duke 25 things essay

How To Answer Fuqua’s ’25 Random Things’ Essay

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It is one of the more unusual essay questions that any business school can ask an applicant: “Share with us your list of “25 Random Things” about YOU.”

The question is a key reason why MBA admission consultants judge Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business as having one of the very best admissions processes that allow the school to know applicants best, second only to Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business. Among the school’s fans is Tyler Cormney, co-founder of  MBA Prep School .

“It’s why I rated Duke as a school that gets to know their applicants well,” he says. “By comparison, Columbia asks for one pleasantly surprising thing and Duke demands 25. It’s pretty telling when an applicant runs out of fun facts after listing only a handful or can’t resist copying in a few resume bullet points. Fuqua’s out to find the fun ones in the bunch, and I’m guessing the MBA experience will be much more fun as a result.”

THREE GREAT EXAMPLES OF 25 RANDOM THINGS

Still, what kinds of answers does Duke expect to see when applicants attempt to list their own 25 random things? The school provides a couple of very good examples from Fuqua MBAs who graduated in the Class of 2013.

Here’s one from Dipesh Shah:

• I was born and raised in the suburbs of Atlanta—specifically Stone Mountain, GA. Stone Mountain is one of the largest pieces of exposed granite in the United States and also the fictional home of Kenneth from the sitcom 30 Rock.
• I am a US citizen by nationality, an Indian-American by ethnicity, and a true Southerner by geography.
• I worked for 5.5 years at Deloitte Consulting doing Human Capital consulting. If you have seen the movie  Office Space , imagine the “Bobs” and you may get a picture of some of my work.
• I have been dating my girlfriend for nearly 8 years.
• My favorite television show in the entire world was  Lost . I was so addicted to the show that my friends had a  Lost  viewing party with T-shirts for the finale.
• I am obsessed with planning and being on time. I wouldn’t say I am OCD but I think 5 minutes early is late.
• I never snooze. When the alarm goes off, I get up.
• I have a nephew, Rushabh, who is the cutest person in the entire world.
• I went to Emory University and graduated with a business degree in marketing and finance. I love Emory!
• I studied abroad in London while in undergrad and I still remember those 6 months as some of the best moments of my entire life. While abroad, I backpacked through Amsterdam, Athens, Corfu, Prague, Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, and Paris.
• I once skipped work with my girlfriend to hear Mark Paul-Gosselaar (Zach Morris from  Saved by the Bell ) speak at my undergrad school. I’d like to think I just said “time-out” and no one knew.
• If I had to describe myself in one word, it would be “goofy.” If I am not the goofiest person in the room, I want to meet that person because we will get along.
• I had an internship this summer at Facebook. It was absurdly awesome.
• I fully intend on winning the lottery one day, buying a private island, and reading books on a hammock while overlooking the ocean.
• I love TV sitcoms and my favorite show right now is  How I Met Your Mother .
• I am pretty passionate about cookies. I love them, specifically chocolate chip and double-stuff Oreos. This fact is on my resume and was asked about multiple times during my interviews.
• My hero is and will forever be my dad. He passed away in 2005, but I aspire to be 10% of what he was, every single day when I wake up.
• I am a vegetarian and proud of it. As far as I know, I have never eaten meat or fish.
• I love to do Karaoke but I am so awful that I have to get a private room to save everyone else’s ears.
• I dig Bikram Yoga (hot yoga) and have been practicing it off and on for a few years.
• I grew the most hideous mustache last year for Fuqua’s Stache Bash. It was disgusting, but I raised $900 for charity!
• My favorite guy movie of all time is  The Rock  and favorite chick flick is  Serendipity . (That’s right … I have a favorite chick flick!)
• I always take the day off on my birthday because who wants to do work on their birthday?!?
• I try to always be positive and high-energy. I think I exhaust people at times.
• I shuffle my feet when I walk so most people hear me coming (and run away … LOL).

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• Dec 14, 2021

Duke Fuqua's 25 Random things about me

Updated: Feb 1

Duke’s Fuqua School of Business stands for diversity , inclusion and statement . In addition, the school focuses on social responsibility, inclusiveness, collaboration, integrity and service. Therefore, for Duke Fuqua’s admissions committee it’s essential to get to know their applicants at a personal level.

Fuqua’s AdCom want to understand your world and worldview. Especially, they want to learn about your experiences so far, things that matter to you, values you uphold, memories you cherish, and how these experiences have impacted you.

Get the full Duke Fuqua 2023-2024 essay guide here .

With this in mind, let’s discuss Duke Fuqua’s “25 Random Things About Me” essay. It has been a staple there for many years, and this essay does a great job at giving you room to express your uniqueness. It goes beyond the standard essay structure and traditional writing style. It allows candidates to be serious yet playful, and open up in an unexpected and quirky way. The adcom expect you to bear your soul.

However, precisely because it’s so unusual, some candidates find it difficult to pick what to write and skip out. So here I’ll share a few examples of topics you may choose to write about in your “25 random things about me” essay.

Each point should say something about you. It should reflect your personality and character. Writing “I love pizza.” says absolutely nothing about your character. Whereas “I want to be an astronaut.” gives some insight into your adventurous side and ambition.

Finally, unlike many other MBA essay prompts, this one doesn’t call for bragging. Instead, focus on weaknesses as much as strengths—particularly “human” flaws like your terrible handwriting or fear of heights. This way the admissions committee gets a well-rounded view of YOU.

“Try to uncover some deeper meaning behind each of the random things.”

The word limit for the 25 random things essay is 750 words - longer than most MBA applications. If you break it down, that’s 30 words per random thing. However, you don’t have to stick to this guide. Instead, try to vary the length of your points to make your essay more interesting.

Without further ado, here are examples and ideas that should help as you tackle Duke Fuqua’s “25 Random Things About Me” essay:

1. Regrets:

Through a bit of self-reflection, most applicants can find something they regret doing (or not doing)!

“I regret not studying abroad during undergrad. I want to study abroad during my MBA and be more than a tourist.”

“I caused a car accident by shooting my Super Soaker into traffic. Then I hid in a bush. That was the end of my water fighting career”

2. Superpower

If charming people into buying things is your superpower, and it has worked well for you in your career in sales, here’s your forum to boast about it!

“I’m Michael the Mediator. I can convince anybody to talk to anybody else by putting myself in their shoes”

“My superpower is my ability to gain trust. This has helped me build unusually strong bonds with my new coworkers, who I now hang out with at the weekends.”

