guide to fuqua school of business

8/13/2019 Guide to Fuqua School of Business

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Essential Guide 2012 |13DUKE UNIVERSITYS FUQUA SCHOOL OF BUSINE


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DUKE UNIVERSITYS FUQUA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

A B O U T F U Q U A

Essential Guide 2012|13

What makes Fuqua special isthe way the entire communityconnects to produce researchand teaching that makes sense ofwhat is an increasingly complex,and sometimes confusing, globalenvironment.

Fuqua Dean William Bould

The Veritas Prep 2012-13 Essential Guide toDuke Universitys Fuqua School of BusinessVeritas Prep is the leader in GMAT prep and admissions consulting, and as such we haveexperience with a wide range of business schools and programs around the world.Dukes Fuqua MBA program continues to impress us with its frequent innovation andits true team spirit that is so evident on campus. Duke is a great fit for certain people,and expressing the right characteristics in your application is critical. The acceptance ratetends to be around 30%, which is quite high compared to other top programs such asHarvard and the Stanford. Nevertheless, the Fuqua admissions team is choosy. This is acompetitive program, so dont be fooled into thinking that Fuqua can be a safety school.

This Veritas Prep Essential Guide to the Fuqua School of Business captures our bestpractices and detailed advice to guide your application to this top program. Perhapseven more than other schools, Duke strongly encourages interested candidates to visitcampus, and we feel that can be a very valuable step in your process of determining if thisis the school for you. This Essential Guide will introduce you to the Fuqua program andwill help you in your research and applications.

Also be sure to check out our website at www.veritasprep.com for more free resources toleverage, and please contact us at [email protected] if we can offer further assistanceas you craft your application to the Fuqua School of Business.
http://www.veritasprep.com/mailto:info%40veritasprep.com?subject=Fuqua%20Applicationmailto:info%40veritasprep.com?subject=Fuqua%20Applicationhttp://www.veritasprep.com/


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Whats InsideAbout Dukes Fuqua School of Business ........................................... ..............3

Whats New at Fuqua .............................................................................................4

Team Fuqua and the Duke Approach ...................................... ......................5

Students at Duke ...................... ........................ ........................ ..................6 Degree Programs at Duke ..................... ........................ ....................... ...7

Other Masters Programs at Duke ....................... ....................... ...........9

Joint Degree Programs ....................... ........................ ....................... .... 10

What Makes Fuqua Different .................... ........................ ....................... ........ 11

Fuqua Is a Good Fit for You If .................... ........................ ....................... .... 12

Admissions at Duke ....................... ....................... ........................ ....................... 13

2012-13 Full-time MBA Essays (class of 2015) ........................ ....... 13

Fuqua Essay Strategies ....................... ........................ ....................... .... 17 Deadlines and Options ....................... ........................ ....................... .... 18

Recommendations ....................... ........................ ....................... ............ 19

The Interview ...................... ....................... ........................ ....................... 20

Admissions Criteria ...................... ........................ ........................ ........... 21

Duke Academics & Grading Policies ....................... ........................ ............... 22

Employment & Careers at Fuqua ..................... ........................ ....................... 25

Professional Recruitment ...................... ........................ ....................... 25

Employment Statistics .................... ........................ ....................... ........ 26

Pre and Post MBA Career Trends ..................... ........................ ........... 27

Life on Campus ....................... ....................... ........................ ....................... ........ 28

Duke University ..................... ........................ ........................ ................... 28

The Fuqua School of Business Campus ........................ ................... 29

Notable Faculty & Courses at Fuqua ...................... ....................... .... 30

Student Organizations ....................... ........................ ....................... .... 32

APPENDIX ..................... ....................... ........................ ........................ ................... 33

Admissions Statistics ....................... ........................ ....................... ........ 33

Visiting Duke ....................... ....................... ........................ ....................... 33

Connecting with Duke ....................... ........................ ....................... .... 34

Costs & Financial Assistance at Duke ........................ ....................... 35

Similar Programs ....................... ........................ ........................ ............... 36

Veritas Prep and Your Fuqua Application ..................... ....................... ........ 37


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If you are applying with a non-traditional background, weencourage you to focus on clearldening your goals and therole of a Duke MBA in reachingthem, as well as providing theAdmissions Committee insightinto your experiences and careerprogression as we may be lessfamiliar with your industry.

Fuqua Admissi

About Dukes Fuqua School of Business The Fuqua (pronounced FEW-kwa) School of Business is regarded as one of DukeUniversitys top graduate programs, commanding respect from other elite businessschools around the world. As part of a re-branding effort initiated in 2008, the businessschool is increasingly leveraging the overall Duke University reputation, and now

commonly refers to itself as the Duke MBA Program rather than The Fuqua School ofBusiness. However, both names are still used. This practice is a new trend at some otherbusiness schools, too, including MIT (Sloan) and UCLA (Anderson).

Like many of its peer schools, the Duke MBA is predominantly a general managementprogram. The areas of study that stand out at Duke include healthcare, marketing,energy, and social entrepreneurship, with the opportunity to combine several of theseconcentrations. Even though many schools boast of teamwork and collaboration, Fuquaoffers a truly unique partnership among the students and faculty. The term collaborativeleadership is frequently used to convey the importance of teamwork and leadership the two themes that are most pervasive throughout the program. Fuqua is very much ateam-based program, and chants of Team Fuqua are commonly heard throughout theschool. It is safe to say that few schools rival the level of teamwork and leadership that

Fuqua instills in its students and faculty members.Duke and Fuqua are both prominent in the world of research, and are influential inpolicymaking as well. One of Fuquas professors, Ronnie Chatterji, is currently serving onPresident Obamas Council of Economic Advisers, and much of the research coming outof Duke has been cited in governmental reports, including the 2010 Economic Report ofthe President to Congress.

Fuqua has been working hard recently to improve the employment opportunities for itsgraduates. In 2011, a commendable 92% of Fuqua graduates had jobs three months aftergraduating. This was up from 81% in 2010, and 78% in 2009. These lower numbers wereof course during the depths of the recession, making it difficult for international studentsto get the required work authorizations. So far for the class of 2012, 85% of graduateshad secured jobs by May 31st, 2012, indicating a positive outlook for that three-monthstatistic. Typically, about 75% of post-MBA jobs are Fuqua-facilitated, either through on-campus recruiting, job postings, or resulting from summer internship experiences. Thereis clear evidence that the Fuqua Career Management Center is working hard on behalf ofthe student body.

Additionally, the median base salary for Fuqua grads for the class of 2012 was $112,626,up from $107,833 for the class of 2011. Overall, these figures tend to be in line with othertop MBA programs. Additional information on placement statistics at Duke is available inthe Employment & Careers section of this Essential Guide.

Notable alumni coming out of Fuqua include Melinda Gates, co-founder and co-chairof the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Tim Cook, Apples COO. Duke has madea concentrated push in recent years to attract more women and minority candidatesthrough participation in programs such as the National Society of Hispanic MBAs and theForte Foundation .
http://www.nshmba.org/http://www.fortefoundation.org/http://www.fortefoundation.org/http://www.nshmba.org/


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Business sustainability hasevolved from a regulatory orethical concern to a centralstrategic priority for manyrms, Vermeer said. The risksassociated with environmentaland social issues are increasinglymaterial, but so are theopportunities to capture savings,drive innovation and create newmarkets by taking sustainabilityseriously.

Daniel VermExecutive Dire

Fuqua ED

Whats New at FuquaA new dean. In July of 2011, Fuqua announced that Blair Sheppard would step downas dean in order to take a more active role at Duke-Kunshan University in China. Thisannouncement was a surprise, given that Sheppard had been reappointed to a secondterm just three months earlier. To replace Sheppard, Duke appointed long-time professor

and Fuqua Chief Operating Officer William Boulding on an interim two-year basis, andbegan its formal search for a permanent replacement this past spring.

