Experience during the program

By being pushed outside my comfort zone, I felt like I really grow as a person as a result of the experience. I learned not only about the intricacies of business, but more importantly, about people.
I would definitely recommend this school for those looking for a small-town college-like experience and are looking at consulting/marketing and/or the healthcare industry.

For future applicants, it is HIGHLY encouraged to apply in the early entry round (I do not think I would have been waitlisted had I done this).
For waitlisted applicants, try to submit something creative rather than the typical submissions. I definitely think the video I made is the reason I was accepted as a waitlisted applicant.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (5.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Brand/Ranking
Specialization in a particular area (e.g. Finance, Consulting, Healthcare, etc)

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Marketing

Can be improved:

Location
Facilities

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Experience during the program

At this juncture in my MBA journey, I think I can accurately reflect on my Fuqua experiences over the past year.

In terms of achieving my objective of transitioning from a non-profit, Fuqua provided a great opportunity for career switching and advancement. I would expand this perception to other traditional post-MBA career routes available to Fuqua students, as the trail has been well worn by the feet of Fuqua students prior. I would should say, however, that the start-up scene (while big in the Triangle area) requires students to exert a bit more effort and network with companies in either New York or San Francisco.

What I would suggest to future applicants is to think carefully about the qualities you prefer in the MBA programs you're to. For some, pursuing an MBA in a big city might be the right option. For others, attending an MBA program known for its tight-knight student body and finely tuned core curriculum might outweigh the benefits of studying in a cultural hub of the world. I couldn't be happier with my decision to attend Fuqua and I appreciate the academic, social, and career benefits it has provided me.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (5.0)
Classmates rating (4.0)

Strengths of the program:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Student body, diversity
Culture & Student Support

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Finance
Marketing
Investment Banking
Management

Can be improved:

Alumni Network
Location

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Experience during the program

Deciding to attend Fuqua was far and away the best professional decision I have ever made. From the day I accepted the offer admission, I am happier and more confident and my career has more direction and a steeper trajectory than I ever could have imagined.

My goal was a complete transformation of my career: a new industry (tech), new function, and an acceleration away from what I considered a stalled earlier career. Fuqua delivered on all fronts: I gained valuable new skills, grew my network exponentially, and gained the credibility and skills necessary to find myriad opportunities.

In addition, I made great new friends, had incredible travel experiences, and had an overall great time.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (4.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Alumni Network
Culture & Student Support

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Marketing
Tech
Management

Can be improved:

Brand/Ranking
Facilities

Read More

Experience during the program

The core identity at Fuqua is team and community. I didn't quite believe it until I got there and saw it in action. More than any other MBA program, Fuqua felt friendly and authentic. Classes are challenging but manageable. Really, it's the people that make all the difference and this cohort is humble and down to earth (not typical MBA braggy). People are always willing to help you with schoolwork, job search, etc. A little harder for non-traditional job paths, however.

In your applications and interview, but friendly, engaged, and true to yourself (i.e. don't tell a story that you think they want to hear).

Loved my experience there -- would go back in a second!

About professors, classes and curriculum

Fuqua's on a quarter system, so the learning is very fast (like drinking from a fire hose). Be prepared to jump right in the moment you get here. There's not a ton of time for exploration if you want a "traditional MBA" job, i.e. finance or consulting.

About job placement process

Job search is easier than I anticipated. RDU is a great and cheap airport.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (5.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Student body, diversity
Culture & Student Support

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Marketing
Management

Can be improved:

Brand/Ranking
Facilities

Read More

Experience during the program

Team Fuqua really defines the program, and it permeates everything from course work to recruiting. Even the student government is lead by "co-presidents." This is not a school that would be particularly suitable to introverts. Duke is incredibly social and even Fuqua students meet other Duke graduate and professional students in Durham (double degree students are very common). There is a strong emphasis on academics here, but students take time to enjoy life and the lives of others. Lots of opportunities on campus for service opportunities. You get a great educations with diverse students, amazing career outcomes and--let's not forget--Duke basketball. Go Blue Devils!

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (5.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Student body, diversity
Career opportunities provided by school
Culture & Student Support

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Finance
Marketing
Investment Banking
Management

Can be improved:

Location

Read More

Experience during the program

I was able to leverage Fuquas alumni network to land on my current position. Alumni network is an amazing asset at Duke. It's in the same line as the student body, extremely collaborative, a unique asset.

I suggest you find the best school that matches your needs, instead of just looking at the rankings. Take into consideration the specialization you want to pursue the location, the alumni network, but most important, the culture. You want to spend 2 years of your life in a school that you fit in and you feel comfortable.

Finally, when you are looking for a job, look for something that you really want to do, and do not fall under the usual consulting position that everybody wants to get.

