Fuqua School of Business (Duke University) offers a 22-month Full-Time MBA at Durham, North Carolina. The application deadlines for Fall 2022 intake are:
| Round # | Deadline |
| Early Action | September 2, 2021 |
| Round 1 | October 11, 2021 |
| Round 2 | January 5, 2022 |
| Round 3 | March 24, 2022 |
Essay Debrief
Essay 1: What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first-choice career plan and your alternate plan. (100 words)
Pretty standard and straightforward question every business school wants to know – your short-term and long-term career goal. Describe your short-term goal very specifically by classifying it with Industry, Function, and Geography. Since you have some word limit here you can be creative in sizing up the industry and/or writing a few sentences as to why you will be successful in your short-term goal. For long-term goal, you can be more audacious and have a vision for your career. The more challenging part is to answer your alternate plan. This is a sticking point for many, however since Duke Fuqua has asked it you have to answer it. Period.
Essay 2: 25 Random Things About Yourself (750 words & 2 pages)
Essay Prompt Description by Duke Fuqua: The ‘Team Fuqua’ spirit and community is one of the things that sets the MBA experience apart, and it is a concept that extends beyond the student body to include faculty, staff, and administration. Please share with us “25 Random Things” about you. The Admissions Committee wants to get to know YOU – beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript. Share with us important life experiences, your hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you who you are. Please present your response in list form, numbered 1 to 25. Some points may be brief, while others may be longer.
This is a fun and difficult essay asked by Duke Fuqua for quite some time now. On the one hand, you don’t need to worry about the flow of your essay or artistic language however, you do need to come up with 25 different things about you that are not apparent from the rest of your application. Believe me! This essay is more difficult than it seems and is a good way to do some introspection (when you write this essay you’ll know what I mean). After writing about 10-12, I got stuck and hit a wall. You can ask your friends and family about what makes you unique and Duke is also helping you by giving its own 25 Random examples. Duke Fuqua has described this essay well and there’s nothing more for me to add here. Just don’t be afraid to look vulnerable here and go all out. It’s a very nice way of showing Duke Fuqua your other side.
Essay 3: The Fuqua Community and You (500 words)
Essay Prompt Description by Duke Fuqua: 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 to the development of leaders. Based on your understanding of the Fuqua culture, what are 3 ways you expect to contribute at Fuqua?
Duke Fuqua has a vibrant community and is serious about your involvement outside of the classroom. How well do you understand Duke’s community and your research about it will dominate this essay. Use the below questions to think in the right direction:
How do you plan to participate outside of the classroom?
How will to contribute to the Duke Fuqua community?
Why do you think you will be able to add value to Duke’s community?
If you start with the above questions it will help you get the right frame of your essay. The good thing is Duke has asked for 3 ways you will contribute. So while doing your research, shortlist 3 clubs, centers or activities that you plan to participate in. While shortlisting these 3 activities, keep in mind your personality, your previous involvement, your skills and your passion. An impactful essay will have stories linking their past experiences with Duke’s community engagement plan. It will also outline how you will add value and help your peers in that club or activity.
Apart from the essays above Duke Fuqua application requires:
- One Reference
- Resume
If you’d like to discuss your profile and understand whether Duke Fuqua is the right school for you or not then fill out this form and schedule a FREE call with us. Check out our tool MBA Matrix, where you can search and compare more than 300 MBA programs. MBA Matrix contains deadlines, essay questions, all rankings, average GMAT scores and a lot more all in one place. You can say nice things to me on What’s App or comment below!
Happy Writing!