A Special Offer from The Duke MBA

Clearly, the world is facing many economic challenges today. At The Duke MBA, we recognize that the MBA application process is an investment of time and money, which can both be in short supply in times like these. We feel strongly that visiting with Duke admissions officers, students, and alumni in person is incredibly helpful in understanding the Team Fuqua culture, and we also understand that traveling to our campus can be difficult. To help alleviate some of the financial stress you may be facing, we are pleased to announce the following Duke MBA Application Fee Reduction Program.

Individuals who schedule a campus visit through our online scheduling tool and come to Durham or who register for and attend a Duke MBA information session or coffee chat at one of our worldwide locations will be able to submit an application for the 2009 – 2010 application year for only $50, instead of the usual $200 fee. In this way, we are able to cover our administrative expenses while minimizing the impact on our applicants.

Please visit our Web site for a complete listing of upcoming information sessions and coffee chats, or access our online scheduling tool to craft your own campus visit (with or without interview) and plan to visit us. We will look forward to seeing you!

Important Information:

The reduced fee information for the Daytime program will not be available on the online application until October 7. If you are applying to the Daytime program in Rounds 1, 2, or 3 and want to take advantage of this offer, please do not submit your application until after October 7.

For those who are planning to apply for our Daytime Early Action deadline (October 6), the fee reduction functionality will not be available on the application by this deadline. However, please send an email to application-processing@fuqua.duke.edu at least 72 hours prior to submitting your application and we will provide you with instructions for activating the fee reduction.

For applicants interested in the Cross Continent, Global Executive, or Weekend Executive MBA programs, the fee reduction function will be available at the end of October. If you will be submitting your application prior to November 1, please contact application-processing@fuqua.duke.edu at least 72 hours prior to submitting your application and we will provide you with instructions for activating the fee reduction.

Choosing the fee reduction on the online application prior to submitting your application is the only way to receive the reduction. The Duke MBA will NOT be able to offer refunds after an application has been submitted.

There are other ways to qualify for an application fee reduction or waiver. Please click here for a complete listing.

Clearly Fuqua takes attendance at its programs and visits to its campus as such serious signs of interest that it is willing to forego its profit on an application to encourage that application.

It will be interesting to see if other top MBA programs follow Fuqua's lead.

So what are my thoughts at the end of a hectic week?

• Accepted's editors have noted a rash of bloopers in applicant essays. While these malapropisms (and too many others to list) can make for hilarious reading, they will not add to your chances of acceptance. Please note.

"Message" and "massage" are very different nouns. A "hands-on massage" is not the same as a "hands-on message."

"Morale" and "morals" or "moral" are also very different. "My team's morals sunk lower than low after she addressed us." creates a very different image than "My team's morale sunk lower than low after she addressed us."

Your essays need proofing!

• I listened this morning to the entire MBA Podcaster episode "What Not To Do On Your Application: MBA Application Pitfalls & How To Avoid Them." Please, please, please before you submit your applications, listen to this show with Liz Riley Hargrove, Associate Dean of Admissions, Fuqua School of Business, Duke University; Rose Martinelli, Associate Dean of Student Recruitment and Admissions, University of Chicago Booth School of Business; Graham Richmond, CEO, ClearAdmit; Kellee Scott, Senior Associate Director of MBA Admissions at USC's Marshall School of Business; and myself. It is excellent and could prevent you from making some serious mistakes.

• I received a lovely note last night from a current client. He wrote:

"Natalie has been absolutely terrific! My essays are really coming along -- I really don't know what I'd do without her.

Thanks for all your help. Regardless of what happens with my B-school applications, I honestly think that accepted.com provides a tremendously valuable service. I'd even venture to say that the vast majority of applicants who do not use accepted.com are putting themselves at a terrible disadvantage. (You and Natalie have made me a believer!)

• In addition, I also received several, outstanding feedback reports from clients using other Accepted editors' services.

I don't think it will surprise any of you -- I strongly believe that the overwhelming majority of applicants can benefit from having their applications and essays reviewed before they submit them. You are much better off if we find your mistakes than if the admissions committee does.

At this point in time, with the earliest deadlines less than a week away, we still have some availability, but it is very limited before Oct. 1. If you have any plans to use Accepted's services, please either purchase or register ASAP.

