My Duke Fuqua interview took place on campus with a second-year MBA student. The interview lasted an hour and followed a structured, but conversational flow. The first few minutes were for introductions, followed by roughly 40 minutes of formal questions and 15 minutes for questions of my own.
The interview was held in a small, quiet room, which initially felt a bit sterile, but the tone quickly shifted once we began talking. The interviewer started with some light small talk before diving into multi-part questions, often two- or three-part prompts that required thoughtful pacing to answer clearly. The first question caught me slightly off guard because of its length, but the interviewer was patient and provided helpful clarification when asked. By the second or third question, I found my rhythm, and the discussion evolved into a natural back-and-forth.
The questions were largely behavioral and resume-based, with strong emphasis on self-awareness and community contribution. Questions embedded in their prompts included:
– Walk me through your background.
– Why Fuqua? Why MBA? Why now?
– What are your goals and how will Fuqua help you achieve them?
– How would others describe you?
– Tell me about a time you experienced challenges when working with people who had different perspectives—how did you navigate that, and how would that shape what you bring to Fuqua?
– Tell me about a time you received feedback.
– How have you utilized your network professionally, and how will you engage with the Fuqua community?
– The final question: “Now, you’re standing in front of the admissions team, and you have one minute to say whatever you want. Go!”
Before and after the interview, the atmosphere on campus was warm and engaging. Candidates waited together in a lounge area where student ambassadors joined us for conversation, helping ease nerves. After the interview, we had the option to attend a tour, lunch, and class visit; I chose to sit in on a first-year class, which I highly recommend to anyone interviewing in person.
Overall, the experience felt genuine, student-driven, and very aligned with Fuqua’s “Team Fuqua” culture. The questions pushed me to reflect deeply, but the tone remained encouraging throughout. What surprised me most was how much the interview mirrored Fuqua’s collaborative ethos—it wasn’t just about evaluating fit, but about envisioning how I’d contribute to and grow within the community.
