Duke Daytime MBA Student Blog

I knew that the prospect of landing a career in venture capital (VC) was risky, given the limited job openings but it was a risk I was ready to take.

Growing up, I knew I wanted to attend schools that placed an equal emphasis on academic and athletic success. I pursued my undergraduate degree at West Point but I never forgot about Duke or those, “Cameron Crazies.”

Needless to say that an entrepreneur's life is not all roses, and I learned a lifetime of lessons in this journey. Here are a few I think everyone should know at the beginning.

Getting your MBA provides an opportunity to explore different interests and build on existing skills. The challenge is weighing the desire to be busy and explore new opportunities with maintaining a healthy balance in your life.

The faculty at Fuqua is a highlight of the MBA experience. We have a number of thought leaders in a variety of different industries who all bring a unique perspective to the classroom.

When I was a prospective student, I remember reading marketing materials about Fuqua. Now that I have graduated, I have seen how the elements of that content have been brought to life.

As an alumnus, the question I get asked most by prospective MBA students is whether attending Duke, in medium-sized Durham, North Carolina, will put them at a disadvantage.

At the very beginning, I was afraid of not being able to adjust. How would I live without the restaurant and entertainment offerings that only big cities have?

Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum is an experiential learning opportunity for students to work on consulting engagements with businesses and nonprofits around the world. First-year and second-year MBAs work in teams to assist client organizations with challenges across a number of industries and fields such as marketing, strategy, and operations.

Coming from Brazil, I quickly learned that the cultural difference between my home country and the U.S. is greater than I had ever realized. Having support from fellow Latin American students has helped me make the best of my experience