3. Religion

Talking about religion can be tricky. Balance and open-mindedness are key. Steer clear of polarising discussion and show that you’re keen to see other perspectives. Some solid advice here is to get your point reviewed by other people with different perspectives.

4. I am a sucker for

Everyone has a soft spot for something or the other. Something material or immaterial that you find very hard to refuse. For example, exotic clothing, foreign cuisine, unusual cars, etc.

“I am a sucker for symmetry. It helps me make sense of the world. My parents say I should have been an architect.”

5. Something everyone else likes but you dislike or something no one likes but you like

Maybe you feel like an odd-one-out in your friend group or family. So don’t hold back on showing your quirks in Duke’s 25 random things essay. Allergies, perhaps? And more importantly, how does this affect your life?

6. I’m proud of

Everyone has their proud moments. Be it getting a job you love, an achievement you take pride in, standing up for something, taking a big decision in life, showing persistence to your dreams, or growing personally. So do the self-analysis and find that moment in your life!

7. I want a

What’s something you deeply desire? Perhaps something you wanted as a child but couldn’t afford. Open up about it! Why is that thing so meaningful? What does it symbolise? Also, how do you plan to get it?

“ I want a sailboat. My fondest memories with my grandfather were on his daysailer.”

8. First times doing things

Doing something new is fun, stimulating and satisfying. Whether overcoming a fear or fulfilling a long-awaited dream, it’s bound to be memorable.

Discuss the excitement, thrill, success, failure, courage, creativity or realisation you felt. Write what you did, how, why it was impactful, especially why you cherish this memory.

“My first time in the ocean, I nearly drowned. I froze the minute I dived in. My family was worried that I’d be afraid of water, but I ended up winning swimming competitions.”

9. My dearest wish

A dearest wish is another way of highlighting your motivation. Again, connect this to your overall narrative. Perhaps your dearest wish has changed over time as you’ve grown.

“My dearest wish used to be to have a pet dolphin. Then I realised that’s cruel.”

“My dearest wish is that one day every plastic bottle is biodegradable.”

10. Nicknames

Is there an interesting story to share about your childhood, school or college nickname? Now would be a good time to reveal this.

“I had big ears when I was born, so my brothers started calling me FA Cup after the soccer trophy with big handles.”

11. Things I like

Don’t just say, “I like pizza.” Instead, discuss the deep-seated reason for this liking to convey a meaningful story about yourself.

“I love dogs, but it wasn’t until I got one that I realised I have dog allergies. So now, I still have my dog but I take allergy pills every day.”

“When I was 10, I smashed a window in our house with a ball of play-dough, then lied about it to my parents. I’ve lived with the guilt ever since.”

12. I once made a quick buck by...

Show your hustle. Show that you’ll push to work hard and grow. Add in stories about how you sold t-shirts during college or got paid for fixing computers, or taught kids math to buy a car during college.

“I worked in a call centre to pay for my college expedition. I still remember my opening lines.”

Travelling opens the door to new experiences, different cultures, food, music, living style, ethnographic changes, and life. So pick up an angle and describe your random thing from that perspective.

A classic boring answer is to list how many countries you’ve visited. Spice it up! Tell a significant travel story.

“I lost a shoe at Everest base camp.”

Discuss fears in one of two ways:

Write about an irrational fear or phobia, and add why it still holds a grip on you.

Or discuss a fear you’ve overcome and tell us about the process and how you feel liberated since you overpowered it.

It might seem challenging to open up about your fears, like discussing failures or weaknesses. However, it will show the strength of your character and self-awareness.

Note: The fear you open up about shouldn’t negatively impact your application. In other words, avoid sharing something that hinders you from fully participating in the MBA experience!

15. Hopes and dreams

Your hopes and dreams convey your optimistic view and what motivates you. But it can also reveal your pragmatism. So how have you started working towards fulfilling those dreams?

Just saying, “I want to be a millionaire” isn’t enough! Show them the path you’re on to achieve that.

16. Retirement plan

What’s your retirement plan? Are you planning to live in each country for a month, or taking up an entirely different profession? Perhaps you’ll move to a meaningful remote corner of the world to do humanitarian work? Use this space to share it with the adcom.

This can be an exciting way of demonstrating what drives you when money is not a factor.

“I hope to retire on a ranch. I picture myself living as a cowboy.”

“I’ll follow Charles Darwin’s itinerary through the Galapagos.”

17. Hurdles or challenges

Hard times stimulate growth in a way that good times don’t. What matters the most to the adcom is your approach to dealing with these hurdles. Admit your mistakes. Show that you persevere when things spiral out of your control. Open up about the challenges you’ve faced in your personal or professional life.

We all like to eat, and each one of us might have a favourite dish. But don’t discuss food choices without any context. Frankly, nobody cares.

Think about what holds you close to this particular meal. For example, you might like Armenian food because you can link it to your ancestry so it’s a way to retain your cultural identity.

“Coming from a staunchly vegetarian family, I never had chicken until I accidentally ate Biryani at my friends’ house when I was ten. I was sick and stayed vegetarian.”

Do you have a habit that you find meaningful? Something that could be as mundane as getting your share of daily news while cooking breakfast but could unsettle you if you don’t get to do it every single day? Perhaps you take cold showers?

“The first thing I do when I wake up is making my bed. This makes me feel in charge.”

“I enjoy dressing up and planning my outfits in advance. It makes me feel prepared and confident. I already have my first day of MBA outfit planned.”

20. Success

Successes are a no-brainer! But try to distinguish between random successes versus academic and professional successes, which will be in your resume.

“When I was 13, I wrote a dark poem about divorce for a talent competition. It won”

21. Childhood obsessions

It can be interesting to look back on how you were as a kid, and how you perceive your childhood behaviour now. However, just writing that you were obsessed with Hannah Montana goodies isn’t good enough. Instead, choose something significant that has impacted you profoundly.

22. Inspirations

What inspires you to advance further in life is fundamental to your being. So talking about that source of inspiration can be interesting.

“My inspiration is Sushmita Sen. She is Miss Universe 1994, actress, single mother of 2 adopted girls, and a philanthropist. Her efforts inspired me to become a UN Volunteer.”

Discussing the heroes, role models, leaders you look up to is another way of showing who you are and what you’re aspiring towards in life. Write about a particular character trait that you look to emulate.

