Duke Fuqua has broken down the goal essay into two sections. In just 100 words, you have to tackle both these sections; hence, you need to give to the point answers.
Articulate your post-MBA goal in terms of functions, industry, location and geography. Keep in mind that short-term goals are a means to an end (long term goals). But don’t say that you wish to work for a specific company such as Google. You can write that you aspire to work in a top notch tech company.
What’s your Plan B? Ideally your alternative path shouldn’t be a huge departure from your plan A. Perhaps you plan to become a management consultant. But if you are unable to achieve a coveted position in a top notch consulting firm, you can probably join a corporate strategy position in a start up and navigate your way back to your original plan. On the other hand, if you aspire to become the marketing manager for a healthcare company and unable to find a suitable opportunity post MBA, you can choose a marketing position in a service based company. That way you can still remain in marketing, the core function you are interested in, and join a healthcare company after gaining valuable experience.
Review a sample MBA application essay on career goals!
This essay is entirely open-ended. It certainly allows a more creative approach than permitted by most essay prompts. The absolute worst way to deal with this is to “clearly not have fun with it.” If you take this as an opportunity to brag about your leadership achievements, you’re going to bore admission officers to tears and turn them off. “Team Fuqua” needs MBA students who have charm, wit, liveliness and spirit. Think of this list as an introduction to potential friends. Note that the question asks you to go “beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript.” Some of the examples could be:
1. At a young age, I conducted an experiment to test mercury levels by placing a thermometer into boiling milk! To my surprise, the thermometer burst into pieces and so did my mother’s anger! Sadly for my mother, these types of experiments did not stop … to say the least, I was a very curious child.
2. The number in my airline miles account is greater than my bank account. I wish that it was the other way around.
3. I tend to work well under pressure. During the moments of chaos, somehow I seem to find clarity.
These points are revealing. They are appealing, and they tell others something about the author. In this way, use your imagination and craft 25 interesting points about yourself that will make the admission officers feel like making you the next member of “Team Fuqua”. In case you wish to take help from professional experts, talk to us!
Instructions: Your response will be limited to 1 page (500 words maximum).
Fuqua prides itself on cultivating a culture of engagement. Our students enjoy a wide range of student-led organizations that provide opportunities for leadership development and personal fulfillment, as well as an outlet for contributing to society. Our student-led government, clubs, centers, and events are an integral part of the student culture and are vital to providing you with a range of experiential learning and individual development experiences.
Based on your understanding of the Fuqua culture, what are the three most meaningful ways you expect to engage and contribute to our community outside of the classroom?
Duke Fuqua basically wants to know what value you will add to your peers. As Fuqua has an extremely collaborative culture, the admissions committee understands that every student must contribute his or her energy, passion and leadership skills in order to make “Team Fuqua” outstanding.
First and foremost, define yourself. Think about your skills, experiences, and insights that will help you to contribute. The better you understand yourself, the easier it will be for you to define the areas to which you will actively contribute. Also, it will be easier to convince Fuqua about why you wish to contribute in those areas. Keep this in mind that thousands of applicants make tall promises of contribution to various clubs once admitted. But such promises do not convince the admissions committee members. They want to understand WHY you wish to contribute and WHAT you are going to get from contributing to the Duke Fuqua community.
There are three types of clubs – professional, diversity and activity/leisure clubs. The professional clubs will boost your leadership development activities. They will help you to build a professional network, connect with industry leaders and understand trends and challenges in your target industry. The diversity clubs help to share unique aspects of your personality and build interpersonal connections. Finally, the activity and leisure clubs provide opportunities for fun and personal development.
Do thorough research on your preferred clubs and write in detail about your probable contribution. For instance, if you are a technology applicant, and you wish to launch your start-up on Business Analytics, you may elaborate how the “Tech Treks” will help you to network with other folks and also elaborate on how panel discussion with industry leaders during a “Duke Disrupts” event will open your eyes to several other possibilities. You can also explain how you will take a proactive role in the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club to organize networking events with venture capitalists and other business owners.
If you are a female applicant, explain how you wish to facilitate panel discussions at the Women’s Leadership Conference that is organized by the Association of Women in Business. On the other hand, if you are a military veteran, you can elaborate how you are going to spearhead the Duke Armed Forces Association and going to take initiatives so that students with a military background can smoothly transition into the corporate world. You can also organize events to raise awareness about the perils of war and throw lights on the associated human tragedies.
Finally, talk about your hobby and passions and how the relevant clubs in Fuqua will offer you an opportunity for personal fulfillment. If you are an Indian applicant, you can narrate your childhood love for cricket and how you wish to spearhead the Cricket club. Or, you can explain how you are going to give passionate speeches at the Adam Smith Society on climate change and global warming. Or, if you are passionate about painting or sculpture, showcase how the Arts@Fuqua club will help you to explore your creativity.
Read some of the sample essays that I have helped my clients create for their successful B-school applications. All of them have been written and rewritten multiple times to project their differentiation. Read both the finalized essays and the basic write-ups given by the clients in order to understand the huge difference between the two. A meticulous review will help you to realize how many discussions and modifications were done to create the final pieces. Please don’t copy the ideas. I don’t mind if you do. But the chances are, they won’t suit your profile, and it will jeopardize whatever odds you now have.
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