Thinking about applying to Duke Fuqua? The school’s essays are designed to reveal the person behind the resume, your personality, values, and vision. For 2025-26, Fuqua requires responses to three prompts: a 100-word career goals short answer, the well-known “25 Random Things” list (750 words), and a 500-word community essay. The strongest responses are clear, specific, and authentic, while highlighting how you’ll contribute to Fuqua’s collaborative “Team Fuqua” culture. In this guide, we break down each essay prompt, explain what the admissions committee is looking for, and share strategies and examples to help you craft standout responses.

How to Tackle Fuqua’s ‘25 Random Things’ Essay?

Prompt: 25 random things about yourself.

The ‘Team Fuqua’ spirit and community is one of the things that sets the MBA experience apart, and it is a concept that extends beyond the student body to include faculty, staff, and administration. Please share with us “25 Random Things” about you. The Admissions Committee wants to get to know YOU – beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript. Share with us important life experiences, your hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you who you are.

Your list will be limited to 2 pages (750 words maximum). Please present your response in list form, numbered 1 to 25. Some points may be brief, while others may be longer.

Fuqua’s most famous essay prompt – “25 Random Things About Yourself” – is unlike anything you’ll find in other MBA applications. On the surface, it may seem quirky, but its purpose is serious: the Admissions Committee wants to know who you are beyond the bullet points of your resume. This is your opportunity to bring your personality, values, humor, and humanity into the application. Done well, this essay can transform an anonymous applicant file into a vivid, memorable illustration of you.

What Fuqua Is Really Looking For

The “Team Fuqua” spirit is core to the school’s identity – a culture that emphasizes collaboration, diversity, and authentic connection. Your list should reflect that ethos, even indirectly. The admissions team isn’t looking for excessive polish or perfection; they’re looking for clues about what you care about, how you see the world, and what makes you tick.

How to Approach the List

• Mix it up. Some items can be lighthearted one-liners (“I’ve watched every episode of The Great British Bake Off twice”), while others can go deeper (“After living abroad as a child, I developed a lifelong passion for learning languages and building cross-cultural friendships”). A good list has variety.
• Show breadth. Cover different facets of your life: family, hobbies, quirks, passions, travels, values, and formative experiences. Resist the urge to make this an extension of your resume – limit professional items to just a few.
• Balance humor and heart. The most effective lists weave together funny, endearing, and reflective elements. Fuqua wants classmates who are not just impressive, but also approachable and genuine.
• Be culturally aware. With about 40% of the student body international, global perspective matters. Mention experiences that shaped your openness to different cultures or highlight times you’ve worked with diverse teams.
• Keep the reader engaged. Think of your 25 items as puzzle pieces that, together, create a holistic picture of who you are. There’s no need to cluster similar themes; instead, vary the tone and subject matter as you go.

Practical Tips

• Brainstorm freely before drafting. Ask friends and family what they find most memorable about you. Often they’ll surface stories or quirks you’ve forgotten.
• Don’t over-edit the “randomness” out of the list. The charm of this essay lies in its unpredictability and authenticity.
• Test your draft on someone who knows you well – does it sound like you? Does it reflect the person they’d want as a teammate?

Why This Essay Matters

The “25 Random Things” is more than a fun exercise – it’s your best chance to show Fuqua the kind of community member you’ll be. While other parts of the application focus on your professional trajectory, this essay brings in the warmth, humor, and individuality that makes you human. If you can make the admissions reader smile, nod, or want to meet you after reading your list, you’ve succeeded.

Key Takeaways

• This essay is about authenticity, not accomplishments – focus on stories and details that bring your personality to life.
• Variety matters: mix light, playful facts with meaningful, reflective ones to keep the reader engaged.
• Limit work-related items; Fuqua also has your resume – this is your chance to add dimension.
• Highlight your global mindset and ability to thrive in diverse teams, a hallmark of the Fuqua community.
• A great list should feel like an introduction to someone you’d want on your team: genuine, interesting, and approachable.

