2009-2010 Duke Application Thread

[MrBurns10]

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I saw earlier some people said there were still spots available in February. I just got my interview invite, and I don't think there are any more dates open, unless I'm doing something wrong. There are random Wednesdays I can click on, but they are all full. I just wanted to check to be sure there isn't a chance of getting an on campus interview. (I actually go to Duke currently, so it is kind of ridiculous to do a regional interview.)

There's no way Duke would make you do a regional interview if you go to Duke (well, I don't see why they would). Tell them the scoop and I'm sure they'll fit you in somewhere.

 

[MBHockey]

So I... actually got an interview invite. Now I'm REALLY facerolling over whether or not I should fess up about the late secondary submit and get it off my chest but also potentially fall on my sword, or just wait and see if they notice it themselves and then explain if they do. Gah! I wish you people hadn't told me the deadline was the 15th. I would've never known! PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY! LOL

I mean, it said the secondary application would be inaccessible after the deadline. If it still worked for you AND they gave you an interview, I really don't see a problem. I wouldn't worry about it. Good luck man.

 

[elementals]

Woman, actually! 😀 But whew, thanks folks, I feel better. I was mainly feeling guilty about it because it said at the bottom of their intro-to-secondary page, "NO EXTENSIONS ON DEADLINES" or something. And I didn't actually ask for an extension (cuz when I finally realized it was past it was like 11pm pacific and I just stayed up and wrote all night then turned it in *LOL*), so I sorta felt like I was doing the proverbial sneak-your-bluebook-into-the-middle-of-the-pile-after-time-has-been-called trick 😛

Interview lady told me all their on-campus slots were full though, so I guess I'll have to settle for regional 🙁

 

[ghoulfrenzy]

Interview Invite today.

All spots are filled until February so I chose the regional interview.

 

[UNCHopeful]

I got an interview invite yesterday, and I thought it was sort of a sick joke that there were no interview spots left. I chose the regional interview and then called the next morning. I told the secretary that I lived just a few miles away and that I really wanted to do an on campus interview. After some hesitation, and no additional urging from myself, she said "well maybe...." and then stuck me in on a Tuesday in January. Since all the interview spots online are one Wednesday, I am not quite sure what I have gotten myself into, but I got an on campus interview I believe.
FYI

 

[Steeler7588]

Since all the interview spots online are one Wednesday, I am not quite sure what I have gotten myself into, but I got an on campus interview I believe.

I don't know why it does that, but for some reason the website will only show Wednesdays when it's all booked up. They have interviews on other days though, so I think you're good.

 

[Tatastrophy]

I got an interview invite yesterday, and I thought it was sort of a sick joke that there were no interview spots left. I chose the regional interview and then called the next morning. I told the secretary that I lived just a few miles away and that I really wanted to do an on campus interview. After some hesitation, and no additional urging from myself, she said "well maybe...." and then stuck me in on a Tuesday in January. Since all the interview spots online are one Wednesday, I am not quite sure what I have gotten myself into, but I got an on campus interview I believe.
FYI

When I was picking my interview day back in Aug-I had every weekday to choose from. So I am pretty certain that they have interviews every day. Or at least most days 🙂

 

[huybeme]

I was there today for an on-campus interview and fell in love with it. I actually got there over the weekend and went to the Duke-Wake Forest football game and had some southern food in Chapel Hill with my host. Everyone I met was really chill, nice, and down to earth....maybe it's the southern vibe? The campus is gorgeous, and all the schools are located close to each other. The curriculum is also amazing - I knew beforehand that Duke's third year was pretty unique in that it was almost like a year off, but talking to all the current med students about how much they enjoyed it and how it's helping their residency applications made me appreciate it that much more. Also, my tour guide also mentioned something interesting: all big and important cases south of the Mason-Dixon line are sent to Duke. This is in contrast to the northeast, where Harvard, Hopkins, Cornell, Columbia, etc all fight for the rare cases, but here at Duke, they're more common since Duke is the only place for these cases. That led to my tour guide seeing a ton of rare cases that most other residency applicants never got the chance to see.

Anyway, long story short - I really hope good news comes around in March! Amazing day.

 

[MsTaco]

I think we're all feeling that way right about now. Does anyone know how Duke feels about letters of intent? Duke would be my dream school...it goes without saying that I would go there if I got in...and it's going to be hard to sit still and wait til March!

 

[BerlinDude]

I think we're all feeling that way right about now. Does anyone know how Duke feels about letters of intent? Duke would be my dream school...it goes without saying that I would go there if I got in...and it's going to be hard to sit still and wait til March!

I don't have any special knowledge, but I would guess 1. Top schools don't worry you'll reject their acceptance 2. Letters of intent can seem desperate.

