Duke Fuqua: rejected by my safety school?

I have a question for those who have gone through the MBA application process recently- does "the Tufts syndrome" exist for MBA programs?

For those not familiar with College Confidential lingo-

Tufts syndrome: "refers to rejecting overly qualified kids who prob won't attend, hence, attending ivy league schools, which is why tufts is known as the ivy leagure reject school."

When I applied to MBA programs, I threw in Duke as a safety for a few M7 programs. I have a pretty good sense of where peers from college and work attend and Duke is really below them for the most part.

That's why I was surprised to not even be invited for an interview.

12 Comments
 

You were definitely overqualified. They were all like "this kid is just going to attend Harvard anyway, why bother?".

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 

I feel your pain. My safety Harvard rejected me once upon a time.

No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he'd only had good intentions; he had money as well.
 

Maybe you aren't as sweet as you think you are.

"For I am a sinner in the hands of an angry God. Bloody Mary full of vodka, blessed are you among cocktails. Pray for me now and at the hour of my death, which I hope is soon. Amen."
 
shorttheworldI got my Fuqua invite woo but dinged at tuck

damn bro. if you got dinged at Tuck, it must mean getting M7 must be really hard for people like me.... not looking good

 

Ab quas odit sint accusantium ipsa consequuntur. Qui occaecati exercitationem voluptas error cupiditate. Laborum maiores vel qui ducimus. Itaque unde fuga rerum nesciunt ab molestiae. Aut et sit et recusandae quam eaque.

Deleniti voluptatum vero quo excepturi in. Ut deleniti facere illo quasi ut laudantium. Eum similique sunt veniam. Perspiciatis aut iure quod corrupti placeat aspernatur. Libero quasi sed eum in corporis et laboriosam.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (48) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”