The Duke Fuqua MBA application has three required essays. One is about the goal. The second is about the 25 random things, and the third is about how you will contribute to the Fuqua Community. Applicants, however, strategize the 25 random things as an opportunity to showcase personality traits that they couldn't highlight with Essay 3 - the three ways you will contribute to the Fuqua Community.
While shortlisting the 25 random things, use these 3 strategies:
1) Avoid the Predictable Stereotypes
Stereotypes about candidates are reinforced when the 25 random things include Football/Basketball for American applicants, Violin for Chinese applicants, and Cricket for Indian Applicants. If you use one of the sports or extracurriculars popularly quoted by the demographic, ensure that the examples are from when you performed at the highest level. That is state or national level or in a prestigious venue if you are quoting Performing Arts. Brainstorm and create a 30-50 list about yourself. Then eliminate examples that are stereotypical or expected from your profile.
2) Include Life Experiences
Any life experience could be framed as a unique experience if you construct the 1-2 sentence 25 random things just as you would structure an essay – a beginning, a middle, and an end. The random things that caught our attention were funny or quirky or included an aspect of the applicant's personality that was tough to decode through the resume, the goals question, or even the transcript. Often applicants use one of the 25 random things to highlight how their passion for an industry, a non-profit, or a cause began. Many use unique participation or travel experience or events or meeting influential personalities in the 25 random things.
3) Brainstorm and find what makes you Unique
This is a challenge if you ask your parents, siblings, friends, partner, or peers. We show each group some slices of our personality without showing it all to one group. Or we offer only certain vulnerable aspects of our personality to select groups. Some values or thinking might be out of the box or unique. There could be perspective or passion for a project or a hobby with unique motivations.
For one client, working on her painting was a way to relieve stress and disconnect from her high-profile Investment Banking job. It is the only moment she felt peace with herself.
You can present your perspective, hobbies, thinking, and life experiences in so many ways.
If you want to read examples of 25 random things, Download F1GMAT's Duke Fuqua MBA Essay Guide