Best of luck to all Round 1 Applicants!

My comments are in red.

Three essay questions must be completed before submitting your application. Prepare your essays carefully. The Admissions Committee considers your responses to the following questions important in the selection process. Please respond fully and concisely using 1.5 line spacing. Your response to each question should be no more than 2 pages in length, with a font size not smaller than 10-point.

Candidates who applied to The Duke MBA between September 2008 and April 2009 are considered re-applicants. All re-applicants are required to complete the Re-applicant Essay in addition to the Applicant Essays.

All applicants have the opportunity to submit an optional essay to explain any extenuating circumstances of which the Admissions Committee should be aware.

Duke is very proud of its community: Team Fuqua. Consequently, it carefully chooses team members. The questions below are an opportunity for you to introduce yourself as an individual, a member of your community or team, and a professional and future leader. As the questions show, all facets are important to Fuqua.

Duke has once again re-shuffled the essay deck this year. It is asking for three long essays (as opposed to one last year) and no short essays (as opposed to three last year). Last year's long essay question introduction is now the introduction for the three required questions.

Applicant Essays: Answer all 3 essay questions.

Today, companies must navigate through complex and interdependent issues. They must deal with health and security matters, environmental impact questions, and diversity and cultural concerns. Leaders need adaptability, imagination, emotional intelligence, as well as business acumen. Thus, Duke is in the midst of an ambitious global venture that will embed and connect us around the world, and we are seeking future leaders of consequence, those who value diversity and collaborative leadership, and who aspire to impact the companies and communities of which they are a part in a lasting and positive way.

In an effort to identify, engage, and foster the development of future leaders of consequence, the Admissions Committee would like to get to know our applicants in a more holistic manner. We would like to know who you are, what has shaped you into the person you are today, and how you hope to impact both Duke and the communities of which you will be a part in the future. The essays are your opportunity to convey that to us. Please be open, genuine, and passionate. Share with us what makes you a dynamic, multi-dimensional person. 

What role in the world would you like to assume? Where would you like to have impact? What cause is important to you? Where have you contributed in the past? When answering the essays below, keep in mind that this is more about vision, values, and life goals than strictly professional goals. Also keep in mind Duke's "globally distributed" campus and its emphasis on the connections between business and non-business disciplines.

1. Describe your vision for your career, your inspiration for pursuing this career path, and the role of The Duke MBA in achieving your goals. If you are interested in a specific concentration or joint degree program, please discuss in this essay.

Similar to last year's first short question, Duke is asking you to connect the dots between your past experiences your future goals and show how their MBA program will bridge the gap between the two. (For different ideas on structuring goals essays, click on the link).

I don't think I can overemphasize the importance of this essay in establishing your credibility as a serious candidate. I know I have harangued you regularly about the importance of goals in MBA admissions, and I am doing it again. Just keep in mind that this essay will reveal whether you have done your homework -- personal introspection, career networking, and school research -- or not, as the case may be.

2. Discuss a person, event, or experience that has significantly shaped your life and explain why.

Almost identical to last year's 3rd short essay question, but now you have more room to elaborate. What or who has had profound, lasting impact on you? Describe the person or event and its impact. Please don't limit your description of impact to the emotional or intellectual. How does this person or event influence your behavior?

This essay probably will reflect a non-professional facet of your life. Although not specified this year, the question originally appeared with the following caveat: The goal of this essay is to get a sense of who you are, rather than what you have achieved professionally.

3. Individuals choose a business school for many different reasons. Through your research, what attributes or characteristics of The Duke MBA program have most resonated with you and why? How do you plan to contribute to the strengthening and enhancement of those attributes and characteristics during your time at Duke and beyond?

This is a more detailed version of last years 2nd essay with the added request regarding your research on Duke.  Based on your research, what are you going to add to Team Fuqua? Is it an enthusiastic commitment to Habitat for Humanity, a local environmental cause, your church, or a hobby, sport, or art form? Is it an unusual personal background? Perhaps, overcoming distinctive challenges? And then how will this unique facet cause you to contribute at Duke? Will it lead to involvement in a specific club or Fuqua project? Interest in a particular program? Again show your knowledge of Fuqua as well as fit between you and the program.

