Duke Fuqua offers two options for completing your MBA interview:

• An on-campus interview in Durham
• An off-campus or virtual interview

Regardless of the format you choose, all Duke Fuqua MBA interviews are valued equally.

On-campus interviews are held on designated dates. If you choose this option, you will receive a link to sign up for a date and time on one of the dates below. Campus visit dates can fill up quickly, so be sure to schedule yours promptly. If you cannot interview on one of the dates listed for your application round, select the virtual interview option instead.

2024-2025 Interview Dates by Round

Early Action September 20, 23, 27, 30 & October 4, 5 

Round 1 November 1, 4, 11, 15, 16, 18

Round 2 January 27, 31 & February 3, 10, 14, 15, 17, 21, 22

Round 3 Virtual Only

Round 4 Virtual Only

Most off-campus interviews are conducted virtually. If you are invited to interview, you will receive an email introducing you to your interviewer. Depending on interviewer availability, Duke Fuqua may be able to offer in-person interviews off campus.

Duke Fuqua MBA interviews are almost always conducted by Admissions Fellows, who can either be alumni, staff, or a select group of trained second-year MBA students. International students who prefer an in-person interview can interview with an alum. Interviewers will only have access to your resume; they will not have read your entire application file.

What Duke Fuqua is Looking for in the MBA Interview

Regardless of the interview format or round, Admissions Fellows and alumni interviewers are trying to gauge your fit within the Fuqua community. Ultimately, the admissions team trusts these interviewers to determine just that. As a former associate director at Duke Fuqua, I can attest that the admissions team places a lot of trust in the peer evaluation process to reflect the genuine importance of teamwork and collaboration to the Fuqua community.

In this type of environment, your communication and interpersonal skills are being evaluated. Honesty, authenticity and engagement are incredibly important. Be prepared to explain why you want an MBA and why Fuqua is an ideal fit for you personally and professionally. Finally, don’t forget to come prepared with questions for your interviewer that show a genuine interest in your experience as a member of the Fuqua community.

Typically, the Duke MBA interview lasts 30–45 minutes, but depending on the interviewer, it may last up to an hour. The vibe is usually friendly and conversational.

How to Prepare for Your Duke Fuqua Interview

Before diving into each of these preparation steps, it’s important to approach the Duke Fuqua interview with a clear strategy in mind, ensuring that you not only highlight your achievements but also align them with Fuqua’s core values and collaborative culture. Here’s how you can prepare effectively:

• Reflect on your professional journey: Thoroughly review your resume and be prepared to discuss any bullet or piece of information in detail — not just your accomplishments but what you have learned from your experiences and the reasons for the choices you have made.
• Review your essays and answers to supplemental questions: Remember, the interviewer has not read these parts of your application, but they will summarize your answers for the admissions committee. Your answers should be consistent with what you wrote about in your application.
• Dive back into your research on Fuqua: Refresh your knowledge of its core curriculum, electives, concentrations, professional and personal clubs of interest and the team Fuqua mentality. If you spoke with students or alumni previously, review your notes and consider contacting them again for interview-specific advice.
• Practice, practice, practice: While every interview is unique, you can expect Duke Fuqua MBA interview questions like tell me about yourself, why an MBA / why Fuqua and what are your post-MBA goals. Your answers to these should be well thought out and well-articulated.
• Engage in mock interviews: Conduct mock interviews with friends, mentors or admissions coaches. This helps you refine your answers, get comfortable with the interview format and benefit from constructive feedback.
• Research your interviewer: Admissions Fellows have profiles on the Duke Fuqua website, and most will also have LinkedIn profiles. Check out your interviewer’s background and look for things you may have in common, whether it’s a similar pre-MBA industry, a former employer or a general interest. These points can be useful icebreakers or opportunities to personalize the questions you ask at the end of the interview.

Preparing for Behavioral Questions

You will be asked behavioral questions — the story-style questions that may begin, “Tell me about a time….” To prepare, think through specific examples and outline the situation, the action you took and the result.  Additional questions can vary greatly, but here are a few Fuqua interview questions previous Fortuna clients have shared with me:

• How do you plan to contribute to the Fuqua community?
• What are three or four words your co-workers would use to describe you? 
• Tell me about a time you worked on a team where someone wasn’t pulling their weight and how did you address it? 
• Describe your experience working on diverse teams.

When you thoroughly prepare and practice your responses, you’ll be ready to demonstrate both your personal strengths and your alignment with Fuqua’s values.

Get Ready to Shine

Now, let’s explore how you can stand out during the interview itself, making the most of your preparation and research. Practice is critical, and professional feedback makes your practice pay off. Fortuna coaches have insider insights into what interviewers ask and what business schools are looking for, so we excel at interview prep.

Reach out now for a free 30-minute consultation to learn more about how we can guide you through this high-stakes element of the application process and help you put your best foot forward on interview day. 

Catherine Tuttle is an Expert Coach at Fortuna Admissions and a former Associate Director at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business.