The MMS experience is built on defining moments, both big and small, that shape students’ growth, community, and sense of belonging throughout the year. From early interactions with Admissions to academic milestones, cultural traditions, global immersion, and career preparation, each moment adds a meaningful layer to the journey.

This list brings together our perspectives from Admissions, the MMS: Foundations of Business (MMS: FOB) program, the MMS: Duke Kunshan University (MMS: DKU) program, and the Career Management (CMC) Center to highlight the moments we believe best capture the MMS experience. Together, they form a powerful foundation that stays with students long after graduation.

Grady Arnao, Admissions

1. Connecting With Admissions Personally

From the first email inquiry to the moment an offer letter is received, our admissions team is dedicated to making each applicant feel seen and supported. Behind the scenes, it’s a team effort, responding to each and every question, celebrating admits, and helping every student feel like they belong at Fuqua.

2. Attending a Campus Visit, Information Session or Regional Event

Whether it’s a campus visit in Durham, a virtual info session across time zones, or a regional event abroad, every interaction with a future Blue Devil is a reminder of what makes MMS special: genuine connections, shared ambition, and a sense of global community that starts even before classes begin.

3. Meeting MMS Students Who Lead the Way

One of our favorite parts of the year is seeing MMS students step into leadership roles as admissions ambassadors. They host tours, connect with prospective students, and share honest insights about their time at Fuqua. Their energy and generosity truly define the welcoming culture of the program.

4. Experiencing Life as a Student at Blue Devil Experience

Each spring, admitted students are invited to Blue Devil Experience, days filled with excitement, discovery, and anticipation. Watching them meet their future classmates, professors, and program staff for the first time is one of the most rewarding moments of the year. It’s the true start of their Fuqua journey.

5. Understanding the Global Diversity

Each incoming MMS class brings together bright, curious minds from around the world. Watching students from 20+ nationalities connect, collaborate, and learn from one another is one of the most defining moments of the MMS journey.

Christopher Coles, MMS: FOB Program Team

6. Orientation

Orientation marks the academic start of the MMS program, when students’ business school dreams truly become a reality. Students are introduced to MMS staff, faculty, and their learning teams, and new faces start to become valued mentors, collaborators, and friends.

More than just sharing information about schedules, logistics, standards, and the Honor Code, MMS orientation creates a forum for mutual discovery and instills a sense of belonging from the jump. It is where students begin to see the full possibilities of the program, their Fuqua community, and themselves, setting the tone for the year ahead.

7. Team Building at Triangle Training

Early in the summer, MMS students hop on a bus and travel to the woods of rural North Carolina to participate in a Fuqua rite of passage: Triangle Training! The cornerstone of the MMS Team Dynamics series, Triangle Training is a day-long high-ropes course led by leadership professionals, with programming focused on team-building exercises and leadership development. Students are challenged not only to overcome physical obstacles but to deepen their connections with teammates, leveling up their skills in communication and collaboration, and building camaraderie with their cohort.  

8. The First Round of Finals

MMS is an academically rigorous program — all the more intense in the Summer Term. As students adjust to the fast-paced, graduate-level learning environment, they are still acclimating to life in Durham, new schedules and routines, and taking the time to engage with the Fuqua and Duke communities. 

A summer’s worth of effort and growth, all the late nights studying and hours spent collaborating with their teams, come into stark focus at students’ first final exams and presentations at the end of the term. Surviving summer finals and the Business Communication presentation are defining moments in the MMS experience, as students make their first big academic mark and prove to themselves that they belong in the MMS program.

9. The First Fuqua Friday

One highlight of the Fuqua experience is Fuqua Friday, a time-honored tradition starting in the Fall I term, wherein students, faculty, and staff from across the school’s programs gather in the Fox Center on Friday evenings to unwind over (free) food and drinks. These festive weekly gatherings, often organized around different cultural and club themes, are memorable occasions where MMS students can socialize with students beyond the MMS cohort and find new and fun ways to engage with Fuqua’s numerous communities.