I help determined applicants get admitted to top MBA programs. So if you need help in writing your own “Duke Fuqua’s 25 random things about you” essay, let’s chat .

Learn how to answer all Duke Fuqua essay questions with our full school essay guide 2023 - 2024.

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Strategies, Insights, and Tips from Gurufi's Consultants

Acing Duke Fuqua’s “25 Random Things” Essay

Gurufi.com helps clients brainstorm, build, write, and revise their personal statements. With 17 years of industry experience, Gurufi’s Ivy League-educated consultants and editors have helped thousands of applicants earn admission to their dream schools.

         Let’s face it: most MBA admissions essays are pretty much the same: what have you done, how do you fit, what do you hope to do? While it’s obviously smart to tailor these essays to particular schools, it’s also true that once you’ve written your first personal statement, you can repurpose much of that text for subsequent schools. But Duke Fuqua’s “25 Random Things” list / essay is its own thing.

         Now, as a consultant, I love this prompt because it forces people to break through the carefully constructed “Application Self” that they deploy anytime they’re trying to sell the best version of themselves and instead embrace the discomfort of moving beyond their controlled and comfortable self-presentations. That’s why this prompt works… and why it’s so confusing and borderline terrifying.

         Here at Gurufi, we’ve had great success helping people get into Duke, and in part it’s because of the advice we provide them when constructing this list, both in terms of what to select and how to say it. So here are seven tips that you can use, including a list of potential questions to ask to help you create a strong, personal, and effective list that reflects your personality, values, and yes, quirks. Remember, rather than focusing solely on professional achievements, this prompt asks for a glimpse into the more personal and human sides of candidates. Understanding how to tackle this essay

can set you apart in the admissions process.

• Embrace the ‘Random’ but Keep It Relevant

The term ‘random’ may suggest that anything goes, but the best essays show a strategic selection of

facts that collectively paint a picture of who you are. Random does not mean irrelevant. Each fact should offer a fresh perspective or insight into your character, values, and how you engage with the world. Whether it’s your knack for remembering obscure facts, a passion for salsa dancing, or your experience volunteering across continents, each tidbit should add a new color to the portrait you’re presenting to the admissions committee. A good place to start is to ask three good friends: “suppose you were going to tell your mom about me. What stories about me would you include to give her a picture of who I was, what I cared about, and what I was like to be around?” These replies might give you some insights into things that people find most distinctive about your and / or what moments from your life best exemplify your personality and character.

• “We, Not Me.” Your Character and Team Spirit

During a recent conversation with Duke Fuqua’s Russ Morgan , he noted that the admissions staff often keep an informal tally of how many times applicants use “me” versus “we.” The idea being that Duke cares deeply about collaboration and building a dynamic and interactive community, and as such want to see whether applicants view success as mostly personal as opposed to within the context of a shared goal. As such, your essay should reflect your ability to contribute to and thrive in a collaborative and collegial environment. Rather than simply stating that you work well in a team, share anecdotes that show your collaborative spirit in action. This could include a story about a time you resolved a conflict, led a group to success under tight deadlines, or went above and beyond to support a teammate.

• Diversity and Cultural Competency Are Key

With a significant international student body and an emphasis on diverse perspectives, Fuqua

values cultural competency. Indeed, in recent years, the school has redoubled its efforts to make DEI a substantive part of its education. Your essay should highlight your experiences and comfort with diversity. Have you worked on global teams, navigated cross-cultural communication challenges, or learned a great deal from someone with a very different background? These stories can demonstrate your readiness to join and contribute to the diverse Fuqua community.

• Honesty and Vulnerability Can Be Strengths

As a whole, your essay should have balance. This means showing successes and achievements, but also including a bit of quirkiness and also a few moments where you talk about vulnerabilities or setbacks. Admission officers are well aware that no candidate is perfect, and they appreciate honesty and self-awareness. Sharing a fear, a mistake, or a lesson learned shows maturity and depth. It reassures the admissions team that you are someone who is reflective, able to grow from experiences, and relatable. Similarly, talking a bit about passions outside of work can show that you’re well-rounded and also allow you to show that you’d bring some variety and spice to the incoming class.

In terms of writing an interesting set of random factoids, a great exercise for revision is to highlight every verb in the text. If you find that you are repeating verbs, especially “to be” (and its variants: am, was, were, are, etc.) then swap those out. Verbs show what you DID, which is ultimately the most important information in these essays. Give real attention to them.

• Vary the Length and Depth to Create Dynamic Rhythm

Since you have a maximum word count (750), use it strategically. Not every entry needs to be a deep

dive; some can be short and light-hearted, while others may require more explanation. A mix of lengths and tones will keep the reader engaged and offer a more complete view of your multi-faceted personality.

• I’m at 17, and I’m Stuck!!!

If you’re having trouble populating your list, here are some ideas that you can explore to generate additional items.

• Regrets and Learning : Share a regret not just as a missed opportunity, but as a catalyst for future actions, showing your growth mindset and resilience.
• Unique Skills as Superpowers : Relate a unique skill to how it has helped you in your career and personal life, showing your resourcefulness and impact on others.
• Soft Spots and Personality : Your penchant for something unusual can reflect your creativity or unique way of seeing the world.
• Quirks and Individuality : Your differences make you memorable. Illustrate how these quirks play into your life choices and interactions.
• Ever got lost? Is there some city, place, or time that you remember with particular vividness? Why? What about that place or moment excites you still?
• Pride and Accomplishments : Share what you’re proud of with an emphasis on the journey, not just the destination.
• Desires and Motivations : Talk about something you desire, not for its material value but for what it represents in your life story.
• First Experiences : Reflect on a ‘first’ that was a turning point or a significant learning moment.
• Wishes and Aspirations : Connect a deep wish to your overall narrative, showing how it aligns with your life’s mission.
• What does your family mean to you? Are you close? A parent? How has family shaped your worldview? Are you a spunky youngest child? A deal-making middle kid? A confident and assertive oldest child?
• Nicknames and Stories : Use a nickname to introduce a story that offers insight into your character and past experiences.
• Likes with Meaning : Explain a like or preference in a way that reveals more about your personality or values.
• Entrepreneurial Ventures : Describe a time you made money in an unconventional way, showing your initiative and problem-solving skills.
• Conquering Fears : Share a fear you’ve overcome, the process behind it, and what it taught you about yourself.

