CLASS OF 2000 GRADUATE COMMENTS
Editor's Note: BusinessWeek collected graduate comments in 2000 during its ranking of full-time MBA programs. The next ranking is scheduled for fall, 2002.
I entered B-school thinking that it was going to be an intense, enlightening experience filled with challenging intellectual debates. Certainly, this was not the case. Instead, the experience was one more of time management and efficient teamwork. While I still may have enjoyed a bit more debate, I have realized that time management and quick decision making are the skills that often make business leaders successful. In addition, I have made some of the best friends of my life and have landed an excellent job in Private Equity, a field that seemed like a pipe dream for me only two years ago. Based on these aspects of my experience here at Duke, I cannot imagine having forgone this incredible period of growth in my life. --Venture Capital/Private Equity
My MBA experience at Duke was both valuable and enjoyable. The people at Fuqua really make the difference. The school has a sense of community like no other top program. Everyone works hard to reach their individual goals while at the same time working with and supporting others in achieving theirs. This culture creates an environment where you can learn a lot, get a great job, make great friends and really enjoy yourself in the process. I would do it again in a minute. --Consulting
Career services office was absolutely outstanding. Overall, Fuqua was some of the best years of my life, a truly great learning experience, sorry to be graduating. --Operations
Good things about Fuqua - People (students) are super-nice. - Team experiences are very practical. - Career Service Office is extremely helpful. - There are lots of social events, which kept me away from [being bored]. - The school has trained me as a business professional, who can manage different issues under the highly stressful situations. - Professors are almost always accessible. - People work hard and play hard. - Beautiful nature in North Carolina - Good food for relatively low price at Thomas Center Bad things about Fuqua - You can never be able to enjoy the city life. - No cafeteria. - Weaker name recognition than top caliber schools such as Harvard and Wharton. --Marketing
Fuqua does a great job of listening and reacting to students comments. The professors and administration continually go out of their way to find out what the students needs are and adjust the curriculum to meet these changing needs. --Marketing
Attending the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University was the best choice I have made in my 27 years. I had an extremely well rounded experience. I received an excellent education from many leaders within their field. I had very intelligent classmates, who more importantly were people I wanted to spend time with. Fuqua encourages its students to 'stretch themselves' by participating in a myriad of extracurricular, community service, and athletic activities. The social events are numerous. We really have a strong sense of community here, and the class size is perfect 330. Its large enough to give us critical mass, however small enough so that I know almost everyone of my classmates.
Moreover, our career services department is one of the premier in the country. The people at CSO take time out of their busy schedules to discuss our problems. Meanwhile, they are out pursuing a myriad of companies and recruiters. Events such as Day in Charlotte and Week on Wall Street are fabulous. If you want a complete MBA experience -- academic, recruiting, and social -- Fuqua is the best MBA program in the country. What other schools (i.e. Harvard and Wharton) can boast ACC basketball in an arena like Cameron Indoor Stadium and a world class golf course (which the students can pay $15 after 4pm on weekdays)? I am going to miss this place! --Investment Banking
When I first came to Fuqua I perceived that the school had two minor weaknesses. First, the physical size of the school was what I would characterize as 'cramped.' For example, team rooms were shared with interview rooms. Second, I felt that the number of faculty members was low. In my two years at Duke, Fuqua has made tremendous strides in both of the areas I have mentioned above. While faculty turnover is inevitable, Fuqua has been extremely aggressive in retaining existing faculty members as well as attracting outstanding faculty from outside of Fuqua. On net, the quality of Fuqua's faculty has increased dramatically during my two year tenure. As far as school size is concerned I can not believe the progress Fuqua has made. In my two years the physical size of the school has more than doubled! Not only are the new facilities world class, but the existing facilities are being revamped to bring their quality level to that of the new facilities. --Consulting
Fuqua is a fairly young school, compared to other MBA programs. What is fairly unique about Fuqua is the culture. It is one where the students have a big input into the quality of the experience. Students take active roles in all of the major activities at Fuqua, including admissions, career search, and academics. If there are problems and things that need to be changed, the administration is very responsive to student input. One of the best feelings that I have about Fuqua is the knowledge that I came here and made a difference. The culture is such that anyone who comes here can make a difference, too. --Finance
I was extremely pleased with my experience. However, I am noticing a trend in the future MBA students due to the popularity and competitiveness of the MBA programs. This is an observation of ALL MBA programs. There is too much emphasis on someone's GMAT and grades and little emphasis upon his/her leadership, interpersonal, social, and resourcefulness skills. Students that enter MBA programs are very intelligent, but cannot manage a business because they don't know how to lead or build relationships. The question is, 'Are MBA programs really admitting the future business leaders?' I believe this is a good question to address seeing that MBA admissions is getting more and more competitive. Who gets in when everyone has a 700+ GMAT and 4.0 GPA? Where are the leaders and people we can respect the most? --Entrepreneurship
What a blast! I was confident that I would achieve my learning and career objectives at any of the top programs. Given that, I chose Fuqua so I could spend the two year process in a beautiful, fun, safe place with a group of really nice, cool people. --Marketing
While there are still a couple of strides to be made in terms of preparing people to start their own businesses, and a few other areas, I think Duke does a great job of listening to students and helping them shape the future of the school. By maintaining this approach, Fuqua will certainly continue to adapt to the changing business environment and remain one of the great places to get an MBA. One other point of emphasis when talking about Fuqua vs. other programs is the team approach that is stressed here. Its almost cliche to use the term 'team approach', but at Fuqua that means more than just doing cases in groups. I think people here realize that businesses do great things when people work closely together in a positive fashion, and the students take that seriously here. Even when personalities clash, there is a culture of acceptance that mandates people get through the differences and do good work. I thought that was a great learning experience for me. --Finance
Earning my MBA from Fuqua was one of the best decisions that I ever made. While I experienced tremendous professional growth, the international experience I gained from exchange programs and gate trips was invaluable. The Fuqua staff and faculty were truly receptive to feedback which sets our school apart from other schools. They are constantly striving to improve the quality of our education. --Consulting
I applied to 6 schools and was waitlisted at 4. Fuqua accepted me first, so I went there and am very happy with my decision. As with any school, some of Fuqua's professors (and classes) are outstanding, and others are not. I think you're always going to find much discrepancy in teaching and teachers at any school, even the top-ranked universities. --Anonymous
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