2013-2014 Duke University Application Thread

[mac2013]

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So, it appears this is no "kink". 👍👍👍👍

so what is the essay question for MD/PhD applicants?

Thanks

 

[ThrombinHood]

When will this submit button work!?

 

[ewelling]

When will this submit button work!?

Monday

 

[hopefulMD12]

Wait, no one has been able to submit yet? I just started the app.

 

[plumazul]

so what is the essay question for MD/PhD applicants?

Thanks

"What is the most difficult obstacle you have faced? What resources did you marshal to confront it? How did the experience affect you and/or transform your life?"

 

[mac2013]

how on earth did we get so lucky?! there are really no other questions?

this would be such an amazing interview to get.

 

[McRunner]

Did y'all get secondary invites before you were verified??

 

[rudziutki]

Could I apply to Duke MD/PhD just to get the easier secondary?

 

[rudziutki]

Could I apply to Duke MD/PhD just to get the easier secondary? I am pooped out on secondaries at this point, I would do it -_- Does applying MD/PhD involve an extra essay on the AMCAS?

 

[McRunner]

Also, how long are y'all's essays getting.?

 

[Amba]

Also, how long are y'all's essays getting.?

I'm between 370 and 450 words on all of mine. That seems like a reasonable length without getting too long.

 

[plumazul]

Could I apply to Duke MD/PhD just to get the easier secondary? I am pooped out on secondaries at this point, I would do it -_- Does applying MD/PhD involve an extra essay on the AMCAS?

yeah, you just have to write a 10,000 character research essay and 3,000 character why MD/PhD essay. It's easy. 😀

 

[Pandaeac]

Also, how long are y'all's essays getting.?

Mine ranged from about 175 to 330 words

 

[McRunner]

I'm between 370 and 450 words on all of mine. That seems like a reasonable length without getting too long.

Yeah I think I'm
just gunna try to stay under 500 words.

 

[Espadaleader]

Yo. I might be crazy but I enjoyed the Duke secondaries. I did PCLT so I wrote a ton. I love how user-friendly the application is - I almost passed how when I saw my course Pre-populated. I think I repeated myself here but that's how serious it is.

 

[yoyohomieg5432]

i've written two so far and they are both a full page. i may have to try to shorten it a bit

 

[ThrombinHood]

Contacted the admissions department. The reason no one can submit is do to an IT issue in getting a proper payment vendor. Submit button was supposed to start as of last wednesday. I'm not sure who told me Monday on this forum. They're hoping to get it sorted out in the next few days. I thought y'all would like to know.

 

[ewelling]

Contacted the admissions department. The reason no one can submit is do to an IT issue in getting a proper payment vendor. Submit button was supposed to start as of last wednesday. I'm not sure who told me Monday on this forum. They're hoping to get it sorted out in the next few days. I thought y'all would like to know.

Yea I was told Monday when I called last week, but now it seems it may take longer than that. Thanks for the update!

 

[zippyziggy]

Strange. Well I was able to submit late last night, though I'm on fee waiver 🙂.

 

[yoyohomieg5432]

could anyone give some advice on how to approach the 'humbling experience' prompt?

how did you interpret that?

i interpret it as some event that really makes you stop and think and develop appreciation for something?

 

[ewelling]

Still can't submit :/ I wonder when it will be fixed!?

 

[ThrombinHood]

I'm very disappointed in Duke.

 

[ThrombinHood]

^^ right after posting this, Duke submission opened up

 

[Amba]

Submitted!

 

[Espadaleader]

Someone help fee waiver. I have one cannot submit

 

[Espadaleader]

I called no answer. Has anyone else been able to submit with fee waiver?

 

[Lya]

I called no answer. Has anyone else been able to submit with fee waiver?

Have you forwarded your FAP e-mail to Mr. Wallace? Did he give you a response back?



The e-mail says:

"Duke Secondary Application Fee Waivers are considered for applicants who have received an AMCAS Fee Waiver. In order to be considered for a Duke Secondary Application Fee Waiver, please forward a copy of your AMCAS Fee Waiver confirmation to:

[email protected]

Requests for a fee waiver (with documentation from AMCAS) must be submitted no later than 12:00 PM, Eastern Time, Friday, Friday, November 1, 2013. Requests for fee waivers received by Mr. Wallace after this date will not be considered. Requests for a fee waiver must be sent to [email protected]. Do not send fee waiver requests to any other email address."



EDIT: Never mind. He's out of office until 29th this month. I got this e-mail:

"I will be out of the office until July 29th. I will have very limited access to my email so I may not respond to your message until on or after July 29th. If you need assistance, please contact the Office of Admissions, 919-684-2985.

Thank you!

Richard S. Wallace
Associate Director of Admissions"


So basically, if you want to turn in your secondary asap but the Office of Admissions is not helping much, I am not sure what else to do except for just paying the secondary fee...



EDIT: Just called, but no one answering. Left a message. If they aren't giving me a call back today, I'll probably have to pay unfortunately if I want to submit by tonight/this weekend.



Update: Fee waiver approved. Mr. Wallace can still e-mail, so I would contact him if you are trying to get the fee waiver:

"A secondary application fee waiver has been applied to your application. When you are ready to submit your secondary application, you will see the applied fee waiver on the payment page.

Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

RW"

 

[Narmerguy]

Also, how long are y'all's essays getting.?

I'm between 370 and 450 words on all of mine. That seems like a reasonable length without getting too long.

Mine were all 700-900 words but I still have one more to go. I wouldn't worry about it too much so long as you're making the points you need to make. I found their questions to be quite challenging and sometimes complex so I tried to answer them thoroughly. We'll see.

 

[McRunner]

Got my mcat back and so now I'm just waiting for my primary to be verified.

Met a duke med grad last night, she was pretty awesome. I'd kill to go here!

 

[adbunnybabybay]

_

 

[ewelling]

II! I checked on the supplemental status page and it said that they wanted to extend an invitation to me to interview. However, when I tried to schedule, it said to check back later because they had no slots available at the moment. I took a screenshot just in case they changed their mind later, JAJA!

Congrats!!!

 

[adbunnybabybay]

_

 

[Amba]

Thanks man! I just wish I knew whether other people were getting interviews. What if it's a glitch?! Joking but really...

Not something to joke about... #neverforget

 

[Amba]

Thanks man! I just wish I knew whether other people were getting interviews. What if it's a glitch?! Joking but really...

Not something to joke about... #neverforget

 

[Amba]

Thanks man! I just wish I knew whether other people were getting interviews. What if it's a glitch?! Joking but really...

Not something to joke about...

(congrats though!)

 

[adbunnybabybay]

Not something to joke about...

(congrats though!)

Wait I'm so confused, what happened? What I meant was that I'm scared that it is a glitch, not that I'm joking about my status change to II

 

[NCKSD]

Wait I'm so confused, what happened? What I meant was that I'm scared that it is a glitch, not that I'm joking about my status change to II

He's saying dont joke that it may be a glitch, we're all sure its an II. Congrats! The duke secondary is too much for me 😛

 

[Amba]

Wait I'm so confused, what happened? What I meant was that I'm scared that it is a glitch, not that I'm joking about my status change to II

I know. PM'ed.

 

[Medicalhopeful]

Can someone post the secondary essay questions, please? I couldn't find them. Thank you!

 

[plumazul]

Can someone post the secondary essay questions, please? I couldn't find them. Thank you!

IIRC, it was posted and quoted many times on page 2.

 

[Lya]

Submitted 7/21, but no complete e-mail so far.

Has anyone received any e-mail after submitting your secondary?

 

[Amba]

Submitted 7/21, but no complete e-mail so far.

Has anyone received any e-mail after submitting your secondary?

You won't get one, I presume. Duke doesn't look at LORs until you've been invited to interview (in fact, I think they strongly recommend NOT assigning them before an II). So as soon as your secondary is submitted, you're probably complete.

 

[jeghaber]

You won't get one, I presume. Duke doesn't look at LORs until you've been invited to interview (in fact, I think they strongly recommend NOT assigning them before an II). So as soon as your secondary is submitted, you're probably complete.

😱 Had I known this, I would have gotten on Duke's secondary so much sooner! I was taking my sweet time with it given that my committee didn't start writing letters until just this week! Yikes, I've been sitting on their secondary for almost 3 weeks -- not the best start with Duke, haha

 

[Lya]

You won't get one, I presume. Duke doesn't look at LORs until you've been invited to interview (in fact, I think they strongly recommend NOT assigning them before an II). So as soon as your secondary is submitted, you're probably complete.

Thanks for the info! I didn't know that before.

 

[yoyohomieg5432]

did all of you answer one of hte optional essays? i feel like i could answer them but i don't really think the answer helps them to get to know me better as an applicant

 

[fbtkdrbs]

You won't get one, I presume. Duke doesn't look at LORs until you've been invited to interview (in fact, I think they strongly recommend NOT assigning them before an II). So as soon as your secondary is submitted, you're probably complete.

Wait...I don't know what that means.. I think I already assigned them the LOR through AMCAS... But I already received their secondary and completed it.

 

[piggle]

Wait...I don't know what that means.. I think I already assigned them the LOR through AMCAS... But I already received their secondary and completed it.

Having assigned LORs doesn't affect your ability to complete the secondary, it's just that they won't read them until they've decided to interview you. Hope that helps!

 

[Amba]

Having assigned LORs doesn't affect your ability to complete the secondary, it's just that they won't read them until they've decided to interview you. Hope that helps!

This. Even though they explicitly state not to send LORs before an II, I doubt they'll toss your app if you do. You could always email/call them if this is a concern. Link to where this info is found:

http://dukemed.duke.edu/modules/ooa_applicant/index.php?id=6

 

[zippyziggy]

This. Even though they explicitly state not to send LORs before an II, I doubt they'll toss your app if you do. You could always email/call them if this is a concern. Link to where this info is found:

http://dukemed.duke.edu/modules/ooa_applicant/index.php?id=6

the website probably hasn't been updated. they used to not accept LORs via AMCAS letters service, and you would have to send them in directly. that's why they didn't want LORs before interview invites. now, they can download LORs via AMCAS at their leisure, so i don't think it's a problem at all.

 

[Amba]

the website probably hasn't been updated. they used to not accept LORs via AMCAS letters service, and you would have to send them in directly. that's why they didn't want LORs before interview invites. now, they can download LORs via AMCAS at their leisure, so i don't think it's a problem at all.

This is entirely possible.