Why Duke: College Admission Essay Sample

A degree from the Fuqua School of Business would uniquely position me to be competitive and allow me to reach my professional goals. I first learned about Duke’s focus on social entrepreneurship while speaking with a colleague of mine who had earned her MBA from Duke. In discovering more about the program, I was extremely impressed with how extensively Duke integrates social entrepreneurship into its MBA program. This year, I have met with many alumni at nonprofits and foundations to discuss my career plans, and it became apparent to me that attaining an MBA would be a valuable advantage to my future career. I believe this degree will give me the edge I need to successfully reach my career goals.

The knowledge I would gain through the Fuqua MBA program, combined with my experience working in the nonprofit sector for two years, would uniquely position me to be successful at a foundation. Specifically, Duke’s Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship would better enable me to understand the philanthropic world and the relationship between nonprofits and foundations. I plan to use the knowledge I will gain from an MBA, as well as the connections I have made through my career, to immerse myself in the nonprofit community. I eventually hope to work with educational nonprofits as a program officer at a foundation. My classroom experience at both a charter and traditional public school, combined with my understanding of nonprofits, will allow me to successfully partner with nonprofits looking to advance educational equity. The added benefit of a Fuqua MBA with a concentration in Social Entrepreneurship will set me up for success while working in philanthropy and will ultimately allow me to achieve my career goals.