2009-2010 Duke Application Thread

longhorn09 · Oct 18, 2009

VBaller12 said:
I got my invite 1 business day after submitting my secondary. 27, 3.8

Super sweet 😀

NotSur · Oct 18, 2009

FlowRate · Oct 19, 2009

I know this isn't the exact thread for this question, but I figure you guys would be the ones to know. Is Duke pass/fail or ABCDF in the first year?

Good luck and good job to everyone so far!!

SunnyBlues · Oct 19, 2009

FlowRate said:
I know this isn't the exact thread for this question, but I figure you guys would be the ones to know. Is Duke pass/fail or ABCDF in the first year?

Good luck and good job to everyone so far!!

Duke uses a mixture of pass/fail and honors/pass/fail in the first year. They don't rank, and there is no curve (if a large proportion of the class gets honors, that's fine with them).

FlowRate · Oct 20, 2009

SunnyBlues said:
Duke uses a mixture of pass/fail and honors/pass/fail in the first year. They don't rank, and there is no curve (if a large proportion of the class gets honors, that's fine with them).

Thanks Sunny! That's what I expected from Duke... very cool!

BerlinDude · Oct 20, 2009

So I completed my interview at Duke (a while ago, actually). Just thought I'd update you guys.

So the morning starts out with some dude discussing a bird's eyeview of Duke and their curriculum (~ 1hr). You get the sense he has given the same talk thousands of times. Then you have a meeting with someone who talks about financial aid, scholarships, tuition, all that stuff (~1 hr). Then it's the tour of the campus (~1 hr). They don't have time for an in-depth tour (it's a huge campus), but you hit the major landmarks (lecture hall + library + hospital). Then it's lunch with 'medical students' - there was only one for us (~1 hr).

Interviews start around noon. There's two interviewers per applicant, 30 min each. There may or may not be a break in between. There's supposed to be one faculty and one student, one with a closed file and one open-file, but both of mine were open-file. Nothing special in the interview. Both started with 'Tell me about yourself' and ended with 'Any questions?'.

The other applicants (about ten) were mostly from big-name schools - a couple of Harvards, Princeton, Cornell, etc. No one from the west coast. A mix of personalities - some didn't say anything, some poured their life stories, some were surprised they were being interviewed, some acted like it was their birthright. Most actually had already graduated college, which I didn't expect. The admissions office, where you do a bit of waiting, has free soft drinks and coffee - so you can go wild with that. Occasionally medical students pop in for the free drinks, most will at least make an attempt at conversation, but some really are just there for the free drinks.

So in conclusion, bring a big bladder, cause there is definitely some good drinks in that fridge...

Bbon · Oct 20, 2009

Free diet coke??? Yay!! Too many of these med schools just hand out bottled water. My body starts shaking and my head hurts when I don't have some diet soda. Has really started to impact my interviewing abilities. Good to know I'll be at the top of my game at Duke since I'll definitely need it. Thanks for the update by the way.

RLefevre · Oct 20, 2009

I would also add that the interviews are very laid back and conversational. I had one of my interviews with the dean of admissions and even that one was not stressful. They are not trying to trick you or anything, they just want to get to know you more. I interviewed yesterday btw...

Steeler7588 · Oct 21, 2009

I just want to point out how laid back your interviews are definitely depends on your interviewer - a friend had one interview that was pretty confrontational.

BerlinDude · Oct 21, 2009

RLefevre said:
I would also add that the interviews are very laid back and conversational. I had one of my interviews with the dean of admissions and even that one was not stressful. They are not trying to trick you or anything, they just want to get to know you more. I interviewed yesterday btw...

Yea, the interviews are conversational, but at the same time don't relax too much. They ARE evaluating you and I had quite a few 'trick' questions myself (Is there a personal flaw you need to correct, what do you think will be the hardest part of medical school, why don't you go to nursing if you really want patient contact, etc).

SpaceDementia · Oct 21, 2009

BerlinDude said:
why don't you go to nursing if you really want patient contact, etc).

Awesome.

jla314 · Oct 21, 2009

i also had a fairly aggressive interviewer 🙂

RLefevre · Oct 21, 2009

Hmmm, I must have just gotten lucky then. My worst question was "what is your biggest weakness?" which I had already written on their secondary anyway so I was prepared for it.

Bbon · Oct 21, 2009

BerlinDude said:
Yea, the interviews are conversational, but at the same time don't relax too much. They ARE evaluating you and I had quite a few 'trick' questions myself (Is there a personal flaw you need to correct, what do you think will be the hardest part of medical school, why don't you go to nursing if you really want patient contact, etc).

Some toughies. That doesn't sound particularly conversational. Everyone always characterizes interviews as conversational. What would people call non-conversational? IF YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHY YOU'RE INTERESTED IN MEDICINE IN THE NEXT 30 SECONDS, GET OUT OF MY OFFICE!!! 25...

