Duke Adcom Marketing

Question

I have been getting snail mail and email info from Duke since the first time I took the GMAT and completely blew the exam (think sub-600.) I figured that their program couldn't be that great if they were sending information to someone with my scores so I ignored them.

Since then I have re-taken the exam and achieved a much higher/more competitive score. Still, I got dinged from Columbia and Yale last week. I have an interview lined up and am waiting to hear from another school, but, like many other people on this forum, I'm getting nervous. 

I started looking into Duke's program and realized that it is quite good. I'm considering applying for round 3. Does anyone have a sense of whether Duke tends to mass-market to anyone who takes GMAT? Thoughts?

pelihu · Answer

Don't know. They didn't send any marketing materials to me. Do you have any diversity characteristics, or possibly live nearby (or in NJ)?

wshaffer · Answer

I'm caucasian woman, not from NJ. I know the school is ~20% women. You think that's it? If that's the case, they must send info to every woman who scores above a 550 on the GMAT. That seems like a stretch to me, but I suppose it's possible.

I know the undergraduate program has a reputation for having lots of people from NJ/the mid-Atlantic region. Is the bschool the same way?

lhotseface · Answer

Duke has 29% women. https://www.fuqua.duke.edu/mba/daytime/a ... index.html

aaudetat · Answer

I don't know about the geographics, but Duke also sent me (a woman) some info. I got it shortly before Christmas, visited their site, and decided to ditch one of my other target schools and go with them instead. Actually, I just had dinner with a fellow GMATClubber who was visiting Cornell and who had the same experience with Duke. Now, as far as I could tell, he strikes me as quite male, but you never know. (Kidding, squali.) Anyway, Fuqua wasn't on his list either, but he checked them out and decided to go for it, just like I did.

I can't say that I've gotten any special love for it, though.

pelihu · Answer

Basically all business schools are eager to bring in more women, but I don't know if that's the explanation.

Regarding NJ, that was kind of a joke. One of my best friends used to go to UNC and I've been around the area a lot. The overwhelming feeling throughout the area is that people love UNC students, but view Duke students as interlopers. For southerners, saying that people are from NJ is definitely a pejorative. Of course, there are in fact a lot of undergrads from NJ, but I don't think it applies as much to the business school.

aaudetat · Answer

While I really enjoyed my Duke visit and would happily attend if admitted, I don't know if I would want to apply there in R3, as I suspect the competition is probably pretty stiff. I have no idea what your profile is, and I also don't know if Duke's R3 is like that of many other schools. However, many schools do say that their third round (or fourth - really, it's more 'final round' than the actual number) is nearly impossible to get into - like walking on water. I'm in your boat, wshaffer: have received a ding from Yale and am quite nervous about the other 3 schools I applied to. I too am considering a late-season app or two, but am setting my sites lower in the rankings - York and/or Weatherhead. 

I'm not saying what you should do, and obviously don't know anything about your situation, but I did want to share my thoughts about my own process.

Mark4124 · Answer

Duke sent me info... I'm a guy with a 680

squali83 · Answer

I hate to say this, but after looking at Duke's numbers last year, their aggressive marketing strategy might be a "knee-jerk" reaction to their nearly 50% admit rate. They realize that their program is on the "cusp" of being a perennial top 10 school and a huge factor holding them back is their % admitted. I too received information from them and it had its intended influence on me as well, after all I did apply. However, I am very happy that they did send me the information as I would have not thought about the program before I received it. After researching the school I realized that it was one of my 3 best fits and was very happy that the literature sparked my interest to explore the program.

died4me · Answer

Don't let the near 50% admit rate fool you.
unlike Wharton, Ross, Yale, or other schools, Duke REQUIRES campus interview just like Darden, preferably before the application deadline. These two schools have high admit rates because this very process turns many potential applicants away as they have to VISIT the schools.
Moreover, those who visited the campus and did the interview may or may not apply after all for many reasons: culture fit, screwed up on the interview...etc.

These schools' admission process is different from that of other schools.

I would say those who apply to Duke do not consider Duke a backup school only. I bet most of folks to apply to Duke are either willing to go to Duke without any hesitation if they cannot get into their top choice or consider Duke as their top choice

squali83 · Answer

I do not know how valid that point is. First, one does not have to interview as part of the process, it is just strongly encourage. Second, if the reasoning for the high admit rate that is stated above were true, it would present a consistent high acceptance rate. However, in prior years Fuqua has had a sub 20% acceptance rate. The school recently expanded its class size in 2005-06 and I believe that was the largest factor in the high acceptance rate. Duke realizes it needs to bring down the admit rate to make that jump in the rankings. I love the program and would jump at the opportunity to attend there. So, I am not bashing the Duke, rather just stating my interpretation of their marketing strategy.

wshaffer · Answer

Thanks for the info re: round 3. Seeing as how I've been dinged twice now, I'm considering one or two schools that are lower in the rankings (Georgetown and maybe Wash U.) and I've had Duke in the back of my mind because of their (effective) marketing. Is round 3 notoriously as tough at schools that are lower in the rankings (say 15ish - 30?)

squali83 · Answer

The schools are tougher to get into because of the lack of available seats. However, if the adcom loves you, then you will be admitted. What focus are you interested in? If it is finance, look into Vandy or Rice, both great programs and should still be obtainable to gain admits. I am from DC and the Gtown area is beautiful! However, you might want to look into WU @ St. Louis. That city is not really desirable to live in (Crime, pollution, appearance, income...etc). So I would think long and hard about applying there. I hope I didn't offend any St. Louis natives.

dukes · Answer

LOL. 

Well, Duke IS the University of New Jersey at Durham.

aaudetat · Answer

I would add to Squali's point that a school that is lower in the rankings is bound to love you more than a higher-ranked school -- at least, I would think so. To illustrate with a hypothetical candidate:

This candidate scored a 700 on the GMAT - high, but not off the charts, especially when compared to top schools. Had a mediocre GPA from a solid but not prestigious state school. Has decent work experience for someone in his late 20s, but isn't the next Bill Gates, at least so far.

In other words, we've got a strong but fairly average candidate who won't stand out from the crowd at Harvard, but that lower-ranked schools would probably be excited to have. 

But then EconGirl (both 1 and 2) had a good point - what about the yield game? Would Rice immediately scream "back-up back-up!" when they see your app, and assume it's a panic submission and ding your a$$ in an attempt to manage their yield rates? Does it matter if the reviewer is more likely to be cranky if she hasn't had breakfast, and she tends to get up later on Mondays and miss breakfast so you should try to time your app so that she gets it on Friday, which is statistically the most likely day for her to be in a good mood because she almost always eats breakfast on that day?

Agh. I guess my real point might be that all we can do is speculate on how the adcoms will really react. And if sending in more apps will assuage your rising anxiety as you wait for a reply from school #2, then go for it. (Assuming you really are willing to go to whichever schools you choose for the additional apps.)

wshaffer · Answer

I will be happy when all of this is over :-D

lhotseface · Answer

Duke's admit rate last year was 36%. https://www.businessweek.com/@@RItV94UQU ... fuqua1.htm Number of applications Number of applications (admitted and denied) to the newest class of full-time MBA entrants: 2497 Selectivity Percent of all applicants accepted to the class of newest full-time entrants: 36

squali83 · Answer

I have to apologize that 50% comment stemmed from my ignorance of not realizing that USNEWS's rankings are based off 05' #

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