The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, has established itself as one of the leading business schools in the world. Today, the annual enrollment in Fuqua's degree programs is more than 1,300. The faculty members of the University are comprised of thought leaders and leading researchers whose expertise and passion for innovation create a one-of-a kind learning environment. A degree from The Fuqua School of Business maximizes the return on your investment to create global opportunities of limitless potential.

Deadlines & Decision Notification for 2016-2017 :

Round 1:15 Sep, 2015
Round 2: 14 Oct, 2015
Round 3:5 Jan, 2016

Application Components

• Application Fees:$225, Non-refundable.
• GMAT or GRE: Send your official scores to Fuqua prior to the application deadline being targeted. Report your best score only taken within 5 years.
• TOEFL or IELTS: Not required if having an undergraduate degree from a school whose primary language of instruction is English.
• Upload scanned copy of official transcripts online.
• Letters of recommendation: online submission. Use recommenders work email addresses versus personal accounts.
  
  

Essays for 2016-2017

Essay Instruction: For the class of 2016-2017, the admission committee ask you to complete three short answer questions and two essay questions..
Short answer questions will allow for 500 characters only – the equivalent of about 100 words.

Essay1:- What are your short term goals, post-MBA?
Essay2:- What are your long term goals?
Essay3:- Life is full of uncertainties, and plans and circumstances can change. As a result, navigating a career requires you to be adaptable. Should the short term goals that you provided above not materialize, what alternative directions have you considered?

Applicant Essays: Answer both essay questions:-

• Essay1:- The 'Team Fuqua' spirit and community is one of the things that sets The Duke MBA experience apart, and it is a concept that extends beyond the student body to include faculty, staff, and administration. When a new person joins the Admissions Team, we ask that person to share with everyone in the office a list of '25 Random Things About Yourself.' As an Admissions team, we already know the new hire’s professional and academic background, so learning these '25 Random Things' helps us get to know someone’s personality, their 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 experiences, your likes/dislikes, hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you who you are. Share with us your list of '25 Random Things' about you. 
  
  Please present your response in list form, numbered 1 to 25. Some points may be only a few words, while others may be longer. Your complete list should not exceed 2 pages, with a font size no less than 10-point. Do not copy the essay question in the document you upload with your application.
• Essay2:- Please answer only one of the following two questions. Your response to either essay question should be no more than 2 pages in length, and should reflect your knowledge of the Fuqua program and experience, and the types of activities and leadership you would engage in as a Fuqua student. Please respond fully and concisely using 1.5 line spacing. Do not copy the essay question in the document you upload with your application. .
• 1. When asked by your family, friends, and colleagues why you want to go to Duke, what do you tell them? Share the reasons that are most meaningful to you.
• 2. The Team Fuqua community is as unique as the individuals who comprise it. Underlying our individuality are a number of shared ideas and principles that we live out in our own ways. Our students have identified and defined six “Team Fuqua Principles” that we feel are the guiding philosophies that make our community special:
• Authentic Engagement : We care and we take action. We each make a difference to Team Fuqua by being ourselves and engaging in and supporting activities about which we are passionate.
• Supportive Ambition : We support each other to achieve great things, because your success is my success. The success of each individual member of Team Fuqua makes the whole of Team Fuqua better.
• Collective Diversity : We embrace all of our classmates because our individuality is better and stronger together.
• Impactful Stewardship : We are leaders who focus on solutions to improve our communities both now and in the future. We aren’t satisfied with just maintaining the status quo.
• Loyal Community : We are a family who looks out for each other. Team Fuqua supports you when you need it the most.
• Uncompromising Integrity : We internalize and live the honor code in the classroom and beyond. We conduct ourselves with integrity within Fuqua, within Duke, and within all communities of which we are a part.
• At the end of your two years at Fuqua, if you were to receive an award for exemplifying one of the Principles above, which one would it be and why? Your answer should reflect your knowledge of the Fuqua program and experience, and the types of activities and leadership you would engage in as a Fuqua student.
• Optional Essay Question : If you feel there are 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). Note that you should NOT upload additional essays nor additional recommendations in this area. The Optional Essay is intended to provide the admissions committee with insight into your circumstances only.
• Your response should be no more than 1 page in length, with a font size no less than 10-point. Please respond fully and concisely using 1.5 line spacing

Excerpts of Duke essay questions:

• 1. The Team Fuqua community is as unique as the individuals who comprise it. Underlying our individuality are a number of shared ideas and principles that we live out in our own ways. Our students have identified and defined six “Team Fuqua Principles” that we feel are the guiding philosophies that make our community special:
• Supportive Ambition :  We support each other to achieve great things, because your success is my success. The success of each individual member of Team Fuqua makes the whole of Team Fuqua better.
• At the end of your two years at Fuqua, if you were to receive an award for exemplifying one of the Principles above, which one would it be and why? Your answer should reflect the research you have done, your knowledge of the Fuqua program and experience, and the types of activities and leadership you would engage in as a Fuqua student. 800 words

Reflecting on my past endeavors and experiences, I cannot help thinking that the value that has been the most consistently underlying theme in my life and work has been one that is defined under the term ‘supportive ambition’ at Fuqua. I represent this value sincerely and have always unconsciously done so, right from my earliest recollection, when I helped classmates do better in Maths by taking extra classes for them to today, when I mentor new joinees in the organization on a voluntary basis so that they can settle in and feel comfortable. Supportive ambition aptly summarizes my ideal of how a person must live. Not only should one excel at whatever they do, but should also help and support others.

After graduation, I helped one of my IIT friends set up an NGO in the state of Maharashtra which is focusing on provision of elementary education facilities to underprivileged children from rural areas especially a village-“xxxx". I am still associated with this and apart from carrying out teaching activities, we counsel those children for making the right career choices. We share their vision, connect with them at an emotional level and make them believe in their dreams of having a bright future. We also conduct skill training workshops and vocational training for the adults.

While pursuing my summer internship in 2008 from xxxxxxx, I imbibed immense international exposure and worked in an emerging biomedical engineering project. Along with my mentor, we successfully built a healthcare device from scratch. The work was published by In-tech journal in an international book titled – ‘xxxxxxxxxx’. Currently, the device is being successfully tested on pigs in a hospital in Madrid. I derived a wonderful sense of accomplishment and great confidence by seeing such a complex task through to completion and my mentor credits me till today for going out of my way and stretching myself to help him complete this dream project. Someday, I and my guide – ....................................... plan to launch this healthcare device commercially. It is one more step towards my endeavor to steer the MSME sector towards a sustainable, secure and scalable future that will benefit communities.

In mid 2010, when I was just getting settled in a new job and a challenging profile, I took the onus to initiate a change that had a huge dynamo impact across the organization. In ........, flow metering systems form an integral part of the gas pipeline network as they measure the volume of gas transmitted to the consumer, who is billed accordingly. I realised that the procurement phase for such flow metering systems took an inordinately long time and was a tedious, long drawn and repetitive. It took more than a year to have network in place and commence supply of gas to a new consumer. In 2011, working with my mentor, I standardised various types of flow metering systems in 20 different categories and prepared Annual rate contracts that froze prices for a year. Our innovation led to a 50% reduction in the lead time of procurement and manufacturing cycles and execution of large scale projects became faster, more efficient and cost effective, cutting lead time for gas supply by 6 months. This lead to additional revenue of whopping $ 30 million per customer and approximately $ 1.5 billion annually. We executed successful Annual Rate contracts for flow metering systems in 2011, 2012 and 2013, which has since become standard practice in. This professional accomplishment gained me visibility and appreciation from across the organization and brought me to the frontline ofxxxxxxxxxxxxx dynamic new managers and innovators. Seeing the huge spill-over impact of a simple standardization of process taught me the value of impactful but far reaching changes. This experience made me aware of the importance of approaching everything with a positive mindset and fresh viewpoint. Seeing the huge impact this project had on the company’s top and bottom lines and how it saved effort, time and energy of my colleagues made this a career defining moment.

Recently, in 2013, we installed captive solar power plants in 6 major gas stations in the state of ......................................o reduction in CO2 emissions by 1638 ton/ year.  This system will have manifold benefits for the community in terms of clean energy. This energy savings project – ........................................................” has been nominated for Chairman’s trophy award in Nov 2014. 

I believe that ambition is not personal, but also a collective effort whereby other people have to be supported to achieve their dreams and helped along the way. I feel honestly that at Fuqua too, my ability to help others and support their aspirations while pursuing my own ambitions with sincerity will be recognized. If I win or deserve an award, this will be one quality on which I certainly stand to be awarded upon.

• Resume :  One page business resume is needed.
• Interview : Interviews and Interview by invitation available.

Estimated Expenses :

• Tuition Fees:Approx $ 60,600/year

Class Profile 2016:

• Average Age: 29
• Average Work Experience : 5 years
• GMAT Scores (middle 80%): 640-750
• Undergraduate GPA (average): 3.0 - 3.83
• International Student : 40 %
• Class Size: 437