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31 Aug 2018, 13:07
Kudos
Bookmarks
Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business is a community oriented MBA program seeking a diverse class of accomplished students. Fuqua has a relatively new admissions director, Shari Hubert, who has written some excellent blog posts about Duke and what they are searching for in the admissions process.
As Hubert wrote in December 2017, “This place is truly special. It wasn’t long after joining Fuqua in October that I came to that realization, and every day I continue to encounter things that affirm it. … I’ve been struck by how real and authentic everyone is, and getting to know my colleagues and our students has been one of the most enjoyable parts of my job so far.”
Duke is interested in understanding who you are, and asks for a snapshot of your personality with the enduring “25 random things” essay. Along with using this set of essays to tell the story of your personality and background, it is important to demonstrate that you know Duke Fuqua well and are a strong fit with the program. Starting your research and personal networking now will put you in a solid position to prepare the most specific and effective essays.
Stacy Blackman Consulting can help you prepare a compelling, individualized strategy to approach your Duke Fuqua application this year, contact us to learn more.
REQUIRED SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
Instructions: Answer all 3 of the following questions. For each question, respond in 500 characters only (the equivalent of about 100 words).
1. What are your short-term goals, post-MBA?
2. What are your long-term goals?
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?
This career goals essay asks for your plan in three parts. First, you should describe what you plan to do immediately after your MBA. Then you’ll explain the long-term vision for your career. Finally, Duke admits that many career paths are forged through circumstance, and asks you for your Plan B.
Think big picture and focus on the overall story trajectory. What would be the most logical (and interesting) progression from your current skill set and MBA education? How will your next step flow from the combination of those experiences? The career goals essay is about your ability to assess your background and plan your future, not a promise you are required to fulfill.
As you consider your alternative path for this question, think about plans that fit with your background and goals, but show what you could explore if your primary plan doesn’t materialize. Flexibility is a useful character trait in a changing world, and showing that you can adapt is part of the task of this essay.
For example, perhaps you are focused on becoming a marketing executive within the consumer packaged goods industry, such as General Mills. If you don’t find the suitable position after Duke, maybe you would consider marketing for a retailer, such as Target, as your alternate career path because it allows you to develop a marketing career as well.
Or, you may have two disparate interests and want to consider both of them. Perhaps your Plan A is to join a strategy consulting firm after graduation, but if you don’t receive a spot among your top choices you would think about co-founding a start up as another possible path. Think about your range of interests and go from there.
Because you have limited space, you’ll have to boil your plans down in a clear statement of what you plan to do, but ideally any plans are supported by the information provided in your resume, recommendations, and other essays.
FIRST REQUIRED ESSAY: 25 RANDOM THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF
Instructions: 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 two pages.
For context: Fuqua believes different types of people, points of view, and experiences bring out the best in everyone. And above all, we place a premium on succeeding while making a positive impact on businesses, organizations, and the world. These ways of thinking set the Duke MBA experience apart, and this concept 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 “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.
In this spirit, the admissions committee also wants to get to know you–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 “25 Random Things” about YOU.
This essay is entirely open ended and you can cover topics spanning your personal background, work experiences, values and hobbies. If you have a particularly interesting story in any of those areas, this is the place to tell that story.
Director Hubert has posted her own 25 random things, including items from her famous aunt to her love of vegetables. This list shows her personality and also ranges from the serious to the frivolous. Consider that range as you compose your own list.
Coming up with 25 random things to list in this essay may seem daunting at first. To jumpstart your creative process you may want to brainstorm with friends and family about what is most interesting and memorable about you. Or keep a notebook with you to record thoughts as you go about work and personal activities.
Once you have 25 random things, how do you structure your list? There’s a few possible ways to proceed: chronologically, chunking the list into themes, or even alphabetically.
You may want to organize the list so that it builds from shorter to longer items, or you may want to intersperse some of the 25 random things that require a paragraph explanation between sets of things that are easy to understand in one sentence.
Structuring the list to make it easy to read and follow will be appreciated, but resist the urge to package the list too perfectly. Content is always the most important factor and remember that the primary purpose of this essay/list is to show Duke your multi-faceted life, personality, and interests.
SECOND REQUIRED ESSAY: THE FUQUA COMMUNITY AND YOU
Instructions: Your response should be no more than 2 pages in length.
