Duke Fuqua 2011 - 2012 Essay Guidance and Tips

Starting with a bit of Fuqua trivia:  Tim Cook, new Apple CEO, is a Fuqua alum!  Important Note:  Duke doesn't have a word limit but asks that you limit your responses to 2 pages each, 1.5 line spacing, and at least 10 point font.  

Describe your vision for your career and your inspiration for pursuing this career path.

• Career vision essay - this is a asking for a more long term view on your career - where do you see yourself 10 - 15 years after business school? 
• Your inspiration for the career path should ideally be tied to experiences of the past - if they aren't, be sure to explain why you have an interest in the area / vision you are describing
• People struggle a fair bit with this essay - so don't be surprised if you do - the dilemma often is, how grandiose should a vision be?  How real should it be?  It should ideally be a balance of the two - the idealistic, supported by a pragmatic view of your experiences and background. 

How will your background, values, and non-work activities enhance the experience of other Duke MBA students and add value to Fuqua’s diverse culture?

• This is very clearly an essay on personal attributes - don't try to mix up professional experiences or strengths in here
• Think long and hard about your personal strengths and how you can contribute to Fuqua - remember, the school is big on global and cultural diversity
• Bring out your real personality - a great way to test this - if a fellow student was reading this, would they be interested in being your classmate? 

Why Duke? (If you are interested in a specific concentration, joint degree, clubs or activities, please discuss how you would contribute to these in this essay.)

• Check out the Duke MBA Association's webpage and the Fuqua Campus Group site to do your research; you should also try and visit the campus and / or speak to current students and alums about the school
• Make sure that the activities that you're interested in are clearly tied to your background and experiences - the two shouldn't be disjoint. 

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

• Don't use this essay unless you have to.  If you have academics that don't reflect your abilities, or don't have a direct supervisor recommending you, or gaps in your professional experiences, take this opportunity to explain, but keep it brief and to-the-point.  Many times, these essays come off sounding like lame excuses and you have to be really careful to avoid it if you do use it.