Remember, the point of this essay isn’t to show that you’re perfect and amazing in 25 different ways. Lean into your individuality, and for each one, ask yourself “why?” and “why is this important?” View this essay / list as a chance to stand out as an individual and showcase the unique attributes you would bring to the Fuqua community. By being thoughtful, honest, and creative, you can craft an essay that will capture the attention of the admissions committee and help pave your way into the Duke MBA program.

For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com . Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top Masters and Ph.D. programs in STEM, humanities, fine arts, and social sciences. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email at [email protected] . Check us out on Facebook , Twitter , and LinkedIn .

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• MBA>Application Tips|MBA>Top B-Schools

Avoid These 5 Entries in Duke’s “25 Random Things” Essay

October 03, 2018 :: Admissionado

Duke Fuqua’s first essay asking for 25 random things about an applicant is meant to cut through boring apps like a hot knife through butter. It is meant to zero in on “dry” candidates and weed them out, ’cause they’re obviously not the right fit for Fuqua.

That means you need to give ’em the ol’ razzle-dazzle and list something exciting and entertaining! It also means you should absolutely avoid the following 5 blurbs acoording to our MBA admissions consulting experts, or at least seriously consider their pitfalls.

“My favorite food is X” OR “I like cooking”

Alright… so what? Newsflash, EVERYONE on planet Earth eats food, and the vast majority of us have at least some idea of how to prepare it so that we don’t starve. This means that this topic is THE OPPOSITE of unique, and that’s just not going to work for Duke. That means that if you’re going to include something food related, it MUST say something unique about you, your culture or your personality.

For instance, “I like cooking Chinese food” is bland – there are tons of applicants who love cooking Chinese food. On the other hand, “I like slow roasting my village’s signature duck dish – I find working on getting the skin crisp over 10 hours develops my patience and focus, something that reminds me of the beauty of stillness” is better.

“I like sports”

Once again, big whoop. This extremely common activity does nothing to differentiate you from the other 7 billion people on planet Earth. Worse, unless you’re Tiger, Lebron, Serena, or James, chances are you AREN’T the sportiest candidate applying this year, and your on-field accomplishments will pale in comparison to the guy or girl who was in the actual Olympics.

So by all means, mention that you captained your school soccer/basketball/croquet team, but make sure it says something else about you. Go with “As captain of my school soccer team, I once injured my hamstring mid championship. Despite the pain, I kept playing in the last half, leading my team for victory. Then, I ran for ice.”

Oh, and if you’re going to plug the Blue Devils , make sure you’ve actually watched a game – they can tell if you haven’t.

Anything about your parents

Repeat after me: this application is about me, the applicant, not my family.

This one’s particularly difficult if you’re coming from a family-centric culture, as the urge to bring up mom and dad may be overwhelming. But nothing marks you as someone who hasn’t led a diverse and exciting life quite like padding this essay with your parents’ accomplishments and stories. So instead of “My dad overcame X hardship when I was a child” go with “Witnessing my family go through X hardship pushed me to overcome this challenge by improving myself through Y, leading me to become a ninja.”

Anything about working long hours without rest

Duke wants someone with a big brain, not the worker ant who can put in 100 hours of manual input before collapsing in a heap. You want to show that you’re working smarter instead of harder, and finding ways to overcome insane amounts of work through innovative strategies, NOT coffee-fueled all-nighters at the office.

“I like the color blue, words that start with the letter M, or carnivorous plants…” without telling us WHY.

That’s the big secret to this list: every blurb needs to tell us something about YOU. It isn’t enough to be quirky, we want those quirks to highlight your personality: approachable, dynamic, funny, engaging. You’ll want to make sure the RANDOM things in your list all work in concert to speak to this.

Find a funny story explaining why you developed that love for Venus flytraps. Tell us how your first love’s name started with M and that inspired you to start a charity. Go deep – that’s what they’re looking for.

For some direction on what to actually write in Duke’s 25 Random Things essay, dig into our Fuqua Essay Analysis .

“ Hands down the best MBA admissions consulting firm of all-time, and boy, what an incredible founder! ” –– Raj Patil, Founder of Admissionado

Something for everyone:

• Actual essays that worked for M7s and more .
• Strategies applicants (just like you) used to get in.
• Hey Admissionado, why are you so awesome?
• Top admissions consultants prefer to work with us. Consider what that means for you…

Reach out, and let’s gab. Our only requirement is that you don’t prefer warm milk over cold milk. Everyone else, 100% welcome.

Email: [email protected] Phone: 866-409-4753 Ping our satellite: 0884#&@-2#101101 Contact us via web form you lazy git: https://admissionado.com/contact/ Mostly, email Claudia.

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We want you to submit your best possible application, so please read all the instructions on this page so that you’re familiar with our requirements and the process of applying. We appreciate your taking the time to ensure you are submitting a complete application package.  If you’re considering both of our Master of Management Studies (MMS) programs, please remember:

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• You must have earned, or expect to earn, a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university by the start of the program.
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Review the online application and deadlines. Consider important aspects of the timeline, including decision release dates and tuition deposit dates.

Apply for the Master of Management Studies: Foundations of Business program with our online application, ensuring that your application is complete and that it provides the admissions committee with a comprehensive understanding of your background, skills, talents, and goals. You can view your application status by logging into your student portal.

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• Official transcripts sent directly from the institution/s you attended

Attend a virtual campus visit

The best way to learn about Fuqua and the MMS program is by experiencing it firsthand. We encourage you to take part in our virtual campus visit program and the virtual Blue Devil Experience event for admitted students. Attending these events will introduce you to the Durham area and help guide your transition—or give you valuable insights if you’re still making your decision.

Access our incoming student website

Shortly after you’re admitted, you’ll receive access to our incoming student website. This site includes a wealth of information about our community and expectations, helping to guide your decision.

You’ll find all the information you’ll need to transition into your new academic life:

• Program announcements
• Technical and computer information
• Assignments to prepare academically
• Information about housing and living in Durham

Apply for a visa (international students)

If applicable, visa application information will be included in your admission packet along with specific deadlines for submission. Visa processing can take up to several months to complete, so it is critical you apply no later than Round 2 to ensure that you’re able to join the program.

If you are currently in the U.S. on a student visa for another program, contact our admissions office prior to making plans to leave the country or transferring your visa to ensure that the proper steps are taken to secure your new visa for the MMS: FOB program.

Visa fast facts:

• You must submit your tuition deposit to start the visa application process.
• You’ll be emailed a link to the visa web form.
• You must submit the form and all required documentation by the visa deadline that corresponds to your application round.
• Your visa web form must be received at least 6 weeks prior to the program start date, or your offer of admission may be cancelled.

