In this Admissions Director Q&A, we welcome back Associate Dean of Admissions at Duke University Fuqua School of Business, Shari Hubert.
Hubert’s role is overseeing recruitment and admissions for the school’s portfolio of ten business degree programs. Before Fuqua, she was in charge of admissions for the Full-time and Evening MBA programs at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. Hubert has extensive experience in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, and entered higher education after working for the Peace Corps as director of recruitment within the Office of Volunteer Recruitment and Selection. Her work is mission-driven, and she is passionate about serving in leadership roles that have social impact. She is a current Board Member of the Harvard Business School African-American Alumni Association, and Empower Dance Foundation. She is also an Alumni Interviewer for the Dartmouth College Alumni Ambassador Program and an Advisory Council Member for the Forte Foundation. In her spare time, she loves fostering dogs and is an avid supporter of the Saving Grace Animal Shelter in Wake Forest, NC.
Check out our Q&A to learn what Shari is most excited about at Fuqua’s MBA program and what to expect during the application process this year.
Clear Admit: What is the one aspect of your program that you wish applicants knew more about?
Shari Hubert: Fuqua is home to Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Duke I&E), making it a university-wide hub for entrepreneurship. Interdisciplinary courses, programs, and events hosted by Duke I&E bring students from all corners of Duke right to Fuqua’s halls.
For those looking to dig deeper, courses such as the New Ventures series offer student founders the opportunity to collaborate with classmates who bring diverse skills and perspectives to build real startups. This hands-on experience is invaluable as it provides a flexible environment to test ideas and learn from other brilliant minds at Duke.
Experiential learning is key to developing the skills of a successful entrepreneur. Hands-on workshops and innovative courses on venture capital, private equity, and entrepreneurship through acquisition are immersive learning environments where students take a hands-on approach to everything from financing innovation with practitioner-informed investment processes to tapping into a strong network of alumni.
No matter their career path, Fuqua students benefit from Duke I&E’s focus on cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset. Skills like curiosity, resilience, stakeholder empathy, action-oriented problem-solving, and intentional impact are essential for success in any career.
CA: Walk us through the life of an application in your office from an operational standpoint. What happens between the time an applicant clicks “submit” and the time the committee offers a final decision?
SH: Once we receive an application, our processing team will confirm that all required materials are complete and legible. If anything is missing, our team emails the applicant to let them know and offers time to submit the missing materials. I want to stress that we check every application that we receive and will confirm with each applicant that their application is complete.
After making that confirmation, the entire packet of information is reviewed by our Admissions Committee. Collectively, we decide which applicants to invite to interview in that round. Applicants are then notified via email of their interview decision and have a couple of weeks to schedule an interview.
Following the admissions interview, our committee reviews the application again, considering all materials and interview notes. Together, we discuss and make a final decision on each application. If an applicant wishes to submit information they feel is material to their candidacy, after they have submitted their application, but prior to our final decision release, they are always welcome to do so.
CA: How does your Duke Fuqua admissions team approach the essay portion of the application specifically? What are you looking for as you read an essay? Are there common mistakes that applicants should try to avoid? What is one key thing they should keep in mind as they sit down to write?
SH: Applicants should begin with thoughtful reflection on how their story fits into the Fuqua community and how they hope to grow within it. At Fuqua, we genuinely want to get to know our applicants. We want to see how they would make our unique community stronger, and in turn, how our community could support their development. This is what makes the essay section so important.
We ask applicants to complete two main essays as part of the application. The first is our well-known “25 Random Things” essay—a favorite among candidates and, truthfully, our team as well. It’s a fun but meaningful way for us to get to know the person behind the resume. Applicants should use this essay to reveal the personal side of their story—their values, relationships, formative experiences, or quirks—rather than rehashing work achievements. We’ll see plenty of those in their resumes!
The second essay invites applicants to reflect on how they plan to contribute to Team Fuqua. We intentionally limit the response to the three most meaningful areas of involvement to encourage thoughtful prioritization. With so many ways to engage in the community, it’s important for students to know what matters most to them from the outset.
