Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where is Durham?

A: Durham is in the northe-central part of North Carolina, located 20 miles west of Raleigh, which is the state capitol.  For additional reference, Durham is approximately four hours south of Washington, DC, by car.  The Raleigh/Durham International Airport (RDU) services all major airlines and offers non-stop flights to New York, Miami, Chicago, and Dallas, among other destinations.
Q: Who can I talk to if I have more questions?

A: If you would like to be connected with a current student, please contact the Admissions Cabinet member.

Alan Scharifker email
Q: How can I learn more about Fuqua?

A: There are many ways to learn more about the program and what it offers. You can

  • visit us on the Web - click here
  • schedule an on-campus visit - click here
  • participate in one of our information sessions in your local area - click here
Q: How do I pay for my MBA? How do I apply for scholarships?

A: All accepted applicants are automatically considered for merit-based financial aid. Merit-based scholarship decisions are made by the Scholarship Committee, and admitted students will be notified of any scholarship award within approximately one week of receiving an admission decision.  The earlier you apply, the more likely scholarship funds will be available. Also, many organizations have scholarships for first- and second- year MBA student. In addition to merit-based scholarships and scholarships or fellowships from outside organizations, students may apply for loans to help fully fund their education.  Fuqua offers a Financial Aid office to assist students with loan programs.
Q: I have very little work experience; should I still apply?

A: The length of time an applicant has been working, post college, is less important than the quality of work and experiences gained during the time the individual has been working.  While the Fuqua student body averages about five years of work experience, there is a great deal of variation within that average.  We do admit individuals directly from undergraduate institutions when other areas of the application are particularly strong, and we have students who have ten years of experience or more.  If you have fewer than two or three years of work experience, the Admissions Committee will look to your college experiences, part-time work, internships, life experiences, and other areas to determine opportunities you may have had to develop teamwork, leadership, and business-related skills.
Q: I went to college years ago; does my undergraduate GPA matter?

A: Yes it matters, but your undergraduate transcript is only one part of a total package that will include your GMAT score, work experience, recommendations, and essays. If your undergraduate GPA is a concern, enrolling in and completing courses, particularly quantitative courses, prior to applying can provide more recent evidence of your ability to succeed in the academic environment.

Testimonials:

"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 with 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, deepen my self-understanding, experience unforgettable moments with my fellow classmates, push my limits in class, thrive under a stressful job search process and 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

"I visited Fuqua before applying 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 life at Duke! "
Miguel Duhalt, Class of 2011 - Mexico