, respect and giving back to a cause greater than yourself. Team Fuqua isn’t merely a slogan, but a commitment that the staff, faculty and students make to one other. Typically, applicants who devote the necessary time to networking with students and alumni will start to understand what this means on a deeper level – and that will shine through in your essays.

For more advice on how to position your Fuqua application, read: 5 Essential Tips on Applying for the Duke Fuqua MBA .

Fortuna Admissions coach Catherine Tuttle is former Associate Director at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, where she worked in the Career Management Center and also served as the liaison to Admissions. For a candid assessment of your chances of admission success at a top MBA program, sign up for a free consultation .

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July 26, 2022

Duke Fuqua Essay Tips

Duke fuqua has released their application deadlines and essay questions for the 2022-23 application cycle. here are the important dates and admitify’s guidance on the required essays ., required short-answer essay question: what are your post-mba career goals share with us your first-choice career plan and your alternate plan..

Instructions: Answer the following question in 100 words.

Admitify Guidance

Given the word limit here, cut to the chase from the first sentence and state your long-term goals as concretely and specifically as you can. I recommend starting with your big-picture, change-the-world long-term goal because it should be the inspirational high-impact mission that’s driving you to business school. If that dream goal turns out not to be possible, what is your backup path toward fulfilling that mission? State roles and even specific job titles; state organization types but also specific examples of those organizations. If you have space to mention actual people who are doing what you want to do, then go for it, especially if they have Duke MBAs and/or you actually reached out to them to learn about their careers. After stating your long-term goal, backfill the short-term goals (plan A and plan B), again mentioning specific job titles and organization names if you can. If you have space state what skills the short-term goals will give you that will make the long-term goals more achievable.

First required essay: 25 random things about yourself: Please share with us “25 Random Things” about you.

The ‘Team Fuqua’ spirit and community is one of the things that sets the MBA experience apart, and it is a concept that extends beyond the student body to include faculty, staff, and administration. The Admissions Committee wants to get to know YOU – beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript. Share with us important life experiences, your hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you who you are.

Your list will be limited to 2 pages (750 words maximum). Please present your response in list form, numbered 1 to 25. Some points may be brief, while others may be longer.

Duke us helpfully explaining exactly what they want and don’t want here. Yes, to important life experiences, your hobbies, achievements, fun facts; no to professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript. Follow their guidance and check out the sample responses on Duke’s website. You’ll see that good responses have tons of personality and show the respondents’ fun side and humility – the facts that show that the respondent is someone future classmates will enjoy being around and learning with. Lean on the ‘fun fact’ side of you with details/stories that will make the reader smile or see you as a real person with foibles and kooky interests. This doesn’t mean you can’t share some personal, even heavy, life facts but keep the tone positive/upbeat (if you share something difficult, mention how you grew from it). Aim for variety – show them as many different sides of you as you can; don’t worry about chronological order or any kind of order at all. Try to keep the reader’s interest by mixing up the fun facts, so they are continually learning new, interesting things about you. It’s OK if some of your fun facts show that you like to do some things solo, but remember Duke’s team culture and be sure your fun facts show you as a people person who enjoys groups.

Second required essay: The Fuqua community and you. Based on your understanding of the Fuqua culture, what are 3 ways you expect to contribute at Fuqua?

Your response will be limited to 1 page (500 words maximum).

Duke is giving you so much space here that you will find it difficult to BS around 3 potential contributions; you will have to drill down on your 3 potential contributions and offer substantive ideas. Start with the non-academic interests that most define you. Visit Duke’s website and speak with Duke people to find activities (not necessarily only student clubs) that best align with your 3 main non-academic interests. (note that Duke’s prompt makes clear that they like leadership and social impact; take the hint). Here’s the hard part: don’t just say ‘I will be an active member of the Blue Devils cheerleading squad’ – joining a club or activity isn’t a contribution. You need to do research around the club or activity (perhaps find the club’s website and reach out to one of its officers with questions). What does this club/activity actually do now? Given your knowledge of this activity (remember, you’re only talking about clubs/activities that you already have a demonstrated affinity toward), where could you add value? What new directions or events or initiatives might you launch to break new ground? How might that new initiative look? How specifically might you go about pursuing that new direction? Put some meat on the bones of your potential ‘contribution’; do your best to ensure that your idea is doable and hasn’t already been tried, but don’t worry if your idea comes across as too ambition or unrealistic. The point is to show Duke that you have thought about your contribution and you are full of ideas (and because your 3 contributions are only activities that you already have a passion for your ideas are savvy and specific).

Check back each week for more essay tips. Round 1 is just around the corner – contact us now and speak with one of our expert coaches!

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2023-2024 Duke Fuqua MBA Essay Analysis + Downloadable Sample Essays

1. Who is Duke Fuqua looking for?

2. How should I answer the essay questions?

2.1. Required short-answer essay Tips

2.2. Essay 1 – 25 Random Things – Tips

2.3. Essay 2 – Fuqua Community – Tips

2.4. Optional Essay Tips

3. Make sure you get into Duke Fuqua

4. Deadlines

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Duke Fuqua MBA Essays – Analysis & tips for 2023 intake

Guidelines for the Fuqua MBA Essay Questions 2022-23

Application Deadlines 2022-23: Duke Fuqua MBA Program

Duke MBA Essays Analysis and Tips

Required Short Answer Question

What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first-choice career plan and your alternate plan. (500 characters, or about 100 words)

First Required Essay: 25 Random Things About Yourself

Second Required Essay: The Fuqua community and you

Optional Essay: Tell us more

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