Duke Fuqua MBA Essays 2026-27: 25 Random Things

Duke Fuqua MBA Essays 2026-2027: Goals, 25 Random Things and the Community Essay

Duke Fuqua's Daytime MBA asks for three written responses: a 100-word career answer with two plans, the 25 Random Things list (up to 750 words), and a 500-word essay on three ways you'll contribute. That's up to 1,350 words, more than most schools ask for. The three pieces are read together, and each one does a separate job.

Everything below was checked on Fuqua's Daytime MBA application instructions and admissions facts and dates on September 27, 2026. Round 2 closes January 5, 2027. Interview decisions come February 11 and final decisions March 11, 2027.

The 2026-27 prompts, verbatim

Both prompts open with framing ("The 'Team Fuqua' spirit and community" and Fuqua's "culture of engagement"). Read those openings on the page. They tell you what the essays are for.

Formatting rules that trip people up

Fuqua lists these rules for every written submission:

• "Responses should use 1.5-line spacing and a font size no smaller than 10-point."
• "Do not repeat the question in the document you upload with your application as this will cause the essay to be flagged for plagiarism."
• "Respond fully and concisely."

The second rule is easy to miss. Many applicants paste the prompt at the top out of habit. At Fuqua, delete it before you upload.

What each response tests

The 100-word short answer: two plans

You need both a first-choice plan and an alternate plan, and each should name a role or function. The trap: an "alternate" that is the same role at a different company. That's a second employer, not a second plan. Our guide to primary and alternative MBA career goals covers how to make the fallback credible without weakening plan A.

25 Random Things: beyond the resume

Fuqua wants to know you "beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript." That sets the test for each item: does it tell the reader something the rest of the file doesn't?

What works:

• Specifics over labels. "I'm a foodie" is a label. "I've cooked every recipe in my grandmother's handwritten notebook except the one for tongue" is a detail.
• Range. Mix family, place, habit, odd skill, belief and a small failure. Twenty-five items from one theme read like a single essay cut into pieces.
• Varied length. Fuqua says "Some points may be brief, while others may be longer." A few one-liners next to a few four-sentence items reads naturally.
• Exactly 25, numbered 1 to 25. Fuqua specifies the format, so follow it.

The traps: a list that restates your resume ("Led a team of 12…"), items that could describe anyone ("I love to travel"), or a list built to project a brand. Some achievements belong. Fuqua names "achievements" in the prompt. Just make sure each one adds something new.

If you are applying to Duke MQM instead, that program has its own version. See our Duke MQM 25 Random Things guide.

The community essay: three ways to contribute

The count is in the prompt: three ways. For each one, name a Fuqua vehicle or behavior (a club, a center, an event, student government, or a way of working with classmates). Say who benefits, and point to something you have already done that makes it believable.

The trap: "I will join the Consulting Club and the Wine Club." Joining isn't contributing. Say what you would do there and why your past suggests you'll actually do it. Three developed contributions beat five mentioned ones.

Fuqua's AI, plagiarism and honor code language

Of the business schools whose pages we checked this cycle, Fuqua is the one that says it both scans essays with plagiarism software and may review them with AI-detection tools. Quoted in full:

"All essays are scanned using plagiarism detection software."

"All submitted materials must be your own work and a truthful representation of your experiences. Essays are reviewed using plagiarism detection software. Using language or content from external sources, including websites, publications, other applicants' materials, consultants, or AI-generated content, without proper attribution constitutes plagiarism. Plagiarism is a violation of the Fuqua Honor Code and may result in denial of admission. Note: if you have worked with a consultant to complete your application materials, please ensure that the Honor Code policy is discussed, and your essays will not be shared with other potential applicants."

"We recognize that applicants may use tools such as Grammarly, ChatGPT, or other AI technologies. These tools may be used to support editing and clarity, but your ideas, experiences, and responses should be your own. AI should help refine your content, not generate it. You will tell your story better than any tool. Essays may also be reviewed using AI-detection tools. Submissions that rely heavily on AI-generated content, misrepresent the applicant, or are written by another person may negatively affect an applicant's evaluation and may constitute a violation of the Fuqua Honor Code."

Put plainly: editing and clarity tools are allowed. Unattributed language from any outside source, including a consultant or an AI tool, counts as plagiarism under Fuqua's rule, and Fuqua says it scans for both. Every sentence you submit should be one you wrote. For comparisons with other schools, see MBA application AI policies and attestations.

Optional and reapplicant essays

The optional "Tell us more" field is for circumstances only. Fuqua says to "NOT upload additional essays nor additional recommendations in this area." See MBA optional essay examples by scenario. Reapplicants write a 500-word essay on "the self-reflection process that you underwent after last year's application and how you have grown as a result." MBA reapplicant essays by school compares it with other schools.

Checklist before you submit

• Short answer: two distinct plans, each naming a role, within 100 words.
• 25 Random Things: exactly 25, numbered 1–25, under 750 words, mostly beyond the resume.
• Community essay: exactly three contributions, each with a vehicle, a beneficiary and past evidence.
• No prompt text in any uploaded document. 1.5 spacing, 10-point minimum.
• Every sentence is your own writing.

Getting a second read

Once all three are drafted, run them through GradPilot's free review against the Duke Fuqua MBA application essays rubric, which reads the set together. The feedback is qualitative. It points to generic list items, a missing alternate plan, or a contribution with nothing behind it. It suggests where to revise but doesn't supply sentences, and it doesn't predict admission. Page formatting is yours to check. For a multi-school round, MBA essay review covers the set. One day earlier on the Round 2 calendar: Michigan Ross (January 4).

FAQ

How long is the Fuqua 25 Random Things essay?

Two pages, 750 words maximum, numbered 1 to 25. Items can differ in length.

How many essays does Duke Fuqua require?

Three: a 100-word short answer and two essays (25 Random Things and the community essay). The optional essay is separate.

Should I include the question in my Fuqua essay document?

No. Fuqua says repeating the question "will cause the essay to be flagged for plagiarism."

Does Fuqua use AI detection?

Its page says "Essays may also be reviewed using AI-detection tools," along with plagiarism software. AI may support "editing and clarity" but should "refine your content, not generate it."

When is the Fuqua Round 2 deadline?

January 5, 2027. Round 3 closes March 25, 2027.

Sources

• Duke Fuqua: Daytime MBA Application Instructions (all prompts, limits, formatting, AI and plagiarism policy, optional and reapplicant essays) (checked September 27, 2026)
• Duke Fuqua: Daytime MBA Admissions Facts and Dates (2026-27 deadlines) (checked September 27, 2026)