Alumni reception with the dean of Duke's Fuqua School

Question

I just returned from an alumni event where I got a chance to talk at length with the dean of Fuqua after his speech. It was interesting to hear his thoughts about everything under the sun including Fuqua's ambitious surge in its relatively short period of existence. Some points that I can remember from his speech...

- Starting this year, they are emphasizing more on interview performance. According to him, test scores do matter but interviews will also be weighed heavily henceforth.
- Acceptance rate will go down in the coming years to what it was a few years ago (15-20%). They increased the class size by 60 in 2003 which resulted in an increase in the acceptance rate.
- Applications are up 20% despite the bad press due to the lacrosse scandal.
- Expect major alliances with the London School of Economics and Indian Institute of Ahmedabad (which he called the Harvard of Asia).
- Most international school after Stanford.
- Fuqua's faculty ranks among the best in all functional areas. According to him Stanford, Chicago, MIT and Fuqua have recruited the best faculty in the last 5-10 years.
- They are working on deals with major consulting firms to place people internationally with at par dollar salaries (not in Yuan, Rupees whatever)

Time to sleep, I rambled about everything that I can remember...

batchgmat · Answer

Thanks! I have an interview this Saturday so every bit helps! Please do post any more tidbits you can remember.

Also, I am assuming this is with the new Dean correct?

Ozmba · Answer

Good to know that

I have my interview this weekend...

Cheers

lhotseface · Answer

It was Dean Breeden....the outgoing dean. The new dean is in South Africa currently.

dukes · Answer

Not surprised. I interviewed not too long ago and got grilled much more than at any other school. It felt good because I thought I had strong answers, but it was much more intense than I thought it would be.

aaudetat · Answer

Ditto.

Be ready with your "team" question -- a time you worked in a team and weren't a leader. Team Fuqua, etc.

Ozmba · Answer

who interviews the Applicants@Duke...I read in accepted database that it is always by Second Year students?

Is it blind or they went thorough our profile....?????

How busy is RDU airport? My flight is landing at 07:50 am and my interview is scheduled at 10.00 am....Hoping that i can get off the plan--and drive to the campus in time

EconGirl · Answer

OZ, you should be OK, when I visited, the airport was not busy at all and traffic was not an issue

Ozmba · Answer

Thanks Econgirl

dukes · Answer

They say it is blind but my interviewer said some things and asked some questions that made me think he had seen my application. I'm not positive about this but I doubt this was more than a coincidence.

lhotseface · Answer

Interviews are blind. The interviewer gets your resume 15-20 minutes before your interview. This helps him/her know your basic profile.

Oz, it will take you around 20-25 minutes to reach Duke. Make sure you park in the parking lot on science drive which is right across the business school. If you mention that you are there for an interview, the attendant will let you park for free.

Ozmba · Answer

Thanks a lot ...

aaudetat · Answer

Bit of info -

On the way out of town, the security line at RDC was completely crazy. I think it took me 45 minutes to get through. I was surprised, and glad that I'd gotten there early enough.

Ozmba · Answer

Back from Durham!

Duke is amazing, interview was friendly and focused on 6 or 7 questions..fairly standard...which i will post later....there was not much grilling more of a conversation, i feel they are trying to analyze the fit with the student body, so all the interviews r conducted by the 2 year students...I feel I did well :lol:

The campus, facilities r great, will post the pics later ...

Weather - dont even ask .....Bright sunny day....

Can't wait for the Judgement day - March 08

The campus, facilities r great, will post the pics later ... Weather - dont even ask .....Bright sunny day.... Can't wait for the Judgement day - March 08

lhotseface · Answer

Good luck ! I was also quite impressed with the facilities and the people.

lhotseface · Answer

Ozmba · Answer

Duke pics

Ozmba · Answer

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Alumni reception with the dean of Duke's Fuqua School

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