Duke MMS Thread

Have you had your interview? I'm guessing you applied for the March 30 deadline

I have not had an interview yet, and yes I applied for the March 30th deadline.

I'm hoping to hear something soon, I have my fingers crossed

Still waiting as well. Some of my materials weren't in on time, so I think they started reviewing my app as of Wednesday of last week, so I might hear back from them fairly late. Considering two other acceptances and waiting on LSE still.

Profile: 710 GMAT, 1.75 years FT in Credit Risk Mgmt, Overall 3.2, Finance 3.6 Also looking for analyst level MM/BB IB in an energy focused group. I wonder if my 1.75 years FT would disadvantage me from these jobs though.

Jiggy, how do you know that they started reviewing your application on Wed last week? Did you get an email or something?

I got my acceptance third week of May last year (the first day of senior week in undergrad). Don't remember when I applied. Don't worry. You guys should be fine.

Appreciate the words. I wouldn't expect to hear anything back from them already, seeing as though they received my materials on Wednesday. I didn't mean to say they started reviewing, just that they had received my application in full. Encouraging to hear, however, that the wait won't be too long.

Yes I'm very anxious to see the results. I hope to hear something soon.

When you guys get accepted make sure to join my LinkedIn group!

bump

In at Duke.

Background:

Law degree Oxford, Masters from top law school in London Currently working for consultancy firm Looking into IB or MBB, unsure yet GRE

I applied in the previous deadline. Interview is relatively easy, based upon your CV and career choices.

I just got mine today as well! I am interviewing this week (by phone). Good luck to everyone!

Congratulations. I am applying in the final round. I am an international student from Australia.

What are your stats like?

Mine:

University of Melbourne 3.5GPA Interning at PWM firm in Sydney GMAT 680

Hopefully international students are OK for application

How did everyone's interviews go this week?

Had my interview today, I think it went well.

The Duke MBA I spoke to was very friendly and very smart.

Excited to hear back in a few weeks. Good luck to everyone!

Bump...Next Round Decision is released in 3 days. The suspense is killing me

Any thoughts on living situation and finding roommates? I plan on heading out to NC in the next few weeks.

I hear once you get admitted to the program, you get access to the rest of the classes contact info through an MMS facebook page. I'm assuming thats how you link up to find roommates.

I think someone already made an unofficial secret fb group (trust me, having an invitation only secret group really helps) for MMS 2012. If you guys send me your fb profiles, I can send you an invite. Also, I am leaving Durham by the end of May but my lease isn't up till July 10th. If you guys need a sublet for a month while you figure out where you wanna live let me know. I live in a three bedroom and all of us are leaving.

Suspense is killing me. Really hoping for some good news!

Today is the day, I've been checking my email all night and all this morning...where is the decision!!!?

I just broke my f5 key...still no word. They're making us wait for it haha.

I just talked to a person at the admissions office because I thought maybe I didnt get in for round 4, because on the application website it said:

Date Submitted: March 25 and Application Completion: March 31 (so naturally i was like WTF! so I freaked out)

But its all good, she said the decision has NOT been released yet, but it should be any moment now. She said they have been having some issues with the server.

Good luck!

I was hoping to hear in the morning so that I will know of the decision when I wake up...and here I am still waiting, ha. I hope they fix the server soon.

Ha. I got my decision when I was accepted a few days after the deadline. Apparent same problem then. Good luck guys. You might see me down there.

Ha, great. You'd figure that since they are only accepting around 20 ppl this round, they could call them individually if the server problem persists for a few days... I am just NOT being productive today...

I just got my decision, I GOT IN! See y'all in a few months!

So did I, WOOHOO. Hopefully see you all in the Fall!

Haha make that 3/3 today from WSO. Just got the good news.

Likely see you guys there in July.

WSO ballin' out at Duke. Make sure to Send JMu a message so he can add you to the FB group!

hi guys i know no one has posted in here for a while, but anyone applied round 5? my stuff was late as well, and I didn't receive any interview yet (maybe i won't perhaps). i read on facebook that they were still accepting applicants due to space... i'm really nervous.

this is the only "calling all members" thread online -- so round 4 people, what was the gap between your app submission, interview, and acceptance?

I can figure it out from the posts above, but wanted to make sure.

thx!!

Did anyone get rejected from this thing?

Funny, it seems like everyone is getting in, but class size is probably ~100. Very competitive stats thus far- though, especially as far as the GMAT goes.

Some people must have gotten rejected because I read that 4 times as many people applied this year (I'm assuming 100 x 4 = 400 people) and the class is only 100 people (about 75 students actually registered on the FB private page).

