Duke Fuqua's 2015-2016 super-crisp goal essays and two long personal essays give you ample space to showcase your strengths and differentiate yourself, even if you are part of an over-represented applicant pool. Duke's essay questions will force you to think long and hard, so keep enough time in your application preparation schedule. Duke Fuqua Short Answer Questions
1. What are your short-term goals, post-MBA?
Start by talking about the industry and function you are interested in post-MBA and if possible give an example or two of your ideal employer (preferably from those that recruit at Duke). You could also include your geographical preference. For example, if you want to go back to your home country, mention that clearly so Duke know that you will be doing an off-campus job search.2. What are your long-term goals?
For this answer, try taking a horizon of 15-20 years and think where you want to be in that future. If you desire to stay in a corporate job then describe what position you could realistically achieve in such a time duration, possibly a Partner, VP, CXO. If you want to be an entrepreneur- give details about your business venture.
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?
Think about two related careers paths where your past skill sets and interests match well. For example, you could talk about consulting and strategic planning; product management and product marketing; investment banking, and private equity. It would be very helpful if you also look at your alternate path with respect to your long-term goal. So ideally both your plan A and plan B should be capable of leading you to your long-term career goals.
Duke Fuqua Essay 1
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.
There are many many things you can talk about in this essay! Try to pick facts that are interesting, fun, surprising, show a glimpse of your personal side, reveal your personality and character, and present you positively and strongly to Fuqua adcom.
Try to make a list of perhaps 50-60 facts about yourself from your background, parents, childhood, school, college, activities, hobbies, work experience, past-times, passions, causes.. and the list goes on and on..
If it still feels daunting and you are lost, read some of Duke's MBA students blogs on this topic.https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/duke-mba/t ... dom-things Duke Fuqua Essay 2 (i)
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.
A very interesting take on 'why Duke?' question.
The adcom specifically want to know your raw personal reasons for picking Duke. It would be advisable to keep the connect with your career goals in sight, but focus on what makes your heart beat for Duke. What are the aspects of the school culture make Duke Fuqua an irresistible option for your MBA? If you have spoken to Duke students or alums, this is your chance to showcase those interactions and how they have influenced you to choose Fuqua MBA. You can borrow ideas from the following essay question and also weave in the resonance of Team Fuqua Principles with your personality and life's philosophy.