{"id":24590,"date":"2014-06-30T09:20:43","date_gmt":"2014-06-30T16:20:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/2014\/06\/duke-fuqua-mba-essay-analysis-your-2015-application\/"},"modified":"2014-06-30T09:20:43","modified_gmt":"2014-06-30T16:20:43","slug":"duke-fuqua-mba-essay-analysis-your-2015-application","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/duke-fuqua-mba-essay-analysis-your-2015-application\/","title":{"rendered":"Duke Fuqua MBA Essay Analysis, Your 2015 Application"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you ready to dig into your essays? Application essays are specifically and cleverly designed to get into your head. We like to turn the tables on the admissions committees and get inside their<\/i> heads. Why are they asking these questions? What are they looking for? Read on as our experts break down application essay questions to help YOU plan the attack.<\/h3>\n
Short Answers<\/a>
\nEssay One<\/a>
\nEssay Two<\/a><\/div>\n
Optional<\/a>
\nRe-Applicant<\/a><\/div>\n
\nAight, I’m pumped! Where to next?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
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CHECK OUT OUR MBA ESSAY WRITING GUIDE \u279d <\/div>\n

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Duke Fuqua MBA Essay Analysis: Short Answers<\/h5>\n

Answer all 3 questions. Respond in 250 characters only (the equivalent of about 50 words).
\n1. What are your short-term goals, post-MBA?
\n2. What are your long-term goals?
\n3. 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?
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. What are your short-term goals, post-MBA?<\/b><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t \u201cclear your throat\u201d and tee up an elaborate fluff setup. \u201cMy short-term goals after I receive my MBA are probably best stated by the following words, chosen carefully, and after much deliberation\u201d \u2026 you get the idea. Cut out all that fat and go straight to what you\u2019re gonna do. A good way to mentally FRAME this is to think of the ST goals as a means to an end (the LT goals). \u201cIn order to achieve LT goal X, first I will A, then B, then C. {Insert one sentence about why this makes sense.}\u201d That GENERAL approach will get you a good ways toward your ultimate response.<\/p>\n

2. What are your long-term goals?<\/b><\/p>\n

As always, don\u2019t just focus on the job title or position\u2014by itself, it\u2019s meaningless. Give us the context. Give us the intended RESULT of that position, the EFFECT it has on an industry, on a population, on society, on technology, on something even small, but in an impactful way. You don\u2019t want to achieve the title of \u201cCEO\u201d \u2026 you wanna achieve XX and YY and ZZ THROUGH the position of CEO of ABC. See the difference?<\/p>\n

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?<\/b><\/p>\n

A great gift. An opportunity to show how NIMBLE you are. ST goals don\u2019t work out? No problem. Here\u2019s another way I\u2019m gonna get to where I need to go. Imagine for a second you\u2019re a male, if you\u2019re not. And that you have a pregnant wife, going into labor. She\u2019s in the passenger seat of your car, and she\u2019s screaming, and you are racing toward the nearest hospital. You have the route planned out way ahead of time, and the trip is going beautifully. Except, when you make a turn, you notice that there\u2019s a three-car accident on the street you NEED. Cops block it off, street is off limits. What next. Do you turn to your wife and say \u201cOh well, honey, we tried. Good luck with that birth, if you need ideas for names I know a guy\u201d? Not if you want to see the sun rise again.<\/p>\n

In that situation, and really put yourself inside this mindset, you wouldn\u2019t hesitate for a SECOND without figuring out an ALTERNATE WAY TO GET TO WHERE YOU NEEDED TO GO. There\u2019s always another way. In fact, you wouldn\u2019t even idle in the car, would you? You\u2019d already KNOW that alternate route. That\u2019s what doers do. That\u2019s what guys who succeed do. They figure it out.<\/p>\n

So here you go. Here\u2019s your three-car accident\u2014the ST goals don\u2019t materialize. Keep the car in \u201cDrive,\u201d folks. Where do you go next? What are your alternate routes? The key here isn\u2019t to nail the exact correct alternate route so much as demonstrate that you know \u201cwhat needs to happen, in order for your goals to materialize.\u201d You can convey that here by showing how alternate paths will also work (maybe they\u2019re less efficient, more costly, etc. but they will get you there).<\/p>\n