RLefevre · Oct 21, 2009

Like the person above me said, conversational means talking back and forth. I have had interviews where it was a list of questions to be answered, that is not a conversation. I think you are confusing coversational with "easy". Just because tough topics are covered doesn't mean it isn't conversational. At my duke interviews the interviewer had no paper in front of them. They just wanted to talk about me and if I would be a good fit for duke. I'm sure she had topics in mind, but it wasn't a list of questions. That is the definition of being conversational, even if challenging topics get covered.

Bbon · Oct 21, 2009

RLefevre said:
Like the person above me said, conversational means talking back and forth. I have had interviews where it was a list of questions to be answered, that is not a conversation. I think you are confusing coversational with "easy". Just because tough topics are covered doesn't mean it isn't conversational. At my duke interviews the interviewer had no paper in front of them. They just wanted to talk about me and if I would be a good fit for duke. I'm sure she had topics in mind, but it wasn't a list of questions. That is the definition of being conversational, even if challenging topics get covered.

Makes sense, but then I don't see why conversational is the buzzword for describing interviews. What's the attraction of a conversational interview over one where they're reading off questions? I'd much rather get read a list of questions that are "Tell me about your family", "What is your interest in this school" and "What do you do in your free time?", then have to engage in a "conversation" where questions like "What is the biggest dilemma of your life", "How do you plan on overcoming the obstacles of being a physician" and "What do you think are the three greatest issues in healthcare today and how would you address them", when the answers are going to largely dictate your spot in the upcoming class. Maybe that's just me though.

RLefevre · Oct 21, 2009

Bbon said:
Makes sense, but then I don't see why conversational is the buzzword for describing interviews. What's the attraction of a conversational interview over one where they're reading off questions? I'd much rather get read a list of questions that are "Tell me about your family", "What is your interest in this school" and "What do you do in your free time?", then have to engage in a "conversation" where questions like "What is the biggest dilemma of your life", "How do you plan on overcoming the obstacles of being a physician" and "What do you think are the three greatest issues in healthcare today and how would you address them", when the answers are going to largely dictate your spot in the upcoming class. Maybe that's just me though.

Well the point is when an interview is conversational, you have more freedom to share about yourself. Of course everyone has their preference. If you are unable to hold an interesting conversation with a stranger, then sure, a list of questions would be easier and lead to fewer awkward silences. For a lot of people though, a chance to just chat with the interviewer lets them better express themselves and their strong points then a list of generic 'one size fits all' questions. To each his own.

BerlinDude · Oct 21, 2009

Bbon said:
Makes sense, but then I don't see why conversational is the buzzword for describing interviews. What's the attraction of a conversational interview over one where they're reading off questions? I'd much rather get read a list of questions that are "Tell me about your family", "What is your interest in this school" and "What do you do in your free time?", then have to engage in a "conversation" where questions like "What is the biggest dilemma of your life", "How do you plan on overcoming the obstacles of being a physician" and "What do you think are the three greatest issues in healthcare today and how would you address them", when the answers are going to largely dictate your spot in the upcoming class. Maybe that's just me though.

Well, I guess different strokes for different folks. I'd rather have a conversational interview with a lot of tough questions (which flow from one another), than random easy questions. If you get asked about the three greatest issues in healthcare, you have a chance to stand out more than if you are asked about your family background or hobbies.

Bbon · Oct 21, 2009

You guys make some good points. Guess it does depend partially on preference. I'm not looking to "stand out" so much in my interviews as much as show them that I'm a likable and personable human being. My mindset going in is to not make a fool of myself, convey that I'm "normal", and make them laugh a few times and I'm good. I guess I know my limitations in that I'd struggle to come up with some really good answers to tough questions on the spot. You guys seem to make me out to be some bumbling socially inept stupidhead. Hurts my feelings a little.. :cry:

Edit: Oh, and I guess my point is, I'm more interested in knowing whether an interview was relaxed and straightforward, rather than if it was conversational vs. scripted. I don't have anything against conversational interviews of course. I wasn't advocating a question-answer format; rather I was questioning how significant a conversational interview really is for prospective interviewees. But again, I realize now that for some it can be important.

Tatastrophy · Oct 21, 2009

y0g said:
word.

34 mcat, 3.7 gpa, average ECs... i got an invite, but i may very well be a filler. ;P

oh don't you say that!
I am those exact stats (er more than average ECs) and I've been dreaming of getting in since my interview.

266202 · Oct 21, 2009

Tatastrophy said:
oh don't you say that!
I am those exact stats (er more than average ECs) and I've been dreaming of getting in since my interview.

I wish you luck!

Durham is very relaxed, Duke is phenomenal.

Too bad I think I botched my interview. Oh well. 🙁

AyCaramba · Oct 22, 2009

y0g said:
I wish you luck!

