MBA Student Life

Hi Sarah,

I am a prospective student for the Fall 2012 Daytime MBA program. It is really encouraging to see such a dedicated contribution by the 'Fuquans' to help the prospective students. Speaks volumes about the culture at Duke.

I also have my share of questions which I am hoping you would be able to find some time to answer

- Coming from a non-business undergraduate background like you, I would like to know how beneficial is the 6-week term format to develop the business fundamentals. Can the pace of the program be a bit overwhelming for students like us?
- How strong is the technology focus at Fuqua? I come from a software background and would like to move into a tech. consulting role in the short term. Are there any other components apart from the High-Tech/Consulting club that I should be looking forward to?

Hi sorry for the delay, things are always stay busy here...!

6 weeks is definitely pretty fast, and you need the determination to keep up. It can be overwhelming, but it's up to you to realize quickly how you learn best (book vs review session, for example) to best manage your time. The good news is if you don't like something it's done quickly; if you do like something, you have all the more time to take more electives!

Tech may not be as strong as a Haas or Stanford, surrounded by companies, but we are definitely getting there. The club grows stronger and stronger every year in terms of activities and membership base, and more companies are coming to recruit (you can see an example list on our club website) I'm not sure what you mean about other components? EVCC is good for start ups related to tech, as another club example. The Marketing club also has tech exposure...If you mean classes, there are courses like Marketing of Innovations (an elective) that is pretty tech focused. And in most of the core there are tech cases sprinkled in (e.g. in strategy there was a case on Motorola)....There are also endless opportunities in terms of the start up space that one can get involved with or do (Program for Entrepreneurs, Mentored Study, etc) but nothing is going to be handed to you on a silver platter; you have to work for what you want!

Does that help?

Hello Sarah,

Thank you for taking out time to answer my queries.

I understand that an 'education is what you make it' and it applies even more for MBA. I am not looking for an extremely strong tech focus, as in the schools you mentioned, because I think that too much tech focus dilutes the business education is some way or the other. My whole idea of pursuing an MBA is to develop myself beyond the realms of my comfort zone while also acknowledging that I need to harness my affinity towards tech to build my career in the same field.

I guess what I am trying to say is that your reply has been really helpful in that I have learned that Duke will offer me all the resources I need but making the most if them will be up to me . Thank you once again

I have a habit of talking too much and it shows

Hi Sara!

I'm quite interested in Hich Tech Sector. My current position is as a Financial Director and IT manager. The latter is because I love technology and I'm the best one in my company( we say "in the world of the blind men, the one-eyed is the king") but I don't have any studies of IT.
With a software developer, I developed a new software that improved our company (obviously, I didn't write any line of the software). The revenues increased a 45% in 3 years thanks to these innovations.

I know Haas is specialist in HighTech but perhaps it is for IT. Likewise, I don't like the atmosphere there, everybody seems very independent.

Do yo think DUKE would be a good school if I want to work in a High Tech company but I don't have a specific background in IT?

Hi Toni -- I think I just replied to your email from the High Tech Club inbox. In any case, we just updated our website with FAQS in case that helps: https://fuqua.campusgroups.com/htc/prospective-students/
--sv

Hi sarah!

My sister got an admit for class of 2014 and we are from India. We are very happy about her selection but at the same time my parents are very worried about how she could stay that far from home.
Could you please introduce me to any Indian student (preferably woman) so that I could clarify all the doubts I have?

Thank You

vishnu Chaithanya

Congrats! I've emailed from friends who are from India and will message you their info.
--sv

Thank You Sarah

Hi everyone,

I'm a FY Fuqua Student - class of 2013. Happy to answer any question that you may have =)
Happy New Year 2012 everyone! and congratulations for the EA admits.

-Irene-

Hello Irene,
Thanks for taking out the time to answer questions about fuqua.
I'm currently researching b-schools and so far Fuqua is at the top of my list.I'm a Nigerian currently working with a commercial bank in Nigeria and I'd like to know how the Fuqua program can help someone like me switch careers to consulting or venture capital. Also if you have any tips as regards applying to Fuqua they will come in quite handy.
Thank you.

Irene,

I'm currently on the wait list at Fuqua and wanted to see if you had any outside the box thoughts on pushing myself over the hump and getting in. So far, I've sent in an annual review from my company (favorable - a 10% raise and a 30% bonus, taken calculus and received an A and I have been trying to reach out to family friends who are affiliated with Fuqua. So far, I have made contact with 2 people and 1 has put in a good word - a nebulous good word. Not necessarily in the form of a physical letter. Which, to me, means nothing. Would a letter from a current student I know help my cause? Fuqua is really the only school I want to go to (I felt I identified with the student body and geographically it's desirable for my family) and I want it badly. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I wasn't on the waitlist, but a friend of mine was and sent me this to tell a friend of mine who is, based on her experience. Note: I co-chaired orientation, and I know that Aug 1st if people don't show they literally start calling down the waitlist...there are folks who joined our class Aug 2nd & 3rd! If you have the stomach to wait, they literally go till the last minute...
--sv



Hey there,

First and foremost, tell him not to lose help since being on the waitlist is sort of another test. Many people get off the waitlist, but he needs to play the game and basically confess his love for Fuqua. There are many ways to navigate the waitlist. Below is what I did (which was arguably successful =). The key things is not to give up. Until you have a deny, you still have a shot. However, if you do nothing while on the waitlist, then you will likely not get in (ie. You need to do more than pray and cross your fingers).

Some stuff I did (whether right or wrong) while I was on Fuqua's waitlist is as follows:
1. I sent a letter within about 5 weeks after hearing about my waitlist status about new things I was working on that was not reflected in my application and reiterated how Duke was my first choice. If there isn't anything new, make something up. I chose a couple of extracurricular projects of significance at work as well as highlighted some new extracurricular (like community service) I got involved in. Pretty much the point of the letter was to find something new to tell them and generate an excuse to kiss up and tell them if they accept me off the waitlist, I will attend. (make sure it is not bashful (in other words no "Fuqua is one of my top choices") and make the statement direct "Fuqua IS my top choice and I will absolutely attend if I am lucky to be granted admission." You need to be crystal clear that if they accept you, you will attend because they won't want to accept people off the waitlist if they think they're not serious. (I applied round 1 for Duke and heard in January and sent this in February).
2. I got a off cycle raise last year despite the economy which I felt compelled to tell Duke so I had an excuse to write them again and reiterate they are still my number one choice two months later and to keep my name top of mind. (I think I sent this at the end of March).
3. I still hadn't heard about my waitlist status by the end of June. Even though I pretty much considered myself out of the game, I let the office know that I was about to go on a trip out of the country, I am still very much excited about Duke and if they make a decision while I am out of the country to email me because I don't want to miss the opportunity if granted it. I asked my brother if I should tell them if they gave me the opportunity I would automatically accept and he said no because that sounded too desperate (so I think the interest/desperation thing is a fine line to keep in mind). This was obviously a circumstantial letter I sent, but I think it kept me top of mind and given classes started only a month later, I think gave Duke the confidence that if they granted me admissions I would accept (and they were right since I packed up my life in 10 days).

Tell him good luck!