Duke essay 2: How will your background, values, and non-work activities enhance

moonwalker

请教一下： 这一题写working experience也可以吧？

ginnycao

Can I talk about several experiences? Or just focus on one experience? Thank you.

JonFrank

But I have a question.

I am afraid that the i am not the only rural guy who applies to Duke. The Adcom have seen a lot of this kind of story...

My rural story is more touching, just as you discribe, but I think I should distinguish myself in other ways.

-- by 会员 seachina (2010/9/24 1:20:01)

Hello there my friend!  Thank you for some morethoughtful notes.  Yes, of course the adcoms have seen this rural story before.  After all, they have heard EVERY story before—whether a rural person from China, or a banker from NYC, or a car salesman from Detroit, or a tobacco farmer in Cuba.  There is no way to be truly unique—the way to differentiate yourself isn’t by choosing the most unusual story, of course. It is by having a truly unique, unusual perspective. No matter what story you tell in your apps, they will have heard something similar.  No matter what accomplishment you list, they will see something more impressive.  You cant win that game!  What you CAN do is describe your unique PERSPECTIVE.  How it all affected YOU.  THAT is how you win, my friend.  Hope this helps, and good luck!

Jon Frank

JonFrank

hi Jon,

Thanks for your suggestion

how about telling us how you would write this essay if you apply for Duke? just use stories before your MBA

No offense

-- by 会员 flytiti (2010/9/24 0:12:06)

Sure—when I was in college, I was musical director of a singing group.  We were very good—and sang for the White House in the USA, at Carnegie Hall, on television, etc.  I might tell a quick story about how I led that team while we were so successful.  So in a Duke app, I might have connected this to leadership in general.  I have always been comfortable leading teams—whether as a real estate developer in work, or doing extra-curricular work outside the office.  I have always been a natural leader.  J  One topic…done!  After all, leading a real estate development is similar to leading a singing group.  A music conductor and a real estate developer have the same skills.  I am eager to bring this skill to Duke, helping people to achieve their goals.  J

Piece of cake!   For more specific questions, feel free to reach out to me personally at my email address.  That way, as your questions get increasinglyspecific to you, I can help more.

Hope this helps,

Jon Frank

usocean

Thanks Jon.
Your suggestions are always impressive.

seachina

But I have a question.

I am afraid that the i am not the only rural guy who applies to Duke. The Adcom have seen a lot of this kind of story...

My rural story is more touching, just as you discribe, but I think I should distinguish myself in other ways.

flytiti

hi Jon,

Thanks for your suggestion

how about telling us how you would write this essay if you apply for Duke? just use stories before your MBA

No offense

JonFrank

Hi Jon,
Thanks for you great idea.
i was thinking once we describe our personalities, we also need to indicate how those personalities can add value to Duke community or Duke students.
i was wondering how "born in a rural" or "first in your family to go to college" can add value?  Appreciate your comments.

-- by 会员 moonwalker (2010/9/21 15:33:52)

Sure, happy to offer some thoughts here.  If you were born in a rural country, for example, you would have special insights into the group of Chinese citizens who is in the processof the greatest migration in history, the Chinese migration from rural areas into Cities.  That could make you a great business person.  You could also have overcome a great deal in your life—having been raised eating just a cup of rice every day, self schooled, traveled two hours by foot every day to school, etc.  J  That is all stuff that builds character.  It makes it even MORE impressive, for example, that you got a 760 on the GMAT (for example.)  I went to Brown University, one of the best universities in the world.  So it isn’tthat impressive that I went to HBS.  But if I had gone to an unknown college, or no college, and if I were born in a small rural village, my getting into HBS would be even MORE impressive.

I hope this makes sense!
Good luck,
Jon Frank

JonFrank

By seeing "from rural or first college student", the admission officer might, I guess, consider some characters such as diligence, persistance, reflected by the stories.

And I also have a question about Why Duke:
How admission officer weighs the answer to this Why Duke question? Thousands of people will mention the "team Fuqua", "diversity", and courses and clubs which actually is everywhere in other b-school.
I can say emotionally that I love beautiful Duke forest so much.....But I even not have been America before, is sound empty and totally not convincing, right?
How to move adcom and distinguish myself from other applicants?
Thanks, Jon !

-- by 会员 usocean (2010/9/21 22:41:16)

Haha, yes you make a great point.  Do not talk about how beautiful the campus is if you’ve never been!  And sometimes, it is hard to prove that Duke is actually perfect for you.  But remember, you don’t need to be the ONLY person that says it.  You want to achieve two things:


1. Prove that you have done your research.  Name professors, specific courses, specific programs—they want people who have done their homework on schools.  If you can prove that, you are on the right track. Many students do NOT do their research, and the admissions people are rightfully offended by this.
2. Link their programs to your goals.  So don’t just say that you think it is beautiful—unless you are entering the fashion business, where things need to be beautiful.  Don’ttalk about their international approach—unless you are an INTERNATIONAL student, or unless you are from, well, China.  J  You don’t need to say that these are all things that only Fuqua has—you need to point to things that make Fuqua perfect for YOU.
I hope this is clear—and good luck!


Jon Frank

usocean

By seeing "from rural or first college student", the admission officer might, I guess, consider some characters such as diligence, persistance, reflected by the stories.

And I also have a question about Why Duke:
How admission officer weighs the answer to this Why Duke question? Thousands of people will mention the "team Fuqua", "diversity", and courses and clubs which actually is everywhere in other b-school.
I can say emotionally that I love beautiful Duke forest so much.....But I even not have been America before, is sound empty and totally not convincing, right?
How to move adcom and distinguish myself from other applicants?
Thanks, Jon !