Optional Essay (not required)

If you feel there are extenuating circumstances of which the Admissions Committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g., unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, significant weakness in your application) 

Why isn't your current supervisor writing your rec? Why did your grades dip during the first semester of your senior year? Why is there a six-month gap on your resume? 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.

Re-applicant Essay

All re-applicants are required to complete the Re-applicant Essay. Please limit your response to two pages. Write an essay describing how you are now a stronger candidate for admission compared to the application you submitted the previous year.

This is the question that adcoms want MBA reapplicants to answer. It is self-explanatory and critical.

If you would like help with your Duke Fuqua MBA application, please consider Accepted.com's MBA essay editing and admissions consulting or a Duke Fuqua Comprehensive Package. Purchase before August 31, 2009 to take advantage of our August MBA special.

Duke Fuqua 2010 MBA Deadlines

*The Duke MBA Early Action option is ideal for applicants who have completed their MBA research and have decided that The Duke MBA is the best program for them. Applicants admitted in the Early Action round must submit the non-refundable $3,000 tuition deposit along with official transcript(s) by December 10, 2009. In addition, any applications submitted to other schools must be withdrawn upon an offer of admission from The Duke MBA.

**Scholarship and Visa Recipients must deposit by April 16, 2010.

*The Duke MBA Early Action option is ideal for applicants who have completed their MBA research and have decided that The Duke MBA is the best program for them. Applicants admitted in the Early Action round must submit the non-refundable $3,000 tuition deposit along with official transcript(s) by December 10, 2009. In addition, any applications submitted to other schools must be withdrawn upon an offer of admission from The Duke MBA.

This post introduces a new weekly feature intended to help MBA applicants to assess their readiness for the quantitative elements in the first-year MBA curriculum.

Thousands of incoming admitted students each year use the self-paced, online MBA Math quantitative skills course to build a solid quant foundation for the MBA core curriculum. Of greater interest to readers of this blog are the many MBA applicants who complete the course and submit their MBA Math transcript as part of their admissions package.  Some applicants do so at the recommendation of admissions officers; others complete the course on their own initiative.

As a complement to the GMAT's aptitude focus, MBA Math's focus is proficiency with the most MBA-relevant quantitative basics of finance, accounting, economics, statistics, and spreadsheets.

Let me briefly introduce myself. My name is Peter Regan. I created the MBA Math course based on years of teaching multi-day pre-orientation quant skills courses at Dartmouth's Tuck School and Cornell's Johnson School. I also teach second-year decision consulting courses at Tuck and Duke's Fuqua School.

Each Monday, I'll post a sample exercise and a step-by-step solution with audio commentary. Exercises will cycle through finance, accounting, economics, and statistics, becoming progressively harder with each iteration.

• All applications received by the May 15th priority deadline will be considered for merit-based scholarships. 
• Applications received after May 15th will be considered for scholarships, as funds are available. 
• All admitted students will be eligible for loan packages that cover tuition and related expenses, regardless of citizenship.

Business School Rankings and methodology

1. Harvard
2. Stanford
3. Northwestern Kellogg
3. Wharton
5. MIT Sloan
5. Univ. of Chicago
7. UC Berkeley Haas   
8. Dartmouth Tuck
9. Columbia
10. Yale

Law School Rankings and  Methodology
1. Yale
2. Harvard
2. Stanford
4. Columbia
5. NYU
6. UC Berkeley
6. Univ. of Chicago
8. Penn
9. Univ. of Michigan
10. Duke
10. Northwestern
10. University of Virginia

Medical School Rankings (Research) and Methodology
1. Harvard
2. Johns Hopkins
3. Penn
3. Washington U (St. Louis)
5. UCSF
6. Duke
6. Stanford
6. Univ. of Washington
6. Yale
10. Columbia

A few caveats: My strong recommendation is to use the rankings as a library of raw data conveniently compiled in one location and not as a tried and true guide of educational quality. They are not the latter. They are the former. To the extent you are going to use the rankings as a guide to school reputation and brand value, you must understand the methodology behind them and what they are measuring. Be cognizant of the differences between what is important to you and what is important to the rankings.

