Duke Fuqua

The Real You, Unfiltered

This is not the place to repackage your resume. Fuqua wants to meet the version of you that your best friends or closest mentors would recognize: quirks, contradictions, guilty pleasures, and all. They believe strong teams are built on authenticity, and this is your chance to prove you'll show up that way.

Tip: Write in your natural voice. Imagine you're writing a voice memo to a close friend. The more honest and surprising, the better.

Range Matters

The best lists mix light and deep, funny and vulnerable, personal and worldly. Fuqua wants to see you're not just one thing. Are you ambitious and silly? Thoughtful and bold? Unexpected combinations are memorable.

Tip: Cover different domains: childhood, culture, travel, identity, family, habits, hobbies, fears, rituals, turning points, nicknames, obsessions, foods, philosophies. Aim for contrast between items. Keep the reader guessing.

Storytelling in Micro-Doses

Some entries can be just one sentence. Others can be a short anecdote. What matters is that each item says something about who you are, even indirectly.

Tip: "I cry at the same moment every time I watch the movie Coco" tells us more about your emotional wiring than "I value family." Use specific details that hint at bigger traits.

Heart Without the Lecture

You do not need to be profound on every line. But the best lists have at least a few items that hit with quiet depth: moments of loss, fear, growth, or clarity. These are what stay with the reader.

Tip: You might not plan these in advance. Often, they come out around item #13 or #17 when your guard is down. Let that happen. That's when the list gets real.

Fit Through Action, Not Aspiration

Fuqua isn't asking what you admire about the culture. They want to know how you'll actively live it. This means your three contributions should go beyond surface-level involvement. You're not just joining clubs. You're enriching them.

Tip: Start with a genuine area of passion or experience. Then ask yourself: What will I actually do with it at Fuqua? What gap could I fill, voice could I add, or initiative could I lead?

Specificity Over Generality

Anyone can say they want to join the Consulting Club or "help others grow." Fuqua wants you to know their ecosystem and they want your contributions to feel intentional, relevant, and unique to you.

Tip: Reference particular organizations, events, or initiatives. Better yet, describe what you will create or improve like a speaker series, a mental health peer circle, a diversity mentorship pipeline, a cross-club hackathon.

Impact in Three Dimensions

Ideally, your three contributions will cover different facets of MBA life. Think:

• Professional (career-focused contributions)
• Community or cultural (inclusive leadership or identity-based work)
• Personal growth and passion (hobbies, wellness, creativity)

Tip: Choose ideas that show range but feel cohesive, connected by values or strengths that make up your personal brand.

Humble Leadership

Fuqua is big on low-ego, high-impact leadership. You don't need to be the loudest or most decorated; you just need to care, show up, and make people better.

Tip: Reflect how you've contributed in similar ways before. Even a sentence that ties your plan to your past helps show credibility and thoughtfulness.