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Ready to Start your MBA?<\/pre>\n
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Duke Fuqua MBA Essay Analysis: Essay One<\/h5>\n
The \u201cTeam Fuqua\u201d 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 \u201c25 Random Things About Yourself.\u201d As an Admissions team, we already know the new hire\u2019s professional and academic background, so learning these \u201c25 Random Things\u201d helps us get to know someone\u2019s personality, background, special talents, and more. In this spirit, the Admissions Committee also wants to get to know you \u2013 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 \u201c25 Random Things\u201d about YOU.<\/p>\n
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.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n
Random, folks. The absolute worst way to play this is to \u201cclearly not have fun with it.\u201d If you take this too seriously, and look at it like an opportunity to impress them with more achievements, you\u2019re going to bore them to tears, and potentially turn them off. To avoid having fun with it will almost GUARANTEE that they conclude that \u201cthis is the type of person who is incapable of having fun.\u201d That person is going to be a net negative on campus. We\u2019re looking for \u201cwins.\u201d People who ADD to the community. Those people have personalities. Charm. Wit. Playfulness. Spirit. If this isn\u2019t in you\u2026 you\u2019d better get it fast.<\/p>\n
Random doesn\u2019t mean \u201cby itself.\u201d It has to tell us something about you. Example:<\/p>\n
\u201cA hummingbird flaps its wings about 70 times in a second.\u201d<\/p>\n
Great. But\u2026 this tells us what about you?<\/p>\n
The random thing must give us a key to your coolness, your quirkiness, your\u2026 self. Somehow.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was nine years old, in charge of \u201csnacks\u201d for a class camp out, I brought croissants. That was the day I realized I was not only born on the wrong continent, but in the wrong century.\u201d<\/p>\n
See the difference? This is revealing. Endearing. Self-deprecating. Tells us something about the author. 25 things like that.<\/p>\n
Also, don\u2019t be afraid to get creative. Make up your own conceits to GET you to a place of 25 random things:<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I had to pick five celebrities to start a brand new civilization, they would be: Person (witty reason), Person 2 (witty reason), etc etc.\u201d Don\u2019t steal that, cuz it\u2019ll look suspicious when several people submit the same thing! But you see the IDEA here, that you can literally invent ANY NUMBER of cool premises to help you reveal something about yourself and your attitudes.<\/p>\n
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Ready to Start your MBA?<\/pre>\n
 SIGN UP FOR A FREE CONSULTATION \u279d <\/p><\/div>\n
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Duke Fuqua MBA Essay Analysis: Essay Two<\/h5>\n
Choose only 1 of the following 2 essay questions to answer. Your response should be no more than 2 pages in length.<\/p>\n
1.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.<\/strong><\/p>\n
If your answer here seems like something you wouldn\u2019t say \u201cin passing\u201d to a family member, chances are you\u2019ll seem disingenuous. The guy who \u201cgets this one correct\u201d \u2026 actually WANTS to go to Duke. That guy simply has the answer in his head and heart already. There\u2019s a connection that he feels, a bunch of factors that sum to create a genuine WANT. If you don\u2019t ACTUALLY want to go to Duke\u2026 it\u2019s gonna be much harder. And good for Duke for asking it this way, because it\u2019ll EXPOSE those of you who tee up an overly formal and \u201crehearsed\u201d answer.<\/p>\n
This one should be a little sloppy, folks. This one has to come from some place other than \u201cif I don\u2019t get into HBS and Stanford and MIT and Wharton and so and so on\u2026 and I do get into Duke, sure, why not.\u201d It\u2019s gotta be the opposite, in fact. \u201cI don\u2019t care if HBS and Stanford and MIT and Wharton come begging. I want Duke. Yes, those other programs are ranked higher. And yes, most would opt for those programs ahead of Duke, but not me. And here\u2019s why.\u201d Is there a satisfying answer that could go there? Hell yes. Duke is a dream program. So many reasons to fall in love with this place. What are yours?<\/p>\n
It\u2019s okay for some of these to seem\u2026 unimportant, frivolous, hard-to-quantify. Sometimes THESE are the most compelling. \u201cI have visited several MBA programs, all within the same striking distance rank and reputation-wise. But something struck me about Duke that I can\u2019t get out of my head. My experience in \u201cCafeteria X\u201d or \u201con the main quad\u201d {or whatever it is}. Here\u2019s what happened: XX YY ZZ.\u201d Whatever fills that in will likely be simply incontrovertible. Something emotional. \u201cI can\u2019t explain it but I felt the strongest magnetic pull here. Maybe it was because of THIS. Maybe that. Maybe this. Maybe that.\u201d It could be one professor. It could be students you bumped into who left an incredibly favorable impression. Impressions form. And can be powerful. You can sell this. But it\u2019s gotta be genuine. You gotta believe it somewhere deep down.<\/p>\n