Durham is very relaxed, Duke is phenomenal.

Too bad I think I botched my interview. Oh well. 🙁

I think I botched mine as well. Sometimes interviewers are really hard to read though... I think my interviewer purposely showed no reaction to anything I said, which was disconcerting, but maybe I did ok.........

jla314 · Oct 22, 2009

AyCaramba said:
I think I botched mine as well. Sometimes interviewers are really hard to read though... I think my interviewer purposely showed no reaction to anything I said, which was disconcerting, but maybe I did ok.........

lol my interviewer was the same way. when did you interview?

amt0908 · Oct 22, 2009

Congrats to everyone who has gotten an interview so far!

I'm going on week 9 of being in committee screening (secondary submitted Aug 24th)...anyone in the same boat??

I called the admissions office last week but didn't get very far other than that they like to take their time reviewing and I could hear back tomorrow or a few months from now 🙁

AyCaramba · Oct 22, 2009

jla314 said:
lol my interviewer was the same way. when did you interview?

It wasn't the same day as you, there were only a couple girls and neither was from Hispanic or from Florida. But yeah, maybe they encourage one of the interviewers (the beta one?) to be more hard-line. Because after the interview I was talking to him about something unrelated and he was like perfectly normal, nice, conversational. So I feel his demeanor during the interview was definitely partly by design...

MBHockey · Oct 22, 2009

Interview Invite!! So excited.

I submitted my secondary at the very end of August.

Edit: I know Duke is non-rolling, but is it better to interview earlier rather than later (November vs. January, for example?) Scheduling interviews at other schools was a lot more restricting with the dates. Would it be a terrible idea to have Duke be my first interview?

DirtyJustice · Oct 22, 2009

MBHockey said:
Interview Invite!! So excited.

I submitted my secondary at the very end of August.

Edit: I know Duke is non-rolling, but is it better to interview earlier rather than later (November vs. January, for example?) Scheduling interviews at other schools was a lot more restricting with the dates. Would it be a terrible idea to have Duke be my first interview?

I got mine today also, submitted around the same time as you!

SpaceDementia · Oct 23, 2009

MBHockey said:
Interview Invite!! So excited.

I submitted my secondary at the very end of August.

Edit: I know Duke is non-rolling, but is it better to interview earlier rather than later (November vs. January, for example?) Scheduling interviews at other schools was a lot more restricting with the dates. Would it be a terrible idea to have Duke be my first interview?

All interview dates are identical with regard to your chances. Schedule whatever you're comfortable with.

Question123 · Oct 23, 2009

Does anyone know how many people are interviewed and how many are admitted? It seems as though a lot of people are interviewed here?

MBHockey · Oct 23, 2009

SpaceDementia said:
All interview dates are identical with regard to your chances. Schedule whatever you're comfortable with.

Yeah, I mean, I understand what non-rolling is I just hope they really mean it 🙂

Question123 said:
Does anyone know how many people are interviewed and how many are admitted? It seems as though a lot of people are interviewed here?

According to USNews.com (Fall 2008):

5201 applied, 1077 interviewed, 218 were accepted, 100 enrolled

Tatastrophy · Oct 23, 2009

BerlinDude said:
The other applicants (about ten) were mostly from big-name schools - a couple of Harvards, Princeton, Cornell, etc. No one from the west coast. A mix of personalities - some didn't say anything, some poured their life stories, some were surprised they were being interviewed, some acted like it was their birthright. Most actually had already graduated college, which I didn't expect.

7 out of the 10 people at my interview date were at least 2 years out of college and had either a masters or have been doing crazy awesome research. One of them actually graduate from my school the spring before I started....kind of funny. The three undergrads, including myself, were from Harvard, U of Washington (long flight!) and moi from Emory. I decided not to care about the under/grad thing....we all obviously had different things to offer to the school.

PS-my med student host was AMAZING, she even gave me milk and oreos before bed.....which btw she gave up hers so that I wouldn't have to sleep on a lumpy couch. Super nice girl.

Edit: those Newsweek stats seem pretty different from what MSAR says....which one should I go with?

derArzt · Oct 24, 2009

Tatastrophy said:
7 out of the 10 people at my interview date were at least 2 years out of college and had either a masters or have been doing crazy awesome research. One of them actually graduate from my school the spring before I started....kind of funny. The three undergrads, including myself, were from Harvard, U of Washington (long flight!) and moi from Emory. I decided not to care about the under/grad thing....we all obviously had different things to offer to the school.

PS-my med student host was AMAZING, she even gave me milk and oreos before bed.....which btw she gave up hers so that I wouldn't have to sleep on a lumpy couch. Super nice girl.

Edit: those Newsweek stats seem pretty different from what MSAR says....which one should I go with?

On my interview date, over half were grads from Harvard, Yale, Brown, Stanford or Duke. Crazy.

tucholsky · Oct 24, 2009