I may be down to pitch Energy Rodeo in the fall.... We have a healthy Duke connection in Houston

Yeah that would be great. I know there is quite a few kids who are planning to start an Energy club. Send me a PM when you decide to come.

Your guys stats make this non-target liberal arts guy feel totally outclassed! It honestly makes me wonder if I should even be considering this program. Without any internships or experience, I have a feeling I'd get killed in interviews for good jobs.

Don't worry man, i'm super non-target as well haha.

Thats good to hear, (for me anyways) I'm going to try and use my last year and half of undergrad to network and build up something resembling a resume. I'd love to break into finance (MM banks in particular) but have nothing to go on as of now.

What is the point of this program? GPA boost? Another chance at recruiting?

I'm in the program now, and its definitely NOT undergrad 2.0.

This is straight up a business school program, and they try to cram pretty much all of the "general" courses you would take in an MBA program into one year (15 courses, over 11 months, its intense). The quality of work they (the Duke Fuqua MBA professors) expect out of you is what they expect out of their MBA students.

B-school is a totally different mindset coming from undergrad. The grading is NOT based on an A/B/C/D scale. Its all relative, and only 25% of the class is permitted to get grades higher than a "3.5". Very intense for sure. Nearly half of your work is team based and they put you in teams that you would not normally get along with (you fill out psych tests before you start the program).

The Fuqua staff has really done a great job of taking their MBA program and bringing it down to a scale for use by those with less experience.

At first I was planning to use this program just for recruiting, buts evolved into much more than that. They really develop you here, and it happens really quickly so you are much more polished than kids coming right out of undergrad.

Obviously if you had the chance to go straight into banking after undergrad, you really don't need this. But if you want a second chance at recruiting, and you're a non finance/business major like me, this program is pretty much a "boot camp" to get you ready for banking, consulting, or marketing.

And for workload: You are in school 7 days a week, even if you don't want to be, its intense, but very rewarding.

You are forced to become a great communicator and presenter, and they really teach you how to develop your networking skills (its like the networking/fit/technical interview guides sold by WSO all crammed into your various courses)

OCR is getting better, but I would never suggest relying on that, even if you were a Duke MBA. The Fuqua Alum are amazing, and VERY helpful, especially those who work in Finance.

Thats a nice update on the program. I'm really interested to see how recruiting for finance positions will go over the next year or so. If I were to get in, it's highly doubtful I'd be competitive for IBD, but any decent banking job would be nice get my foot in the door.

Hi, I am a junior in college and I am looking into MMS/MSF programs and Duke's has really caught my eye. I have a couple questions, one dealing with financial aid. Duke says MMS students are offered financial aid.

http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/student_resources/financial_aid_mms/

How does it work? I'm going to assume it's not as good as regular, undergrad Financial Aid, is it? My sister is going to college next year (when I'll be a senior) so I expect my EFC would go down a little bit. Since I would be 22 when I would start a MMS/MSF program would I still be considered dependent for FA purposes? Say if my EFC (based off of parents income and having a younger sibling in college) was ~$25,000, would I get some money?

Not really sure how grad school FA works. I thought colleges kind of distanced you from your parents after undergrad, but I'm not really sure.

How is the Duke MMS FA? (any good or only for super poor people?) MSF financial aid in general? Any good?

Oh and one more thing, is the MMS COA really $65,000? I will be on my parents bill for insurance as long as I am in school (old policy, not sure with Democrats healthcare plan) and I guess with Obamacare I'll be on their plan until I am 26? So that looks like a big savings, so academically I'd only have to drop $43-44,000, but they estimated over $20,000 for living expenses...what!? I could live for half of that in undergrad and Durham is not a huge city high a high cost of living. Not like I would have to live off of ramen either but I think $20,000 is a bit crazy. Can any current/past students comment on this.

http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/student_resources/financial_aid_mms/estimated…

Thank you!

I had zero money saved up for this program, and student loans cover all of it. about 20% is subsidized, but the process of getting loans is painless. Tuition is about 45K and they give you about 20K for living expenses (but you can take out as much as you needed for the Grad Plus loans). All you do is fill out the application forms once you are accepted (they give you instructions how), and it all happens very quickly and painlessly. Tuition is automatically paid for, and the excess is sent to you via check or by direct deposit (depending on what you have set up)

and 20K gets realistic really quickly, going out multiple times a week, going out to eat, it all adds up VERY fast.

Oh I forgot to mention dry cleaning and having enough business casual clothing to wear to class everyday (although not everyone adheres to the rules).

idragmazda, Duke really the shit? I was accepted this year and didnt go. I was set for USC but a death in the family prevented me from going. I kinda regret passing on Duke. Whats the placement opps like thus far, i.e. campus visits etc? I might consider chucking in an app for next year depending on where I am. Always good to have options.