A global focus. Sheppard served as Fuquas Dean beginning in 2007 and is creditedwith moving Duke higher in the rankings and in implementing a global focus at Fuquathat rivals the best-ranked MBA programs. Sheppard has been involved at Duke for manyyears and his influence will be felt on the Fuqua campus for some time to come, even ifhe will be busy advancing Duke initiatives on the other side of the globe from this pointforward.

Now, Dean Boulding has inherited a business school that seems a little internallyfocused. Duke had previously noted several items that Dean Sheppard was to focuson, and its assumed that these are now Bouldings priorities. These challenges includegetting a handle on the schools budget, grooming more leaders among faculty and staff,and being more focused with their various global initiatives. Boulding has been a DeputyDean for some time, so he is certainly no stranger to the challenges and opportunitiesthat the school faces.

A new campus. In 2011, the first phase of Duke Universitys new campus in China opened,with former Dean Sheppard now at the helm. While this is a university-wide initiative, theinitial focus was on Fuqua initiatives, including executive MBA and non- degree executiveeducation programs. Duke-Kunshan will accommodate expected growth in Fuquas MMSearly-career program, and will later offer other Duke University (non-Fuqua) programs.Dean Sheppards appointment there is a strong testimony to the importance of Chinaand Duke Universitys other global efforts.

New degree programs. Duke has also spent the last few years launching innovativedegree programs, including the very unique Masters in Clinical Informatics, and theMaster of Management Studies for the younger cohort. Despite being ten years old,their Cross-Continent MBA is still gaining traction. For the moment, Duke appears to bedigesting all these big changes and taking actions to refine existing student resources.

Industry-based organizational structure. This spring Dean Boulding also announcedthe reorganization of Fuquas center organizations to enhance focus on specific industryverticals and knowledge domains. In addition, Fuqua has consistently prided itself onbringing the outside in to its MBA program, most recently by increasing its center staffand reorganizing its career management center to improve its connection with keyindustries. Beyond this, Fuqua faculty continue to pursue their research and are frequentlyfeatured in mainstream reporting from PBS, BBC News, Bloomberg, and many othermedia outlets. The Duke curriculum, educational experiences, and student experiencehave all remained fairly stable and consistent over the years.

Continued recognition. Fuqua often appears towards the top of the major rankings,and given the strength of the school and its reputation, this trend is unlikely to changeanytime soon. Business Weeks most recent rankings place Fuqua 6 th overall, ahead ofColumbia, Haas, Sloan, and Stern. These rankings are based on nine different measures,including academics, student satisfaction, and post-graduation employment outcomes.
http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/rankings/http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/rankings/http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/rankings/http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/rankings/


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We seek diverse perspectivesthat will add value to theclassroom and the community

non-traditional backgroundspush our boundaries in theclassroom and allow studentsand faculty to think differently.

Fuqua Admissi

Each incoming MBA class begiwith Global Institute, a one-of-akind program that is held thesummer before the rst year andthat introduces students to theglobal business environment andthe world economy structure.

Team Fuqua and the Duke ApproachLike most elite business schools, Duke is focused on providing hands-on learningopportunities, a global perspective, and a flexible curriculum all with an emphasis onteamwork and collaboration. The key elements of Team Fuqua include:

Collaborative Leadership. Teamwork and leadership are common in every aspect ofthe Duke MBA experience, from inside the classroom to outside clubs and activities. Eachclass includes group projects as a learning tool, so the ability to lead and work in a groupenvironment is essential for success at Fuqua. Even more than at some other schools,Fuqua students are heavily involved in outreach and the effort to introduce interestedcandidates to their program. Applicant interviews and campus tours are almost entirelyconducted by current students. Outside of the classroom, students are encouraged andalmost expected to assume a leadership role in a club, activity, or Fuqua-related event.Fuqua is truly a student-run program, which generates numerous opportunities to leadprojects or even create new ones.

Global Perspective. Global is a major MBA buzzword in this day and age, but fewschools come close to the international emphasis and flavor that Fuqua promotes. Eachincoming MBA class begins with the Global Institute, a one-of-a-kind program that is heldin the summer before the first year and that introduces students to the global businessenvironment and the world economy structure. Students tackle current global businessissues and are exposed to diverse backgrounds and perspectives while also gainingexposure to more traditional orientation concepts such as leadership and team building.Fuqua also offers study abroad programs and the increasingly popular Global Academic Travel Experience, or GATE, a course where students study international business trendsfrom select regions and then travel to designated locations for hands-on experience.

The different Cross-Continent and Global Executive MBA programs are as immersive asthey get, consisting of successive in-country residencies at key locations around the globe.Because of the unique nature of these programs, a higher percentage of internationalstudents is attracted to and welcomed at Fuqua.

Diversity of Instruction. As has become increasingly common among innovativebusiness schools, Dukes courses feature a blended teaching approach that includesan almost equal distribution of case studies, lectures, and team projects. Each class istypically over two hours long, allowing ample time for a highly interactive case discussion,followed by a course lecture. Duke professors conduct leading research and are adeptat integrating relevant and topical business issues into every class. Team projects areabsolutely integral to each course, and select groups are called upon to present insightsand strategic recommendations as a way to launch a class discussion. Class participationis expected and is a prominent grading criterion.

Experiential Learning. While Dukes experiential learning options may not feature asprominently as those of Ross or Tuck, they do offer numerous courses to help studentsapply the theory they learn in the classroom. These classes impart knowledge andexperience by assisting real-world businesses in such areas as consulting, strategicplanning, marketing strategy, and business plan development. Recently Fuquaintroduced a global consulting practicum pairing teams of interested first year studentswith international clients to complete impactful semester long projects. Faculty membersguide and participate in strategy sessions with the students to reinforce the translation ofacademic concepts to practical solutions.
http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/student_resources/international_programs_office/global_opportunities/http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/student_resources/international_programs_office/global_opportunities/http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/student_resources/international_programs_office/global_opportunities/http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/student_resources/international_programs_office/global_opportunities/


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Student StatsClass of 2014

Class Size ..............................................

Average Age .........................................

Female Students ....................................

International Students(by citizenship) .....................................

U.S. Minority Students .........................

Married ..................................................

Duke StudentsAs with all business schools, the experience that a student has at Duke has as much ormore to do with the other students as it does with Dukes programs, faculty, or careeropportunities. Duke has specific programs and resources to support both the internationalstudents coming to North Carolina to study, as well as the American students travelingabroad, including a special group called Duke Visa Services (which no other schoolhas), which helps navigate the red tape and requirements for residencies and foreigninternships.

Also, while other top business schools have started to trend younger, Duke prefersapplicants with extensive full-time work experience, which can provide a greater wealthof real world knowledge and relevant insights to class discussions. At 40%, Dukespercentage of International students is quite high relative to other top MBA programs.

International(by country of residence)

37%

Geographic Breakdown:

Midwest 7%

South 11%

Northeast 15%

Southwest/West 17%

Mid-Atlantic 14%

Economics 13%

Other 4%

Engineering/Natural Sciences

32%

Business & Accounting31%

Liberal Arts 20%

Undergraduate Majors:

0

500

1000

1500

2000

HarvardPenn(Wharton)

ColumbiaNorthwestern(Kellogg)

Chicago(Booth)

Michigan(Ross)

DUKEFUQUA

MIT(Sloan)

StanfordNYU(Stern)

UCLA(Anderson)

Dartmouth(Tuck)

UC Berkley(Haas)

Yale

475 492 547750 784 803 804

8881,000

1,160 1,201 1,264

1,6691,808

Source: U.S. News 2013 MBA RankingsFull-Time Enrollment


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DUKE UNIVERSITYS FUQUA SCHOOL OF BUSINESSEssential Guide 2012|13

Degree Programs at Dukes Fuqua School of Business The decision to apply to Duke is a little complicated by the fact that they offer a number of differentprograms, and a number of different concentrations and certificates within those programs. Duke asksapplicants to designate which of those options theyd want to pursue, which can be a difficult decisionprocess given the variety of offerings. Veritas Prep offers this quick tour of the degree programs andmain specializations offered at Duke Fuqua to help you decide which program may be the best fit foryou.

