Análisis de las muestras

Duke’s culture of teamwork is extraordinary. When I watched Coach K and his team mount the podium in 2010 to receive their awards after the Final Four, it only seemed fitting, as it brought back the memory of my visit to Durham two years ago. I wasn’t left alone even for five minutes—at every turn, a Duke student approached me, sharing diverse backgrounds, and initiating conversations to establish common ground. Entering as a stranger, I left Durham with a number of friends. The trip gave me a sense of how Fuqua values teamwork. Today, the team spirit of the winning basketball team—and of the school that has been so supportive—convinces me that Duke is the best place for me to pursue an MBA to fully actualize my dreams.

What is so distinctive about Duke Leadership is the emphasis on collaboration. This distinction is particularly meaningful to me because few professions rely on teamwork as heavily as we do in real estate.

Taking the urban mall project for instance, as lead architect, I organized the project schedule and led the team, managing countless consultants, including structural engineers, civil engineers, interior designers and general contractors. As a specific design issue would arise, I would instantly switch to become a collaborator, supporting demands from specialized experts, and making adjustments if necessarily.

Among all twelve concentrations, Entrepreneurship and Innovation is the one that can provide the knowledge and skills I desire most to actualize my dream. The curriculum integrates practical tools and experiential knowledge with root principles, which suits my background perfectly. I too bring a great deal of practical background, both in real estate and in business development, and I am eager to benefit from this more practical approach.

With nearly 40% international students last year, and especially given the Global MBA option, I am strongly convinced that Duke’s multicultural environment matches my personal values of cultural diversity. I bring a similarly diverse background to Duke, as I have lived both in the west and the east (and back and forth again) over the past decade. I am eager to spend two years with others whose careers have also been so internationally-informed. The international interest of business courses and electives such as the Global Academic Travel Experience will provide me with timely interactions that will help develop my international skillset, and background.

Duke’s multicultural environment will also connect me with other people such as investors, land owners and developers to build a strong real estate network.

Beyond real estate, I was surprised to learn that among over 40 clubs there is no organization devoted to film. I want to launch a film club and will host serial theme nights inviting my classmates to introduce cultures of their home countries via movies. At Spanish Night, I will introduce the work of Pedro Almodovar, the director of critically acclaimed films like “Talk To Her” and

“Volver.”

I am also drawn to Duke’s unique course structure, six-week terms rather than quarters or semesters. It is particularly meaningful to me because I come from a practical field unfamiliar with many of the subjects covered in the program. Such structure not only allows me to take more courses, it also gives me flexibility to fully pursue my career vision, which is clear to me today.

Finally, I have been extremely impressed to learn that the program’s structure and curriculum keep evolving over the years incorporating students’ advice.

For instance, the winter optional term was introduced since 2006 in response to 1st year students’ hopes to better prepare for summer internship interviews that come in January and February. And the concept of concentration was also introduced to the program in recent years to develop both the breadth and depth of the courses. These actions show how devoted the Duke MBA program is to always exceed itself. I share this vision. Whether improving my designs, challenging myself to build three profitable businesses overseas, or now making a clearly-defined career change, I too am always seeking to improve myself. This is perhaps the strongest reason why I know that Duke is the perfect fit for me.

PART 6

O P T I O N A L E S S A Y S

As a little BONUS we’re including a Part Six. Here, we examine a few of the optional essay types that tend to appear at the end of the application package. Some are mandatory, but completely open-ended: there is no guidance or regulation. Others may have a prescribed topic, a word limit;

and still yet with others, the only ‘optional’ aspect about them is whether you must write it or not.

The clients below chose to enhance their applications through the optional essay in several different ways. Some chose to mention new achievements.

Others decided to address a peculiarity in their story: perhaps a period of unemployment, a career change, or a dubious G.P.A.

At Admissionado, a rule of thumb we promote is: get in and out of the optional essay as quickly as possible. We usually recommend a little less fanfare and more of a straight-forward approach. Why pile on another lengthy piece of reading for the admissions committee? Don’t shoot yourself in the foot at the finish line. Ask yourself if it’s truly necessary. If it’s not clear and isn’t serving a specific purpose, get rid of it. Or start over. Or chop it in half. And if you don’t know, that’s why we’re here! For example, if you are explaining a failure not yet addressed in the setback/failure section, hold your head up high and tell them what happened, why you are wiser, and what you believe about yourself in the present. You’ve got nothing to hide and you’ve come a long way!

Let’s check out these last essays before we sign off. We hope you enjoyed the ride and thanks for reading. Now… time for YOU to get to work!

optional essay: should you have been employed for any