10. Volunteering with Rise Against Hunger

Perhaps the most famous recurring event in the Fuqua Friday calendar is the annual Rise Against Hunger volunteer event, typically held in late September. This is where hundreds of Fuqua students, faculty, and staff come together to pack tens of thousands of meals in a few short hours, which are then shipped all over the world to help nourish communities in need. It’s the largest single-day volunteer event of the year, and this experience of coming together as Team Fuqua to give back leaves a lasting impression on the MMS students who participate.

11. Attending a Duke Football Game

Outside of Fuqua’s campus, MMS students engage in a number of special Duke-wide traditions and experiences. Boasting one of the top athletic programs in the U.S., Duke’s sports scene is a key way students deepen ties to the university and cultivate a lifelong identity as a Blue Devil.

The focal point of Saturdays in the fall is Duke football, when Duke fans from near and far descend on Durham, and the campus turns into a festival ground. Catching a football game at Wallace Wade Stadium with tens of thousands of your closest Blue Devil friends is a thrilling experience, but for many the most fun and memorable times are spent at a Duke football tailgate before the game — eating, drinking, playing lawn games, and reveling with the Duke fans young and old at one of the many pop-up parties in parking lots and green spaces across campus.

In a given year, there are several dozen Duke student-athletes enrolled in the MMS program across a wide variety of different sports. In attending Duke athletic events, MMS students have the unique privilege of not only cheering on their school, but their classmates and friends as well. 

12. Camping Out for Basketball Tickets

Deeper into the fall, anticipation grows for the start of Duke’s flagship athletic program: the iconic Duke men’s basketball team.  Students wanting the best tickets — including those to the famous Duke-UNC game — partake in the annual Campout, usually held in early October. As part of the decades-old tradition, students organize tenting groups with their friends and camp outside of Cameron Indoor Stadium over the weekend for an opportunity to secure basketball season tickets. During Campout, the lawn outside of Cameron transforms into “K-Ville” (named after the legendary Coach Krzyzewski), with food and drinks, fun and games, in this singularly Duke experience.

13. Joining the Cameron Crazies for the First Time

Whether attending a basketball game or one of the other events held at the Stadium, MMS students’ first time in Cameron Indoor is often cited as a defining experience in their time as a Duke student. One of the country’s most iconic sports venues, Cameron’s compact design, historical architectural features, and electric atmosphere turn even casual sports fans into Cameron Crazies. Rich in history, stepping into Cameron, students are reminded of all the sports triumphs and legendary Duke figures through the years, and take pride in the fact that they, too, can now call themselves Blue Devils. 

14. Climbing the Duke Chapel

Visiting the Duke Chapel — the 210-foot-tall, neo-Gothic church that dominates the campus skyline — is likewise a Duke “bucket-list” item for students while in the MMS program. A landmark symbol of the university, featuring beautiful archways, intricate stained-glass windows, and intricate stone carvings, the chapel serves as a premier location for speakers, concerts, community events, as well as interdenominational faith services for students to take part in year-round. In the spring, the program facilitates a tour (up 239 steps!) to the top, where students soak in the grand vista of Duke’s campus and contemplate all they have accomplished in their time at Duke.

Tina Zhang, MMS: DKU Program Team

15. Stepping Into a Dual-Campus, Global Experience

The MMS: DKU program offers students an immersive experience across two of the world’s leading economies. The 10-month format gives students a firm foundation fast. Students spend mid-July to December in Durham and January to May at Duke Kunshan University (DKU) near Shanghai. Through this dual campus structure, students experience diverse academic environments and cultural perspectives.

16. Bridging Classroom Learning and Industry

At MMS: DKU, classes of about 60 to 65 students work in small teams of four to five. When they return to DKU in January, the Business Communication II course turns theory into practice. Through projects with partners such as McDonald’s China, Swarovski, Nike, and BrainCo, students tackle real business challenges while sharpening their consulting and communication skills.