Fuqua prides itself on cultivating a culture of engagement. Our students enjoy a wide range of student-led organizations that provide opportunities for leadership development and personal fulfillment, as well as an outlet for contributing to society. Our student-led government, clubs, centers, and events are an integral part of the student culture and are vital to providing you with a range of experiential learning and individual development experiences.
Based on your understanding of the Fuqua culture, how do you see yourself engaging in and contributing to our community outside of the classroom?
The best essays will be both specific and personal, while demonstrating you have done your homework on Fuqua. While everyone benefits from a diverse alumni network, what specifically do you want to give and receive from your classmates?
If you describe clubs and classes you are attracted to, also offer specific examples from your past experiences to show your consistent personal or professional passions.
Your fit with the program is crucial, and it will be ideal to show the personal qualities that Duke prizes. The Duke MBA program is especially interested in your role within the community, and will place significant weight on this factor. If you research thoroughly and are specific, you should be able to clearly demonstrate why you are going to be strong contributor to Team Fuqua.
This essay can also be a place to talk about how the Duke MBA fits into your career goals. What do you know now that will be enhanced through your MBA education? And what crucial aspects of the skill set required for your future career will be augmented by attending Duke?
However, the main focus should be your community involvement and how you plan to improve the experience of others at Duke both in and outside the classroom.
OPTIONAL ESSAY: TELL US MORE
If you feel there are circumstances of which the Admissions Committee should be aware, please explain them in an optional essay (such as unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance).
Please do not upload additional essays or additional recommendations in this area of the application, and limit your response to one page.
The Admissions committee at Fuqua asks that you use this space only to explain extenuating circumstances, not just to add new information to your application profile. If you have a low GPA, lack a recommendation from your current supervisor or have gaps in work history this is the correct place to address those issues. If you do not have any of those areas to explain, just skip the question and focus on the previous three essays.
When approaching any concerns about your background in the optional essay it’s important to show that your recent performance, whether academic or professional, has demonstrated recovery from the issues of the past.
Your goal is to remove questions from your application and to address in a factual manner any information the admissions committee needs to know to fairly evaluate your application. The essay should convey, in a positive manner, that you know there could be questions about your background but you have thoroughly improved in any areas necessary and are now ready to contribute to the program at Duke Fuqua.
***
If you are looking for guidance on your Fuqua MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.
Archived Duke Fuqua Discussion
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Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
17 Mar 2019, 04:45
Kudos
Bookmarks
[caption id="attachment_44914" align="aligncenter" width="818"]
Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash[/caption]
If you have been invited to interview, your application has enticed the admissions committee – you are on the right path towards a potential admission. That said, there are no guarantees that interviewed applicants are admitted (each school’s interview to admissions ratio varies) and must make every effort to showcase your candidature and move the admission pendulum forward. The interview is an opportunity for the admission team to delve deeper into your personal and professional story; it is imperative that you do what is necessary to prepare for the interview.
Below are three (3) steps that you should take the better prepare:
Re-Read Your Application
While you have spent a great deal of time on your application, chances are a few weeks/months have gone by since you worked on it. It is good practice to re-acquaint yourself with the stories you’ve shared and message you’ve presented, and re-direct your mindset towards admissions mode of thinking. Re-read your application in its entirety.
Typically, the interviewer has read your application, either in part or in full, so being mindful of the stories you’ve already presented is critical, as you do not want to be repetitive. When you think of new stories to share in your interview that highlight your contributions to your community and leadership experience, for example, think of new anecdotes that convey the underlying themes in your application.
Be ready to talk about your work. Be mindful that the interviewer might not be familiar with the technicalities of your field. Use the pre-interview preparation time to diligently outline how you will convey what you do to a non-industry person. For example, if you are a chemical engineer, and a part of your job involves finding the lowest cost for raw material without it affecting the environment, then make the connection to the importance of the role – in agriculture, choosing the wrong chemical can damage the soil, which hurts the crops, and affects nature. In other words, paint a mental picture for the interviewer about what you do using language a layperson can understand. It is unfair to expect an admissions member to understand your field fully, so use this opportunity to teach the interviewer about the exciting work you do.
