Meet The Duke Fuqua MBA Class of 2017

Jarrett Nobles

Jarrett Nobles

Duke University, Fuqua School of Business

Hometown: Washington D.C. (Metro Area)

Undergraduate School and Major: Florida A&M University

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

  • Rotational Development Professional – Edward Jones Investments
  • Product Specialist I – Edward Jones Investments
  • Business Support Specialist II – Edward Jones Investments
  • Founding & Managing Partner – The Urbane Group
  • Manager, Corporate Partnerships – Houston Astros Baseball Club

Recalling your own experience, what advice do you have for applicants who are preparing for either the GMAT or the GRE? I think there are two equally important aspects to successfully cracking the GMAT: 1) Mastering the material and 2) Mastering the test. I would first spend my time getting a good understanding of all the concepts covered on the test. Once I felt like I had a good grasp of the material, I would shift my focus to understanding the test itself. The GMAT is a logic test; it is equally important to understand the nuances of test as it to understand what is being asked.

Based on your own selection process, what advice do you have for applicants who are trying to draw up a list of target schools to which to apply? I know the buzzword that people like to use for determining a list of schools is “fit.” I can honestly say that after an intense year going through the process, I can totally see why fit is so important. There are a number of factors to consider: The school’s location as compared to your desired location post MBA, The school’s track record of placing students in your desired industry, ranking, strength of alumni network,  etc. However, at the end of the day, I would advise applicants to get a very good sense of the school, the people, the community, and the culture. I would argue that if you are willing to hustle, you can accomplish your goals from just about anywhere. That being said, you want to make sure you are at the place where you feel most at home and most supported to accomplish your goals.

What advice do you have for applicants in actually applying to a school, writing essays, doing admission interviews, and getting recommenders to write letters on your behalf? –

  • Start the Process Early: This is probably the most critical advice I would give to anyone.
  • Visit the Schools: I believe that the process is an opportunity for schools to determine if they want you and for you to determine if you want the school. Don’t forget the last part of that.
  • Leverage Current Students and Alumni: Current students and alumni are an excellent resource and sounding board to help throughout the admission process. They will also help you get a good understanding of the culture at the school in which you are applying.
  • Stay True to Yourself: At the end of the day, it is SO important that you are genuine in your application. Personally, I came to the point where I told myself, “I am who I am and if for some reason it doesn’t work out, I have to be okay with that. What I don’t want to do is present somebody that I think admission officers want to see and get in under false pretenses.” I know that may sound hokey, but being myself was actually the most liberating part of the process.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? Aside from the fact that I’ve loved Duke since I was a child, I would say that of all the schools I visited Fuqua’s community offered the best balance working hard to get things done and having fun in the process. It was equally important to me that I be in an environment that would stretch me and get me out of my comfort zone as it was to be in a place where there was a strong sense of community and the people like to have fun.

What would you ultimately like to achieve before you graduate? I would like to find a unique way to leave a lasting mark on the Fuqua community while building a great group of friend and accomplishing my career goals in the process.

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