Perhaps you’re in the extraordinarily fortunate position of needing to choose between multiple schools that have offered you admission in Round 1. Or maybe you are furiously working on your Round 2 applications. Wherever you are in your process, campus visits can play a vital role in choosing where you ultimately decide to enroll.
Today’s Friday from the Frontline post—from Natalia Suarez, a second-year MBA student at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business—provides valuable tips for how to make the most of your campus visit. Suarez, who was born in Colombia but raised in New Jersey and Georgia, came to Fuqua from Miami, where she worked for several years in advertising for Turner Broadcasting.
Suarez has gotten involved at Fuqua in a major way—providing leadership development training for classmates as a Coach K Center on Leadership & Ethics (COLE) Fellow, participating in career-focused activities with the Tech and Marketing Clubs and through membership in the Black and Latino MBA Organization. She’s also actively involved with MBA admissions, working in the admissions office as an Admissions Ambassador and interviewing prospective applicants as an Admissions Fellow.
Suarez advocates unabashedly for Fuqua in the tips below—and some of what she recommends is specific to a visit to the North Carolina school. But much of her advice would prove useful no matter where you’re planning your campus visit. Our thanks to Suarez for granting permission to have her post republished for the Clear Admit audience.
The following post has been republished in its entirety from its original source, the Duke Daytime MBA Student Blog.
Five Tips to Make the Most of Your Campus Visit
By Natalia Suarez, Fuqua MBA ‘17
I have been involved with the Admissions Ambassador program since my first year at Fuqua. I decided to be part of the program because I love meeting prospective students and sharing why I love Fuqua.
A campus visit is an important part of the admissions process at any school, and I highly encourage you make every effort to come to Durham. Here are some tips to make the most out of it when you do:
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Spend Time in the Admissions Lounge
During your campus visit you will have the unique opportunity to ask questions to understand if Fuqua is the right place for you. Before you arrive, prepare questions for the students you’ll meet that will help you determine if Fuqua is a good fit for you and why. Keep reading, questions tips below!
Learn about the paired principles, how students have exemplified them, and start to think how you will impact the community should you decide to enroll at Fuqua.
After your visit, connect with the students you meet during it. Networking will be a huge part of your experience, and establishing relationships early will be useful.
Sign up for the daily group meet and greet with an admissions officer. The admissions officers are available to share insights on the application process and answer group questions.
Learn how to pronounce Fuqua correctly!
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Sign Up for the Tour and Lunch
Check out the team rooms, Ford Library, hall of flags, Paired Principles wall, Fox Center and Winter Garden.
As a business school student at Duke, you will spend most of your time in the Fuqua building. Make sure you sign up to tour the facilities. You will be able to ask your tour guide questions, so have some prepared.
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Visit a Class
Fuqua has unique classroom norms which are intended to maximize the classroom experience. Some of the norms include being in your seat ready to go at the time class starts, no food and no technology devices.
If experiencing classroom culture is important to you, consider coming on a weekday when classes are in session rather than a weekend visit.
If visiting in the fall, you will be able to sit in core classes, whereas in the spring, most classes are electives.
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Other Recommended Activities
Consider visiting on a Friday and staying for Fuqua Friday. Fuqua Friday is a great time for MBA students, partners, faculty, and professors to get together socially and catch up on the week. You will be able to enjoy dinner and drinks. (I will say the family room where the kids play has the best chicken fingers.)
Set up an informal coffee chat with Association of Women in Business (AWIB).
Meet and greet with the Health Sector Management (HSM) Club and HSM students (Friday only).
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Questions
Ask, Ask, Ask! Visiting campus allows you to truly understand if Fuqua is the right place for you. Make sure you ask a lot of questions.
Here are some samples:
- Most business schools are off on Friday, but Fuqua is off on Wednesday. What are the benefits of not having class on Wednesday?
- How do Professors engage with students outside of the classroom?
- What are the benefits of the classroom norms? Do you enjoy the no technology while class is in session norm?
- How do the professional clubs or Career Management Center help students successfully complete the recruiting process?
- Where do students live? What do you do for fun in Durham?
- How does Fuqua give back to the community?
- How is working with a Consequential Leadership Team (C-LEAD Team) preparing you to become a business leader?
We love hosting visitors at Fuqua and hope you enjoy your time. Overall tips: arrive early, make sure you are in the lounge 15 minutes before each scheduled activity, and come prepared to ask questions to understand if Fuqua is the place for you!
