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Duke Fuqua 2013 MBA Application Questions, Deadlines, Tips

July 31, 2012 by 37 Comments
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Leadership, teamwork, ethics, and a global approach to business are essential elements of the Duke Fuqua MBA, which is why you’ll need to make sure you express your passion for these ideals in your application essays. Impress the Fuqua adcom by positioning yourself as an innovative leader and team player, as someone who can see the big picture, work collaboratively, and shape global business.

Duke Fuqua 2013 MBA Essay Questions

▪       Three short answer questions and two essays are required for all applicants.

▪       Responses should use 1.5 line spacing and a font size no smaller than 10-point.

▪       Responses must be completed before submitting your application.

▪       Prepare your responses carefully. The Admissions Committee considers your answers important in the selection process.

Application Tip: Check out this blog post from the Director of Admissions for more insight on the 2012 – 2013 essays.

Required Short Answer Questions: Answer all 3 questions. 
Respond in 250 characters only (the equivalent of about 50 words).

1.  What are your short-term goals, post-MBA?

State what you see yourself doing in terms of function and industry. If location or geography are important to your goal, include them.  If you know the type of companies you would like to work for, you can include that information too, but don’t say you want to work for Company X. That’s probably too narrow. This is 60 words. 

2.  What are your long-term goals?

 Your long term goals should flow logically from your short-term goals. They can be fuzzier and both in terms of direction and timing. But you should have them. 

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?’

What’s your Plan B? If you can’t get a job at a leading strategy consulting firm, what do you want to do? If Plan A is investment banking, what’s Plan B? 

Required Essays: Answer both essay questions

1.  The “Team Fuqua” 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 “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.

 (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.) 

Have some fun with this list. It certainly allows a more creative approach. Note that the questions asks you to go “beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript.  So you can list your Pez collection or perhaps your brief membership in a rock band or the fact that you took violin from age 6-18 or your membership in a gospel choir or your volunteer work in a hospital, needlepoint, your favorite recipe or photo. Gosh the list is endless. Just let it reflect you. Think of this list as an introduction to potential friends.   

For more insight into this question and the  motivation behind, please read Megan Lynam, the Director of Admissions’, advice. I believe you will find it helpful. And very friendly.

2.  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. (

Your response to this essay question should be no more than 2 pages in length. Please respond fully and concisely using 1.5 line spacing.)

Why Duke? But you’re not talking to the admissions committee, whom you just may be a tad less than candid with. You are talking to your family, friends, and colleagues, people you know and like. At least the friends part.  The Fuqua admissions staff really wants to get to know you. Authenticity is the goal. The admissions readers want to be able to imagine you as a part of Team Fuqua — their family — as a friend or colleague. Will you be real stiff and formal? Of course not. You will be friendly in a professional way. Don’t take this as an invitation to be inappropriate, coarse, or rude. Just friendly.

What appeals to you about Duke. What about its program, culture, and professional opportunities propels you to apply and would compel you to accept an offer of admission?  Maybe address a letter to a close friend and tell her why you want to go to Duke. 

Optional Essay 
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). (Limit your response to two pages.)

Why isn’t your current supervisor writing your rec? Why is there a six-month gap on your resume? Why did your grades dip during the first semester of your senior year? What are your responsibilities while working for a family business after having left a prestigious investment bank, and why did you make the change? Answering any of those questions (but not all) could be the topic of your optional essay. And of course an infinite number of similar subjects could be worthwhile discussing in the optional essay.

Duke Fuqua 2013 Deadlines

Round                   Due Date                     Notification

Early Action          September 19, 2012     October 30, 2012

Round 1                  October 24, 2012         January 8, 2013

Round 2                  January 4, 2013          March 18, 2013

Round 3                  March 21, 2013           May 10, 2013

If you would like professional guidance with your Fuqua MBA application, please consider Accepted’sMBA essay editing and MBA admissions consulting or our Duke Fuqua MBA Packages, which include advising, editing, interview coaching, and a resume edit for the Fuqua MBA application. 

Linda Abraham

 

By , president and founder of Accepted.com and co-author of the new, definitive book on MBA admissions, MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools.