A few observations on the rankings themselves:

1. There are many ties in the rankings, which implies that the differences in reputation are almost imperceptible when talking about closely ranked programs. For example the difference between being "in the top ten" and out of the top ten (i.e. #11) for medical (research) programs is 1 point, for the top law and business schools it's  2 points. Don't get hung up on these differences.
2. The "top ten" changes little from year to year. In most cases, if you compare these rankings to the 2009 version, it looks as if US News just reshuffled the deck a tiny bit.

For more on rankings, please see:

• The Rankings (Part 1 of 5) A multi-part series that just concluded.
• Rankings: Controversy and MagazineSales
• Thoughtful Dean Looks at Rankings
• Law School Admissions: Study Says Rankings Influence DecisionMakers

You will find in the special report articles on:

• Applying while or after a layoff.
• The series "MBA in Finance: Forget It?"
• The disappearance and reappearance of financial aid options.
• The wisdom of applying during times of financial uncertainty.

Please feel free to download and share Applying to Business School in Times of Crisis.

Please also use the comments to share your thoughts on the topics discussed in this special report.

HEC in France has been voted the top business school outside the USA for the teaching of marketing by over 19,000 business school students in the latest survey by The Princeton Review. The school was one of only two non-US schools to feature in the complete ranking, which also covered subjects such as general and global management, finance and accounting, and operations.

The survey, which involves 296 schools around the world asked students how well they felt their school equipped them to succeed in each of the specified areas on a five point scale. In the marketing category HEC was ranked alongside such major US players as Harvard, Fuqua, Kellogg and Berkeley Haas.

I am always educating myself about excellent programs in specific areas at schools that are not in "the top 10" or the "M7" or "H/S/W" whatever title you want to give the elite programs. Why? Because not everyone will get accepted to the elite. However, attending an excellent program in your specific field of interest is usually the next best option.

The Princeton Review survey is not proof that HEC provides an outstanding marketing program. However, if you are unlikely to get into Harvard, Kellogg, et.al., want a one-year program with an international experience, or simply prefer to remain in Europe for your marketing studies, the results of this survey and others like it should motivate you to research HEC and discover what it offers.

The reasons for the survey results are far more interesting than the results themselves. In corresponding with Matt Symonds, seasoned observer of the MBA scene and co-author of Getting the MBA Admissions Edge, he reminded me that HEC is 

• One of the Grandes Ecoles, the Ivy League of French education.
• The marketing faculty includes Jean-Noël Kapferer, world expert on brands, Frédéric Dalsace, author of the "Harry Potter marketing strategy," and Wolfgang Ulaga, co-author of HBR's "How to sell services more profitably."
• The Financial Times ranked HEC #1 among European Business schools for the last 3 years in a row.

Uncover the reasons behind the rankings and discover the hidden gems in MBA education. One of them may be a perfect fit for you.

• Duke's Fuqua School of Business will offer a master's program aimed at recent graduates with little or no work experience starting in August 2009. The program will provide a Masters in Management Studies ("MMS") and consist of 12 business courses taught over four six-week terms or nine months.  Participants can have a bachelors, masters, or doctoral degree, but little or no formal business education. It is in direct competition with London Business School's Masters in Management program.
• Natalie Grinblatt Epstein and I took questions from waitlisted applicants during a lively MBA waitlist chat last week. The first topic : The ABC's of Getting Accepted from the Waitlist. For the whole alphabet, see the transcript. 
• Thank you. Thank you. We have crossed the 1000 vote threshold in Start-Up Nation's Leading Moms in Business contest. You can still vote, and please do. The contest ends March 31, and I have no idea if we are among the winners.
• We will announce the judges for the Beautiful B-School Photo Contest next week. Whether you visited a school earlier, are attending an admit weekend in the next few weeks, or just got invited to interview, please submit your pics. You could win a $200 Amazon gift certificate. 
• If you are on a law school waitlist, buy The Nine Mistakes You Don't Want to Make on a Law School Waitlist and save 20% through March 31, 2009. That's Tuesday.
• London Business School's MBA/MiF chat transcript is now online. 
• 2009 Cornell Johnson MBA Waitlist Chat transcript is now online.