Duke MMS Student Blog

Great friendships are built over shared empathy...and pizza.

Similar to a lot of other students, when I arrived at Fuqua I wasn’t sure what industry I wanted to pursue a career in yet.

I kept researching universities and planning my future, and the words got lost in time. For me, the right time came in July of 2020. But that is something I know only in hindsight.

I found myself more excited than ever about my future career path. I had been exposed to consulting, which appeared to be a perfect fit. The field appeared to line up neatly with my skills and personality, however, one glaring issue still existed: I had absolutely no experience in the industry.

In one year, Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business has become my second family. Here is some advice for international students coming to Fuqua.

The search for a post-Fuqua career started as soon as I began the MMS program. Coming from a health background with little to no experience in business or job searching I felt intimidated.

It’s no secret that the Class of 2020 ended the academic year differently than expected because of the pandemic. Our students found themselves job searching while navigating sometimes challenging personal circumstances in different geographies.

Fresh into the MMS program, I wanted an opportunity to hone my client-facing skills, while gaining hands-on consulting experience and I stumbled upon Duke Interdisciplinary Social Innovators.

As I researched various schools, Fuqua’s opportunity clearly differentiated it from other management programs. The core benefit of this program is that it goes beyond solely academic coursework to develop practical, technical, and communication skills.

I’ve compiled a list of my 25 top things to do while in the program, and though the pandemic might alter it some, I hope this helps future MMS students make the most of their experience.