About professors, classes and curriculum

I had the chance to take the Certificate of Academic Excellence in Finance, while doing my MBA. It really sets you apart from the average.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (5.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Student body, diversity
Alumni Network

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Finance
Healthcare

Can be improved:

Career opportunities provided by school
Admissions Team
Specialization in a particular area (e.g. Finance, Consulting, Healthcare, etc)
Digital Marketing

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Experience during the program

The Duke MBA will push you outside your comfort zone, help you grow personally and professionally, and give you experiences you never thought you’d have. When looking at schools don’t just look at academics – the top schools will all be relatively similar – make sure the culture and environment are the right fit for you and your development. Fuqua fits those standards in the following ways:
- Team Fuqua isn’t just lip service when it comes to a supportive environment and culture. I experienced multiple cases where my classmates put my needs above theirs to help with academics (1:1 and group tutoring), recruiting (mock interviews, insights into interviews they’d had for the same position), and my personal life (stepping up for projects when family matters took me away from school).
- You’re able to gain a broad perspective on the world through the diversity of the student body and the students’ backgrounds, both culturally and professionally. Your classmates genuinely want to share their experiences with you and learn from your experiences. Something that sets Fuqua apart is that it is a place where you help lift each other up so everyone is successful instead of climbing over each other to get to the top. Everyone there truly realizes that we’re better when we work together and are open to learning from each other.
- Fuqua has access to the top professors in their field, but what’s even more important is how they all make themselves available to students outside of office hours. They truly want to see their students succeed and be able to apply learnings, not just recite them. Additionally, having small teams for each class helps broaden the learning experience by bringing in multiple opinions from differing backgrounds, simulating the business world where you’ll constantly be working with diverse teams with different opinions, experiences, and personalities.

Fuqua wasn’t just a place for me to get my MBA; I’ve formed life-long bonds and changed in ways I never would have if I had gone somewhere else. Be cognizant in your business school search of what a transformational experience should be, and look for the qualities in a program that are going to help you achieve that.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (4.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Student body, diversity
Culture & Student Support

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Finance
Marketing
Investment Banking
Entrepreneurship
Management

Can be improved:

Facilities

Read More

Experience during the program

Fuqua satisfied my goal of opening up new opportunities, but I don't think I've learned that much in two years (or as much as I expected/could have). Fuqua is obsessed with Team Fuqua, which is fine, but it does so at the expense of the intellectual horsepower of their students (emphasizing fit/niceness over intelligence/ability...which is fine, to an extent -- Fuqua goes overboard). Classroom discussion and the student body overall is lacking, in my opinion.

Also, for as much as Fuqua enjoys talking about diversity there is little true diversity of thought. You can have perfect racial, sexual, etc diversity, but if there is minimal diversity of thought then what is the point? I do not feel like the intellectual rigor necessary for a real education is possible at a place like this. This lack of actual diversity is fine if you just want to learn accounting principles, but, for a school that likes to say they teach principles beyond business, this is laughable.

Having a GMAT average far below schools ranked significantly lower is a joke and will stop Fuqua from ever getting to the level of M7 (you can have personable/nice people without sacrificing intelligence). Fuqua seems to really enjoy taking people with 640 GMATs, giving them full-rides, and patting themselves on the back for "whole person concept"/Team Fuqua, but that doesn't stop the fact that it hurts their current students.

About job placement process

All the top places come to recruit.

Overall BSchool experience (2.0)
Schools contribution (2.0)
Classmates rating (2.0)

Strengths of the program:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Career opportunities provided by school
Brand/Ranking

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Investment Banking

Can be improved:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Alumni Network
Brand/Ranking
Culture & Student Support

Read More

Experience during the program

I came to Fuqua primarily for the school's strong energy curriculum and have been very pleased with the many learning and networking opportunities both in and outside the classroom. In addition, the school has a lot of support for the big MBA career paths (consulting, banking, tech, marketing, etc.). My suggestion for applicants is that they take time and get to know what makes Fuqua's culture different, particularly the "Team Fuqua" concept. I thought Team Fuqua sounded like a cheesy marketing line when I was applying, but now that I've been here as a student it's very tangible. 90% of classwork is done in teams and during recruiting season classmates will drop everything to help each other out with informational interviews, case prep, and networking. The supportive culture here is very real and a big differentiator for Fuqua.

Overall BSchool experience (4.0)
Schools contribution (4.0)
Classmates rating (4.0)

Strengths of the program:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Culture & Student Support
Specialization in a particular area (e.g. Finance, Consulting, Healthcare, etc)
Specialization in consulting, healthcare, energy

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Finance

Can be improved:

Location
Brand/Ranking
Facilities

Read More

Experience during the program

Fuqua is a student run school with absolutely great culture augmented by the Team Fuqua spirit .
Fuqua has many departments that are fantastic (versus just one rock star department). Class sizes range from 10 - 75 students. Core classes are on the larger end (75) that students complete with their (assigned) section. Specialty courses are typically smaller. The Health Sector Management program is unique to Duke, and not many other programs offer it. Because of that, recruiters come to Fuqua specifically to target these students, because they have clearly demonstrated their commitment to health care.
Duke is inward facing of Durham, and creates its own biosphere. While the school actively engages with the community through clubs and organizations and attracts global thought leaders/faculty

Overall BSchool experience (4.0)
Schools contribution (4.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Student body, diversity
Alumni Network
Brand/Ranking
Culture & Student Support
Specialization in a particular area (e.g. Finance, Consulting, Healthcare, etc)

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Marketing
Management

Can be improved:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Career opportunities provided by school

Read More