Filed Under: MBA Admissions Tagged With: ,
  • http://www.accepted.com Linda Abraham

    If any readers would like a profile evaluation for Duke Fuqua, please provide the following information:

    1) Brief description of your full-time work experience.
    2) Your GMAT or GRE. Percentiles preferred.
    3) College info: The name of the college, your GPA or grade average, your major, year of graduation. For any graduate degrees, please provide the same info. If you grades are low, please indicate if there were extenuating circumstances.
    4) Significant college and post-college extra-curricular activities or community service, especially leadership experience.
    5) Important certifications like CFA, CPA, FSA, or CA.
    6) Your post-MBA goal.

    Or if you just have a question about MBA admissions, I’ll do my best to answer it.

    • Raj

      Hi Linda,
      Can you please evaluate my profile for Duke,

      1) Harvard University, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative biology, Cambridge. Since August 2011.
      Conducted screenings and drug development. Co-authored a research paper which is currently in print
      2) GRE
      Math 800/800 94 percentile
      Verbal 660/800 94 percentile as well

      3) Bachelor of Engineering, Biotechnology 2008 from Visvesvaraya technological Institute, India. GPA 3.93/4.00

      Master of Science, Biotechnology 2011 Northeastern University Boston GPA 3.4

      4) Chess player, screenwriting. However nothing that significant
      5) none
      6) Product development, R&D Pharma/Biotech/Healthcare sector.

      Please let me know.

      Thanks,
      Raj.

      • http://www.accepted.com Linda Abraham

        You have a competitive profile for Duke’s MBA program and it’s also a good choice for you given your goals and background. Your work is seems impressive and your GRE is stellar. Your GPA is excellent, but i am not familiar with your school.

        Possible weaknesses: Your masters GPA is a tad low for a masters program. I don’t see much leadership in the info you provided, but you could have it; it may just not be above. Community service seems weak.

        Best,
        Linda

        • Raj

          Hi Linda,

          Thanks for your input. Yes, my Masters GPA is low, but i have some industrial internships that i did during the masters program which i have on my resume.
          And the undergrad college was in India, hence you may have not heard about it. Do you think that will hurt?
          Yes i have some leadership in sports and collaborating with scientists here at Harvard but no such outstanding achievement. Would the community service and leadership hurt my chances?
          Overall do you think i would have a decent chance if i apply in the early rounds at Duke. Please let me know. Any suggestions or thoughts would be really appreciated.

          Thanks,
          Raj

          • http://www.accepted.com Linda Abraham

            Raj,

            At this point I am familiar with many colleges and universities in India, but it is possible that you attended an good school and I am unfamiliar with it or just don’t remember it. As long as someone in the Duke office can say “Visvesvaraya technological Institute, is a rigorous program,” you will be fine. If it is a well-known program, Duke should know about it even if I don’t.

            Regarding the leadership, make the most of your leadership in both sports and at Harvard. The admissions committees know that science is a slow process and would not expect you to have had major, news-grabbing break-throughs.

            A complete absence of leadership or extra-curricular activities would hurt your chances, but I don’t think that’s the case with you.

            If you can put together a good application and Duke is your first choice, I encourage you to apply Early Action to Duke. (Sept. 19 deadline.) There’s still time. We’d be happy to help you if you’re interested. Please see links at the end of the post for more info.

          • Raj

            Got it. Thanks a lot for that. Yes i am planning to apply in the Early Action.
            Sure, i will go through those links and will contact you if i need help in some areas of the application.

            One last thing though. Can you please suggest me some other good colleges similar to Duke that are similar to my background?

            Thanks again.

          • http://www.accepted.com Linda Abraham

            Consider Yale, Cornell Johnson, UNC, CMU Tepper, and NYU. Please confirm they all accept the GRE. Although new, you may want to look into Johns Hopkins MBA.

            Best,
            Linda

    • http://www.accepted.com Linda Abraham

      Given your GPA and quant score, I’m not optimistic about your chances at Duke. It’s a stretch. Your recent A’s will certainly help, but it’s hard for schools to overlook at low GPA and a low quant score. Do you think you could raise your GMAT quant score?

      Given your experience, the circumstances you were dealing with as an undergrad, and your recent A’s, I think a higher GMAT quant score would help you a lot.

      Best,
      Linda

      • Kristina

        I could… I took the GMAT before the IR changes took place, so it would be a large undertaking considering I’d now have to buy new books and study that section as well as all the quant again. When I found out about the Integrated Reasoning change, I made sure to make my GMAT appointment for before that date, so I did take it in a hurry- about 5 weeks. I also hadn’t studied math since high school, or about 7 years, so I think that’s why my quant scores were lower. However, I was hoping my more recent performance at Stanford in Calc and Stats would serve as a bigger testament to my abilities. I also considered the fact that my total GMAT score is 90th percentile.