Daytime MBA . Fuqua has just one full-time program, which they call the Daytime MBA. This is thestandard two-year program comparable to what other top schools offer. Each class is just over 400students, or up to 900 Daytime MBAs on campus at any given time. This number has been edgingup slightly each year, which indicates that Duke is willing to expand the class when they receiveenough strong candidates. Most Daytime MBA students have about ve years of work experience,and the average age is 29, which is older than what youll see at some other top schools. There isa wide range however, so dont let these numbers turn you away if you feel that Duke is the placefor you.

Beyond the standard full-time track, Duke also offers a variety of Executive MBA programs enoughoptions, and with similar enough names, as to potentially create some confusion:

The Weekend Executive MBA is the same curriculum that is offered through the Daytime MBA,with all classes on campus in Durham. It is a 20-month program designed for working profes-sionals with at least ve years of work experience. Full-time employment is a requirement of theprogram. A majority of students in this program are local residents or commute from the greaterNorth Carolina region. The Weekend Executive MBA is somewhat comparable to the part-timeprograms offered at other schools like NYU Stern or Chicago Booth: it tends to attract peoplewho already live local to the school and want to get their MBA, but possibly have families or otherresponsibilities that make quitting their jobs difficult.

The Global Executive MBA could be called a traveling MBA: at just 15 months it is a shorterprogram, and it has a very unique format with the bulk of the program consisting of internationalresidencies. It is also designed for a mid-career professional; a full ten years of work experience is

expected for students in this program (the average is 14 years). Students start with a residency inDurham, and then the program goes on the road: to London, St. Petersburg, Dubai, New Delhi,Shanghai and Singapore, and then coming full circle for another session at Duke at the end of thetrack. With this format, 60% of the coursework is delivered overseas. This obviously attracts a differ-ent type of student, with a large number of them coming from overseas to participate. The GlobalExecutive MBA is for those with more work experience, and was one of the rst truly global MBAprograms to be introduced anywhere.

The Cross-Continent MBA is similar to the Global Executive MBA, except that the students aremuch younger. Only three years of work experience are required (compared to ten years withthe Global Executive MBA). As is the case with the two Executive MBA options, a full-time job isrequired to participate in this program. Distance learning is also integral to the Cross-ContinentMBA curriculum, much more so than the other programs. This option is designed as an alternative

for those who would normally be applying to the standard full-time program, but who would liketo keep their jobs and take advantage of a distinctive international experience for their graduateeducation. Those interested in the Cross-Continent MBA are encouraged to reach out to the ad-missions team and talk about their candidacy before applying, to ensure theres a good t withthe program and even to discuss ways to possibly improve the prole in advance of the formaladmissions review. This is a new program and Duke is active in its outreach to attract the righttype of candidates around the world. Because it is new, and because it is a little different in termsof format and structure, competition for this program is not as intense as it is for the standardDaytime MBA. The admissions committee is often more open to candidates who may not havethe strongest GPA or GMAT score but who offer unique characteristics and a strong prole fromtheir career experiences.
http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/daytime/http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/weekend_executive/http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/global-executive/http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/cross_continent/http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/cross_continent/http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/global-executive/http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/weekend_executive/http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/daytime/


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HSM students work withworld-class business, medical,engineering, law, and publicpolicy faculty who expertlybalance academic theory withapplicable knowledge that meetstodays market demands.

Fuqua Admissi

All four programs confer the same MBA degree in the end. The core curriculum is largely thesame, though there are variations of focus that would be expected in terms of leadershipand global business, depending on the programs orientation. Some level of corporatesponsorship is required for all except the standard Daytime MBA: both of the ExecutiveMBAs (Global and Weekend) and the Cross-Continent MBA all require formal permissionfrom your company to enroll due to the significant residency periods, however, financial

sponsorship from your employer is not required for any of them.

Health Sector Management : A Healthcare-Focused MBA

Confused enough yet? To add even more choices to the menu, Fuqua offers the optionto add a Health Sector Management (HSM) component to each of the four separate MBAtracks. This can be done either as a Concentration or as a Certificate, although it should benoted that any MBA student can pursue an HSM Certificate, and only Weekend Executiveand Cross-Continent MBA students may pursue the HSM Concentration. Even Fuquaalumni who already have the MBA can earn the HSM Certificate after they graduateby enrolling in additional on-campus or distance learning courses.

Duke HSM makes tremendous use of the Research Triangle area of North Carolina, home

to many leading biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and health care organizations. HSMcourses are taught by Fuqua School of Business and Duke Hospital faculty, includingthose from the renowned graduate schools of nursing and medicine.

Fuqua is one of several top programs with a specialization in as they call it thebusiness of healthcare; other programs to consider if you are in the market for this typeof focused MBA would be Vanderbilt Owen (considered one of the best healthcare MBAsaround), Yales Leadership in Healthcare MBA, and the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler School of Business. Fuqua is also a founding member of the new Business SchoolAlliance for Healthcare Management, which also includes Wharton, Kellogg, HBS, Haas,Yale, Vanderbilt, and a few others. Fuqua also has a presence on the board of the BSAHCM,which was created partly in response to the changing healthcare landscape that resultedfrom the Obama Administrations healthcare reform package.

All top business schools offer some form of healthcare coursework and usually studentclubs too, but Duke goes above and beyond with regards to healthcare managementeducation. The depth and breadth of the classroom experience, the faculty expertise, andthe recruiting options are all on a different level at a school like Duke.
http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/health_sector_management/http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/health_sector_management/


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Other Masters Programs at FuquaIn the past few years, Fuqua has been driving forward with new and quite unique alternative Masters programs. These are generally one-year in length and are designed as options for those who are either not quite ready for anMBA (the MMS), or who want a laser-focused, supremely targeted education that sets them up for one specific job:in this case, an IT role in healthcare (the MM degree):

Master of Management Studies (MMS): Foundations of Business . In response to the trend at some other topschools of encouraging early-career candidates and accepting younger students such as Harvards 2+2 Programand the Yale Silver Scholars Program Duke has created the Master of Management Studies, or MMS degree,which they call Foundations of Business. The MMS is for those with a year or less of work experience. It is specificallydesigned to attract people straight out of college or from a PhD program. It is a one-year full-time program. The curriculum essentially is the standard first-year core of the MBA program finance, economics, accounting,marketing, etc. however, coursework from the MMS will not transfer into a Fuqua MBA. In fact, it is unlikely that aMMS graduate will qualify for immediate entry into either the Fuqua or any other top MBA program. Instead, MMSstudents are encouraged to use this program to get a jumpstart into the business world and get a leg up on collegegrads who are competing for the same jobs with just an undergraduate degree.

The MMS is best suited for someone coming out of college who realizes that they want to go in a different directionthan what they studied for their bachelors degree, and feels that they need specific business skills to make the

switch. The MMS is also ideal for motivated young entrepreneurs who are ready to launch a business, or for PhDcandidates wanting to transition into the business world instead of staying in academia. A top-ranked MBA programmight accept a candidate who already holds an MMS degree from Fuqua, however that candidate would need toexplain why the additional education is required, since he or she already would have undertaken a significant partof the standard MBA curriculum with the Duke MMS degree. Early-career candidates who plan on obtaining an MBAin the future might want to build their careers for a few years, and then apply for admission to a standard two-yearMBA program.

Other schools that have a similar one-year masters degree for early-career candidates include the Masters inManagement degrees offered by MIT (Sloan), London Business School and IE in Spain. The HBS 2+2 Program resultsin a standard Harvard MBA and so it is not the same as these different Masters options, although all of them arecatering to applicants at the same stage of their careers.

Master of Management - Clinical Informatics . The newest degree option at Fuqua is a first-of-its-kind, one-yearMasters program for IT professionals in the healthcare space. This is a heavy duty analytical track. One portion of thecoursework is composed of more quant-focused management topics, such as corporate finance, decision models,and supply chain. The remainder of the curriculum consists of healthcare data-intensive training you wont findanywhere else. Courses include Clinical Informatics Strategy and Health IT Business Solutions, presented throughDukes healthcare technology center. A course in business strategy and one in ethics are also required, along with asemester-long practicum completed in a healthcare environment, such as Duke Health Technology Solutions.