Re-Research the School
You should also take the opportunity to re-research the school. If you have kept notes from your initial research, re-read them or re-research the schools and re-acquaint yourself with the reasons you applied to the program. What is it about this program you find enticing? How will the coursework help you develop professionally? What opportunities does the school offer that made you apply? What are the school’s placement metrics? Do those metrics support your post-MBA goals? Gather as much information as possible, as it will be useful to the conversation during the interview. Being prepared to not only speak about yourself but also about the value of the program and the institution showcases a seriousness with how you approach crucial decisions and the earnestness with which you take the interview.
Ask Questions
A part of being a successful student is your willingness and ability to ask questions and learn. Having questions prepared in advance gives the admissions team at least two (2) impressions about your candidacy: (i) you are serious about your education and continuous development, and (ii) the critical nature with which you evaluate the information available on the school’s website showcases an individual who takes every opportunity to learn and grow.
Prepare at least five (5) questions and order them by the level of importance before the interview. You may not have the chance to ask all five (5) questions, so having the most important answered first is crucial to making the most of your time with the admissions representative. Do not hesitate to bring your questions with you at your interview – the admissions team will only view this as a sign of being prepared.
After you have gone through these steps, solicit the help of a friend and/or a person you trust to help you prepare. You can prepare questions for them, or they can ask you questions. The idea is that you should practice out-loud your “pitch.” Ask your friend or a person you trust for constructive feedback, including the language you use to answer questions, the clarity of your ideas, and any other component that may help you polish your presentation. Also, ask that they evaluate the content and the clarity of your questions.
As Robin Sharma writes in “The 5 AM Club,” “Sweat more in practice, bleed less in war” (134). On the day of the interview, smile, be yourself and enjoy.
Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash[/caption]
If you have been invited to interview, your application has enticed the admissions committee – you are on the right path towards a potential admission. That said, there are no guarantees that interviewed applicants are admitted (each school’s interview to admissions ratio varies) and must make every effort to showcase your candidature and move the admission pendulum forward. The interview is an opportunity for the admission team to delve deeper into your personal and professional story; it is imperative that you do what is necessary to prepare for the interview.
Below are three (3) steps that you should take the better prepare:
Re-Read Your Application
While you have spent a great deal of time on your application, chances are a few weeks/months have gone by since you worked on it. It is good practice to re-acquaint yourself with the stories you’ve shared and message you’ve presented, and re-direct your mindset towards admissions mode of thinking. Re-read your application in its entirety.
Typically, the interviewer has read your application, either in part or in full, so being mindful of the stories you’ve already presented is critical, as you do not want to be repetitive. When you think of new stories to share in your interview that highlight your contributions to your community and leadership experience, for example, think of new anecdotes that convey the underlying themes in your application.
Be ready to talk about your work. Be mindful that the interviewer might not be familiar with the technicalities of your field. Use the pre-interview preparation time to diligently outline how you will convey what you do to a non-industry person. For example, if you are a chemical engineer, and a part of your job involves finding the lowest cost for raw material without it affecting the environment, then make the connection to the importance of the role – in agriculture, choosing the wrong chemical can damage the soil, which hurts the crops, and affects nature. In other words, paint a mental picture for the interviewer about what you do using language a layperson can understand. It is unfair to expect an admissions member to understand your field fully, so use this opportunity to teach the interviewer about the exciting work you do.
Re-Research the School
You should also take the opportunity to re-research the school. If you have kept notes from your initial research, re-read them or re-research the schools and re-acquaint yourself with the reasons you applied to the program. What is it about this program you find enticing? How will the coursework help you develop professionally? What opportunities does the school offer that made you apply? What are the school’s placement metrics? Do those metrics support your post-MBA goals? Gather as much information as possible, as it will be useful to the conversation during the interview. Being prepared to not only speak about yourself but also about the value of the program and the institution showcases a seriousness with how you approach crucial decisions and the earnestness with which you take the interview.
Ask Questions
A part of being a successful student is your willingness and ability to ask questions and learn. Having questions prepared in advance gives the admissions team at least two (2) impressions about your candidacy: (i) you are serious about your education and continuous development, and (ii) the critical nature with which you evaluate the information available on the school’s website showcases an individual who takes every opportunity to learn and grow.
Prepare at least five (5) questions and order them by the level of importance before the interview. You may not have the chance to ask all five (5) questions, so having the most important answered first is crucial to making the most of your time with the admissions representative. Do not hesitate to bring your questions with you at your interview – the admissions team will only view this as a sign of being prepared.
