Testimonials from life in Durham
“Team Fuqua was one of the main reasons I picked Duke for my MBA. Although I had high expectations, I needed to be here and experience the life in Durham and Fuqua to understand what Team Fuqua really means. It is a collaborative environment that strives for excellence and accountability, a particular mix I haven’t found elsewhere. This is a student run school and it is up to us to take the opportunity to enhance our experience and that of our classmates. I got to be part of LASA and Fuqua on Board, both programs allowed to get involved in the Fuqua Community and the Durham Community. All the above have made me feel at home since the first day I got into town”. Sergio Chahud, Class of 2010 - Peru
"Joining Fuqua has been an incredible experience, a once in a lifetime opportunity for me. Fuqua has prepared me for future challenges in the fast paced and competitive world we live in. Having the opportunity to study with students from different countries and cultural backgrounds has given me the opportunity to acquire a global perspective, being an international student myself. Fuqua’s curriculum is focused on teamwork and keeping its students updated with the latest management frameworks. I have met extraordinary people with whom I have developed excellent professional and personal relationships." Claudia Hartel, Class of 2010 - Venezuela
"When I look back and think about why I decided to go to Duke, the thing that stands out in my mind is the people that I met during my visit in January 2004. I was really impressed how the people at Duke could make someone from the outside feel completely at home in a few short days. After my graduation in 2006, I can say with certainty that the people not only made my experience at the school great, but the culture they create, renovate, inspire and live by has made a profound impact in my life overall. The Duke culture allowed me to explore different career paths, to deepen my self-understanding, to experience unforgettable moments with my fellow classmates, to push my limits in class, to thrive under a stressful job search process and to embrace the community as if I had been born there. The Duke culture makes me go above and beyond still today in helping Duke find the best and brightest students who will nurture the Team Fuqua ideal in the future" Leonardo Bastos, Class of 2006 - Brazil
"Choosing Fuqua as my Business School was an excellent decision. I knew from the begging that I wanted to work in Investment Banking and having all mayor banks recruiting on campus made the job search very accessible. At the same time, coming from Buenos Aires, a 10 million habitant city, I was looking forward to study in a small city with a strong academic accent. Durham was great in this sense for my wife and me. Last but not least, the environment among students is what is most unique about the school. Students are able to combine their own personal ambitions and challenges with a strong sense of cooperation and team spirit." Santiago Stel, Class of 2011 - Argentina
"This year at Fuqua has been amazing. I have been able to meet excellent people both in professional and personal sides. Fuqua is a really international school which gives you the opportunity to meet people from different countries and to understand how businesses and life are in other parts of the world. I chose Fuqua because of its great team work environment and strong reputation in the US. I have been able to experience the Team Fuqua from the very beginning of the MBA both inside and outside the classroom. Duke and Fuqua offers you thousand of activities to do outside classes and it just depend of you if you take advantage of them or not. In terms of the city, my wife and I are very happy to live in Durham since it offers you a quality of life that is difficult to find in other cities in US. I joined the LASA and Private Equity Club cabinets last year and now I’m in charge of the Latin American Business Conference 2010. So far this has been a great experience and I have no doubt that these will be some of the best years in my life." Felipe Hartwig, Class of 2011 - Chile
"I visited Fuqua before applying to it and I loved the place, the people and the culture. Now I feel proud that I made the best decision in coming here. First, I have found the most valuable people. It is very difficult to explain but once you are here you can feel the Team Fuqua environment all over the place: An environment where people are always willing to help and a unique atmosphere where it is incredible easy to make a lot of friends. Secondly, I became even more interested when I knew about the great opportunities that Fuqua had in entrepreneurship and venture capital. Fuqua has given me the opportunity to learn a lot about entrepreneurship by participating in several entrepreneur competitions, including the Duke Start-up Challenge. I also had the chance to do a mentored study with Duke’s Small Business and Technology Development Center, where I mentored other start-ups. Finally, my wife and I were very interested in living in an adventurous place as Durham, where we could do a lot of outdoor activities. So far, we have done primitive camping, rafting, skiing, hiking, and many other open air activities. We just love our live at Duke!" Miguel Duhalt, Class of 2011 - Mexico
"Before coming to Fuqua I knew that I would be going to one of the best Schools in the US. I remember when I interviewed with several Fuqua alumni they mentioned that I was about to have the best two years of my life. Nothing could be closer to the truth….. There are four things that really impressed me while I was studying here.
Team Fuqua. Team Fuqua differentiates Fuqua students from other schools. Even though students are very competitive, Fuqua students always work together and look for ways to improve the Fuqua brand.
Strong International Presence. More than forty percent of Fuqua students are internationals. In a globalized business environment it is essential to interact with people from all over the world.
Rankings. Fuqua is improving as a school each year and I am proud to be part of this improvement.
Living in Durham. The big advantage of living in a city like Durham is that you are able to meet and interact with all your MBA classmates. This creates a strong community within Fuqua. Living in Durham is also less expensive than living in a larger city and as such the quality of life is better.
As I reflect on my time at Fuqua, I can now I can say that I made the right decision." AlbertoLlosa, Class of 2011- Peru
"Choosing the right business school is a very important decision and I couldn't be more glad of having decided to join Fuqua. Of the top business schools I considered, Fuqua has the best balance among academics, social life and post-mba career opportunities. Since I get here last year, it has been an amazing time and now I fully understand the meaning of Team Fuqua, a collaborative and supporting environment where each person can achieve full potential and maximize the MBA experience. Another distinctive aspect of Fuqua is the high level of diversity in terms of backgrounds, nationalities and career aspirations; having the opportunity to study and share my time here with such a diverse group of people, has definitely broadened my business knowledge and allowed me to acquire a truly global perspective. Last but not least, living in Durham has given me the opportunity to meet and share with my fellow classmates while having a great quality of live at a reasonable cost." Frank Mora, Class of 2011 -Venezuela