With no strict requirement around years of work experience, the MMCI could be appropriate for people in variousstages of their careers. Duke is working hard to grow awareness of this new program, but did not fill its inaugural classto capacity, meaning that admissions will be somewhat less competitive while it gains traction in the educationalmarketplace. Admissions are rolling, and there is no application fee both further indications that they are tryingto make the program more accessible to more candidates.

The MMCI is not a substitute for an MBA, and Duke makes it clear that they would welcome a MMCI graduate intoone of their Executive MBA programs later on. Keep in mind that while MMCI students take some classes with MBAstudents, career services support is offered separately, and MMCI degree candidates are not allowed to participatein MBA recruiting opportunities.

PhD and Corporate Training. As other schools do, Duke also offers PhD programs, with just under 100 activestudents, plus a variety of non-degree executive courses and seminars and customizable corporate training options.
http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/other_programs/mms_foundations_of_business/http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/other_programs/mmci/http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/other_programs/phd_program/http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/other_programs/phd_program/http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/other_programs/mmci/http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/other_programs/mms_foundations_of_business/


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Joint Degree ProgramsFuqua offers many joint degree programs in conjunction with other reputable Dukegraduate schools. These programs allow students to earn dual degrees in less than timethan pursuing the degrees separately.

JD/MBA. The popular JD/MBA program combines two of Dukes most selective and

highly ranked graduate programs: The Fuqua School of Business and the Duke School ofLaw. This program allows students to earn both degrees in four years rather than the fiveyears it would require to do them separately.

MD/MBA. The MD/MBA program is also very popular due to the highly ranked andrespected medical program and the renowned Duke University Hospital.

MSN/MBA. The MSN/MBA program combines the Fuqua School of Business with theSchool of Nursing for a Master of Science in Nursing. This is an unusual degree notavailable at many other schools.

MEM/MBA and MF/MBA. The MEM/MBA and MF/MBA degree programs combinethe Fuqua School of Business with the Nicholas School of Environment for a Masters ofEnvironmental Management or Masters of Forestry. This is a unique combination also notcommonly found at other top schools. Michigan (Ross) offers a similar program with theirSchool of Natural Resources & Environment that focuses on sustainable enterprise.

MPP/MBA. The MPP/MBA program combines the Fuqua School of Business with theSanford Institute of Public Policy, and offers an opportunity to simultaneously earn anMBA and a Masters in Public Policy. This is a three year program and has recently increasedin popularity. Other top business schools also offer the MPP/MBA combination.

Note that applications for any joint degrees are not accepted in Round 3, so if you are interestedin one of these combinations, you must apply to Duke no later than Round 2.
http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/other_programs/joint_degree_programs/http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/other_programs/joint_degree_programs/


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Chants of Team Fuqua arecommonly heard throughout thecampus.

What Makes Fuqua Different Collaborative Leadership. One of Fuquas key differentiating factors is its emphasis

on collaborative leadership. Other than Kellogg and perhaps UCLA Anderson, fewbusiness schools can cite that as the programs most distinguishing feature to the de-gree that Fuqua can. At Duke, collaboration is evident in their Team Fuqua philoso-

phy and in the emphasis on student involvement across the educational experience.Many business schools emphasize leadership, but Fuquas simultaneous emphasison collaboration sets them apart from many of their peers.

Expanding Reach. Fuqua claims to be rethinking the boundaries of businessschool, and has systematically broadened its reach geographically, being the onlyschool that has a rm presence in major centers around the world. They have alsoexpanded their demographic reach by offering compelling options to students invarious phases of their careers and from different populations.

Leaders of Consequence. Duke has a stated goal to create so-called Leaders ofConsequence, a phrase that we believe was coined by Dean Blair Sheppard around2008 when he assumed leadership. The phrase has since been rened to globalleaders of consequence. This concept is so important, in fact, that it comes into playwithin the Fuqua application essays. While a concrete denition is lacking, suffice itto say that Duke feels a leader of consequence is adaptable, down to earth, and eth-ical. As Dean Sheppard put it, they want to produce graduates who can drink cham-pagne with the rich and famous and can drink chai with those who thats all theycan afford. In terms of an application, Dukes admissions team is looking for peoplewho have made a difference in their jobs and in their communities, and who seekan MBA from Fuqua in their quest to make a real impact on the world in the future.See our discussion of the current essay questions below for more on the leader ofconsequence concept and how it plays into admissions at Duke Fuqua.

Open Interviews. Another difference at Fuqua is their Open Interview process: Theystrongly encourage candidates to travel to Durham and visit campus to interviewwith a student. This Open Interview option is available only in the earliest part of theadmissions cycle each year, usually starting in mid-September and running throughOctober. Scheduling opens in August for these limited slots. You need not have yourapplication completed in advance of the Open Interview; it is characterized moreas an evaluation than an interview. Participating in the Open Interview processis a great opportunity not only to explore campus and meet students, but also todemonstrate your interest in the program.

A few other schools work this way too, notably Tuck and Kellogg. Each of theseprograms has a very distinct, tight-knit culture, and the schools want candidates tocome experience it for themselves before deciding to apply. This also helps improvethe quality of the applications, since the candidate really knows the program andcan speak with some authority about how he or she will leverage the Duke resourcesbest. Additional details on interviewing at Duke are provided below in the Interview section.


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A B O U T F U Q U A


Fuqua Is a Good Fit for You If... Youve got some work experience under your belt. Fuqua traditionally prefers

that students in the Daytime MBA have about ve years of work experience, thoughthere is some exibility on this requirement for stellar candidates. Just three admits(not 3% three people!) from the class of 2014 had no work experience at all.

Youre a younger candidate who wants core management training. The MMSdegree is a great option for those coming straight from college, and the Cross-Conti-nent MBA also sometimes accepts students with a little less work experience (thoughsome years of work experience and a current job are denitely required).

Youre interested in a truly unique international MBA education. TheCross-Continent and the Global Executive tracks are both in a class of their own interms of providing immersive opportunities with an exceptionally diverse cohort. Ifyour career has already put you in the international arena, these are denitely worthinvestigating. Dukes focus on global business is evident across the entire school,making the North Carolina campus more diverse than might be expected.

You want to go into healthcare. There are few other programs that offer the depthand breadth of healthcare management that is available at Duke. For those look-ing to accelerate their progression in an existing career, or for someone interestedin transitioning over to hospital management, clinical outcomes, or the payer side,Dukes Health Sector Management MBA and the other educational options are hardto beat.

You want to go into energy, including alternative and renewable energy. Ifyou want to go into investment banking and become a sell-side commodities an-alyst, or you want to push innovations in alternative energy, or you care about sus-tainability in business, Duke may be the right place for you. Fuqua is increasing itsattentions in these critical areas, and it could therefore be a great choice to launch orreposition your career.

You are a woman or a U.S. minority. Fuqua is actively catering to these differentpopulations, perhaps even more so than other top American business programs.

Youre willing to visit the campus. Duke knows that it is often a safety schoolfor top candidates, and has struggled with yield in its admissions. If youre willing togo to lengths to show that if accepted youll actually attend, youll become a veryattractive candidate. Things like visiting the campus, participating in the Open Inter-view process and mentioning that Duke is your top-choice school can go a long wayhere. If you dont have the means or opportunity to visit campus, you can develop arapport with admissions officers at one of their many global informational sessions.


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A D M I S S I O N S A T F U Q U A

Admissions at Duke

2012-13 Daytime MBA Essays (for the Class of 2015)Important: The essay questions and discussion that follow are for applicants to DukesDaytime MBA program. While many of these recommendations may apply to any ofFuquas other programs, they are not explicitly offered for anything but the standard two-year, full-time program.

