school culture, housing, weather, traffic, and beautiful campus if not the largest in U.S

it seems fuqua is good at every aspect, but not best at any one. Consulting is good but not best. finance is good but not leading.

culture fit is important. duke is a good school for those with families.

Yes

Access to top tier firms, consulting and investment banking. Mid-sized, get to know most of your classmates. Excellent location - low cost of living, easy access to the Northeast, Midwest, and the South. Duke name is strong.

Heavy influence of the social sector. Not a fan of several of the core classes.

Sports scene is awesome. Faculty is top notch. One of the best groups of finance faculty I've seen.

Yes

Duke was a fantastic experience for business school. The faculty is routinely ranked the best amongst business schools and your fellow students will come from a diverse range of business/industry backgrounds, which is a refreshing change from other top 10 programs such as Wharton where everyone is from Finance, or Kellogg where everyone is from marketing... Additionally, the school as a whole does a great job of integrating its grad schools and students into the overall campus experience so you really feel like you're a part of the larger Duke community, and not just the business school. Plus, hard to beat floor seats at Cameron!

If you're from a coastal city, Durham can feel a bit small and removed from the action, and its not the easiest place in the world for spouses to continue their careers, if you have one. The Triangle is continually getting better in this regard, but its still not Boston, Chicago, The Bay Area, etc. That said, its a nice change of pace from the big cities.

If you're expecting a "southern" experience, look elsewhere. Duke is located in the south, but not of the south - the majority of your peers will be from the north east or west coast, which mirrors the undergrad student body as well, which is over 90% out of state students.

Yes

class size: 450

study: combination of lecture and cases

study abroad: many opportunities across the globe

low living cost but access to all resources

unique question: understanding of leaders of consequence

1

2011

collaborative environment, exceptional faculty members

alumni interview, GMAT, essays.

1

2011

Fuqua has many departments that are fantastic (versus just one rock star department). Class sizes range from 10 - 75 students. Core classes are on the larger end (75) that students complete with their (assigned) section. Specialty courses are typically smaller. The Health Sector Management program is unique to Duke, and not many other programs offer it. Because of that, recruiters come to Fuqua specifically to target these students, because they have clearly demonstrated their commitment to health care.

Duke is inward facing of Durham, and creates its own biosphere. While the school actively engages with the community through clubs and organizations and attracts global thought leaders/faculty, the school is not particularly well liked within North Carolina, especially compared to the local hero, UNC.

Dining is mostly places to take your parents or BBQ. Cost of living is lower compared to the northeast, especially for housing. Most housing is brand new, and most of the Fuqua students live at Station 9 or Alexan Place. There are definitely shadier areas of Durham that are crime ridden and have gang issues. In general, the Duke campus is an easy target for armed robberies, and the school tries to encourage students not to walk home late at night. Safety is a concern.

Essays, recommendations, interviews, high GMAT scores

2

2011

Very difficult classes. Good support from staff and peers. Faculty is fantastic.

GMAT is very important. Interview is pretty easy -- done by a student. Application is very extensive.

1

2011

The program is competitive as a normal distribution is applied to determine grades. Academics are superior and the method of teaching is both through lecture and through case study. The faculty is extremely friendly and willing to help students succeed. The characteristic that separates Duke fom other schools is the focus on teamwork and leadership development. Although the program is very competitive the willingness of students to help one another is impressive.

The quality of life is another aspect that sets Duke apart from other schools. It has a very friendly environment and is very friendly to partners.

Comparatively high GMAT score. Required interview for addmissions. Must display qualities associated with teamwork and have demonstrated experience of leadership.

1

2011

Top-notch and well-balanced.

The essays had an element that dealt with more of the social impacts of business. The process, in summary, went very smoothly and I was even offered the opportunity to interview in LA, since the trip to Durham would be difficult for me.

2

2011