 

[SpaceDementia]

I don't have any special knowledge, but I would guess 1. Top schools don't worry you'll reject their acceptance 2. Letters of intent can seem desperate.

I disagree somewhat with both of those statements. Top schools interview top applicants, and top applicants (usually) have more than one top school to choose from. Not everyone interviewing will want to attend the school over their other options. With regard to the second point, that may or may not be true pre-decision, and it's certainly not true post-decision.

 

[Question123]

I disagree somewhat with both of those statements. Top schools interview top applicants, and top applicants (usually) have more than one top school to choose from. Not everyone interviewing will want to attend the school over their other options. With regard to the second point, that may or may not be true pre-decision, and it's certainly not true post-decision.

what do you mean by "predecision" and "post decision"?

 

[Tatastrophy]

I don't have any special knowledge, but I would guess 1. Top schools don't worry you'll reject their acceptance 2. Letters of intent can seem desperate.

1.) yes they do-see the reply right after your question
2.) my interviewer told me to write a letter to their dean of admissions (when he heard how my experience impacted my view of Duke)
So no not desperate.

 

[JOE Verghese]

1.) yes they do-see the reply right after your question
2.) my interviewer told me to write a letter to their dean of admissions (when he heard how my experience impacted my view of Duke)
So no not desperate.

Is there any value in sending an update about any new activities and with that one can express their intent and interest in Duke as well. Will they really look at any additional information/letters of intent after interview given the fact that they make final decisions in a short window after all the interviews are done?

 

[Tatastrophy]

Is there any value in sending an update about any new activities and with that one can express their intent and interest in Duke as well. Will they really look at any additional information/letters of intent after interview given the fact that they make final decisions in a short window after all the interviews are done?

You got me on that. I have some pretty cool things to share with Duke as well. I was thinking about calling them this morning about that so I'll let you know if I do.

Update:
Do not send any update letters now. They will not see them before the decision has to be made. Once they make a decision and you are waitlisted-then send an update. If you are accepted-obviously don't-they like you as you are already 🙂

 

[JOE Verghese]

You got me on that. I have some pretty cool things to share with Duke as well. I was thinking about calling them this morning about that so I'll let you know if I do.

Update:
Do not send any update letters now. They will not see them before the decision has to be made. Once they make a decision and you are waitlisted-then send an update. If you are accepted-obviously don't-they like you as you are already 🙂

Did you call to get the above information? Admissions office do not rececommend sending update letters.

 

[Tatastrophy]

Did you call to get the above information? Admissions office do not rececommend sending update letters.

yea, I called. He told me that only send update letters in case you are waitlisted. Sucks cause I have some awesome news to tell them but I guess it doesn't matter if I am accepted and if I am waitlisted then I will send it in.

 

[BerlinDude]

I disagree somewhat with both of those statements. Top schools interview top applicants, and top applicants (usually) have more than one top school to choose from. Not everyone interviewing will want to attend the school over their other options. With regard to the second point, that may or may not be true pre-decision, and it's certainly not true post-decision.

Well this is anecdotal, but I am a top applicant and don't expect I will have more than one top school to choose from. Similarly, most of the students I know at top schools were admitted ONLY to that one top school.

I agree with your second point, a letter of intent may help if you wind up on the waitlist. To send a letter of intent in December might seem desperate.

 

[AyCaramba]

Well this is anecdotal, but I am a top applicant and don't expect I will have more than one top school to choose from.

...maybe you're not a top applicant then? Sorry, don't mean to be rude, but it just seems a little presumptuous of you. If you look around these forums and mdapps, you will find people who have been accepted to multiple top schools. They might be the exception rather than the rule, but many people that I know have had the choice of 2 or more top schools.

 

[BerlinDude]

...maybe you're not a top applicant then? Sorry, don't mean to be rude, but it just seems a little presumptuous of you. If you look around these forums and mdapps, you will find people who have been accepted to multiple top schools. They might be the exception rather than the rule, but many people that I know have had the choice of 2 or more top schools.

Haha, I wanted to see if someone would say that.

If you're happy about the med school process, you're going to be very visible and so those people seem more numerous than they are. You can look at the statistics yourself, but admissions offers at top schools are less than twice the size of the class. This means that the majority of students offered admission will attend the school, which means the majority of students accepted do not have better offers.

 

[Amadelphous]

yea, I called. He told me that only send update letters in case you are waitlisted. Sucks cause I have some awesome news to tell them but I guess it doesn't matter if I am accepted and if I am waitlisted then I will send it in.

People I know close to Duke admissions always said to let Duke know it if is definitely 100% your number 1 choice...it may make more of a difference before you wind up on the waitlist...IMO

Besides they won't likely reject you for updating, as long as you don't start harassing the office. So....what could it hurt?