Required Short Answer Questions (250 characters for each answer):

1 What are your short-term goals, post-MBA? This short answer question is very straightforward and should be seen in some senseas a why MBA question. However, your response should be specically targeted toyou post-MBA role. The admissions committee is evaluating several things with thisessay. First, do you understand and can you articulate directly what you want todo? They are looking for you to state with clarity and conviction your ideal choiceof function and/or industry. If you seem vague or wavering, it may be a red ag thatyou dont know why you want an MBA. Second, admissions is evaluating whetheryour goal is realistic based on your prior experience and background. Career switch-ing is very common amongst MBAs, but if you are interested in a highly quantitativerole, for example, it would be expected that you have demonstrated ability throughtest scores, coursework, or prior experience. Finally, they will be using this essay toshape their class and ensure a diverse set of interests that generally align with theirrecruiter pipeline. There is no right answer, but Fuqua heavily encourages diverseand non-traditional post-MBA goals. They want to see that your interests align witha foreseeable recruiting opportunity, and expect that not every student wants to bea consultant or brand manager.

2 What are your long-term goals?It is understood to be a near certainty that MBA graduates will change jobs duringtheir career whether theyre pursuing the C-suite, an entrepreneurial opportunity,or other plans. This is where the admissions committee is looking to see if you havethought things through, even though they know you may change your mind downthe road. You should again be as specic as possible with the role and industriesin your future plans. For example, you dont need to spell out that youre going tospend 4 years in marketing at P&G before launching your own start-up. What theadmissions committee will be looking for is whether you can tie it all together intoa coherent and plausible story.


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3 Life is full of uncertainties, and plans and circumstances can change.As a result, navigating a career requires you to be adaptable.Shouldthe short-term goals that you provided above not materialize whatalternative directions have you considered?

Given the state of the current economy, even students at top business schools need

back-up plans. Consider this essay to be somewhat similar to Fuquas question aboutlong-term goals. What theyre looking for is to see that the candidate has thoughtthis through. Your answer should be a viable alternative to your top short term goal,but one that is still aligned with your general professional interests. For example,students interested in investment banking in the healthcare industry might alsoconsider corporate nance in the healthcare industry. Note, however, that certaincareer tracks including consulting, investment banking, and private equity have dis-tinct and demanding recruiting guidelines, and are not recommended as alternativedirections to one another.

Required Essays

1 The Team Fuqua spirit and community is one of the things thatsets The Duke MBA experience apart, and it is a conceptthat extends beyond the student body to include faculty, staff,and administration. When a new person joins the Admissionsteam, we ask that person to share with everyone in the officea list of 25 Random Things About Yourself. As anAdmissions team, we already know the new hires professionaland academic background, so learning these 25 RandomThings helps us get to know someones 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 experienc-es, your likes/dislikes, hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anythingthat helps us understand what makes you who you are. Share with usyour list of 25 Random Things about YOU. (Please present your responsesin list form, numbered 1 to 25. Some points may only be a few words, while othersmay be longer. Your complete list should not exceed 2 pages.)

This may seem like a unique question, but in reality Duke has asked this questionin slightly varying forms for several years now. Last year it was How will your back-ground, values, and non-work activities enhance the experience of other Duke MBAstudents and add value to Fuquas diverse culture? In composing your answer tothis years question, you would be well served to carefully read and consider thepre-amble to the essays that clearly lays out characteristics that the admissions

committee considers core to the leaders of consequence they hope to cultivate atFuqua. While your list should certainly contain examples of your leadership, impactand teamwork, you would also be well served to highlight your individuality, pas-sions and personality. A big part of Fuqua is its colorful and inclusive student-led cul-ture, something which former dean Blair Shepherd believes is essential to making aFuqua MBA a transformative rather than transactional experience. The admissionsteam is looking for people who will bring unique experiences to class discussions,become founders and leaders of clubs, and be active members of the Fuqua com-munity. Applicants are encouraged to show that they understand Fuquas uniqueculture and consequently express how they might contribute.


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2 When asked by your family, friends, and colleagues why you want togo to Duke, what do you tell them? Share the reasons that are mostmeaningful to you. (2 page limit, 1.5 line spacing)

Again, the wording has changed but the substance of this question is substantivelythe same as the why Duke question of previous years. Like some other top schoolsthat tend to sit just outside of the top ten in the MBA rankings, Duke gets a lot of

applications from candidates who have also applied to Harvard, Wharton, etc., andthe school is quite savvy at recognizing when an applicant is truly excited aboutwhat Fuqua offers. This is your opportunity to demonstrate that you have really re-searched the program, understand its core values, and really want to spend the restof your life as a member of the Fuqua community.

Some applicants will surely rattle off names of classes, professors, and on-campusclubs to show that theyve done their homework. For the most part, while this re-search is critical for you, showing off this kind of knowledge sometimes just elicitsa big deal from admissions officers. Go deeper, and force yourself to answer thequestion in way that is personal to you.

Some pragmatic components to your response are totally ne: Fuqua has strongties to the health care industry, which is what rst drew you to the program, forinstance. Thats a completely real, honest response. Starting from there, maybe youcould explore the ways that you can see yourself thriving in the Duke community.For example, maybe you prefer the schools teamwork-oriented teaching style sinceits consistent with your undergraduate experience. Or, every student or alum youhave met has raved about the program. Or, you had a real connection with so-and-so and it got you inspired about this-and-that. These are just examples to get youstarted thinking. The point is that you want a more heartfelt, interesting, and effec-tive answer than simply rattling off some clubs that anyone could name, becausethat way, its about you.

Finally, play close attention to the particular way that this question was asked. They

could have simply asked Why Fuqua? again, but instead they have added an ele-ment that asks you to consider what you might tell distinctly different audiencesabout your decision to apply to Fuqua. Would you give non-business minded friendsthe same reason you would give a work colleague? Does your family understandwhy youre quitting your job and taking on all of that debt? This is by no means arequired element to incorporate into your essay, but it may be an interesting anglefor some applicant groups including career switchers, international students, andapplicants pursuing non-traditional, post-MBA goals. At the very least its a signalthat admissions is encouraging you to consider why Fuqua in more ways than one.


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

As noted by the Admissions Committee, this question is not required and in fact,

with so much space allowed, Veritas Prep recommends that you try to cover any ofthese issues within the main essays. If you do need to include the optional essay,keep it short. Usually a paragraph or two should be sufficient to explain most issues.

Re-applicant Essay: Write an essay describing how you are now a strongercandidate for admission compared to the application you submitted theprevious year.

If you applied to Duke last year and want to try again, youre considered a re-appli-cant, and they ask that you complete all the main essays, plus this question too. Thisis different from many other schools who just want a single re-applicant essay

and its striking that Duke asks for so much total content from re-applicants, giventhat this years essay questions cover almost exactly what they asked last year. Usu-ally Veritas Prep recommends that re-applicants not repeat themselves from whattheir essays said the previous year, but in this case, we dont see how thats a feasiblestrategy. The focus for a re-applicant should still be on whats changed and how thecandidacy has improved from last year. Some repetition is probably unavoidablefrom the original essays.


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Fuqua Essay StrategiesDukes essays have diverged from common practices at their peer schools for years, withthe most recent trend being the length of the Fuqua essays. Last year, they went in aneven more different direction by essentially pulling apart the standard career goals/whyMBA question and making it three separate essays. This years questions are asking forvery similar information but have gone a step further in pulling apart Dukes traditionalquestions into a shorter answer format. Duke is apparently sending the signal that theywant applicants to be more concise and less formulaic with their short answer questionsand 25 random things questions this year. Also of note is that while the subject of theiressays is similar to other schools, the questions are asked in a way that makes it muchmore difficult to reuse other schools essays. This years format in particular signals thatthey are looking for applicants truly interested in Duke, not just any top business school.

The other key difference in the Duke questions? All are required, with no choose X fromthis list of Y questions menu options that some other schools may offer. We see this as adesire for standardization across the candidate pool, and as an attempt to allow the DukeAdmissions Committee to better compare apples to apples among their applicants.

Note: The Duke MBA admissions committee has been very transparent in the motivations be-

hind the changes to their MBA application and essays. Applicants should pay close attention tothe instructions on their website and admissions blog.

