My journey to Fuqua started with a blog just like this. Fuqua alum and Navy veteran Adam Briley had written about imposter syndrome, describing his first morning at Fuqua and the moment he looked around the auditorium and thought, “I’m not supposed to be here.” That honesty resonated with me more than any statistic or program description could have. I was on deployment at the time, considering MBA programs and debating whether to apply at all. I had been out of school for years, did not see myself as a traditional MBA candidate, and was unsure how my experience would translate to a business classroom. On paper, business school felt like a stretch. Reading his admission of doubt made it feel more human and attainable.

Evaluating Fit

I reached out to Adam without much expectation, and he offered to hop on a call. That conversation became a turning point in how I approached the MBA decision, before I was ever admitted. I asked Adam what felt like the biggest question at the time: how did you figure out where to go? His advice was to treat the interview as a culture test. Yes, schools are evaluating you, but you are also evaluating them.

That advice stuck with me. Coming from the military, culture is critical. It shapes how people operate when things get difficult or uncertain. With that perspective, I approached interviews differently. I listened closely to how people answered questions and how comfortable they seemed being honest. I paid attention to whether values felt practiced rather than stated.

Beyond Surface-Level Impressions

Over time, patterns emerged. Some conversations felt transactional. Others felt more thoughtful and grounded. What mattered most to me was consistency. Were people saying the same things in different settings, and did their behavior align with those messages?

When I interviewed with Fuqua, those dynamics stood out. The conversations felt natural and unforced. People were willing to speak candidly about their experiences, including challenges, without presenting a polished version of reality. One conversation included a candid discussion about balancing work, family, and coursework. It was not framed as easy. That honesty stood out and demonstrated the alignment between words and actions, which mattered more to me than any single feature of the program.

After enrolling, I saw that same consistency play out in day-to-day interactions. In group work, accountability mattered, but so did protecting one another when things did not go perfectly. Disagreements focused on ideas rather than individuals. The environment made it easier to speak up, take risks, and learn from mistakes.

Experiencing the Culture Myself

Now, just a few short months from wrapping up my MBA, I often think back to that original blog and the phone call that followed. At the time, I was trying to decide whether business school was the right next step. What I learned instead was how important it is to choose an environment that aligns with how you want to operate and who you want to become.

If you are considering Fuqua, or any MBA program, I would encourage you to approach the process as a two-way evaluation. Pay attention to the culture. Ask questions that matter to you. Notice how people treat and interact with one another. And do not be afraid to reach out. Sometimes, a single conversation or even a single blog post can shape a decision that changes everything.