Application Requirements

Legible, scanned copies of all transcripts are required for each college or university you have attended where you:

• earned (or will earn) a degree;
• studied for one semester or more;
• earned 12 or more credits (note: 4 or more credits if your university awards 1 credit for the typical class instead of 3 credits);
• and/or took a class that relates to your graduate study interests. 

If you took classes at a college or university while in high school, do not list the college or university as a separate school in your application.

For transfer credits:  Follow the guidelines listed above, but please note that for any transferred credits that qualify to be reported, we need to see grades/marks .  If the grades/marks as well as the credits appear on your degree-conferring institution's transcript, then the additional transcript will not be required.

For student abroad credits:  Please follow the same guidelines as for transfer credits.

Transcripts must include:

• Your name and the name of the institution
• Each course taken and the grade received
• The degree received and date conferred

If your transcripts do not state the degree and date conferred, upload a copy of your diploma in addition to the transcript. If your transcript is not in English, it must be translated, attested, and uploaded along with the originals. Those applying from outside the U.S. should see additional transcript guidelines for international students.

Two options for sending transcripts:

• Electronically to [email protected]
• Directly by mail in a sealed envelope to: Duke University The Fuqua School of Business Office of Admissions 100 Fuqua Drive, Box 90120 Durham, NC 27708-0120

If you do not submit your official transcripts on time, or if you misrepresent, falsify, or omit information, we may rescind any offer of admission or financial assistance.

When to submit copies of official transcripts

Only if you are admitted to the program, will you be required to submit official transcripts from each college or university you have attended for verification. The due date for official transcripts will be noted in your admitted student portal. If you have not yet completed your studies by this date, your official transcripts should reach The Fuqua School of Business no later than one week before your program begins.

The admissions committee wants to learn more about your personal and professional motivations. To help us get to know you better, you’ll need to provide your thoughts on three short answer questions and two essays as part of your application.

Instructions for all written submissions:

• Responses should use 1.5-line spacing and a font size no smaller than 10-point.
• Do not repeat the question in the document you upload with your application.
• Respond carefully, fully, and concisely.
• Length requirements vary by question and are detailed below.
• Responses must be completed before submitting your application.

All essays are scanned using plagiarism detection software. Expressing your ideas by using verbiage from existing sources, including websites and other applicants' essays or materials, or having someone else compose your essays, without properly crediting those sources constitutes an act of plagiarism. Plagiarism, an act of theft and fraud, is considered a cheating violation within the Honor Code and will result in an application denial. Note: if you have worked with a consultant to complete your application materials, please ensure that the Honor Code policy is discussed and yours essays will not be shared with other potential applicants.

Required Short Answer Questions

Instructions:.

Answer all three questions. Respond in 500 characters at most (the equivalent of about 100 words per question).

• Why are you pursuing the MMS degree at this stage in your professional development?
• What are your immediate career goals after completing the MMS program?
• Life is full of uncertainties, and plans and circumstances can change. As a result, navigating a career requires you to be adaptable. Should the immediate goals that you provided above not materialize, what alternative directions have you considered?

Required Essay 1

Present your response in list form, numbered from 1-25. Some points may be only a few words, while others may be longer. Your complete list should not exceed two pages.

Question: The "Team Fuqua" spirit and community is one of the things that set the Fuqua 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 to get to know someone's personality, 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 and dislikes, hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you who you are.

Required Essay 2

Respond in 350 words at most.

For our MMS: Foundations of Business class, the admissions team is looking for students who are eager to engage with, and learn from, their classmates. This learning takes place both inside and outside the classroom, as extracurricular engagement is an important part of the MMS experience. Describe how you would plan to be engaged outside of the classroom and how your unique perspective, experiences, and passions will add to the MMS community.

Optional Essay

If you feel there are circumstances of which the admissions committee should be aware (e.g., unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders or lack of a professional recommendation, inconsistent or questionable academic performance), please explain them. Do 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.

Re-Applicant Essay

An additional essay is required for re-applicants. Respond to the following in no more than two pages:

Question: It is not uncommon for it to take more than one try to achieve a goal. Please share with us the self-reflection process that you underwent after last year's application and how you have grown as a result. How did it shape your commitment to Fuqua and inspire your decision to reapply?

Submit your required resume electronically within the online application system. For employment and volunteer positions, include the location, title, date, and responsibilities, starting with your most recent position. The education section should include dates of attendance and degrees received.

Your resume should include:

• Full-time or part-time employment
• Volunteer work
• Internships

One letter of recommendation is required and should come from someone who knows you in a professional context, such as a supervisor at an internship or place of employment. If you are unable to provide a professional recommendation, you may submit a recommendation from someone who knows you through school and can speak to your performance in an academic setting. Please clarify if you select this option in the Optional Essay. You may not submit more than one recommendation.

Other recommendation guidelines:

• Use your recommenders’ work email addresses, rather than their personal accounts, like Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, and so on.
• Recommendations from relatives and friends are strongly discouraged.

Fuqua accepts GMAT, GRE, SAT, and ACT scores. GMAC and ETS, the administrators of the GMAT and GRE tests, respectively, have now made available the option to take these tests from a home environment, which we view the same way as tests taken in a test center. Please visit the GMAC or ETS websites for more information. Test scores are valid for five years.

For SAT and ACT, we are able to waive accept tests taken prior to your undergraduate experience. If test scores are expired, please contact the Office of Admissions to discuss your situation.  

We do require one of these test scores in order for an application to be considered complete and receive an admissions decision.

We do not accept TOEFL or IELTS test scores. We will review applicants' English abilities based on written essays in the application and verbal proficiency in the interview.

Admission system test codes:

• GMAT: Duke program code Q13-N5-19
• GRE: Duke program code 5156, and the 4201 Business Administration and Management Department name on your GRE exam
• ACT: Duke school code is 3052. The instructions on how to submit official test scores can be found  here . If your test date was before 9/1/2017, ACT provides specific instructions on how scores can be obtained.
• SAT: Duke school code is 5946. The instructions to send recent scores can be found  here . The instructions on how to send older scores can be found  here .

Need more help?

Information on registering and sending GMAT scores   Information on registering and sending GRE scores  

A 125 USD nonrefundable application fee, payable by VISA or MasterCard, is due when you submit your online application.

