Dear Allison

I am going to apply for the Duke MBA daytime program this fall 2009 and I would like to be
considered for an application fee waiver.
I graduated with High Distinction from Foreign Trade University, one of the most prestigious
universities in Vietnam . As part of the preparation for the MBA, I took the GMAT test early
this year and scored 710 (93rd percentile).
I have intensive experience in marketing and management. I currently work in the PR &
Marketing position for XXX Securities, a local company operating in the financial market. My
work experience has provided me strong management skills and marketing knowledge
which I believe will allow me to take advantage as well as contribute to your program and
add values to the school diversity.
As a woman applicant from a developing country, I have to overcome many obstacles, one
of which is financial matter. Although an MBA requires far more substantial financial
investment, the application fee is a significant amount compared with our monthly average
income. Therefore I really hope that you would accept this request.
I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Best regards
Minh Ha

How are you a good manager? (Duke)

How do you deal with confict? (Carlson)
What activities in Duke would you participate in? (Duke)
What are the obstacles for Vietnamese companies to build strong brands? (Kellogg)
---------Walk your resume focusing on leadership/ Introduce yourself
What is your post-MBA plan?
Why MBA?
Why [school name]?
What do you see yourself doing 5 years in the future? Why?
Tell me about a time when you saw the solution before someone else?
Tell me about a time you overcame a problem/took initiative.
Tell me about a time when you had to interact with people in a difficult situation.
Tell me about a time you observed good or bad leadership, either in you or someone else.
Did you ever have a bad manager that wasn't doing well. What did you do?
What are your strengths?
What are things you need to improve on?
Tell me about something you have done because you were curious
What s unique about you that you can contribute to the [school] community? Some drilldown questions.
Have you failed before? give me an example when you failed?
What motivates you?
What is your most significant accomplishment?
Key skills/qualities that enabled you to accomplish these things?

Is there anything you wished I would have asked you that I didn't?
Know what types of leadership style(s) you exhibit and be prepared to provide examples of
situations where you exhibited those styles
Tell me about a time you had to make a decision, how did you make it
Tell me about a course in your undergrad that you considered influential
Tell me about a good leader you have observed/worked for? What made him good? Some
follow up questions on what makes a good leader.
What's the last book/movie you read
What was your biggest obstacle?
What characteristic a leader need?
What film you like to watch?
What is your passion?
What is another special things abour yourself?
Would you describe the situation in which you were criticized?
Cc phm cht ca 1 MBA applicant m bn cho l quan trng
Describe an ethical dilemma faced at work?
What are the pros/cons of your style?
In what way do you stand out from your peer group?
Describe a situation where you have worked as part of a successful team. What role did you
play?
How you can contribute to the program and class? Why you think we should choose you?
Why u chose marketing?
Your career path? STAR (situation, task, action, result)
Describe some of your projects?
Tell about country branding program/business situation in VN? How do you like/ dislike your
job?
What would be your ideal job?
What was the most difficult decision you ever had to make?
In what way do you stand out from your peer group?
Describe yourself as a leader in a specific situation? What were your biggest challenges?
Your leadership style?
Which events or activities represent turning points in your life ( i.e., when you changed
direction)?
What was your greatest failure and what did you learn from it? Singapore govt scholarship:
unaware of social and political issues.
What fear have you overcome? (How and why?) so young and had never run a business
myself. Overcame: knowledge & confidence & respect.
What do your friends most like (and dislike) about you? Helpfulness, sense of humor.
Dislike: don t think dislike. We may be different we respect the differences.
What are the four or five key words that would describe you? What on your list
demonstrates this? Helpful, Creative, Ambitious, Charismatic.
What do you want to do in free time? Your hobbies?
What do you consider your biggest fault?
What are the most valuable lessons you've learned from past work experiences?
Which of the skills you've picked up at the positions listed on your resume here, do you feel
will best translate into this position and why?
Describe a problem you encountered at one of your jobs and how you handled it?
What do you do to relieve stress?
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Why you took part in such activities? Most memorable

experience?
Do you have any questions?
What would your colleagues miss least about you?
When was your belief challenged
What are your strongest abilities?
What skills would you be bringing to the classroom?
What are your greatest strengths/weaknesses?
What does "success" mean to you?
What does "failure" mean to you?
What are your three major accomplishments?
What kinds of people do you enjoy working with?
What kinds of people frustrate you?
In the past year, what have you been dissatisfied about in your performance?
What can you tell me about your past bosses? Don t talk bad anybody. If there is
nothing good to say, just don t say it.
Which is more important to you: money or the type of job?
What have you learned from your activities in college?
What qualities should a successful manager possess?
What two attributes are most important in your job?
What major problem have you encountered and how did you deal with it?

1. Discuss your career progression

2. Give examples of how you have demonstrated leadership inside and outside the work
environment
3. What do you want to do (in regard to business function, industry, location)?

4. Why the MBA? Why now?

5. Describe an ethical dilemma faced at work?

6. Describe your career aspirations

7. What would you do if not accepted?

8. What are your long- and short-term goals? Why?

9. Why are you applying to business school?

10. Why does this school appeal to you?

11. What is an activity you are involved in? Why is it important to you?

12. Talk about experiences you have had at work.

13. Why are you interested in a general MBA program?

14. Why did you choose your undergraduate major?

15. Discuss yourself.

16. What contributions would you make to a group?

17. Name three words or phrases to describe yourself to others

18. What is most frustrating at work?

19. How would co-workers describe you

20. Describe a typical work day

21. Have you worked in a team environment? What were your contributions to the effort?

22. Discuss any experience you have had abroad.

23. How did you choose your job after college

24. What do you do to relieve stress

25. It's two years after graduation, what three words would your team members use to
describe you

26. Describe a situation where you brought an idea forward, and it failed.

27. How do you define success?

28. What would you do if a team member wasn't pulling his own weight?

29. Is there anything you would like to ask me/us

30. Give an example of leadership that you didn't discuss in your essays
31. What is your leadership style?

32. What are the pros/cons of your style?

33. What did you learn from experience XYZ (that was discussed in my essays)

34. Tell me about a time you had to deal with conflict in the workplace

35. Tell me what you do in your daily job

36. How are you a leader in your job
37. Have you thought of other schools?
38. What accomplishment are you most proud of?
39. What role do you usually take in a team setting?

40. Tell me about a time when you exhibited leadership.

41. How do you work in teams?

42. What would your colleagues miss least about you?

43. What makes you unique?

44. Tell me about a standout academic experience.

45. Tell me an important thing that you learned from your work and school experiences.

46. Tell me about a specific situation in your professional career where you solved an
important problem.
47. Why do you want to be in senior executive role?

48. When was your belief challenged

49. What books do you read
50. When did you lead a team? What is the hardest part of leading a team
51. Would you have any regrets if the market tanked next year and you were unable to get
a premier job
52. Where else have you applied and what was the result
53. What do you/don t you like regarding your job
54. Second largest, third largest failure
55. Why should we admit you
56. Why did you switch from X to Y
57. What did you think about Enron case
58. How could you make positive contributions to the program
59. Favorite super hero and why
60. How do you deal with criticism
61. What are your weakness