17. Launching Careers in China and Beyond

MMS: DKU equips students with the tools and connections to succeed in China’s fast-growing job market and the global economy. Through the combined support of Fuqua and DKU’s career teams, external coaching, and alumni mentoring, students gain practical guidance, professional insights, and access to leading employers across China and the world.

18. Living and Learning in Kunshan

The MMS: DKU experience connects the best of Fuqua and DKU, offering students a truly global learning journey. Life at DKU is as vibrant and engaging as at Fuqua. Students can join a wide variety of clubs, participate in the university-wide Culture Festival, and meet peers from other graduate programs through sports and campus events. These experiences help students develop friendships and build a strong sense of belonging during their four months in Kunshan.

Beyond the classroom, Kunshan itself becomes an extension of the student experience. Perfectly positioned between Shanghai and Suzhou, the city blends modern life with the charm of Jiangnan’s historic water towns. The DKU campus is surrounded by quiet lakes, cozy cafés, and vibrant commercial areas, making it an ideal setting for both focus and exploration. For many students, living here is more than a convenience — it’s an opportunity to immerse themselves in a dynamic city that reflects the pace and possibilities of today’s China.

19. Diving Into Chinese Business and Culture

Beyond academics, MMS: DKU students gain firsthand exposure to Chinese culture and industry. Through field trips, students have the chance to explore Kun opera, experience traditional Chinese medicine, and visit companies such as Starbucks and Tesla, deepening their understanding of how global and local businesses operate in China’s fast-evolving market.

Katie Peterssen, Career Management Center

20. The First Careers Session Hosted by the Career Management Center

During the first week of classes, the Career Management Center (CMC) hosts a kick-off session for all MMS students to launch professional and career development. Students identify their values, strengths, and interests to hone in on their goals and design a personalized plan.

21. Attending the Career Fair

In mid-September, the CMC collaborates with the Duke Career Center to host a large-scale career fair on campus. MMS students polish their resumes, pitches, and suits to connect with employers from across the US. The Career Fair is always a great day to explore new companies and build confidence sharing your value proposition.

22. Meeting an MBA Mentor

In the spring, MMS students have the opportunity to connect with MBA students to gather additional insight and support as they navigate the job search process. Second-year MBA students bring lessons learned from years of work experience pre-Fuqua, along with insight from their own more recent recruiting path.

23. Building Alumni Connections

Networking is an essential part of the job search process in the US, and Fuqua alumni are always a great place to start. A signature moment is always that first alumni coffee chat, after getting excited about securing a response to an outreach message, it’s finally your time to shine and learn from working professionals doing the work you aspire to.

24. Celebrating a Job Offer

After working with a career coach throughout the year, there’s nothing we love more than celebrating your success! Through the ups and downs, coaches are by your side, cheering you on. We love celebrating your hard work, helping you negotiate, and preparing you to onboard to your new role.

25. Graduation in Durham and DKU

Finally, graduation day is something we all look forward to as it culminates in that triumphant moment when students hear their name called to walk across the stage to receive their diploma in front of cheering family and friends — the crowning achievement of their MMS experience. For MMS: FOB students, the Dean of Fuqua hosts commencement in Cameron Indoor Stadium. The MMS: DKU graduation ceremony takes place at DKU. The Dean of Fuqua travels to China to preside over the ceremony, joined by distinguished alumni speakers who share their insights and inspiration with the graduating class. Commencement is an occasion not only of pomp and circumstance – the swelling music, the fancy gowns, the inspiring speeches – but also of personal reflection, as students think back on all the ups and downs, the hard work, and the meaningful connections made over the last 10 months.

Across these 25 moments, students discover what makes the MMS experience transformative: deep community, academic challenge, global exposure, and personalized career support. Each milestone offers a chance to grow, connect, and envision the path ahead. By graduation, these defining experiences become the foundation of a lifetime as part of Team Fuqua.