Example of a Successful ’25 Random Things About You’ Essay

1. Having gained seven siblings all at once at the age of nine, I’ve come to have a loose definition of the word “family.” My definition is based more on time I’ve spent with someone than our legal or biological bonds.
2. It took time (and a new addition to the house), but eventually, my newly extended family fell into a rhythm. Our home was louder but filled with more laughter. Together, we learned to discuss topics such as subliminal racism and police violence against people of color with sensitivity, directness, and when appropriate, a sense of humor.
3. I have a pet Quaker parrot named Blue. I was told it was a male bird, so I was shocked when “he” laid an egg!
4. I’m deathly scared of spiders. My first month living in Chongqing, a spider about 3 ½ inches across found itself in front of my doorway; after frantically FaceTiming my dad, I dropped a textbook weighing about five pounds on it. I didn’t move the book for two weeks.
5. When I am stressed out, I like to watch documentaries about space… or the children’s show “Arthur”—totally different but equally effective.
6. Ever since I watched the show Madeline at age 5, my interest in studying another language was piqued. While it only included snippets of French (“bonjour,”, “merci”) I was enchanted by the idea of learning French and connecting with a group of people otherwise unreachable.
7. On Thanksgiving when I was 5 years old, I finally put it together that the turkey we were eating was “turkey,” the bird. I surprised my parents by announcing I was now going to be a vegetarian. I surprised them further by remaining vegetarian until the end of high school.
8. In college, I volunteered in China with an NGO building libraries in rural schools. When the children first saw me, they ran and hid. It was their first time laying eyes on a foreigner. While they were initially frightened, we eventually bonded over Chinese paper cutting (which I never did quite get the hang of).
9. One of my first nights in Hunan Province, I tried “huajiao,” a pepper known for its numbing effects on the mouth; I had no idea what I’d eaten and was convinced I was having an allergic reaction. Since we were hours from a hospital, I was also half-convinced this could be the end. Now, huajiao is one of my favorite spices.
10. My college roommates and I met on our hall freshman year and the five of us lived together the rest of our time at Penn. We still have yearly reunions despite all living in different cities.
11. This summer, I had a small “family reunion” in a cozy Italian restaurant in NYC’s West Village. Around the table sat Tao Tao, a close friend from middle school, Alex, Roon and Angie, my hallmates for two years in boarding school, Nick and Amanda, my college roommates and Freddie and Mark, who lived with me in Chongqing. It was surreal to bring these “family members” from different stages of life and corners of the world together.
12. I failed the written portion of the driving test three times before passing. My family, who often made fun of me for being the “nerdy” one, got a huge kick out of this.
13. I once took a 10-day trip around the deserts and plains of southeastern Mongolia with two women I had just met from Australia and Canada. Despite 10 days in very close quarters, we became great friends and confidants.
14. My favorite moments living in China are those in which I completely mess up (e.g. first time I tried to hike Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan province and ended up about a hundred miles off on the Tibetan border.) I had to squeeze into a 4.5ft. bed and go straight back the next day — hilarious and humbling.
15. Over the past few years, a couple of clients’ passion for physics has rubbed off on me. Now, I listen to physics podcasts almost every night. Concepts like particle-wave duality and quantum field theory blow my mind!
16. I used to be more of a night owl until I walked onto the crew team freshman year of college. Even after I stopped my second year, I maintained the habit of waking up early, and now I’m a total morning person.
17. My closest friends in Beijing identify as queer. Through them I have become involved in the LGBTQ+ community in Beijing, where there is still political danger associated with being queer/attending LGBTQ+ events. Locations are never released until just beforehand and only via private message.
18. One of my favorite memories this past year was trying to teach my 7-year-old niece how to play Mancala. Unfortunately, she never mastered the game… her 4-year-old sister kept flipping the board over.
19. While studying in France, I decided to stay abroad over the holidays and spent Christmas going on an impromptu tour through Lausanne, Switzerland, given by a professor from the Ivory Coast who I bumped into on the street.
20. My first job was working in a fine jewelry store. I got to see treasures like an inscribed platinum watch a family managed to bring with them after escaping France at the start of WWII or a Victorian locket that still contained a black-and-white photo of a young boy. I loved learning the stories behind the pieces and then sharing them with customers.
21. My youngest adopted brother was drafted by the Miami Dolphins this past spring (my mom immediately bought an aqua and orange phone case to celebrate).
22. During my freshman year at Penn, I thought I had signed up for a writing seminar until I showed up for class and realized midway through that I had, in fact, registered for a seminar about sleep in the nursing school. I have no idea how I managed to mix that up, but I ended up sticking with it, and it became one of my favorite classes!
23. I had two pet rats, Chai and Cappuccino, in college. Side note: Between its Parisian location and the fact that the main characters are rats, you may not be surprised to learn by now that Ratatouille is my favorite Disney movie.
24. Since high school, I have always had an interest in storytelling. One of the reasons I chose to work at ESC was its mission: Help students craft a narrative that tells their unique story.
25. The first time I played flag football was in open meet-and-greet game. I had a classic moment of almost making a touchdown and the football landing straight on my face. I still joined the team, though!