After you have gone through these steps, solicit the help of a friend and/or a person you trust to help you prepare. You can prepare questions for them, or they can ask you questions. The idea is that you should practice out-loud your “pitch.” Ask your friend or a person you trust for constructive feedback, including the language you use to answer questions, the clarity of your ideas, and any other component that may help you polish your presentation. Also, ask that they evaluate the content and the clarity of your questions.
As Robin Sharma writes in “The 5 AM Club,” “Sweat more in practice, bleed less in war” (134). On the day of the interview, smile, be yourself and enjoy.
28 Jun 2019, 12:01
Kudos
Bookmarks
Duke Fuqua MBA
program that seeks ‘leaders of consequence’, has made several changes to our application process this year “with the goal of increasing
accessibility to all applicants, streamlining the process, and providing the
greatest number of applicants the opportunity to meet with Duke MBA students
and staff in person.”
The two longer
response essays (the iconic 25 random things and contribution essay) remain
unchanged. But the short answer questions have been revised. Instead of three,
the candidates will be answering two short answer questions. Allison Jamison, Assistant Dean of Admissions, explains
the reasons for this change in the blog:
“The questions have been changed to give applicants more opportunity to share their reasons for pursuing an MBA in general. We are also asking applicants to focus more attention on short term career goals, rather than long term goals, given the uncertainty and dependencies of life that are inherent in planning for the long term. "
Application
Deadlines:
Early
Action:
Application due: September 19, 2019
Decision released: October 28, 2019
Round 1
Application due: October 14, 2019
Decision released: December 18, 2019
Round
2
Application due: January 6, 2020
Decision released: March 18, 2020
Round 3
Application due: March 11, 2020
Decision released: April 20, 2020
The new application will be live by August 1.
Essay Questions:
Duke’s 2 long essays (2 pages each) and two short
career goals essays allow applicants to cover a lot of ground about their
personal and professional traits and accomplishments. The first required essay
is Duke’s favorite for many years - ‘25 Random Things about Yourself’ prompt.
The second essay prompt asks applicants about their ‘fit’ with ‘Team Fuqua’.
Instructions for All Written Submissions:
All
submissions are scanned using plagiarism detection software. Plagiarism is
considered a cheating violation within the Honor Code and will not be tolerated
in the admissions process.
Let’s
take a closer look at the essays:
Required
Short Answer Questions
Instructions: Answer all 3
of the following questions. For each question, respond in 500 characters
only (the equivalent of about 100 words).
For this question, provide a very brief
account of your career history so far, detailing how you have acquired new
skills and progressed along your career path all these years. Then explain where
you stand now and what you want to do, touching upon your short-term and long-term
goals. Then go on to describe why you believe that an MBA is the next logical
step in your career path NOW? Explain what are those skills that you still lack
which you hope to acquire by an MBA? Discuss how an MBA will fill the gaps in
your career and bring you closer to the fulfillment of your goals?
2.
What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first-choice career
plan and your alternate plan. (500 characters, or about 100 words)
In the first question, you have just
touched upon your career goals in order to justify your reasons for pursuing an
MBA. For this question, you will elaborate your post MBA career goals as well
as your alternate plans if your first-choice plans don’t materialize. Please
identify the position that you hope to hold immediately after MBA, specifying role,
position, industry and 1-2 organizations/companies which you would like to work
for. Articulate your goal and explain why this goal is interesting and important
to you. Please note that your post MBA goal shows a logical progression from
your current skill set, and skills and knowledge acquired through MBA degree. Also,
make sure that your goals are ambitious as well as realistic.
Then think about
your plan B. Duke admits that ‘life is full of uncertainties’, and you may come
across situations that might prevent you from realizing your post MBA goals. So
you must be prepared for your plan B. Please make sure that your alternative
career path is not an altogether different path that doesn’t allow you to
leverage your skills and experience to the fullest. It should be in alignment
with your experience, skills, and knowledge gained from your MBA education.
Long-form
essays:
First
Required Essay: 25 Random Things About Yourself
Instructions:
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.
For context: Fuqua believes different types of
people, points of view, and experiences bring out the best in everyone. And
above all, we place a premium on succeeding while making a positive impact on
businesses, organizations, and the world. These ways of thinking set the
Duke MBA experience apart, and this concept 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 "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.
In this spirit, the admissions committee also wants to
get to know you–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 "25
Random Things" about YOU.