The best way to ensure that you nail this is to embrace the conceit and pretend that you\u2019re talking to a friend or family member, in a comfortable environment. \u201cWhen no one official is listening.\u201d When your guard is down, what is it you say THEN? One thing you can do to really FORCE it is to generate the \u201cformal\u201d version first. Write up the version you want the ADCOM to read. Then, write the one entitled \u201cBut here\u2019s why I really want to go.\u201d You may not be able to use 100% of that stuff, but you MAY be able to lift a good chunk of it. And that stuff is gonna be pure gold, guaranteed.<\/p>\n
2.The Team Fuqua community is as unique as the individuals who comprise it. Underlying our individuality are a number of shared ideas and principles that we live out in our own ways. Our students have identified and defined 6 \u201cTeam Fuqua Principles\u201d that we feel are the guiding philosophies that make our community special. At the end of your 2 years at Fuqua, if you were to receive an award for exemplifying one of the 6 Principles listed below, which one would it be and why? Your response should reflect the research you have done, your knowledge of Fuqua and the Daytime MBA program and experience, and the types of activities and leadership you would engage in as a Fuqua student.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n
This may seem like a fancy, ultra-specific question. It is not. They just wanna know, like MOST other schools\u2014why there may be a stronger magnetic pull for you toward Duke, over one of the similarly-ranked programs. You need to make it very clear that no matter what happens with acceptance letters, if you get a \u201cyes\u201d from Duke, this is where you\u2019re gonna go no matter what. Because this is the place that is going to bring out the very BEST in you. Done. Start there\u2014then adapt that premise to one of these six things, which frankly, is just a formality. First, study what it is about Duke that turns you on MORE THAN ANY OTHER PROGRAM\u2014something so specific to Duke that you would consider turning down Stanford and Harvard to go here. Figure out that argument ahead of time. Now, building off of that premise, walk through what you expect to DO with this opportunity that excites you more than any other program. The DUKE MBA versus ANY elite MBA. <\/p>\n
Let\u2019s go through each and talk a little about the wording and how you\u2019ll wanna adjust the argument you should have BEFORE you even LOOK at these. The key here (with each) is to provide historical context for how each of these things has specifically been a big part of your successes. Demonstrate it very clearly. Then convince us that of all the programs that make similar claims, Duke\u2019s claims have somehow struck a chord with you. Then take us through your two years, pitching all the stuff you\u2019re gonna do, indicating how this version that occurs at Duke is likely to bring out the BEST in you. <\/p>\n
(1) Authentic Engagement: We care and we take action. We each make a difference to Team Fuqua by being ourselves and engaging in and supporting activities about which we are passionate.<\/em><\/p>\n
The problem here is\u2026 wouldn\u2019t every other school make the exact same claim? (Answer: yes.) Duke hardly has a monopoly on \u201ccaring.\u201d But, that isn\u2019t to say that YOU haven\u2019t gotten that feeling more convincingly FROM Duke than any other program. While others claim this to be true, you felt it to be most REAL at Duke, or while talking to Duke alumns or current students. You can make that argument, for sure. But okay, once you\u2019e done that, now you have to deliver the \u201cso what, what do we do with that info\u201d piece.<\/p>\n
Well, given that this is the place that values authenticity the most, maybe it\u2019s going to inspire you to\u2026 (something\u2014what?) take more risks? Try stuff you might be less inspired to try elsewhere? What will you DO with this information, that Duke value \u201cAuthentic Engagement\u201d more genuinely or \u201cmore than\u201d another MBA program? Walk us through it. Let the passion FLY here\u2014if there is one thing we can say about Duke grads, it\u2019s that they are insanely passionate people, and of Duke specifically. Show us that that passion (for Duke) already lives in your DNA.<\/p>\n
(2) Supportive Ambition: We support each other to achieve great things, because your success is my success. The success of each individual member of Team Fuqua makes the whole of Team Fuqua better.<\/em><\/p>\n
Don\u2019t write about support in the abstract here. They don\u2019t want an essay on the topic of teamwork. They wanna see your vision for how this may promote a very specific engagement with the Duke community, the program. <\/p>\n
One thing to ask yourself\u2014is why would knowledge of this \u201cpillar\u201d affect your engagement here, compared to say, Haas or Yale SOM or NYU Stern? There\u2019s gotta be something NEW and DIFFERENT that Duke would EXTRACT from you, BASED ON THIS PREMISE. This is gonna require some thought. But if you can suggest that your engagement at Duke will be slightly different on account of this reality\u2014that they genuinely support each other\u2014it will make for a convincing argument. <\/p>\n
If we are not convinced that you would \u201cbehave differently\u201d at Duke compared to any other school, it won\u2019t work. <\/p>\n
(3) Collective Diversity:  We embrace all of our classmates because our individuality is better and stronger together.<\/em><\/p>\n