How to Tackle Fuqua’s Community Essay?

Prompt: The Fuqua community and you.

Fuqua prides itself on cultivating a culture of engagement. Our students enjoy a wide range of student-led organizations that provide opportunities for leadership development and personal fulfillment, as well as an outlet for contributing to society. Our student-led government, clubs, centers, and events are an integral part of the student culture and to the development of leaders. Based on your understanding of the Fuqua culture, what are 3 ways you expect to contribute at Fuqua?

Your response will be limited to 1 page (500 words maximum).

Fuqua is proud of its “Team Fuqua” spirit – a culture where students step up, lean in, and create opportunities for one another. That’s why this essay is so important: the Admissions Committee wants to see how you will actively contribute to the community outside the classroom. Your task is to identify three specific ways you’ll get involved, and to ground those in your past experiences so that your plans feel authentic and credible.

What Fuqua Is Really Looking For

This prompt isn’t about your academic potential or what you’ll say in class – that comes across in other parts of your application. Instead, the focus is on how you’ll enrich the Fuqua experience for others. The best responses show that you’ve taken the time to research the school, spoken with students or alumni, and pictured yourself engaging fully in Durham.

How to Approach the Essay

• Pick three meaningful avenues of engagement. Fuqua explicitly mentions student-led government, clubs, centers, and events. These are where you should focus. Balance professional clubs (e.g., Finance, Consulting, Tech) with more personal or cultural communities (e.g., Association of Women in Business, Latin American Student Association, Improv Club).
• Connect to your past. Don’t just list what you want to join – explain why. If you’ve organized community service events at work, link that experience to contributing to the Net Impact Club or Fuqua’s Stop Hunger Now initiative. If you’ve built global teams, show how that translates into supporting cross-cultural initiatives on campus.
• Show impact. Be concrete about how you’ll add value, not just what you’ll take part in. Admissions officers want to know how your presence will make the Fuqua community stronger, whether by leading a conference, mentoring classmates, or bringing people together around shared passions.
• Think outside the classroom. This is where some applicants slip up. Fuqua is very clear: they want to know what you’ll do beyond academics. Highlight how you’ll invest your energy in clubs, leadership roles, and cultural or social initiatives.

Practical Tips

• Do your homework. The more specific you are about Fuqua’s opportunities, the stronger your essay. Reference clubs, centers, or initiatives by name – and ideally, mention conversations with current students or alumni.
• Balance ambition and humility. You don’t need to lead everything you join. Show a mix of leadership aspirations and genuine enthusiasm for contributing as a member.
• Stay authentic. Pick contributions that actually align with your passions. Admissions readers can tell the difference between a laundry list of clubs and a thoughtful plan that builds on your demonstrated interests.

Key Takeaways

• Choose three specific opportunities – balancing professional, cultural, and personal interests.
• Ground your plans in your track record of involvement and leadership to show credibility.
• Be specific about Fuqua’s clubs, centers, and events, demonstrating real research and fit.
• Show that you’ll enhance the “Team Fuqua” spirit through meaningful, authentic engagement.

How to Tackle Fuqua’s Optional Essay?

Prompt: Optional essay: Tell us more.

If you feel there are circumstances of which the admissions committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g. unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance). Note that you should NOT upload additional essays nor additional recommendations in this area. The Optional Information section is intended to provide the admissions committee with insight into your circumstances only.

Your response will be limited to 1 page (500 words maximum).