This
question about ‘a list of 25 random things’ about applicants is Duke’s favorite
for many years. It is my favorite as well. For years, I have enjoyed working
with applicants on this question as it offers me a glimpse into ‘fun’ side of
their personality. As stated in the essay prompt, the purpose of this question is
to get to know you–beyond the professional and academic achievements listed
in your resume and transcript. This means that the admission
committee wants you to share with them your ‘important life experiences,
your likes/dislikes, hobbies, achievements, fun facts or anything’ that helps them understand who you
are as a person”. Thus, the
purpose of this essay is to show the admission committee your multidimensional
personality.
Over
the years, I have noticed that the candidates initially find this question a
little daunting and are tempted to discuss their professional accomplishments,
but when they dig deeper and begin brainstorming ideas about unique and
interesting things about themselves, and the unique personal experiences that
have made them who they are, they start enjoying this process of self-
discovery. I advise them to do these brainstorming sessions with their family
and friends and ask them what they find interesting and funny about you.
Please
note that the word ‘random’ allows you to include little fun things that
you have done or do in your day- today life, your hobbies/ habits that have
become inseparable part of your personality. The unique component of this essay
question is the “fun” part of it. So you don’t need to get too serious about
yourself. You want to share something about you that draws your reader in.
Also, please resist the temptation of drifting away to your accomplishments,
career goals or leadership experiences because this is NOT what the Admission Committee
seeks to know about you through this question. For ideas, you may refer to the
following examples on Duke Website:
Examples
of "25 Random Things"
Bottom Line: Be Yourself
Second
Required Essay: The Fuqua community and you
Instructions: Your response should be no more than 2 pages in length.
Fuqua prides
itself on cultivating a culture of engagement. Our students enjoy a wide range
of student-led organizations that provide opportunities for leadership
development and personal fulfillment, as well as an outlet for contributing to
society. Our student-led government, clubs, centers, and events are an integral
part of the student culture and are vital to providing you with a range of
experiential learning and individual development experiences.
Based on
your understanding of the Fuqua culture, how do you see yourself engaging in
and contributing to our community, outside of the classroom?
This essay is primarily
about your contribution to the school. Duke emphasizes greatly on how their
students will make their community richer. Hence for this question, it is
important for you to do your homework and research the school thoroughly. You
need to think beyond your contribution to the class room and discuss how your
involvement in clubs, organizations, and student communities will add value to
the program. In addition to understanding the school’s resources (curriculum,
faculty, clubs, organizations, and student activities) you should reach out to
alumni and current students to get additional insights about the school’s
culture.
Please note that it is important to
support your claims about your potential contribution to specific clubs and organization
by specific examples from your past experiences, personal or professional, in
the given area. In order to demonstrate your ‘fit’ with the program, you must
showcase what you have done in the past and how you are going to be a strong
contributor to Duke as a student and as an alumnus.
Since the short-term
goals essay doesn’t give you an option to explain how Duke will help you
realize your goals, you can use this essay to discuss how various resources and
offerings of Duke are aligned with your career goals. Be as specific as you can
in connecting your career aspirations to specific courses, and clubs and
organizations at Duke. However, your primary focus should be your community
involvement and how you plan to enrich it.
Optional
Essay : Tell us more
If you feel
there are circumstances of which the Admissions Committee should be aware,
please explain them in an optional essay (such as unexplained gaps in work,
choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance),
please explain them in an optional essay.
Please do
NOT upload additional essays nor additional recommendations in this area of the
application and limit your response to one page.
As instructed in the
essay prompt, submit the optionalessay only if you have to explain extenuating
circumstances. (e.g. “unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders,
inconsistent or questionable academic performance”). If you have low GPA or
less than ideal GMAT, or if you are not able to get recommendation from your
current supervisor, or if you have employment gap, you may address these
concerns in your optional essay. Your weakness may also bring out a positive
aspect of your personality. This essay should convey that you are aware that
these are areas of concern in your application, but, whenever possible, you
have made a sincere effort to improve upon these areas.
If you do not have
any of those areas to explain, it’s best to skip this question and focus only
on the required three essays.
Since
2011, MER (myEssayReview) has helped
applicants get accepted into top 20 MBA programs, including Duke Fuqua MBA
program.
Want
to discuss? Email Poonam at [email protected]
Essay Tips.
