Duke 2006 Application Deadlines, Essays

EDIT (August 6, 2008): The Duke Fuqua's 2009 Application Deadline and Essay Question with my tips are now online.

EDIT (August 27, 2006): The Duke Fuqua's 2007 Application Deadline and Essay Question with my tips are now online.

Thanks to Dave at Journey to My MBA for alerting me to the availability of the essays.

First Fuqua's full-time MBA 2006 deadlines.                                                            

Application               Round:	Application Deadline:	Decision Notification:	Tuition Deposit Due:
1	October 27, 2005	December 16, 2005	May 1, 2006
2	January 10, 2006	March 7, 2006	May 1, 2006
3	March 21, 2006	May 9, 2006	June 1, 2006

 

Fuqua's 2006 Full-time MBA Essay Questions

All Duke's  questions this year are new, but not radical departures from what was asked last year. More or less a remixing of last year's questions. My comments are in red. 

You are required to compose three essays. The Admissions Committee considers your responses to the following questions important in the selection process. Please respond fully and concisely to each question. Candidates who applied to Fuqua between September 2004 and April 2005 are considered reapplicants. Reapplicants are asked to complete the three Reapplicant Essays in place of the Applicant Essays. All applicants have the opportunity to submit an optional fourth essay to explain any extenuating circumstances of which the admissions committee should be aware.       

Applicant Essays
There is no restriction on the length of your response. Applicants typically use 1,000 words or less for essay number one and between 500 and 750 words for essays two and three.

1. Please discuss your career path, your short and long-term goals and the role the MBA will play in those plans. Why are you interested in The Duke MBA Program? If you are interested in the Health Sector Management concentration or a joint degree program, please address in this essay.

Classic goals question. Connect the dots between your past experiences your future goals and show how Duke's MBA program will bridge the gap between the two.  (For different ideas on structuring goals essays, click on the link.)

I don't think I can overemphasize the importance of this essay in establishing your credibility as a serious candidate. I know I have harangued you regularly about the importance of goals in MBA admissions. This essay  reveals whether you have done  your homework -- personal introspection, career networking, and school research -- or not done it as the case may be.

2. How has your personal history and family background influenced your intellectual and personal development? What unique personal qualities or life experiences might distinguish you from other applicants? How will your background, values and non work-related activities enhance the experience of other Duke MBA students and add to the diverse culture we strive for at Fuqua? Note: The goal of this essay is to get a sense of who you are, rather than what you have accomplished.

What are you going to add to Team Fuqua? Is it an enthusiastic commitment to Habitat for Humanity, a local environmental cause, your church, or a hobby, sport, or art form? Is it an usual personal background? Perhaps, overcoming distinctive challenges?   And then how will this unique facet cause you to contribute at Duke?  Will it lead to involvement in a specific club or Fuqua project? Interest in a particular program? Again show your knowledge of Fuqua as well as fit between the program AND your ability to contribute to the school.

Note the note.

3. Please state your personal definition of leadership and provide the admissions committee with an example of this definition in action.

Interesting new question!  While you can certainly respond by starting with the definition, it might be more engaging and easier to start with the example and then provide the definition flowing from the example

When writing this essay, keep in mind Duke's strongly collaborative culture and emphasis on teamwork.  The ideal example will have you leading peers, leading in a difficult situation, or leading when you are clearly not in a position of authority.

If you search this blog for "leadership" you will find several posts on leadership with links to articles on the subject.       

Reapplicant Essays
        There is no restriction on the length of your response. Reapplicants typically use between 500 and 750 words for each essay.

1. Write an essay describing how you are a stronger candidate for admission compared to the previous year's application.

This is a very straightforward question. What has changed? Why should they admit you this year.

2. How has your personal history and family background influenced your intellectual and personal development? What unique personal qualities or life experiences might distinguish you from other applicants? How will your background, values and non work-related activities enhance the experience of other Duke MBA students and add to the diverse culture we strive for at Fuqua? Note: The goal of this essay is to get a sense of who you are, rather than what you have accomplished.

3. Please state your personal definition of leadership and provide the admissions committee with an example of this definition in action.

2 & 3 are the same for reapplicants as for new applicants. Please see my comments above.

Comments

[Sahil]

Linda,

Hi Again!
The first question mentions about the 'Career path'. Is it the career path one is going to choose (A part of the short and long term aspirations)? Or, is it the one a candidate has chosen till now for his undergrad and work experience?

Thanks a lot for patiently replying to all such queries.

[Linda Abraham]

Good question. I believe it refers to your career path to date. What has brought you to this point and your current career aspirations?

[Sahil]

Thanks a lot, Linda.
Very prompt and very helpful.

[Sankha]

Hi Linda,
The third question asks for ones personal definition of leadership. Wouldnt citing ones one leadership experiences be tantamount to bragging?

[Linda Abraham]

No. You can demonstrate pride in your achieveements without being arrogant about them. Furthermore, while it might be bragging to volunteer information about yoru leadership experiences, in this case your are being asked about them. You are responding to a question. That's different. For more on this topic, please see "Arrogance or Pride?" at http://www.accepted.com/newsletter/2002/1202news.aspx#tip .

Good luck!

[Sankha]

Thanks Linda. Keep up the good work.

[Maven]

Hi Linda,

I am not sure if this is the right place to post this question, but you can correct me if that is the case:
Can you post your views on Cornell questions and what should be answered in the optional question (first time applicant for 2 year MBA)

[M]

Linda, essay 3 says "with an example of this definition in action". Does that example have to be a personal example? Seems to me that a third person example of your definition of leadership should work fine too. Your thoughts?

[Linda Abraham]

You could provide an example of someone else leading according to your definition, but that would not be as helpful to your candidacy as an example of you leading according to your definition. Ultimately, the application is about you and your qualifications. If you provide an example of someone else leading, you will imply that you don't have examples of leadership. In the competitive admissions process, you would be putting yourself at a disadvantage when compared with those who provide personal examples of leadership -- and many will.

Remember, that your leadership example does not have to occur on the job. It could be from sports, extra-curricular activities, or community service.

Good luck!