Duke Fuqua MBA Essay (Short-Answer)
Q) What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first choice career plan and your alternate plan.
#1. The Primary Goal should be ambitious
The primary career goal should be ambitious for your profile. Even if you had exposure in Consulting or Finance through a non-profit or through a short-term project, use the experience as a motivation to switch into the industry.
After you have clearly articulated the ‘why post-MBA goal,’ shortlist two to three features from the curriculum to demonstrate how Duke Fuqua MBA will help you achieve it.
#2. For Secondary Goal – Map with the post-MBA placement trends
Although recruitment into Consulting remains at an all-time high (30%+), the trends at Technology and Finance vary every year. The admissions team doesn’t want to take in applicants who all want to get into Consulting. The secondary goal should be strategic, fully understanding the challenges of the career service team.
Many candidates switch into consulting with the Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum project or through the buffer of electives that 1st year offers in the function.
Consulting, Finance, and Technology will continue to be the most competitive industries as the compensation is $150,000 for Finance and Consulting, while for Technology, the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology is the primary motivation.
At least one from the Industry or the Function that you quote for the post-MBA alternative plan should have double-digit representation.
Example: Consulting (34% by function) for the Healthcare (8%) industry
#3. Mention Dual Concentration
• Decision Sciences
• Energy & Environment
• Energy Finance
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation
• Finance
• Financial Analysis / Accounting
• FinTech (Financial Technology)
• Leadership & Ethics
• Management
• Marketing
• Operations Management
• Social Entrepreneurship
• Strategy
Duke Fuqua team offers the opportunity to do a dual concentration in the focus areas listed above. By taking a dual concentration – one targeted for your primary goal and the other for your alternative plan, you are fool proofing the feasibility of your goals. However, if your primary goal and alternative plans are not too diverse, you don’t have to pick two concentrations. Instead, focus on experiential learning and student club initiatives.
Examples Below
Sample Duke Fuqua Post-MBA Career Goals (89 Words) (Product Marketing for FinTech start-up)
Sample Duke Fuqua Post-MBA Career Goals (98 Words)(Financial Consulting to Management Consulting)
Sample Duke Fuqua Post-MBA Career Goals (99 Words) (IB to Entrepreneurship)
