Fuqua (Duke) Class of 2016: Calling all applicants!

The interviewers do not interview all day. They have specific slots. AdCom even attempts to match you up interviewers with similar background when possible. Thus, even if you interview after lunch, it may be their first interview of the day.

Just schedule the interview for the best time for you.

FYI, the online application is up!

Required Short Answer Questions: Answer all 3 questions. For each short answer question, 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?

Required Essays: Answer both essay questions

1. 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.

2. 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.

Your response to this essay question should be no more than 2 pages in length. Please respond fully and concisely using 1.5 line spacing.

Any suggestions on how re-applicants should tackle 25-things essay?

I think that's one of the questions where we are not expected to show a significant deviation; I was very satisfied with my essay last year, so I think I will only change 4-5, but keep rest the same.

This one is tricky. While we agree with what you're saying in concept hailmary, the fact is that you didn't make it in with that essay last year. Sure, if done well, the 25 Things represent the "core you" - meaning, they are things that would not change in a year. However, this is a new opportunity. Taking a clean-slate approach is always recommended in terms of presenting a fresh pitch. We'd strongly suggest that reapplicants look at this with new eyes and see what might be seen.

Admittedly, not very helpful in terms of what you should actually DO with this essay as a reapplicant... but definitely this will challenge you to show your very best to the school (not that you didn't try to do that last year...).

EssaySnark

I think that's one of the questions where we are not expected to show a significant deviation; I was very satisfied with my essay last year, so I think I will only change 4-5, but keep rest the same. Were you waitlisted last year?

I agree with what you saying, but the problem is: What if you were a weak candidate and the 25 random things essay is what helped you get on waitlist, and not in the ding pile, early on. Most of my random things were about my childhood, upbringing, adversities and accomplishments - none of those stuff will change or should be changed. Obviously, you can change the wordings, but the actual content will not change.

I think adcom should shed some light on how reapps should approach this essay. This is a tricky one.

It's similar to a resume in the sense that, assuming I thought about my accomplishments exhaustively and included the best from them in my initial application's resume, the job I had 4 years ago and have since left isn't going to change and I'm therefore sending in the same stuff. It sucks but unfortunately, my time machine's broken...

Just booked my interview and other visit events. I'll be down 9/26 - 9/28.

FYI, the online application is up!