Veritas Prep clients working on their Duke applications receive expert guidance on eachof these essay questions. Veritas Preps Duke Specialists help clients understand theunique elements offered by the Fuqua MBA, and Head Consultants work with clients tohighlight strengths and weaknesses as well as unique elements within the confines ofthe question. Our consultants also address each of the key Fuqua admissions themes,including the Leader of Consequence angle. Head Consultants can help clients decidewhether to make use of the optional essay, and what to present as a re-applicant.
http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/daytime/apply_daytime/http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/daytime/apply_daytime/http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/daytime/apply_daytime/http://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/duke-mba/admissions/2012/07/19/application-essays-change-to-gain-greater-insights/http://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/duke-mba/admissions/2012/07/19/application-essays-change-to-gain-greater-insights/http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/daytime/apply_daytime/


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Deadlines:

Early Action (Binding)Submission Deadline:September 19, 2012Interview Invitations Issued by:October 9, 2012Decision Notication:October 30, 2012Non-Refundable $3,000 DepositDue by: November 28, 2012

Round 1

Submission Deadline:October 24, 2012

Interview Invitations Issued by:November 28, 2012Decision Notication:January 8, 2013Non-Refundable $1,500 DepositDue by: February 27, 2013

Round 2Submission Deadline:January 1, 2013

Interview Invitations Issued by:February 7, 2013Decision Notication:March 20, 2013Non-Refundable $1,500 DepositDue by: April 30, 2013 (domes-tic); April 11, 2013 (internation-al)

Round 3

Submission Deadline:March 21, 2013Interview Invitations Issued by:April 10, 2013Decision Notication:May 10, 2013Non-Refundable $1,500 DepositDue by: May 21, 2013 (domestic)May 15, 2013 (international)

Deadlines and OptionsEarly Action. Duke has the standard three-round admissions process, plus an Early Actionround (which Duke University has had in place for undergrads for some time). This issimilar to the Early Decision option at Columbia Business School, in that it guaranteesthe candidate gets a faster answer on his or her application, and it is binding both ways.Applying to Fuqua Early Action is telling the school in advance that you will accepttheir offer, should they extend one to you. An Early Action applicant is committing towithdrawing any applications submitted to other schools. This means that someonecould not (ethically) apply to multiple early rounds, since other schools have similarcaveats as well. You can, however, apply to both Duke Early Action and another schoolsRound 1, as long as you are prepared to withdraw your application to the other schoolshould Duke say yes.

How does Duke enforce the binding nature of Early Action? They do it by requiring atuition deposit right away. Almost as soon as they have issued an offer to you, you mustmake a nonrefundable payment of $3,000 (by check or money order only; for somereason, credit cards are not accepted). This is double the first payment required, and itcomes much, much sooner than youd need to pay if you were accepted through anyother round.

Application Strategy: If you know that Duke is your #1 choice for MBA programs, wehighly recommend that you apply in the Early Action round. Because Duke is often abackup school for many applicants, it suffers from a lower yield rate than other top-ranked schools. (Yield is the percentage of applicants offered admission who end upattending the program.) Applying in the Early Action round is the strongest possiblesignal to the school that it is your #1 choice and that you will attend if admitted. Thishelps the school manage its yield, and can help your application significantly. A point inyour favor, if applying in the Early Action round, would be to visit campus and request anOpen Interview before submitting.

The main disadvantage of Dukes admissions rounds is that if you apply in their Round 1(November deadline), you will not get their final decision on your application until well

after most other schools Round 2 deadlines. You would, however, know if youd beeninvited to interview or not, and not getting the interview invitation in mid-Decemberwould be an indication that they probably were not actively considering your candidacyfurther.

Also note that if you apply in Round 3, you have less than two weeks after getting anoffer of admission to submit a non-refundable deposit of $1,500. This is because theadmissions committee needs to finalize the class at that point, and so you would nothave the luxury of time to weigh your options.


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Your recommenders will also evaluayou on the following qualities on a scaof Exceptional (Top 2%), Superior (T5%), Excellent (Top 15%), Above Aver(Top 25%), Average (Top 50%), BeAverage (Lower 50%), Unable to Rate:

Leadership potential

Maturity

Motivation

Analytical skills

Ability to work with others

Responsiveness to feedback

Oral communication skills

Planning skills/time managementability

Personal integrity

Self-condence

Goal directedness

For non-English speakers, pleaserate verbal and written Englishability

Recommenders will see a note: Very

ly should an applicant receive a ratingExceptional in all categories and it shbe uncommon for an applicant to obtaeither Exceptional or Superior acrocategories.

Recommendations Traditional candidates are required to submit two letters of recommendation at Fuqua,while re-applicants are asked to submit just one. Your recommenders will complete anonline form as part of your application. While academic recommendations are accepted,they are not encouraged. Your recommenders should be people who know you well, andwho can speak to your leadership and managerial skills.

The online form that your recommenders will fill out is very detailed and will take asignificant amount of time to complete. These are the questions that your recommenderwill be asked:

1. How long have you known the applicant?

2. Please describe the peer group to which you are comparing the applicant. (For ex-ample, others whom you know have applied to business schools or those withinyour organization currently mentored toward leadership positions.) (150 characters)

3. Are you an alumnus/alumna of Duke University?

4. Do you have an MBA from a school other than The Fuqua School of Business?

5. To what extent do you recommend this applicant? If you Recommend with Reserva-tion or do Not Recommend the applicant, please explain and attach your documentin the Additional Information section. [Options: Recommend with Condence, Rec-ommend, Recommend with Reservation, Not Recommended.]

6. Comment on the applicants interpersonal skills (effectiveness in establishing andmaintaining relationships; working with supervisors, peers, and subordinates; will-ingness to work in a team environment). (Limit 2000 characters)

7. What do you consider the applicants three primary talents or strengths? Please pro-vide examples, if relevant. (Limit 2000 characters)

8. In what areas does the applicant need improvement or growth? If you have hadthe opportunity to provide the applicant with constructive feedback, please pro-vide specic examples of the feedback and the applicants response to it. (Limit 2000characters)

9. If you would like to provide any further comments you feel would aid the committeein the evaluation of the applicant please upload your comments via the AdditionalInformation Section.


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The InterviewA big deal at Duke is the interview mostly because they want you to come to campusto do it. Other schools conduct interviews almost at the convenience of the applicant,with even phone interviews being offered in some cases. Not at Duke. They feel thatTeam Fuqua is a part of the evaluating process, and Team Fuqua is on campus. Theywant you to come to campus and experience it for yourself, so they can sell you on Dukeat the same time as youre trying to sell yourself to them.

Scheduling an Open Interview is also encouraged, though this is possible only througha limited time horizon at the very beginning of the admissions season, usually runningfrom mid-September through October. Open Interviews are candidate-initiated, meaningyou sign up for it yourself, even before youve submitted your application. They are moreevaluative in nature, and are conducted by a current student on campus. Duke offersthese Open Interviews as a way to have a more open admissions process, and also toencourage candidates to get involved in their campus community before applying.

If you are unable to travel to North Carolina for an Open Interview, you may be invitedto interview after submitting your application. Interviews are not technically requiredfor admission at Duke (in fact, until just a few years ago they were optional), though

99.9 percent of admitted students go through the interview process. The exceptions(still in rare cases) may be active military or other significant extenuating circumstances.Interviews can be conducted on campus at Duke (the admissions committee explicitlyprefers that candidates come to Durham to interview), or in select cities around the worldon a specific schedule published by the admissions committee. International interviewsat Duke can be conducted by almost anyone involved in the Fuqua community: amember of the admissions committee, an alum, or a current student. Interviews need tobe scheduled very quickly once an invitation is issued, so it pays to check the schedulecarefully before you even submit your application to ensure that you will be available ifand when that invite comes. The Duke Admissions committee is quite clear that theyexpect invited candidates to be available on those pre-announced dates, and they askyou not to submit an application in a particular round if you know you will be unavailable.

