Started on Skype with some quick banter because my interviewer and I had a similar background. (Really wasn’t expecting this but it definitely put me more at ease.) Overall, the interview was very informal and felt like a conversation.
Biggest Takeaway: Without a doubt, the interviewers are trained to find out how likely you are to pick Fuqua. As the interview neared the end, I realized that the “Why Fuqua?” question had follow ups throughout the 30 minutes. For instance, my post-MBA goals really lined up with a manufacturing firm that recruits at Fuqua. But additional questions like how I see myself in the South/Atlantic Coast vs. the Northeast were very prevalent. I am from the Northeast, discussed my family in the Northeast, and then had to answer why I would go to Fuqua over other T15 schools in the NE. This process isn’t visible on its face, but when the interview was over, I realized what was happening.
Second Takeaway: Fuqua is different too in that I couldn’t come into this interview saying “Oh my gosh Fuqua is my first choice!” Since Early Action already happened, they already know who would want to go there over everywhere else; focus on Team Fuqua culture, employment report research, and how you’ve gotten to know Fuqua in the application process.
Questions:
– Run through resume
– Post MBA Short/Long Term Goals
– Greatest Success
– Greatest Failure
– A time you’ve resolved a conflict at work
– How will you add to collaborative culture of Fuqua?
– Any questions for me?
Beyond the questions: Team Fuqua is a team of great, generally extroverted people. I think the interview’s goals are to assess how likely you are to pick Fuqua and how easy going yet motivated of a person you are.
Clear Admit Resources
Preparing for your Duke / Fuqua admissions interview? Check out Clear Admit’s other resources:
- Clear Admit Duke / Fuqua Interview Guide: Strategic tips for approaching Fuqua’s interview questions, and more.
- Interview Archive: More firsthand accounts from Duke Fuqua MBA applicants themselves
- Understanding the MBA Admissions Interview: Blind Interviews vs. Non-blind Interviews
- Podcast Episode 23: 5 Most Common MBA Interview Questions You Need to Ace