Fuqua’s optional essay is not an extra opportunity to market yourself. It exists for one reason: to clarify aspects of your application that may raise questions for the Admissions Committee. If you don’t have any such issues, you should skip this section. Submitting an optional essay without cause can weaken your application rather than strengthen it.

When to Use the Optional Essay

Appropriate circumstances include:

• Academic concerns: A low GPA, inconsistent grades, or a failed class.
• Test score context: Explaining why your GMAT/GRE doesn’t reflect your true ability.
• Employment gaps: Periods of unemployment or unusual career transitions.
• Recommendation issues: If you are not using a direct supervisor or need to explain another choice.
• Other anomalies: Anything unusual in your background that might confuse the reader.

How to Approach It

• Be factual and concise. This is not the place for storytelling. State the circumstance directly and provide only the context needed for understanding. It’s perfectly acceptable to use bullet points. In most cases you won’t need the full 500 words. 
• Take responsibility. If relevant, acknowledge mistakes without sounding defensive or making excuses.
• Show growth and resilience. Emphasize how you addressed the challenge and what you’ve done since to ensure future success (e.g., improved grades in quant-heavy courses, new professional responsibilities, or certifications).
• End with confidence. Close by reinforcing your readiness for Fuqua’s academic rigor and community.

What Not to Do

• Don’t use this space to highlight additional achievements or squeeze in another essay about why you are such a great candidate.
• Don’t repeat material that already appears elsewhere in your application.
• Don’t over-explain – keep it direct and professional.

Key Takeaways

• Only write this essay if you have a clear weakness or anomaly that requires explanation.
• Keep it as concise as possible. 
• Keep your tone professional, factual, and forward-looking.
• Show that you’ve learned from past issues and are now fully prepared for the MBA.

• If you don’t have anything to address here, leave this essay blank — that’s the best strategy.

How to Tackle Fuqua’s Career Goals Question?

Required short-answer essay question: Answer the following question in 100 words. What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first-choice career plan and your alternate plan.

In just 100 words, Fuqua asks you to outline both your first-choice and alternate post-MBA career plans. With so little space, clarity and concision are essential. 

What Fuqua Is Looking For

• Realism. Your goals should make sense given your background and transferable skills.
• Clarity. State your intended function and industry directly, and name target firms if you have them.
• Flexibility. Fuqua knows many students pivot during the MBA. Showing a thoughtful “Plan B” demonstrates adaptability and foresight.

How to Approach the Essay

• Start with Plan A. Identify your intended industry, role, and (if possible) specific companies. Show how this connects to your prior experience and what you’ll gain at Fuqua.
• Then add Plan B. Choose an alternative that is related – not a completely different direction, but one that still builds toward your long-term aspirations. For example, if Plan A is consulting at Bain, Plan B could be strategy roles at a multinational in your industry of interest.
• Keep it crisp. There isn’t room for long explanations; think in terms of a one-sentence Plan A and one-sentence Plan B, with perhaps a brief phrase on how Fuqua bridges the gap.

Practical Tips

• Use direct language: “Post-MBA, I plan to pursue X role in Y industry at companies such as Z.”
• Avoid vague aspirations like “leadership in tech” – get specific.
• Make sure your Plan A and Plan B are logically connected so that they both support your long-term trajectory.
• Don’t waste words on why you’re passionate – your resume and longer essays carry that context. This answer is about focus and feasibility.

Key Takeaways

• Use the 100 words to show you have a clear, realistic career path.
• Plan A should be direct and connected to your past experience.
• Plan B should demonstrate flexibility but remain aligned with your overall direction.
• Keep the structure simple: one crisp statement for Plan A, one for Plan B.
• Clarity is more important than flair – the adcom wants to see thoughtful planning, not creative writing.

Let’s Get You Into Fuqua

Fortuna Admissions is a dream team of former MBA admissions decision-makers from top schools. We know what it takes to stand out because we’ve made the admit decisions ourselves. Whether you need help refining your story, strengthening your essays, or navigating interviews, we’ve got you covered.

Our free consultations are consistently rated the best in the industry – and they’re a great way to get personalized advice and honest feedback on your profile. Book your free session with us today.