Like many top schools, interviews at Duke are blind, meaning that the interviewer hasnot read any part of the application except for the resume. Interviewers are trained tostructure interviews as a conversation among colleagues, and not to try to intimidate ortrip up candidates. The questions are designed to get to know the candidate and includethe standard questions: tell me about yourself (aka walk me through your resume), whyMBA, why Duke, discuss your team and leadership experiences. Each interviewer mayhave a different style or approach and could potentially ask other, more unique questions.Additionally, since this is a conversation, its also encouraged that you get to know yourinterviewer a little bit and be prepared to ask them questions relevant to your interests.Be mindful that despite interviewers approachable and collegial demeanor, this is still aninterview and candidates must remain professional at all times.
http://%20http//www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/daytime/apply_daytime/interviews/http://%20http//www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/daytime/apply_daytime/interviews/


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Contact InformationDuke University

The Fuqua School of Business

1 Towerview Drive

Box 90120

Durham, NC 27708-0120 USA

Phone: ...............................................919

Fax: .....................................................9

All aspects of your applicationare assigned equal weight.Your GMAT score is just asimportant as your interviewand recommendations. Youcan interpret this to mean thatyou should denitely play toyour strengths as they cancompensate for your weaknesses

Fuqua Admissi

Admissions Criteria The admissions committee is a panel of staff members and current students who revieweach application. Test scores, undergraduate course work, essays, work experience,resumes, letters of recommendations, and interviews all play an integral part in theapplication process. Until recently, Fuqua had a reputation of heavily weighting GMATscores however, the school has begun focusing more on interviews in hopes thatbetter interviewing skills will translate into more successful job interviews and thus more job offers for graduates. And, because of the highly collaborative environment, teamworkskills are essential. Admissions committee members seek applicants that fit the Fuquaculture, which they feel can best be evaluated in the in-person interview.

Important qualities the Duke Admissions Committee look for include:

Scholastic ability

Teamwork skills

Leadership qualities

Career progress

Ambition

Humility

GMAT. The GMAT is strongly preferred when applying to any of Fuquas degree programsbecause it better tests the aptitudes that are correlated with success in business schooland beyond.

GRE. Some programs, like the MMS, are more open to accepting the GRE. Unless youreapplying for a joint degree, advance approval is required to submit a GRE score instead ofa GMAT score for a Duke Daytime MBA application.

GPA. All programs of this caliber look to the university transcript for evidence of academicability. Duke is perhaps not as stringent about a desire for exceptional high performancein previous academics, particularly for the executive MBA programs. However, a high GPAin a difficult subject is always a benefit as part of the overall profile.

Work Experience. While the Fuqua admissions team emphasizes that the quality ofan applicants professional background is more important than the quantity, it is veryuncommon for someone to be admitted to any of their MBA programs without at leasta year or two of work experience. The average and minimum requirements for workexperience are all listed in the description of the available programs above. Duke is notsubtle in providing the statistic that 99.3% of the Class of 2014 had some work experiencebefore admission; apparently at least one person came straight from college, or theywould be trumpeting a 100% figure. Keep in mind, of course, that non-traditional work

experience including military service and the Peace Corps certainly would qualifyyou for Duke, and in fact could distinguish you from other applicants.


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F U Q U A A C A D E M I C S A N D G R A D I N G P O L I C I E S

Duke Academics & Grading PoliciesFuqua is a highly collaborative learning environment that fosters teamwork, leadership,and strategic problem solving. These elements are pervasive in every aspect of the DukeMBA Program, and particularly in the curriculum as each student engages in ample groupassignments and has many opportunities to lead group projects.

Class OrganizationIncoming classes are divided into six sections of approximately 70 students each. Studentsremain in sections for core classes during the first two terms. Each section has a uniquehistory and distinctive features that are passed down from class to class. For instance,one section substitutes the standard hand clap with a thunderous stomp of desks andtables, while another section shouts the word deuce in unison any time the number twoappears on a screen or slide. These eccentricities provide an example of the distinct andtight-knit Fuqua environment. Classmates are very proud of their sections and friendlycompetition exists across sections. Students are randomly assigned to sections, althoughFuqua ensures that each section is made up of diverse backgrounds.

Within each section, students are divided into Integrative Learning Experience Teams (ILE Teams) that consist of five-to-six person groups. During core classes, most team projectsare completed in the pre-assigned ILE Teams. Just as each section includes diversebackgrounds, ILE Teams reflect Fuquas diversity of nationalities, career backgrounds,ethnicities, and gender. Beyond the core classes, teams are either assigned by theprofessor or are self-formed.

Fuqua courses span four six-week terms: Fall Term 1, Fall Term 2, Spring Term 1, and Spring Term 2. This structure allows students to take more courses during the academic year thanmany other top business schools, providing a better foundation and a broader knowledgebase upon which to draw during interviews and internships. All classes include two hoursof instruction with a fifteen-minute break between the first and second hour. Typically,the first hour of class is dedicated to case discussions and group presentations, whereasthe second hour is devoted to lectures. Students complete the majority of core classesduring the first two terms, which allows for many elective courses during Spring Term 1and Spring Term 2. These electives provide additional training and tools prior to summerinternships.

Classes meet every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Although there are no classeson Wednesday, students are busy working with teams, orchestrating club events, andattending career service activities. In addition, most courses at Fuqua are taught using amix of the case method, lectures, and team projects.


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Grading Policies The Fuqua grading policy is on a 4scale with an HP (High Pass) or 3.5 as mean for each class. To graduate, eacstudent must maintain at least a 3.0. Agrades are on a forced curve and in corcourses 25% of the class receives an S40% of the class receives an HP, and 35of the class receives a P, LP or F. Electcourse grades are distributed as follow30% of the class receives an SP, 45%the class receives an HP and 25% of thclass receives a P, LP or F. Fuqua uses tpass/no pass model rather than typicaletter grades to encourage a collegiaenvironment. However, since the passno pass grading system is on a 4.0 scalmany students question the differenceAlso, unlike many other top schooFuqua has a full grade disclosure policmeaning that recruiters may ask studentswhat grades they have earned.

Grading Scale

SP (Superior Pass) ................................

HP (High Pass) ......................................

P (Pass) ..................................................

LP (Low Pass) .......................................

Fail ........................................................

Core ClassesEach student begins the core with the three-week Global Institute, where students areintroduced to the collaborative Fuqua environment and exposed to global businessissues. Global Institute counts as two core classes: Leadership, Ethics and Organizations,and Global Institutions and Environment.

Students can waive a core class by performing well on an exemption exam prior to theterm or, more rarely, by receiving an administrative exemption that requires incomingstudents to furnish documentation of relevant coursework or work experience. Studentsare required to maintain a 3.0 GPA and complete 79 units to graduate.

Most students complete well over half of this requirement by the end of the first year andelect to take fewer classes during the second year in order to focus on their career search.

Required Core Classes

Global Institute:

Leadership, Ethics, and Organizations

Global Institutions and Environment

Fall 1

Probability and Statistics

Managerial Economics

Financial Accounting

Management Communication I

Business Computer Applications (computer skills - may be completed before theterm begins)

Flexible option, possibly including a core Finance course

Fall 2

Global Financial Management

Marketing Management

Foundations of Strategy

Management Communication II

Flexible option, may include the rst elective

Winter Term

Optional elective: Workshop in Managerial Improvisation

Spring 1

Operations Management

The remainder of the coursework (usually five classes) consists of electives.
http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/student_resources/academics/courseshttp://www.fuqua.duke.edu/student_resources/academics/courses


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Fuqua Research Centers The Fuqua/Coach K Center of

Leadership & Ethics (COLE)

Center for the Advancement ofSocial Entrepreneurship (CASE)

The Center for InternationalBusiness Education and Research(CIBER)

Center of Entrepreneurship andInnovation (CEI)

Health Sector Management(HSM)

Center for Financial Excellence(CFE)

Center for Energy, Development,and the Global Environment(EDGE)

Course EnrollmentIncoming students are automatically enrolled in core classes. Second-year students havepriority over all electives and are provided an enrollment date and time. Elective coursesare then added on a first-come, first-serve basis, compared to the bidding systems thatmany other top MBA programs employ. Although popular electives fill quickly, they areoffered on multiple days and at multiple times so students who enroll on the first day ofenrollment rarely have a problem securing a class. Wait lists are offered for full classes andmultiple spots usually open during the beginning of the term as students are adjustingtheir schedules by adding and dropping courses. This policy makes it easier for studentsto take their desired courses than at some other top business schools.