        What schools should I be looking at if you believe Duke is out of my range? I don’t think going to a school that is not top 25 is worth the financial investment, since the increase in my salary would be minimal if my MBA was from a lower ranked school.

        • http://www.accepted.com Linda Abraham

          Another option is to take more math classes in addition to what you have taken. You will in essence be saying that your quant score is not an accurate reflection of your skills, because you have improved them. You may also want to consider a program like MBAmath.com.

          Other programs to consider that may still be strong in healthcare but are not as hard to get into: Johns Hopkins Carey school and Rutgers. Obviously these are not as highly ranked overall, and you would need to assess if they pay for you. You can also apply to Duke and just see how it goes. I’m very happy when applicants prove me wrong in this way. :-)

          If you would like help with your applications, please let me know.

          Best,
          Linda

      • Kristina

        Also, I heard programs care more about your last-90 quarter units GPA more than your cumulative GPA (mine is significantly higher in my last 90, though still on the low end of top-programs admits). Do you find this to be true?

        • http://www.accepted.com Linda Abraham

          Yes. It’s true, but I am still concerned that the low quant score in combination with a non-quant major and poor to middling grades overall will be hard to overcome. While the 3.3 in your last 90 units is certainly better and demonstrates improvement, it is still a little below average at Duke.

    • quij

      Thanks so much for your help Linda. I’m most interested in Fuqua and Ross because of their joint MBA/Master’s in Environmental programs (applied to Yale’s as well).

      1) 2.5 years work experience in environmental and energy policy in China and the Silicon Valley
      2) GRE percentiles: V83% M60% (yikes!)

      3) 3.4, University of Washington, Seattle, International Studies, 2010. I included a note about my Chinese minor bringing my grades down because I skipped a year after a summer immersion program (bad idea).

      4) Involved with several environmental and energy professional associations in China.

      5) No certifications.

      6) To work in and eventually start my own cleantech startup.

      Another thing I’m interested in — what percent of its applicants do Fuqua and Ross interview? I’ve seen various figures across the internet.

      • http://www.accepted.com Linda Abraham

        Your work experience is good. The 3.4 is competitive. I am very concerned about that quant score, particularly if you have no A’s in math or business classes in college. That could be a show-stopper.

        If rejected, you can prepare again, retake, and reapply. While I’m sure that’s not what you want, it is a viable option and then you would be competitive at these programs.

        Best,
        Linda

  • Pingback: Duke Fuqua 2012 MBA Application Questions, Deadlines, Tips | Duke Fuqua | Accepted Admissions Consulting Blog

  • RS

    Hi Linda,

    I have a small question wrt Duke Fuqua. Does it accept candidates for a second MBA i.e. candidates who already have a qualification equivalent to MBA like the Post Graduate Diploma in Management in India.
    Do advise
    Thank You

    • http://twitter.com/Accepted Linda Abraham

      I believe it does, but am not sure. You should check directly with Fuqua.

    • http://www.accepted.com Linda Abraham

      RS,

      I’m not sure, but I believe that Fuqua will consider applications from those who have a prior MBA. However, I’m not sure and you should check directly with Fuqua.

      Best,
      Linda

  • Christina

    Hi Linda,

    I’d love if you could give me your take on my chances at Fuqua.
    1) 2.5 years marketing in higher education
    2) GRE Scores: Verbal 164 (93%) Quant 162 (82%). “Equivalent” to GMAT 710. They do say they prefer the GMAT but I am hesitant to take the time and money to study for another test vs. focusing on my essays.
    3) Northwestern University, BS Journalism and Political Science. 3.4 GPA, 3.6 in majors, 3.7 last two years. Not a lot of quant experience but I did well in econ and statistics, did poorly in 3rd level calculus freshman year (placed through IB exams).
    4) In college I studied abroad and was active in my sorority. Post college, I do not have much leadership experience. I am considering becoming a women’s self defense instructor or yoga instructor. I write a personal finance blog geared toward 20-something women. Some volunteering, some involvement with university alumni club.
    5) N/A
    6) Post-MBA, I want to work in brand management or marketing strategy for a consumer brand, or consulting for consumer brands.