Application fee waivers

You may be eligible to receive an application fee waiver if you meet at least one of the following criteria:

Before submitting your application, you register for and attend a recruiting event. Attend an admissions event , and in the online application indicate the event type, location, and month of attendance in your online application.

You are a member of the military—active duty, active reserve, or honorably discharged/completed service (within three years) of any nation . Either voluntary or compulsory service is valid for qualification.

You are an active participant or alumnus/alumna of the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, or Teach for America.

You are a current member of the Forté, Posse Foundation, or Management Leadership for Tomorrow.

You receive Fuqua admissions committee approval. In your application, include the reason for your waiver request, the name of the committee member granting approval, and the date the request was granted.

You obtain an  endorsement  from a current Fuqua student or alumnus/alumna. In your application, include your recommender’s name, program (Daytime, Cross Continent, Weekend Executive, Global Executive, Master of Management Studies: Foundations of Business, Master of Management Studies: Duke Kunshan University, or Master of Quantitative Management) year of graduation (if known), and email address.

You attended one of four Diversity Events: 

• The Duke MBA Workshop
• The Duke MBA Women’s Leadership Weekend
• The Duke MBA Pride Weekend
• The Duke MBA Veterans Symposium

You are an alumni of Duke University. In your application, include the name of your degree and the year in which you graduated.

Instructions to apply for an application fee waiver:

• Meet at least one of the above criteria.
• Select an application round in the “Personal Information” section of the online application.
• Complete the questions included in the "Application Fee Waiver Information" section.
• Submit your application after all sections are complete. However, do NOT submit your application if you are asked for credit card information.

Following the above instructions is the only way to receive an application fee waiver. If you submit your online application without selecting the "fee waiver" option, then you will not qualify for the waiver, and no refund will be available.

Interviewers will have a copy of your resume, but no other component of your application. We do not offer open interviews for MMS candidates. Interview invitations will be extended after careful review of your application materials. Most interviews will occur via video-conference; North Carolina residents may have the opportunity to interview on campus by invitation. Both formats are given equal weight in the admissions process.

Interviews are conducted by Fuqua staff, alumni, or select students who will ask you a variety of questions about your educational background and personal interests. At the conclusion, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions.

On-campus interview fast facts:

• Interviews are only available to North Carolina residents who are invited to interview.
• Interviews are conducted in English and generally last 30–45 minutes.
• Select a time that lets you participate in other campus visit activities.
• Appropriate attire is business casual.
• Arrive 20 minutes prior for parking and check-in.
• Bring a one-page resume to the interview.
• Interviewers will have a copy of your resume, but no other portion of your application file.

Video conference interview fast facts:

• Most applicants will interview via video-conference, as on-campus interviews are only available to invited North Carolina residents.

In service to reapplicants, we offer the ability to replicate or "clone" your application from a previous application year (2019 and later). If you are reapplying, please submit the Reapplicant Request form  (login credentials required) to request that your previous application data be transferred over to the next available round of admission in the current application cycle. Please contact [email protected] should you have any questions or trouble logging in. You will receive a confirmation email once this process is complete, and can edit all or part of your application after it has been cloned.

You will need to interview in the new cycle; the same interview policies apply to you as to other applicants.

When re-applying, you are required to complete/submit:

• Short-answer questions
• Standard application essays
• A special re-application essay

Re-applicants do not need to resend official test scores to us unless your previous scores have expired. 

All applicants are required to complete the core set of application materials; however, non-U.S. applicants have additional application requirements and instructions.

Application timing for international students

International students must apply by the round 2 deadline if they:.

• Require an F-1 visa
• Are not already studying in the U.S.
• Are not eligible for a transfer

Admitted students in Round 2 need to start the visa application process quickly to ensure it’s received before the program start date.

Three-year bachelor's degree

Fuqua welcomes the applications of qualified candidates from outside the United States. We accept three-year bachelor’s degrees that are equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree.

Transcripts and diplomas

Transcripts, diplomas, and academic records must be in English and certified by an appropriate university official.

If your transcripts do not state the degree and date conferred, upload a copy of your diploma in addition to the transcript.

If your transcript is not in English, you must have it:

• Uploaded in addition to the originals
• Directly by mail in a sealed envelope to: Duke University The Fuqua School of Business Office of Admissions 100 Fuqua Drive, Box 90120 Durham, NC  27708-0120 USA

English as a Second Language test scores

Fuqua does not accept ESL test scores.  We will use other aspects of your application to assess language proficiency. 

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Advice, tips and insights from the admissions dream team., table of contents, duke fuqua essays: top tips + ’25 random things about you’ example.

• By Catherine Tuttle

“Team Fuqua” may seem like a tagline or gimmicky motto, but that’s far from the truth.

Duke Fuqua ’s mission is to transform its students into leaders who are equipped to inspire organizations in a way that leads to positive impact on the bottom line, but also positive impact on the world. Admissions is looking to create a class profile that will embrace this mission and create a culture that fosters strong relationships between students, faculty, staff, and their families.

The short answer and essay questions are an opportunity for you to tell your story in a way that speaks to Fuqua’s core values of collaboration, diversity, integrity, respect, and community engagement. That is why the first essay is so important. (For advice on positioning your Duke Fuqua application , view my related post.) For the 2022-2023 season, Fuqua has created a word count for essay 1 and adjusted higher the word count for essay two. Read on for detailed advice on tackling each essay.

Fuqua Required essay #1: 25 Random Things About Yourself (2 pages/750 words max)

While many applicants are intimidated by the prompt, I absolutely love this essay (see a full example of a successful ’25 Random Things’ response at the end of this post). The full prompt clearly states that Admissions wants to get to know you beyond the professional and academic achievements listed on your resume. This is your opportunity to connect on a personal level by showcasing a different side (or sides) of yourself that may not come through in traditional MBA applications. If done right, this essay is where you create advocates among those reading your list.

Think about your values, your hobbies, your interests, and important life experiences. These can and should be a mix of poignant, humorous, playful, deep, and everything in between. Some may be a paragraph whereas others may be a simple sentence. Also keep in mind that they should resonate with the core values of the Fuqua community mentioned above.

It’s also important to highlight your cultural competency. Fuqua has always put an emphasis on diversity and takes pride in the fact that its student body is consistently around 40% international. In fact, the main hallway is lined with flags representing the many countries students come from. Teams are purposefully made of individuals from different genders, ethnicities, and functional and industry backgrounds. It’s important that your savvy self- and cultural awareness shines throughout your application. Look for ways to stress your experience working with globally diverse teams and why a global perspective is important to you personally and professionally.