MBA ConcentrationsFuqua first introduced concentrations a few years ago in 2008. Unlike majors at someother business schools, Fuqua students are not required to declare a concentration.

Students frequently earn multiple concentrations as there are many overlapping requiredclasses among them. While Fuqua is known as a general management program, theschools marketing classes and professors rival those of other top schools, and therefore

the marketing concentration is very popular. Finance classes and concentrations are alsopopular.

Fuqua Concentrations include:

Decision Sciences

Energy and Environment

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Finance - Corporate Finance

Finance - Investment

Financial Analysis (Accounting)

Health Sector Management (available only for Cross-Continent and Weekend Execu-tive MBA students; all MBA students may earn an HSM Certicate)

Leadership and Ethics

Management

Marketing - Product Management (one of the few MBA programs with this special-ization)

Marketing - Market Analysis and Strategy

Operations Management

Social Entrepreneurship

Strategy

Certificates Separate from the formal Concentrations, Fuqua students can earn aCertificate of Excellence in Finance or a Certificate in Health Sector Management bytaking additional courses and performing well.
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E M P L O Y M E N T & C A R E E R S A T F U Q U A

CMC Activities and Services: Resume and Cover Letter Reviews

Mock Interviews

Individual Appointments

Off-Campus Job Search Services

Situation/Action/Result Workshops

Career Leader Assessment Tool

Employment & Careers at Fuqua

Professional RecruitmentCareer Development Resources Fuqua provides students with a series of careerresources to help incoming students secure summer internships and assist second-yearstudents with their full-time job search. Fuqua maintains relationships with many Fortune500 companies as well as top investment banks and consulting firms. Duke also benefitsfrom a network of over 17,000 alumni in seventy-eight countries. Additionally, Duke MBAstudents have access to the complete Duke University network of over 140,000 alumni worldwide.

Career Management Center. The Career Management Center provides tools, servicesand other resources to all students. In fact, the CMC contacts incoming students priorto arrival to prepare students for job search related activities. The CMC has numerouscounselors specializing in different industries. Each CMC Counselor has strongrelationships with many top corporations.

On-Campus Interviews. The majority of Fuqua students secure jobs and internships viaon- campus interviews. Students submit cover letters and resumes to target companies,and some are selected by the company for interviews. Students who arent selected havethe option to bid for an interview slot using a finite number of points they are grantedat the beginning of the school year. If a student unsuccessfully bids for an interview slot,then those points are returned to the student.

Special Interest Presentations (SIPs). Select companies chose to visit Fuqua and makecompany presentations. After the presentation, students and company representativesmix for an informal networking opportunity.

Career Fairs. Fuqua offers a few career fairs each year. Each fair specializes in a functionalarea such as marketing related jobs or finance related jobs.

Career Compass Job Postings. Career Compass is the Fuqua career website, where

many companies post job opportunities specific to the Fuqua community.Resume Book. Every Fuqua student has the opportunity to submit a resume for theDuke MBA Resume Book. These books are made available to companies and recruiters.

Alumni Network. Fuquas alumni network of over 17,000 is extremely loyal and veryapproachable. Fuqua students have access to the alumni network database as wellas access to the University wide network of over 140,000 alumni. The Fuqua AlumniNetwork also provides ongoing workshops and networking events for all Fuqua Alumni.Additionally, there numerous alumni clubs in various cities around the world.
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SalariesMean Salary: .........................................

Median Salary: .....................................

Signing bonus average: .....................$2

Sources of Job Offers:Fuqua-Facilitated: .................................

Student-Facilitated: ...............................

Employment Statistics (Class of 2012)Duke graduates go into a variety of fields and there is nearly equal interest among finance,consulting, and marketing. In fact, a larger percentage of Fuqua graduates go into theconsumer products sector than at most other top business schools.

Consulting40%

Function:

Operations 3%

Other 2%

Finance 22%General Management 16%

Marketing/Sales/ Product Management 17%

Consulting36%

Industry:

Manufacturing 5%

Technology 11% Financial Services 22%

Pharma/Biotech/Healthcare 11%

Consumer Products 5%

Retail 3%

Other 5%

Energy/Utilities 2%

US West 15%

Canada/Mexico 2%

US Midwest 14%

US South 17%

US Mid-Atlantic 9%

US Southwest 7%

Other International 2%

Asia 12%US Northeast

22%

Location


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Duke MBA students have accesto the complete Duke Universitynetwork of over 140,000 alumniworldwide.

Major EmployersMajor companies across the globe recruit Duke graduates. Many of these companiesinclude a stop in North Carolina along with their recruiting plans at the best schools onthe East and West Coasts. The top recruiting companies for the MBA class of 2012 were:

Deloitte Consulting (30)

McKinsey & Company (18)

Boston Consulting Group (12)

Johnson & Johnson (12)

Samsung (11)

Bain & Company (9)

Accenture (8)

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC (8)

Citi (7)

Apple, Inc. (7)

Pre and Post MBA Career TrendsAs a general management program, Fuqua produces graduates across a broad range ofindustries and functions. Its well-known healthcare program draws significant attention,and for several years Johnson &Johnson had been the top employer hiring studentsfor both marketing and finance roles. However, last year Fuqua placed record numbersof students into consulting and is now considered a key school for McKinsey, BostonConsulting Group, Bain and Deloitte. In fact, Deloitte hired its largest class ever from anyschool from the class of 2011. Despite a change in the top employers, Duke continues toplace significant numbers of students in finance, marketing, and general management. These employment changes dont coincide with a change in what admissions is targetingfor class demographics, but more likely reflects a general trend toward consulting acrossbusiness schools given uncertainties in the finance and private equity industries. Fuquacontinues to try to build a highly diverse and globally representative class withoutnecessarily emphasizing particular professional backgrounds.


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F U Q U A C A M P U S

Life on Campus

Duke UniversityDuke University is located in Durham, North Carolina, in the heart of the famous Research Triangle that includes Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. This is a beautiful area that whiletechnically in the South of the United States is very cosmopolitan and intellectually richwith a growing restaurant and indie music scene. Those who have not visited shouldnot go off of stereotypes or preconceived notions of what the region is like. It is best toexperience Duke firsthand before forming an opinion.

Dukes rigorous undergraduate program is one of the best in the nation and is consistentlynear the top of every ranking system: in 2012, U.S. News & World Report ranked Dukesundergrad program 8th overall. Duke University also has noteworthy graduate schoolprograms in business, law, and medicine, as well as basketball. Duke also features anenormous campus (known as the Gothic Wonderland) relative to the schools studentpopulation nearly 9,000 acres for under 14,000 total students.


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F U Q U A C A M P U S

Introduced in 2002, the FoxCenter, with its indoor wintergarden and outdoor terraces, hasbeen compared to a grand hotellobby.

The Fuqua School of Business Campus The Fuqua School of Business has grown significantly in the past 30 years, and at roughly500,000 square feet, it is quite an impressive sight. What began as one large building isnow several state of the art buildings all linked together. These buildings house innovativetechnology to enhance productivity, teamwork, and strategic decision making. Ampleteam rooms fill the Fuqua School along with the newly expanded Ford Library, computercenter, auditoriums, and classrooms. All of the Fuqua MBA programs from the full-time program to the numerous executive programs are housed in the Fuqua complex,although some of the executive degrees are distance-learning programs. At the heartof Fuqua is the Fox Student Center. Introduced in 2002, the Fox Center, with its indoorwinter garden and outdoor terraces, has been compared to a grand hotel lobby. The FoxCenter is surrounded in an atrium of glass and filled with plenty of tables, chairs and sofas.Within the Fox Center, students can dine on a wide array of cuisines from the food court,conduct team meetings, or find a comfortable sofa for reading.

The Fuqua complex also includes the R. David

guide to fuqua school of business

Documents