Duke, Fuqua MBA
Rankings | Class Profile | Employment Report | Sample Essays | Interview Questions
Duke Fuqua MBA Introduction
At Fuqua, MBA students are taught foundational business skills across a variety of core academic areas. Students have the ability to customize their learning experience early with electives that align with their interests and career goals. The Fuqua program starts with an intense month of orientation and immersion in Fuqua’s Global Institute — a rigorous, hands-on program of three courses that emphasize leadership in a global society.
The remainder of the academic year is organized into four 6-week terms of MBA classes. The term structure allows students to take a wide variety of courses and choose electives sooner, which can better prepare them for an internship down the road.
Fuqua students also have access to a variety of experiential learning opportunities such as the Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum – a program where small teams of students are paired with a company to solve a real problem the company is facing. The goal of the practicum is to create a collaborative and engaging learning experience, where students can apply their collective knowledge to solve existing and emerging challenges.
For those looking to start their own business, Fuqua offers the “Program for Entrepreneurs,” is a hands-on program that allows students to start new ventures while earning their business degree. For more details Click Here…
| Class Profile Summary | |
| Class Size | 408 |
| Average GMAT Score | 700(640-780) |
| Average Work Experience (yrs.) | 5.5 years |
| Average Age (yrs.) | 28 years (24-35) |
| Employment Summary | |
| Average Salary | $135,935 |
| Average Bonus | $35,032 |
| % placed within 3 months | 93% |
| Tuition Fees Summary | |
| Total Tuition | $140,000 |
| Living Cost | $ 38,512 |
| Total Cost | $ 178,512 |
Duke Fuqua MBA Class Profile 2022 (Click Here)
Duke Fuqua MBA Application Deadlines
| Deadlines | Applications |
| Round 1 | 11 Oct 2021 |
| Round 2 | 05 Jan 2022 |
| Round 3 | 24 March 2022 |
Duke Fuqua MBA Application Essay Tips
Essay 1: 25 Random Things: 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 requires serious introspection and digging deep. Just jot down all the random things about yourself, big or small, good, bad or ugly, that you think is a significant part of you and has etched deeply in your memories. After you have jotted them, bucket your points into 6 categories
- Hobbies or Passion
- Community or social work
- Professional accomplishments
- Significant life moments
- Childhood moments that shows your natural characteristics
- Some fun and random things!
The idea is to give a balanced picture of you. Try and avoid emphasising only on one aspect of your life. You can order your points chronologically or alternating short passages with one liners, or rotating amongst 6 categories as mentioned above.
Essay 2: 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, what are the three most meaningful ways you expect to engage and contribute to our community outside of the classroom? (300 words)
To approach this question, jot down the traits that are intrinsic and extrinsic to you. Examples of intrinsic traits could be your background, ethnicity, sexual orientation etc which can add diversity to the Fuqua community. Extrinsic traits include your passions and hobbies – are you a scuba diver? Guitarist? Theatre artist? Founder of an NGO? Marathon runner?
Once you have picked three traits, dedicate one paragraph of 100 words approx to each trait.
Give a brief introduction of your trait and establish the credibility of your trait. Eg. If you are a cyclist, show how many kms you have rode, have you received any awards or accomplishments. If you are a founder of an NGO, say what is the cause, how you have created value to the community.
Once you have established the credibility of your trait, then explain how you would add value or contribute to the Fuqua community. It could be through club activities, engaging with students, contributing to community engagements.
Optional Essay: If you feel there are circumstances of which the admissions committee should be aware (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 or additional recommendations in this area of the application, and limit your response to one page.
Use the optional essays only for specific reasons. If you have a career gap or are currently unemployed or have a low GPA, only then consider explaining yourself in this essay.
Additionally, you can also use this essay to explain your choice of recommender. It may so happen that you do not want to tell your current employer of your MBA plans and hence seeked recommendation from others. You can explain this to the admission committee if this is the case.
One common pitfall candidates do is to elaborate on certain extracurriculars that they have already mentioned in other parts of the application. Please do not not use optional essays to repeat whatever is already described in your application or resume.