Fuqua Required Essay #2: The Fuqua community and you – what are 3 ways you expect to contribute at Fuqua? (500 words)

While the essay topic has remained the same the last few years, the word count was adjusted once again this year from 300 to 500 words. And while candidates may initially celebrate, they typically have more ideas than the essay allows. That said, it’s more important than ever that you dig deep into the engagement opportunities on campus and pick three that clearly align with your story, both past and present. Dedicating a significant amount of time to networking with students and alumni is essential so that you can envision yourself on campus and articulate how you will add value to the community.

Outside the classroom is key here. All too often applicants ignore that part of the prompt and wax poetic about how their experience will add value in class discussions. You must go deeper. Fuqua boasts 60+ student clubs, each of which was started and continue to be run by students. These clubs and other experiential opportunities allow you to take initiative and flex the leadership muscle you are building in the program. Think about the groups you will be a part of – professional clubs and/or those that are more light-hearted like the Outdoors Club or Wine Club. There’s also the MBA Games, the MBAA leadership cabinet, international GATE trips, and other opportunities to share your talents.

Reflect on your past experience and how it will contribute to mission and goals of whatever opportunities you choose. If you have networked effectively, you’ll be equipped to articulate how you can add value in vivid detail.

For a deeper dive on essay and application strategy, view  Fortuna’s MBA Admissions Masterclass on NYU Stern, Duke Fuqua, and Johnson Cornell.

Fuqua Required Short Answer: What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first choice career plan and your alternate plan. (500 characters with spaces)

At Fuqua, Admissions and the Career Management Center (CMC) are well connected. Career Center staff educate the team on what to look for in resumes and the key skills/experience required for certain career paths. If questions arise about a candidate, their experience, and how realistic their goals are, they will bring in the Associate Dean of the CMC to get her feedback. That said, you need to be quite clear about your development so far, the skills needed from the Duke MBA, and how it all translates post-MBA.

While I wouldn’t recommend spending too much character count on your plan B, it is an incredibly important part of your answer. The MBA is a dynamic and transformative experience. At orientation, staff would often joke with the new class that more than half of them would end up doing something completely different than what they wrote about in their application. The point of plan B is to show that you have thought clearly about more than one option and how they will get you to your goals short- and long-term. That way, when the wind changes (and it will), you will be prepared to adjust your sails!

For more guidance on crafting post-MBA career goals along with some great examples, view this terrific article by Fortuna’s Heidi Hillis.

Example of a Successful ’25 Random Things About YOU’ Essay

• Having gained seven siblings all at once, at the age of nine, I’ve come to have a loose definition of the word family. My definition is based more on time I’ve spent with someone than our legal or biological bonds.
• It took time (and a new addition to the house), but eventually my newly-extend family fell into a rhythm. Our home was louder, but filled with more laughter. Together we learned to discuss topics such as subliminal racism and police violence against people of color with sensitivity, directness, and when appropriate, a sense of humor.
• I have a pet Quaker parrot named Blue. I was told it was a male bird so I was shocked when “he” laid an egg!
• I’m deathly scared of spiders. My first month living in Chongqing, a spider about 3 ½ inches across found itself in front of my doorway; after frantically facetiming my dad, I dropped a textbook weighing about 5 pounds on it. I didn’t move the book for two weeks.
• When I am stressed out I like to watch documentaries about space… or the children’s show “Arthur”—totally different but equally effective.
• Ever since I watched the show Madeline at age 5, my interest in studying another language was peaked. While it only included snippets of French (“Bonjour”, “merci”) I was enchanted by the idea of learning French and connecting with a group of people otherwise unreachable.
• On Thanksgiving when I was 5 years old, I finally put it together that the turkey we were eating was “turkey”, the bird. I surprised my parents by announcing I was now going to be a vegetarian. I surprised them further by remaining vegetarian until the end of high school.
• In college, I volunteered in China with an NGO building libraries in rural schools. When the children first saw me, they ran and hid. It was their first time laying eyes on a foreigner. While they were initially frightened, we eventually bonded over Chinese paper cutting (which I never did quite get the hang of).
• One of my first nights in Hunan Province, I tried “huajiao”, a pepper known for its numbing effects on the mouth; I had no idea what I’d eaten and was convinced I was having an allergic reaction. Since we were hours from a hospital I was also half-convinced this could be the end. Now huajiao is one of my favorite spices.
• My college roommates and I met on our hall freshman year and the five of us lived together the rest of our time at Penn—we still have yearly reunions despite all living in different cities.
• This summer, I had a small “family reunion” in a cozy Italian restaurant in NYC’s West Village. Around the table sat Tao Tao, a close friend from middle school, Alex, Roon and Angie, my hallmates for two years in boarding school, Nick and Amanda, my college roommates, and Freddie and Mark, who lived with me in Chongqing. It was surreal to bring these “family members” from different stages of life and corners of the world together.
• I failed the written portion of the driving test three times before passing. My family, who often made fun of me for being the “nerdy” one, got a huge kick out of this.
• I once took a 10-day trip around the deserts and plains of southeastern Mongolia with two women who I had just met from Australia and Canada. Despite 10 days in very close-quarters, we became great friends and confidants.
• My favorite moments living in China are those in which I completely mess up (e.g. first time I tried to hike Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan province and ended up about a hundred miles off on the Tibetan border.) I had to squeeze into a 4.5ft. bed and go straight back the next day – hilarious and humbling.
• Over the past few years, a couple clients’ passion for physics has rubbed off on me. Now, I listen to physics podcasts almost every night. Concepts like particle-wave duality and quantum field theory blow my mind!
• I used to be more of a night-owl, until I walked onto the crew team freshman year of college. Even after I stopped my second year, I maintained the habit of waking up early and now I’m a total morning person.
• My closest friends in Beijing identify as queer. Through them I have become involved in the LGBTQ+ community in Beijing, where there is still political danger associated with being queer/attending LGBTQ+ events. Locations are never released until just beforehand and only via private message.
• One of my favorite memories this past year was trying to teach my 7-year-old niece how to play Mancala. Unfortunately, she never mastered the game… her 4-year-old sister kept flipping the board over.
• While studying in France, I decided to stay abroad over the holidays and spent Christmas going on an impromptu tour through Lausanne, Switzerland, given by a professor from the Ivory Coast who I bumped into on the street.
• My first job was working in a fine jewelry store. Looking at an inscribed platinum watch a family managed to bring with them after escaping France at the start of WWII, or a Victorian locket that still contained the black-and-white photo of young boy. I love learning the stories behind the pieces and then sharing them with customers.
• My youngest adopted brother was drafted by the Miami Dolphins this past spring (my mom immediately bought an aqua and orange phone case to celebrate).
• My freshman year at Penn, I thought I signed up for a writing seminar until I showed up for class and realized mid-way through the seminar that I had in fact registered for a seminar about sleep in the nursing school. No idea how I managed to mix that up but I ended up sticking with it and it became one of my favorite classes!
• I had two pet rats, Chai and Cappuccino, in college. Side note: between its Parisian location and the fact that the main characters are rats, you may not be surprised to learn by now that Ratatouille is my favorite Disney movie.
• Since high school, I have always had an interest in storytelling. One of the reasons I chose to work at ESC was its mission: Help students craft a narrative that tells their unique story.
• The first time I played flag football was in open meet-and-greet game. I had a classic moment of almost making a touchdown and the football landing straight on my face. I still joined the team though!