 

[BerlinDude]

People I know close to Duke admissions always said to let Duke know it if is definitely 100% your number 1 choice...it may make more of a difference before you wind up on the waitlist...IMO

Besides they won't likely reject you for updating, as long as you don't start harassing the office. So....what could it hurt?

How close is close?

Duke gives out a lot of scholarship money they use as a recruiting tool. If you tell them they are your number one choice, you may hurt your chances of getting one of those scholarships. Just speculating though.

 

[Amadelphous]

How close is close?

Duke gives out a lot of scholarship money they use as a recruiting tool. If you tell them they are your number one choice, you may hurt your chances of getting one of those scholarships. Just speculating though.

That could definitely be true, just depends if your priority is to strategize for a scholarship or get accepted at the number 5/6 school in the country...just food for thought lol. Obviously both would be amazing! But just an acceptance would be cool too.

Close being on the highest committee under the dean of admissions. It's no secret though, if a school is your number one choice you should let them know, doesn't mean you can't waive your other acceptances around to try to get $$ later.

 

[JOE Verghese]

People I know close to Duke admissions always said to let Duke know it if is definitely 100% your number 1 choice...it may make more of a difference before you wind up on the waitlist...IMO

Besides they won't likely reject you for updating, as long as you don't start harassing the office. So....what could it hurt?

Who do you know? It will be nice if some of the Duke students who have gone through this process and are on this blog voice their opinion and let others know whether it is a good idea to send the update letters after the interview.

 

[Amadelphous]

See previous post

 

[FluffyRabbit]

How close is close?

Duke gives out a lot of scholarship money they use as a recruiting tool. If you tell them they are your number one choice, you may hurt your chances of getting one of those scholarships. Just speculating though.

That could definitely be true, just depends if your priority is to strategize for a scholarship or get accepted at the number 5/6 school in the country...just food for thought lol. Obviously both would be amazing! But just an acceptance would be cool too.

Close being on the highest committee under the dean of admissions. It's no secret though, if a school is your number one choice you should let them know, doesn't mean you can't waive your other acceptances around to try to get $$ later.

Do you mean telling them during the interview or sending them a letter afterward? At any rate, I've heard that Duke does admissions by counting points (which is why it's non-rolling), so how would that help?

I can't imagine how obscenely qualified one would have to be to actually get a scholarship to go to Duke...

 

[bannie22]

duke is amazing and everybody taht did the secondary probably has duke as number 1 choice if not 2...


sigh

😍

 

[MBHockey]

Who do we send update emails to? Is it Dr. Armstrong herself?

 

[Tatastrophy]

Who do we send update emails to? Is it Dr. Armstrong herself?

in case you did not see my post earlier-sending an update now is useless. they will not have the opportunity to see it before a decision is made on you. if you are waitlisted-that is the time to send them an update to hopefully build your case. As you do not find out either way until March, I think this is a little early in the game to wonder who you should send the update to.

 

[MBHockey]

in case you did not see my post earlier-sending an update now is useless. they will not have the opportunity to see it before a decision is made on you. if you are waitlisted-that is the time to send them an update to hopefully build your case. As you do not find out either way until March, I think this is a little early in the game to wonder who you should send the update to.

I think you are mistaken. Dr. Armstrong said to send updates up until mid-February on my interview day (about two weeks ago.)

I was just curious who others were addressing these letters to.

 

[TheFreak]

I think you are mistaken. Dr. Armstrong said to send updates up until mid-February on my interview day (about two weeks ago.)

I was just curious who people were sending updates to.

I remember this too during my interview actually.

 

[Tatastrophy]

I think you are mistaken. Dr. Armstrong said to send updates up until mid-February on my interview day (about two weeks ago.)

I was just curious who others were addressing these letters to.

I called this morning and asked specifically about updates. They said that if you send updates that they will go in your file but noone will look at them until after decisions are made. Just relaying what the admissions office told me.

 

[MBHockey]

I called this morning and asked specifically about updates. They said that if you send updates that they will go in your file but noone will look at them until after decisions are made. Just relaying what the admissions office told me.

Interesting. I don't know what to make of it then 🙂

Thanks for the info.

 

[Tatastrophy]

Interesting. I don't know what to make of it then 🙂

Thanks for the info.

Not a problem. The way they explained it to me is that updates only really become important if you are waitlisted.
I've managed to do quite a number of cool things this semester myself and wanted to add them to my file but it seems there is no need to worry about that up until a few weeks prior. I am going to pre-write mine so that in case I am waitlisted, heartbroken-ness will not prevent me from making the best case for myself 🙂

 

[JOE Verghese]

I remember this too during my interview actually.