You may be interested in essay analysis of other schools:
EmoryMBA Essay Tips & Deadlines-2019-20
DardenMBA Essay Tips & Deadlines- 2019-20
KelloggMBA Deadlines and Essay Tips - 2019-20
Michigan Ross Essay Tips and Deadlines- 2019-20Harvard Essay Question Analysis- 2019-20
HarvardEssay Question Analysis- 2019-20
This blog was first published in myEssayReview blog.
program that seeks ‘leaders of consequence’, has made several changes to our application process this year “with the goal of increasing
accessibility to all applicants, streamlining the process, and providing the
greatest number of applicants the opportunity to meet with Duke MBA students
and staff in person.”
The two longer
response essays (the iconic 25 random things and contribution essay) remain
unchanged. But the short answer questions have been revised. Instead of three,
the candidates will be answering two short answer questions. Allison Jamison, Assistant Dean of Admissions, explains
the reasons for this change in the blog:
“The questions have been changed to give applicants more opportunity to share their reasons for pursuing an MBA in general. We are also asking applicants to focus more attention on short term career goals, rather than long term goals, given the uncertainty and dependencies of life that are inherent in planning for the long term. "
Application
Deadlines:
Early
Action:
Application due: September 19, 2019
Decision released: October 28, 2019
Round 1
Application due: October 14, 2019
Decision released: December 18, 2019
Round
2
Application due: January 6, 2020
Decision released: March 18, 2020
Round 3
Application due: March 11, 2020
Decision released: April 20, 2020
The new application will be live by August 1.
Essay Questions:
Duke’s 2 long essays (2 pages each) and two short
career goals essays allow applicants to cover a lot of ground about their
personal and professional traits and accomplishments. The first required essay
is Duke’s favorite for many years - ‘25 Random Things about Yourself’ prompt.
The second essay prompt asks applicants about their ‘fit’ with ‘Team Fuqua’.
Instructions for All Written Submissions:
- Responses should use 1.5-line
spacing and a font size no smaller than 10-point. - Do not repeat the question in the
document you upload with your application. - Respond fully and concisely.
- Length requirements vary by question
and are detailed below. - Responses must be completed before
submitting your application.
All
submissions are scanned using plagiarism detection software. Plagiarism is
considered a cheating violation within the Honor Code and will not be tolerated
in the admissions process.
Let’s
take a closer look at the essays:
Required
Short Answer Questions
Instructions: Answer all 3
of the following questions. For each question, respond in 500 characters
only (the equivalent of about 100 words).
- Why is
pursuing an MBA the right next step for you? (500 characters, or about 100
words)
For this question, provide a very brief
account of your career history so far, detailing how you have acquired new
skills and progressed along your career path all these years. Then explain where
you stand now and what you want to do, touching upon your short-term and long-term
goals. Then go on to describe why you believe that an MBA is the next logical
step in your career path NOW? Explain what are those skills that you still lack
which you hope to acquire by an MBA? Discuss how an MBA will fill the gaps in
your career and bring you closer to the fulfillment of your goals?
2.
What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first-choice career
plan and your alternate plan. (500 characters, or about 100 words)
In the first question, you have just
touched upon your career goals in order to justify your reasons for pursuing an
MBA. For this question, you will elaborate your post MBA career goals as well
as your alternate plans if your first-choice plans don’t materialize. Please
identify the position that you hope to hold immediately after MBA, specifying role,
position, industry and 1-2 organizations/companies which you would like to work
for. Articulate your goal and explain why this goal is interesting and important
to you. Please note that your post MBA goal shows a logical progression from
your current skill set, and skills and knowledge acquired through MBA degree. Also,
make sure that your goals are ambitious as well as realistic.
Then think about
your plan B. Duke admits that ‘life is full of uncertainties’, and you may come
across situations that might prevent you from realizing your post MBA goals. So
you must be prepared for your plan B. Please make sure that your alternative
career path is not an altogether different path that doesn’t allow you to
leverage your skills and experience to the fullest. It should be in alignment
with your experience, skills, and knowledge gained from your MBA education.
Long-form
essays:
First
Required Essay: 25 Random Things About Yourself
Instructions:
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.
For context: Fuqua believes different types of
people, points of view, and experiences bring out the best in everyone. And
above all, we place a premium on succeeding while making a positive impact on
businesses, organizations, and the world. These ways of thinking set the
Duke MBA experience apart, and this concept 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 "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.
In this spirit, the admissions committee also wants to
get to know you–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 "25
Random Things" about YOU.