Let’s Get You In.

Fortuna Admissions is a dream team of former MBA Admissions Directors and Officers from 18 of the top 20 business schools, including Duke Fuqua. With our unparalleled collective expertise, we are able to coach you to develop a clear vision of your goals for business school and beyond. We work closely with you throughout the application process and provide expert guidance at every stage to maximize your chances of admission to a top school.

Our free consultations are consistently rated as the best in the industry. To learn more about Fortuna and assess your chances of admission to Wharton and other top programs, request a free consultation .

Want More Advice?

Check out our team’s latest articles, videos, and analysis related to how to get into NYU Stern:

• 5 Essential Tips on Applying for the Duke Fuqua MBA
• Business School Profile for Duke Fuqua
• Request a copy of the Duke Fuqua Insider Tips report

Updated August 2023

Fortuna Admissions Expert Coach Catherine Finch Tuttle brings deep MBA experience as a former Associate Director at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. For five years she worked in the Career Management Center creating , implementing, and evaluating programs and coaching MBA’s to achieve their career goals. She also served as the liaison to Admissions having worked with them earlier in her career as a Marketing Manager. For a candid assessment of your chances of admission success at a top MBA program, sign up for  a free consultation . 

• Posted on August 15, 2023

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Anyone else salty about Fuqua ding?

Fuqua's application requires one to write 25 random things about themselves. I'd say mine was fairly personal, touching upon my background, upbringing and cherished experiences....only to get dinged. The end result is that I'm fairly bitter about Fuqua -- anyone else feel the same way?

Duke Daytime MBA Student Blog

Updates to support our applicants.

Changes to Fuqua's interview policy and Consortium membership headline the updates to the Daytime MBA application.

Published July 2, 2024

With each application year, I’m continuously impressed by the dedication of Fuqua’s fantastic applicants and the matching enthusiasm of our Admissions team in getting to know them. The Daytime MBA Class of 2026 is, in a word, impressive. Amazing. Motivated. Inspirational. I know, that’s more than “a” word, but I can’t help myself!

While last year broke a school record for the number of applications received, our team is always looking for new ways to improve our process — and this year is no exception.

Here are three things applicants should know before completing the 2024-2025 Daytime MBA application .

1. Interviews Offered by Invitation Only

One of our goals is to ensure our process is as fair and consistent as possible. Therefore, as we reviewed our processes for this application year, we have decided to offer interviews by invitation only.

In prior years, we offered interviews both by invitation and during an applicant-initiated “open interview” period. However, we found that some applicants scheduled interviews before they were truly ready, afraid that they would be penalized for not taking advantage of the open interview period. While no applicant was penalized for “waiting” for an invitation to interview, we acknowledge the difference in the interview process was a source of stress and anxiety for many.

By moving to a single, consistent interview policy, we hope to alleviate this stress. Here’s how the process will work:

• Applicants, including Early Action applicants, will submit their application.
• Then, they will await an interview invitation. Interview decisions will be released on a rolling basis as applications are reviewed.
• An applicant who is invited to interview will receive an email invitation with instructions on how to schedule the interview, either in-person or virtually, depending on what they indicated in their application.

We are excited about this change because it allows more time for applicants to plan and schedule their interview, whether they are choosing to interview virtually or travel to Durham for an on-campus interview. It’s important to note that while interview decisions are released on a rolling basis, there is no benefit or disadvantage to receiving an invitation earlier versus later. Regardless of when you receive your interview decision, all applicants will still receive their admission decision on the published decision release date .

2. Applying Through Consortium

As we shared earlier this year, we are excited that Fuqua has joined the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management , an alliance of business schools and industry partners aiming to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in business schools. Fuqua has a long history of supporting and championing those who are underrepresented in the business world. Becoming a member of the Consortium was a natural fit for us.

Applicants who are applying through the Consortium will find our essay questions and additional materials through the Consortium application. They will be considered for interview invitations on the same timelines as applicants applying directly to Fuqua through either Round 1 or Round 2.

3. Understanding the New GMAT Format

We are not making any changes to our test score policy — Fuqua will continue to accept the GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment (EA), without a preference for any test. Many applicants have questions about how the “new” GMAT score will be considered. Previously called the “GMAT Focus,” this shortened version of the GMAT is now the only format offered by GMAC. In addition to the GRE and EA, we will continue to accept both the new and old GMAT scores (test scores are valid for five years after the test date).

The new GMAT format uses a different scoring scale, so applicants should be aware that their scores may look different. Our Admissions team is very familiar with the new scale, though, so don’t worry! We encourage applicants to look into the new GMAT scoring scale . 

Many people think their GMAT score “looks” lower than published GMAT averages, but that may not be the case. Looking at the percentiles that go along with the composite score offers a more clear comparison. For example, a 700 on the old GMAT was in the 89 th percentile; on the new GMAT, the 89 th percentile corresponds to a score of 655.

Again, Fuqua’s testing policy has not changed, but given the change to the GMAT itself, I wanted to be clear about how applicants should view their scores. We always encourage applicants to submit any test scores they have, whether they’ve taken one test type or have tried all three.

With these improvements in place, our Admissions team is ready to start recruiting the next wave of impactful business leaders. The application is live now, and our travel dates are on the calendar. We look forward to getting to know the Class of 2027!

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