    I am also considering Darden and Goizueta. Thank you for your advice and time!

    • http://www.accepted.com Linda Abraham

      I’m a little concerned about lack of experience. You are on the lower end for Fuqua. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply. Other elements in your profile are competitive at all 3 of your target schools

      Apply now, with your GRE. If you aren’t accepted, obviously you will have more experience in a year so that will take care of itself. You can also prepare for the GMAT too if you want then with out the pressure of looming deadlines.

      Best,
      Linda

      • Christina

        Thank you!

        • http://www.accepted.com Linda Abraham

          You’re welcome.

  • Jay

    Hi Linda,
    I’d love your opinion:
    1. 4 years on work experience in the renewable energy industry – worked as a chemical engineer. Good career progression and very confident of solid recommendation letters from my employer. I have recently moved on and started my own company in Canada (about 3 months ago).
    2. GMAT: 720/94% (Verbal 40/90%, Quant 49/83%)
    3. Undergraduate: Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from Institute of Chemical Technology (Mumbai University) – 62%
    4. Masters in Chemical Engineering from The University of Western Ontario (Canada) – 91% (GPA 4/4). Also have 4 publications in reputed international journals.
    5. Extracurricular activities during college years.Nothing to boast of though.
    6. Post MBA goals – Carry on with the entrepreneurial activities/consultancy role as a back-up
    Please give me your evaluation. I intend to apply for several universities: Chicago Booth, Cornell, MIT Sloan, NYU Stern, Duke etc.

    • http://www.accepted.com Linda Abraham

      You have a competitive profile for your target programs. You may also want to consider UCLA Anderson or UT.

      • Jay

        Thanks a lot Linda. It’s good to hear positive words from someone who has seen it all. Thanks again!

        • http://www.accepted.com Linda Abraham

          You’re welcome. Good luck!

  • Sam

    Hi Linda,
    How is Fuqua for someone interested in Real Estate
    development and investment? I’m a Civil Engineer with 3 yrs of
    experience (4 by the time of matriculation) in the engineering and
    construction field in project management (includes significant Int’l
    exp. as well). Real Estate is something that aligns closely with my
    academic and professional exp. and I am very interested in Fuqua. Do you
    think it is possible to present a strong case with this, considering
    above 700 GMAT and strong academics?
    Also, both of my
    recommendations will be from my previous supervisor/manager and Fuqua
    specifically mentions that one of them should be from current
    supervisor. It has only been about 6 months since I joined my current
    organization and I don’t think it would be wise to ask for a reco here.
    The previous supervisors have known me for the longest time and are best
    suited to comment. Do you think this choice could hurt me in any way?
    If I explain this in the optional essay, would they consider this or
    would I be at some disadvantage because of this?
    Thank you very much for your time.

    • http://www.accepted.com Linda Abraham

      Let’s deal with the 2nd question first, if you explain why you have chosen supervisors from your previous job, it should be fine. It’s a common situation.

      Fuqua has definite strengths in finance It offers a The Certificate of Academic Excellence in Finance ( http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/student_resources/academics/certificates ). and many of its grads go to top financial services firms like Citi, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, and Credit Suisse. However, I’m unsure of how much Duke offers specifically for those interested in real estate.

      You may want to look into UCLA Anderson or UNC if you are more interested in real estate than in finance.

      Best,
      Linda

      • Sam

        Thanks Linda!
        It’s actually a peculiar problem. I am actually very interested in Finance but don’t have much in my profile to back up that interest, and at the same time, real estate fits in. We do need to tie our current work exp and academics to our future goals, right? I went through the website and saw they have a real estate club and also real estate course and emerging markets finance etc., which i could speak about, but the employment report is thin in real estate. What would you suggest-does it make sense to go ahead with a focus on finance without anything to back it up(though i have good acads), or probably to tie in real estate with my current work exp and talk about the resources available at duke even if the employment stats are not that strong? Duke is definitely one of my top choices and i want to ensure i do everything to make this happen!

        • http://www.accepted.com Linda Abraham

          Sam,

          It sounds to me as if you want to get the financial skills, but return to the industry where you have had experience. By laying out your goals in this way you are minimizing the sharpness of your career change. Many if not most MBA’s change either function or industry. Changing both, however, is hard.