This
question about ‘a list of 25 random things’ about applicants is Duke’s favorite
for many years. It is my favorite as well. For years, I have enjoyed working
with applicants on this question as it offers me a glimpse into ‘fun’ side of
their personality. As stated in the essay prompt, the purpose of this question is
to get to know you–beyond the professional and academic achievements listed
in your resume and transcript. This means that the admission
committee wants you to share with them your ‘important life experiences,
your likes/dislikes, hobbies, achievements, fun facts or anything’ that helps them understand who you
are as a person”. Thus, the
purpose of this essay is to show the admission committee your multidimensional
personality.
Over
the years, I have noticed that the candidates initially find this question a
little daunting and are tempted to discuss their professional accomplishments,
but when they dig deeper and begin brainstorming ideas about unique and
interesting things about themselves, and the unique personal experiences that
have made them who they are, they start enjoying this process of self-
discovery. I advise them to do these brainstorming sessions with their family
and friends and ask them what they find interesting and funny about you.
Please
note that the word ‘random’ allows you to include little fun things that
you have done or do in your day- today life, your hobbies/ habits that have
become inseparable part of your personality. The unique component of this essay
question is the “fun” part of it. So you don’t need to get too serious about
yourself. You want to share something about you that draws your reader in.
Also, please resist the temptation of drifting away to your accomplishments,
career goals or leadership experiences because this is NOT what the Admission Committee
seeks to know about you through this question. For ideas, you may refer to the
following examples on Duke Website:
Examples
of "25 Random Things"
Bottom Line: Be Yourself
Second
Required Essay: The Fuqua community and you
Instructions: Your response should be no more than 2 pages in length.
Fuqua prides
itself on cultivating a culture of engagement. Our students enjoy a wide range
of student-led organizations that provide opportunities for leadership
development and personal fulfillment, as well as an outlet for contributing to
society. Our student-led government, clubs, centers, and events are an integral
part of the student culture and are vital to providing you with a range of
experiential learning and individual development experiences.
Based on
your understanding of the Fuqua culture, how do you see yourself engaging in
and contributing to our community, outside of the classroom?
This essay is primarily
about your contribution to the school. Duke emphasizes greatly on how their
students will make their community richer. Hence for this question, it is
important for you to do your homework and research the school thoroughly. You
need to think beyond your contribution to the class room and discuss how your
involvement in clubs, organizations, and student communities will add value to
the program. In addition to understanding the school’s resources (curriculum,
faculty, clubs, organizations, and student activities) you should reach out to
alumni and current students to get additional insights about the school’s
culture.
Please note that it is important to
support your claims about your potential contribution to specific clubs and organization
by specific examples from your past experiences, personal or professional, in
the given area. In order to demonstrate your ‘fit’ with the program, you must
showcase what you have done in the past and how you are going to be a strong
contributor to Duke as a student and as an alumnus.
Since the short-term
goals essay doesn’t give you an option to explain how Duke will help you
realize your goals, you can use this essay to discuss how various resources and
offerings of Duke are aligned with your career goals. Be as specific as you can
in connecting your career aspirations to specific courses, and clubs and
organizations at Duke. However, your primary focus should be your community
involvement and how you plan to enrich it.
Optional
Essay : Tell us more
If you feel
there are circumstances of which the Admissions Committee should be aware,
please explain them in an optional essay (such as unexplained gaps in work,
choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance),
please explain them in an optional essay.
Please do
NOT upload additional essays nor additional recommendations in this area of the
application and limit your response to one page.
As instructed in the
essay prompt, submit the optionalessay only if you have to explain extenuating
circumstances. (e.g. “unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders,
inconsistent or questionable academic performance”). If you have low GPA or
less than ideal GMAT, or if you are not able to get recommendation from your
current supervisor, or if you have employment gap, you may address these
concerns in your optional essay. Your weakness may also bring out a positive
aspect of your personality. This essay should convey that you are aware that
these are areas of concern in your application, but, whenever possible, you
have made a sincere effort to improve upon these areas.
If you do not have
any of those areas to explain, it’s best to skip this question and focus only
on the required three essays.
Since
2011, MER (myEssayReview) has helped
applicants get accepted into top 20 MBA programs, including Duke Fuqua MBA
program.
Want
to discuss? Email Poonam at [email protected]
Essay Tips.
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