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Quick Answer: Duke’s Fuqua MBA essays aim to uncover your authenticity, values, and goals. For 2025-2026, applicants must submit the famous “25 Random Things” essay and a Community essay. These essays help the admissions team understand your personality and fit with Fuqua’s collaborative culture.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the Duke essay questions for 2025-2026, share writing tips and examples, and show you how to craft compelling responses that reflect who you are.
Here are the topics we’ll cover:
- Duke MBA Essay Prompts for 2025-2026
- How to Approach the 25 Random Things Essay
- Strategies for the Fuqua Community Essay
- What to Include in the Optional Essay
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Sample Insights: What Makes a Duke Essay Stand Out
- Key Takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What are the current Duke Fuqua MBA essay prompts?
- How should I approach the “25 Random Things” Duke MBA essay?
- Are there word limits for Duke MBA essays?
- Where can I find strong Duke essay examples?
- Is there a Why Duke essay?
- Is the Duke supplemental essay truly optional?
- How many optional essays does Duke have this year?
- How do I write the Duke optional essay?
- How do I write Duke essays?
- What’s Next
Duke MBA Essay Prompts for 2025-2026
This season, applicants must respond to a short answer question, 2 Duke MBA essay questions, and an optional essay. Specifically, each prompt helps the MBA admissions committee assess your fit with “Team Fuqua.”
The Duke admissions essays include:
Required Short Answer Essay Question
What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first-choice career plan and your alternate plan. (100 words)
Essay 1: 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. (750 words maximum)
Essay 2: 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? (500 words maximum)
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. (500 words maximum)
KEY FACT:
Duke Fuqua requires 1 short answer and 2 main essays in its 2025-26 MBA application.
How to Approach the 25 Random Things Essay
This essay prompt is unique to Fuqua. Unlike more typical essay questions, the format invites applicants to be creative and share a variety of information.
What the Essay Reveals
Fuqua’s MBA admissions team looks for authenticity and humanity —beyond your resume and transcripts. Further, the “25 Random Things” essay reveals qualities and characteristics that will introduce you to the Fuqua community.
Tips and Examples
Fuqua invites you to share things from all areas of your life. Specifically, you may include some things from your professional life. Additionally, you are encouraged to share things from other areas of your life, such as your:
- hobbies
- life experiences
- achievements
- fun facts
The instructions ask for a numbered list. However, some items might be just a few words, while others may be longer.
Review the examples on Fuqua’s Daytime MBA blog to review the breadth and depth of responses. For example:
- “When I was younger, I trained dogs in sheep herding and agility. I did not appreciate either experience at the time, but I’m glad that my parents pushed me to try something unconventional. I’m now open to trying anything once.”
- “I’m addicted to true crime. I’ll read, watch, or listen to anything related to it.”
- “While trying to decide which business school to go to, I was offered a Fuqua T-shirt by a friend who got into Fuqua 10 years ago but did not enroll. This random hand-me-down became yet another sign for me to apply to Fuqua.”
In the 25 Random Things essay, you should mix serious and fun topics, share your values, and avoid repeating facts from your resume.
TTP PRO TIP:
Fuqua’s 25 Random Things essay is an opportunity to showcase your personality and what makes you unique.
Strategies for the Fuqua Community Essay
Fuqua’s second essay requires applicants to research the program and reflect on how they’ll contribute. Specifically, candidates must share which activities align with their interests and how they’ll make an impact.
Additionally, applicants must understand the depth and breadth of Fuqua’s student clubs and organizations. Specifically, Fuqua categorizes student clubs into professional, affinity, and leisure groups:
- Professional: These clubs help students build practical skills, follow trends, and connect with leading experts and employers in their chosen industries.
- Affinity: These groups form around a shared background or interest, allowing students to share the unique parts of themselves with the greater Fuqua community.
- Leisure: Social and activity clubs foster personal development, friendship, and networking.
However, applicants are also encouraged to think of ways to contribute to the cohort outside of formal student organizations.
TTP PRO TIP:
Effective Community essays show a knowledge of Fuqua’s unique community offerings and a specific plan to contribute.
Clarity, Motivation, and Fit
Team Fuqua is core to the program’s DNA. Therefore, it’s critical for applicants to demonstrate how the program’s values align with what they need from an MBA program.
The Fuqua Community essay is an opportunity to demonstrate your fit with the program, along with how you’ll foster community.
Talk with current students to understand the MBA experience and identify ways that you’ll contribute.
TTP PRO TIP:
Demonstrate your fit with Fuqua’s program and community.
What to Include in the Optional Essay
The Duke supplemental essays look for specific information — follow the instructions!
For starters, you should use this essay to explain any potential weaknesses in your profile or application. Specifically, clarify situations like gaps in your employment, your undergraduate performance, or your choice of recommender.
Provide direct commentary about any situation you address in your optional essay, rather than a series of excuses. Remember, you shouldn’t paste another essay from another application.
Finally, the optional essay is truly optional. Therefore, it should only be used if there are circumstances to address.
TTP PRO TIP:
Use the Duke optional essays only if you have specific circumstances to address.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Here are the common mistakes to avoid when writing Fuqua’s MBA essays:
- Repeating your resume in your 25 Random Things Response. Avoid the temptation to share your achievements. Instead, share a mix of random things across your professional, personal, and extracurricular activities.
- Providing only generic contributions to the Fuqua community. Your community essay should be well-researched and specific. Further, it should read as though it were written just for Fuqua, and not another MBA program.
- Exceeding the word count limits and misusing the optional essay. Ensure that you stay within the maximum word count limits. Also, write an optional essay only if you need to clarify a specific situation.
TTP PRO TIP:
Don’t make the mistake of simply repeating your resume or listing your achievements in your 25 Random Things essay.
Sample Insights: What Makes a Duke Essay Stand Out
Successful Fuqua essays provide the MBA admissions committee with a clear understanding of who you are and what you’ll bring to the community.
Specifically, a strong 25 Random Things essay shares your personality and showcases your authenticity.
Additionally, an effective Fuqua Community essay links your fit to the program with your unique contributions to the community.
Key Takeaways
Fuqua’s MBA application essays are unique. Further, they’re an opportunity for candidates to share their whole selves with the MBA admissions committee.
Have fun with this application, and good luck!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the current Duke Fuqua MBA essay prompts?
For 2025-26, Duke essay requirements include 1) 25 Random Things, 2) The Fuqua Community and You, and 3) The optional essay.
How should I approach the “25 Random Things” Duke MBA essay?
Be authentic! Mix serious topics with fun facts. Also, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through.
Are there word limits for Duke MBA essays?
Yes. The 25 Random Things essay is 750 words, and the Fuqua Community essay is 500 words.
Where can I find strong Duke essay examples?
Check out some of the examples in this article. Then, visit admissions blogs and ask your MBA admissions consultant.
Is there a Why Duke essay?
Sort of. Candidates should make a case for Duke and Fuqua in the Community essay.
Is the Duke supplemental essay truly optional?
Yes. Only use it if you need to provide context for specific situations.
How many optional essays does Duke have this year?
The Duke essay prompts include just 1 optional essay.
How do I write the Duke optional essay?
Use a straightforward tone for your Duke supplemental essays.
How do I write Duke essays?
Review the Duke essay tips in this article and follow the instructions.
What’s Next
Fuqua’s MBA application essays require candidates to be creative. If you’d like guidance on your Fuqua application, we can help! Target Test Prep’s experienced MBA admissions consultants will guide you through the entire process.
Book a free consultation with one of our expert admissions consultants today.