Hmmm, alright interesting.

Yikes, so you are borrowing all $65k. I guess that is not that bad, do you know if Duke gave anyone financial aid or merit scholarships? The websites says they do, but it is probably for super poor people and the merit awards are for kids with 3.95 and 770 GMATs.

I'm hesitant to dish out this kind of money for a program, but I might have to.

09-10 class placement here: http://msfhq.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/DukeMMSFinalEmploymentStats…

Not too shabby. Do you think it is worth the $65k idrag? I'd also like to get my MBA later in life so taking on $65k of debt plus MBA debt isn't exactly thrilling, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do I guess.

thank you.

Financial novice - coming from a state school background, this was the best decision I ever made in my life, both personally and professionally. The social life is amazing (if you make an effort to know everyone) and the academic life is challenging, but very rewarding since it's alll stuff you NEED to use on the job.

Big Daddy- if 65k is the price to pay to have the career you really want, it's totally worth it. If you do, let's say, get that dream "BB gig", in the long run (20 hrs career or so), 65k is not much...that's how I think about it. Also, I don't know why people rely on OCR for recruiting, it's slightly "better" than resume dropping on a company's website but not as effective as networking. Buy the WSO networking guide, read it, and apply those skills - it will take you VERY far, especially at a school like Duke where the Alumni go to great lengths to help students.

As far as placement: it's getting a lot better, more firms are recognizing the value of the MMS degree and they are warming up to it very well. Like I said in the previous post: networking is your best friend at Fuqua.

Merit scholarships: if you apply in earlier rounds you qualify, I applied late so I didn't qualify - I don't know anyone who got one (never asked I guess).

I would be interested to hear an update from IDM see how it is 6 months later and with the end in sight.

One of my HS friends is in the program this year and landed an investment banking gig at a boutique firm. They were also rumored to place one in McKinsey. Sounds like it's improving but I'm not ready to gamble my future on it yet.

I was really thinking about the program but an MMS is still so unheard of in the US. I opted to go to a masters of accounting program down the highway from Durham ;). I am still learning how to hate duke properly.

We hired a couple from this program I think...I'll have o check on that.

the program starts in July, and most people graduate in mid-May..what do people generally do between mid-May and the beginning of the program? I feel like nothing serious can be done in such a short time (probably only one month left after all the packing and preparing stuff)

I will appreciate any insights on this problem.

thanks!

Hi folks, I need your help. Considering my profile, I am not sure if I should apply in Duke MMS.

Majors: Computer Science and Engineering GPA: 3.52 University: International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad, India Graduating in: 2013 Experience: Summer research project in Shanghai, China; other clubs and positions at University GMAT: scheduled to give on October 30, 2012 short term goal: consultancy in education sector

Would really appreciate any help in deciding if I should apply for Duke MMS

You're a weaker candidate b/c of GPA, but its tempered w/ your CS/Engineering double-major, so you'll probably be given a little bit more 'leeway'. Other than that you look remarkably average so a lot will ride on your GMAT so that's your first priority. Crack the GMAT and your chances definitely improve. That being said, I'm under the impression that Duke's MMS isn't impossible to break into and w/ a few improvements to your CV and a good GMAT, you'll get through. An issue to think about is how competitive you'll be once you're accepted and get on campus. You'll have to compete against your peers and UG's so beefing up your resume and networking should be a priority once the GMAT's out of the way.

@ BepBep12 Thank you for replying. But I think, given that mean GPA was 3.4, my GPA is decent. But may be the overall profile, because of lack of a finance internship or full time work-ex, is on the downside. I am targeting a GMAT score of 710+. Still I think I will give Duke MMS a try.

Thanks.

If you are screwing up and no one is telling you anything, it means no one cares about you.

@ BepBep12 Finished with GMAT. got 710 (quant=50, 90 percentile, verbal=35, 75 percentile). And cany you help me with one more thing ? My GPA is 8.82/10 (India follows a 10 point scale). Do you know how to convert it to US based grading system? I believe dividing it by 2.5 is the wrong way to approach it.

My stats are 3.01 GPA in a STEM major, 680 GMAT 41, 41; URM Status, MM IB internship, significant research experience, what's my chance

ahh this old thread!

My update: I graduated from the program in May, started working at a financial services firm in their corporate strategy/internal management consulting group (comp is near MBB 1st year analyst, with very easy hours, so I lucked out). I wanted MM IB out of this, and almost landed at BB IBD (but screwed up 1 single part of the superday). Nevertheless, better off than where I was before the program started.

I still plan to get my MBA in a few years. Good luck everybody.