A good argument here may suggest that the thing that gives you individuality may be suppressed at another program. That is, the fact that this is CELEBRATED here, may UNLEASH instincts and risk-taking etc. in a way that is unique to your experience at Duke.<\/p>\n
(4) Impactful Stewardship: We are leaders who focus on solutions to improve our communities both now and in the future. We aren\u2019t satisfied with just maintaining the status quo.<\/em><\/p>\n
Tricky one, cuz every school makes this claim too. Stanford doesn\u2019t boast about its passion for maintaining the status quo, right? Which school would? So, what\u2019s so special about Duke then? Well, one thing you can do here is demonstrate your INSPIRATION from Duke specifically by making the case that you, too, hate maintaining the status quo, and are driven to do X and Y and Z, and have been inspired by ABC examples from Duke\u2019s rich tradition of exactly that.<\/p>\n
(5) Loyal Community: We are a family who looks out for each other. Team Fuqua supports you when you need it the most.<\/em><\/p>\n
Great argument to make based on personal experience, or from a feeling you received while visiting the campus, knowing Duke alums, etc. Again, every MBA program is characterized by their close knit community\u2014this is a fact, there isn\u2019t a SINGLE elite program that doesn\u2019t have classes year after year that look out for each other. Not one. Again, what makes Duke special here? Well, you just have to demonstrate that while other schools claim this and while it may be true, you simply believe it more with Duke based on A B C D experiences. <\/p>\n
But, so\u2026 now what. How does that promote some type of different engagement with this program? Tough argument to make. But maybe you dip into some specific experiences in your past where you can demonstrate the connection between this type of environment (i.e., one that\u2019s supportive) and your THRIVING in that environment. Show us that this is where you shine. Then prove to us that you are convinced Duke provides the BEST opportunity for this. And conclude that this is, therefore, where you will optimize your ability to\u2014thrive. <\/p>\n
(6) Uncompromising Integrity: We internalize and live the honor code in the classroom and beyond. We conduct ourselves with integrity within Fuqua, within Duke, and within all communities of which we are a part.
\n<\/em>
\nHere, you have to make a similar connection (as with #5) between this idea of integrity, and how it is some kind of enabler for you\u2014as proven historically. You\u2019ll have to show us how your ability to succeed is predicated on this code somehow, showing us evidence of how this informs your leadership style, how it had affected your vision for things, etc. And then, you have to convince us that while other schools claim to be all about this, there\u2019s something about Duke that has convinced you that their claim is the real deal. Ergo, it is in THIS environment, that you are most likely not just to succeed\u2014but succeed in the WAY you want to succeed. <\/p>\n
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Ready to Start your MBA?<\/pre>\n
 SIGN UP FOR A FREE CONSULTATION \u279d <\/p><\/div>\n
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Duke Fuqua MBA Essay Analysis: Optional<\/h5>\n
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).<\/strong><\/p>\n
If you’ve got something to say, do it this way<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n
        <\/p>\n
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Ready to Start your MBA?<\/pre>\n
 SIGN UP FOR A FREE CONSULTATION \u279d <\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n
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Duke Fuqua MBA Essay Analysis: Re-Applicant<\/h5>\n
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\u2019s application and how you have grown as a result. How did it shape your commitment to Fuqua and inspire your decision to reapply?<\/p>\n
Responses should be no more than 2 pages, using 1.5 line spacing and a font size no smaller than 10-point. Make sure you address any gaps in your application and that you show progress.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n
They may be phrasing it differently, but Duke’s looking for the same thing in a reapplicant as eeeeverybody else: progress. And here’s how you give it to ‘em.<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n
        <\/p>\n
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Ready to Start your MBA?<\/pre>\n
 SIGN UP FOR A FREE CONSULTATION \u279d <\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n
 \n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Are you ready to dig into your essays? Application essays are specifically and cleverly designed to get into your head. We like to turn the tables on the admissions committees…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":140,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"1","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[817],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24590","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-admissionado","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24590","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/140"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24590"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24590\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24590"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24590"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24590"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}