There are too many conflicting feed backs. Can someone get info from anyone on the admission committee it self?

 

[dukejen04]

So, I am going to have to end up doing a virtual interview because they are out of on-campus interviews and I'm leaving the country in early January....

I'm kind of disappointed I'm going to miss out on visiting the school (even though I went to undergrad there, so I know what it looks like), but I'm kind of concerned that it will work against me without having the real face-to-face.

Has anyone done one of these? Can any current students comment on whether they think these are a disadvantage.

 

[misstiger]

got my interview invite today finally! have been complete since september 3rd! so excited! 🙂

 

[driftkitty]

Does anyone feel like they're interviewing a LOT of people? Every single person I know that applied to Duke has gotten an interview. Plus all of their interview spots are full this early.

Just a thought.

 

[TheFreak]

They do interview more than many schools.

oh. i was under the impression that they interview 770 according to the msar i think. how many do they interview?

 

[BubbaChuck3]

oh. i was under the impression that they interview 770 according to the msar i think. how many do they interview?

They do. I was told at my interview they would interview around 800 and accept about a 1/4 to a 1/5 of them.

 

[questions99]

oops! my bad was thinking of a different school. that does sound right to me though.

Oh really? Thats wierd. Us news said they interview about 1000 accept 200. Maybe they are interviewing less this year. Its just like for harvard. They said they interview 800 but us news says 1100. I guess itshouldnt affect how you approach the interview, but why are they interviewing less?!

 

[Bruinsfinalfour]

Does anyone feel like they're interviewing a LOT of people? Every single person I know that applied to Duke has gotten an interview. Plus all of their interview spots are full this early.

Just a thought.

Another reason for this could be that the ratio of people who complete the application to people who get an interview should be one of the highest of any school.

The total applied number on eduers.com says they get 5500 applications... but I'm gonna take an educated guess and say 1/2 of those people do not complete the secondary (is there anyway anyone can actually confirm how many complete the application?). This guess might also be conservative because I have 6 other friends who applied to duke this year and I was the only one who actually finished the secondary (small sample size..I know). I also received an interview.

So if they interview 800 out of a possible 2700 complete applications...it can seem like everyones getting an interview.

 

[driftkitty]

^That would make sense. They definitely had the longest secondary out of all the places I applied.

 

[avo]

I definitely know people who got rejected AFTER sending in the secondary - let me tell you, they were heartbroken.

That said, Duke also has a VERY quick turnaround after the secondary is completed, from what I've heard. I have a feeling that the secondary essays are only really factored into an application after the interview. Maybe they have the people they'd like to interview lined up pre-secondary, and then they grant them to people who actually finish the secondary? Who knows.

And the length of the secondary didn't get to me; the types of questions got to me. Most secondaries have one or two of those types of questions, if any. But having to go through all those for one school made me very self-conscious about sounding repetitive, or too sugary, or whatever.

 

[Steeler7588]

The essays are read thoroughly and approved by two different readers, while at the same time the academic/science qualifications are inspected and approved by a different committee, in order to get an interview invite. The reason for the quick turnaround is that some readers will get to the essays the day they are submitted, and some will sit on them and wait.

I doubt this is the case for everyone though, when some people get interview invites literally seconds after submission... that's more than a "quick turnaround". They have to be marking some people for interviews before secondary submission.

 

[avo]

Actually, it is the exact opposite. The essays are read thoroughly and approved by two different readers, while at the same time the academic/science qualifications are inspected and approved by a different committee, in order to get an interview invite. The reason for the quick turnaround is that some readers will get to the essays the day they are submitted, and some will sit on them and wait.

Well, mine was pure speculation. I don't know anyone who's gotten an invite SECONDS after they submitted; the earliest I've seen is one hour. I guess they just have a very efficient system. On the other hand, if my essays have already been taken into account, and they still gave me an interview...well, whew!

 

[KAULmeMD]

Guys, i'm also doing the virtual interview over the on campus visit. Any helpful suggestions from anyone who has gone through this? How do you prepare for this?!...getting nervous about it.. 🙁

 

[avo]

Is anyone else having trouble access the PAS website? My log-in information is not being recognized (I can't even reset my password - it doesn't recognize my user name). I'm very worried about what this might mean for my application, especially since I received an interview invite but have yet to receive the contact information for my virtual interview.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[avo]

Maybe they changed their mind on you?

Totally kidding! just call them.

lol, not gonna lie, that went through my mind 😛. On top of it all, I found out about the problem like 10 minutes after the office closed, so I sent them an e-mail. We'll see what happens I guess.

 

[FemalesCANTDriv]

Not to change the subject... but this article speaks for itself.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/6849247/Women-worse-at-parking-than-men-study-shows.html