We also include two short-answer sections. The first focuses on career goals, both short- and long-term. Here, we’re looking for clarity of thought and a connection between past experiences and future ambitions. We know plans evolve, but we want to understand the logic behind your current direction and how grounded your expectations are.
The second short-answer section is optional and provides space for applicants to share context around their background, whether that involves family, upbringing, or unique life circumstances. This helps us better understand each person’s journey and what’s shaped them.
The most common pitfall I see is when applicants leave potential questions unanswered. My advice: If there’s a weaker part of your application, don’t leave us guessing. By taking the opportunity to explain things that may help us understand their journey, applicants are demonstrating self-awareness and a commitment to growth.
CA: Could you tell us about the Duke Fuqua admissions interview process? Approximately how many applicants do you interview? Who conducts the interview and what is the nature of the interview? Will your admissions interviews be in-person or virtual for the 2025-2026 admissions season?
SH: Our interviews are offered by invitation only, and interview invitations are issued on a rolling basis following each application deadline. You can find more information about the timing of interview decision notifications here: https://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/daytime-mba/admissions-facts-dates
Applicants may choose between interviewing virtually or in person on our campus in Durham, North Carolina. There is no preference for interview format, and I encourage applicants to choose the option that’s most convenient for them. People who opt to interview on campus will also be able to participate in an official campus visit if they wish.
Interviews are resume-based and are conducted by either Admissions staff, alumni, or select second-year MBA students called Admissions Fellows. Admissions Fellows have been selected through an interview process and trained in conducting interviews. There is no difference between alumni- or student-led interviews.
We try to interview as many applicants as we can, and the number of people we interview varies from year to year. All candidates will interview before being admitted, but the interview decision is not a final decision on an application. A student who is not invited to interview initially may be invited to interview later in the process.
CA: Is there anything in particular international students should keep in mind during the Duke Fuqua admissions process?
SH: International applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible, but especially by the round 3 deadline, to receive their admission decision in time to begin the visa application process, which typically becomes available in early February. Since visa processing can take several months to complete, we encourage our international students to follow all instructions and submit the required materials promptly to prevent any additional delay.
We often receive questions about English as a Second Language Test requirements, degree requirements, and financial aid available to international students. Please visit our frequently asked questions page for those answers and more: https://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/daytime-mba/faq
CA: What is your favorite spot on campus?
SH: Duke’s campus is beautiful no matter the season, making it hard to pick just one favorite spot. On a sunny spring day, the Sarah P. Duke Gardens are the place to be. It’s the perfect place to walk and enjoy the blooming trees and flowers. That said, nothing beats the energy of Cameroon Indoor Stadium on game day or the stillness of the Ford Library at Fuqua when classes are in session. On Friday afternoons, I’m often in Fuqua’s Kirby Winter Garden for Fuqua Friday, a weekly event for our entire community to enjoy a meal and unplug after a productive week.
There are too many hidden gems to list here, but I encourage you to explore this extensive list of hidden study spots at Duke. Each spot captures a unique side of life at Duke, and together they make campus feel like home.
CA: Is there anything else you’d like to highlight about your MBA program or Duke Fuqua admissions process?
SH: Fuqua is advancing a school-wide effort to integrate artificial intelligence into the MBA experience. Starting this year, all core courses will have an AI component, ensuring every student develops foundational knowledge of how AI impacts business decision-making across functions. Faculty are participating in AI boot camps this summer to gain new ideas for redesigning assignments, developing AI teaching assistants to better support students, and bringing emerging tools directly to the classroom.
We’re excited to debut two new courses, AI for Managers and Transforming Tech Analytics with Machine Intelligence. In these courses, students will explore how key AI tools and systems can be leveraged to drive strategic decisions through real-world use cases and practical applications.
As AI continues to reshape business, Fuqua is also exploring new ways to offer specialized study in AI and connect students with thought leaders at the forefront of innovation. There are several exciting initiatives in development, and I look forward to seeing what students make of these opportunities.
