After working for a few years at a large non-profit organization, Elijah Chang (Fuqua, ‘21) decided to go to business school to pivot towards the business arena. By focusing on the school location, his desired goals, and the authenticity of the school culture, Chang landed at Duke University’s Fuqua MBA Program. In this interview, Chang shares the criteria that led him to selecting Duke, how Team Fuqua has helped him work towards his career goals, and his advice to admitted students to finding the right school.
MBASchooled: What did you do before business school, and why did you choose to come to business school?
I worked as a program manager for emergency management in a large, nonprofit corporation. In a nutshell, I created earthquake, fire, and active shooter protocol and was responsible for leading every team involved in the execution of said protocol. Although I had studied economics at UCLA, I had a strong desire to spend my early to mid twenties doing meaningful work that would have a direct impact on helping and saving lives.
The work I did was awesome and I loved doing it, but after doing it for a few years I realized that I wanted to pivot back into business. I had grown fond of solving highly ambiguous problems (what’s more ambiguous than trying to plan for an earthquake or predict an active shooter’s behavior?) and had grown fond of the idea of getting into management consulting or corporate strategy. Business school made perfect sense as a transition for someone with a nontraditional background like myself.
MBASchooled: What were your big questions coming into making your decision on which school to attend?
My big three questions were:
- What city is the school located in (factoring in opportunity, climate, cost)?
- Does the school excel in the opportunities I want to pursue?
- Is the campus culture all talk, or does it actually permeate every fiber of the community?
Obviously these questions can and should differ for each applicant, but it mattered to me most because I knew that besides the obvious benefits of attending a top business school, it’s ultimately a two-year experience. The elements of the experience and what you’re looking for in that experience- that is critical.
MBASchooled: Why did you choose to attend Fuqua?
When I came to campus for my interview, I was blown away at how much of a bullseye Fuqua was as far as my big three questions were concerned. Durham was a perfect blend of developing urban style with the charm of nature; Fuqua was a powerhouse as far as consulting recruiting goes; Team Fuqua is a real and living thing.
MBASchooled: What about the culture and classmates stood out to you about Fuqua?
I was charmed by how genuine everyone was in speaking about how Fuqua changed their lives and gave them a family they never thought they would have. Now that I’ve been here for about a year, I couldn’t agree more.
One particular moment that Team Fuqua became very real to me was during consulting recruiting. Practicing for case interviews is a notoriously difficult process, and it can be competitive and incentivize others to be selfish. Not so at Fuqua- I virtually exclusively cased with my classmates and we were always offering one another feedback that we legitimately felt would make each other the best possible candidate, even if someone else got the job instead. It was a giant support net that was far less focused on individual success and much more determined to bring the whole team forward. It was surreal.
MBASchooled: What resources, programs or information were helpful to you in making your decision?
I can’t emphasize enough the importance of visiting campus and meeting some classmates and admissions faculty. Reading articles like these help, but coming yourself and seeing it for yourself- it’s hard to quantify how valuable such an experience is. I personally came during the Fall when the leaves had just finished changing color, and I was sold.
MBASchooled: How has Fuqua helped you work toward your own career goals and aspirations?
I came to Fuqua wanting professional experience despite being a student. Fuqua’s Client Consulting Practicum (FCCP) has been invaluable in giving me the corporate, business-oriented experience that I had lacked out of undergrad. I’ve been a strategy consultant with a team of other students at a local bank for 5 months now. In many ways I’ve learned more in FCCP than I have in my courses, and I believe it’s rounded me out as a candidate for recruiting as well.
MBASchooled: What parts or aspects of the academic experience attracted you to Fuqua?
The variety and depth of the academic concentrations really appealed to me. For example, I liked how there was a “strategy” concentration instead of a “consulting” concentration, and I liked how there were three different options for concentrating in Finance. Our faculty is amazing (check out John Graham’s Corporate Finance class for sure!) and take our learning very seriously.
MBASchooled: What has been a surprise, or an unexpected element of your experience at Fuqua?
When I was applying to Fuqua, I told myself that I wanted to cook for all 400 of my classmates before the time I graduated but suspected that with the rigor of recruiting and coursework, it would probably be impossible. Well, I’m pleased to say that I’ve hosted dozens of small group dinners in my home and have now had over one hundred unique classmates over for a meal. It’s been an impactful, meaningful, and life-changing experience. It brings us out of our comfort zones and cliques and helps us recognize the value in each member of the community. I didn’t think I could make it work, but after doing it a few times, I realized that it was worth it no matter what. I’m ultimately here to get to know people, so what better way to do it than over a home-cooked meal?
MBASchooled: What’s something you wish you knew more about before starting your MBA at Fuqua?
Personally, because I recruited for consulting, I wish I realized how crucial networking was. I certainly knew that it was an important piece of the puzzle, but I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to make genuine, sincere relationships with firm representatives. Be intentional about where you want to work and make sure you understand why you want to work there, then communicate it clearly to those who can help you out. Networking is key and I wish I had taken it more seriously than I did.
MBASchooled: What advice do you have for those who are evaluating where they want to attend business school?
Picking a business school is more than just being holistic; personally I would advise everyone to pick where you feel the happiest. It sounds stupid and oversaid, I know, but I mean it. Make sure you take the time to visit each campus and talk to enough people to get an idea of what the culture is like, and evaluate where you felt the happiest. I would never pick somewhere I assumed would give me the best career opportunities if I didn’t feel happy there. You’ll be there for two years- don’t underestimate how important your personal well-being and joy is as a factor in your career success. Good luck!
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