In an admissions blog post, Allison Jamison, the assistant dean of admissions at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, noted the importance of keeping things straightforward in the application process. Reflecting this mindset, Fuqua’s demands with respect to application essays are on the minimal side, which most candidates likely appreciate. Applicants must respond to one short-answer essay question in a mere 100 words, and the maximum length for the program’s traditional essay is just 500 words. Although Fuqua’s distinctive “25 random things” prompt might give some candidates pause at first, we love it for the freedom it gives applicants to get creative and paint a well-rounded picture of themselves. It should therefore be approached with more enthusiasm than fear. (Plus, Jamison has previously noted that the admissions committee enjoys reading these essays the most.) Our detailed analysis of all Fuqua’s prompts for 2026–2027 follows.
Applicants to the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University must submit just one written essay, though the essay prompt has two distinct parts. For the first, candidates are asked to explain their rationale for pursuing an MBA, while providing context to explain what led to this decision. The second part of the prompt deals with how applicants will contribute to their fellow students during their time in the Kellogg program. In addition, the admissions committee requires that candidates respond to five brief questions via video. Kellogg’s written and video submissions cover a lot of territory, so together, they should allow you to share a good deal of information about your past, your personality, and your strengths. For more advice on interpreting and approaching the school’s prompts for 2026–2027, read on.
Although admissions officers want to know that you are interested in their school, they do not want to read your repeated professions of love for it. Some candidates mistakenly believe that in their essays, they must constantly repeat enthusiastic statements about how they will improve their skills at their target school, regardless of whether the school asks for such information.
MBA applicants often wonder whether their background will be an advantage or a disadvantage in the competitive admissions process. Consultants and investment bankers are concerned with how they can stand out in a crowded applicant pool, while teachers, military officers, entrepreneurs, and other less-conventional MBA candidates worry that admissions committees will not take their candidacies as seriously.
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