Calling all Duke (Fuqua) Fall 2009 applicants!

Thanks aau for the update.

Int'l admits have received an email from Ms. Hargrove which says in no uncertain terms that Duke will be able to arrange loans for us.

A real relief for all int'l admits and applicants.

Yes, no kidding! That specific BW article referenced above was the result of an internal miscommunication, unfortunately.

woncosmo, I'm on the same boat with you- received the two e-mails last evening, but have no interview invite yet.
Since I'm an international applicant from asia, naturally I signed up for an alum interview.
Getting a little nervous, does this mean they don't inted to invite me for it?

I wanted to take a moment to share an update on our efforts to secure an improved loan program for our international students. Fuqua’s leadership team has been working on a number of fronts to address this issue, and I’m pleased to report positive results that should allay any concerns international students might have about being able to pursue their studies at Fuqua.

First, let there be no uncertainty: Our international students will be able to secure loans for their studies at Fuqua without the need for a U.S. co-signer. We have a solution in hand that will meet students’ needs, with terms similar to those offered for the current academic year.

At the same time, we are part of a consortium of top business schools that is exploring other lender options to ensure international students are getting the best possible loan terms.

Other Options

We have been actively engaged in discussions with banks in China, India, and a number of different regions around the world to identify further appropriate loan programs. These conversations have been fruitful, and negotiations are ongoing.

Further meetings are taking place with U.S. regional banks that have not previously provided international loans, but have expressed interest in our loan proposals and in establishing a relationship with Fuqua.

Yet another option being considered is an internal funding strategy that would utilize our own resources to fund the international loans, should that prove necessary.

Though we have already identified a loan program that will suit the needs of our international students, we continue to consider this range of permanent solutions in order to be certain our students are able to secure the most favorable loan terms available.

Next Steps

I will update you and the rest of the Fuqua community with more complete details on the international loan program when all options have been fully examined. By the end of February, we will be in a position to announce to current and prospective international students a package of loan options for students from different regions with varying borrowing needs.

Fuqua’s global strategy and the strong international contacts that have resulted from that strategy allow us to examine a number of loan programs. In the current challenging economic environment, we’re well positioned to ensure the most favorable loan terms to enable students from around the world to pursue MBA studies at Duke.

Blair

Hey, gang. Just to follow up on the int'l loan conversation, I wanted to share an email I just received from the dean:

I applied to the Second Round and have interviewed. The Notification date is set at march 10th. Does anybody know if Duke ever tells applicants their decision before the notification date? Or is it always on the notification date? Is it by phone or email?

In R1, there was no advance notice, there was an email on the decision date that said to check status online. I would think R2 will be the same.

I believe the R1 status change email actually came a day early.

What do you guys think about R3 for Duke? Do you think R3 for Duke is a long shot for most given that application numbers have been up so far in both rounds for most schools? I've spoken to a few reps about applying in R3 and most say that each round is equally evaluated. However, a majority of the applications usually come in through R1 & R2. I'm curious whether anyone has heard anything about R3 for Duke.

Thanks,
-M

I think R3 is more fairly evaluated in schools with a lower yield (like Duke).
After they have made their R2 offers they must be a lot less sure of class size and profile than at schools with the >90% yields. To get the class sized and in correct demographics and profile i'm sure they do utilize R3.

Anyway, Duke don't have a rep for discriminating against re-applicants so i don't think there is much to lose by firing in a R3 application? Anyway, best of luck

I disagree - it's not a question of a high or low yield, but rather how consistent the yield is from year to year. If for the past 5 years your yield has consistently been 50-55%, you'd know that you should admit between 1.8x-2x your desired class size, and then manage any slight variation in yield through the waitlist. Specifically at Duke, the deposits for R1 and R2 admits are due before the R3 decision date, so they will have almost no uncertainty over class size when deciding on R3.

That said, your chances of getting admitted if you don't apply are 0, so you have a slightly better chance if you do apply in R3. But you should realize that your chances aren't as good as with the earlier rounds.