          You appear aware of this difficulty and are really trying to build a future career based on your industry knowledge with added business and financial knowledge acquired through the MBA. It’s a reasonable approach

          Obviously Duke will evaluate all areas of your application, but I think if you present yourself in that way will also address the concerns you voiced in your post. You may also be interested in our resources for career changers: http://www.accepted.com/mba/mbacareerchange.aspx , or our Why MBA special report at http://info.accepted.com/mba/why-mba .

          Best,
          Linda

          • Sam

            Thanks,
            I have not been exactly in real estate, but in engg and construction. But since any post-MBA industry i choose will seem a career change, I want this to look possible and not too far-fetched. Honestly, I am trying to prepare a convincing story and then weigh my options once i get in. I can obviously not mention that i want to get into the finance industry since that would be too much of a drastic change.
            Considering that, I want to align my post-MBA goals with my work exp and education. For that, I have two options-1.To mention that I want to learn corporate finance and work in the real estate industry in say, capital markets. (I could say that i have technical skills in construction and that could help me in this industry) I think i really need to mention real estate finance otherwise they could say i don’t need an mba if i just want to work in real estate development and could go for masters in real estate. So do you think if i mention this real estate finance story they are not going to raise red flags saying this guy has nothing fin related yet! This is the dilemma i am facing.
            or
            2. To mention that I would like to get into consulting because i have had client facing experience and project management experience as well. I am reluctant to choose this because so many people say consulting and this could not differentiate my profile and potentially kill the app?
            I would be very thankful if you could let me know which path to take. It will be a great help and I really shall be extremely thankful to you.

          • http://www.accepted.com Linda Abraham

            I actually think you should choose the MBA goal that most reflects your interests and intentions, which to me sounds like real estate finance. Whether Duke really is the best school for that is another question, but if you can make the case to yourself that it is a great place for you to further your ambitions, then you should be able to make that case to them.

          • Sam

            Linda, thank you very much! I probably took the discussion a bit too far on this thread. In my best interest, could you pls remove my post from the thread. I am unable to do so. I am very thankful to you for your opinions.

  • Sharan

    Hi Linda,

    I have 5 years of work experience (and 6 by the time I join B-school) specialising in Marketing and Strategy. I started my marketing career in Germany and UK and soon led the Renewable energy sector for the company in China, South East Asia and Australia while being based in Singapore. I myself am Indian.

    After 3.5 years of this, I moved to Hewlett Packard to handle a product group completely different from what I had done previously. I wanted to specialise in the functions of Marketing and Strategy and saw international cross-product experience as a plus. Within 6 months, I was promoted to Portfolio Strategist. At HP, I also founded and am the current Chairperson of the Product Manager’s Forum.

    I am also the marketing lead at a start-up of my own. It is doing well and we recently got a 500k angel funding.

    Education:

    I have a bachelors in Engineering from the National University of Singapore (NUS). I have incredibly low GPA of 2.1. While in NUS, I was president of a few clubs, had a start-up that failed and was chairperson of the student union’s business arm.

    I also have a masters degree in Economics from Singapore Management University (SMU). I took it mainly to show an alternative transcript. It is a very demanding program especially since I am doing it while working. I have As in all math intensive courses. However, in my 3rd semester, I scored an F in one module because I was unable to take the test. The university wouldn’t budge on changing the exam date for me.

    GMAT Score: 750 (98th percentile, 50 in quant-94th percentile)

    Current Extra-curriculars:

    I volunteer as business mentor at an organisation here in Singapore. I mentor new business ideas (example opening an internet cafe or small restaurant) for low-skilled immigrant workers.

    I also only recently joined the Singapore Police Force as a part time police officer attached to the analytics bureau.

    I plan to apply this year to the following schools: Duke, Tuck and Kellogg.

    Do I stand even a remote chance given me incredibly low GPA?

    • http://www.accepted.com Linda Abraham

      Your experience and GMAT are excellent. The GPA is a problem to be sure. I think given your experience, GMAT, and yes even the grad record other than the F, I think you have a chance. Give it a shot. You may also want to consider HEC Paris and Haas. No guarantees, but you’re not crazy for trying.

      Best,
      Linda

      • Sharan

        Hi Linda,

        Thank you for your answer. I have been dreaming of going to B-school and excelling at it for over 3 years now. Unfortunately, I cant go back to undergrad school and change my grades.

        I will take your advice and add HEC Paris to my list. Haas says on its website that a “3.0 is generally required for any serious consideration”.