2014-2015 Duke University Application Thread

[gettheleadout]

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Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions that you hope to make to your community as a medical student and to your career in medicine?

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?

What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients?

Additional Essays (pick one optional):

Giving Back To Your Community: What is the value of giving back to your community? Is it a more important attribute of a physician than of others performing other roles within a community?

How are You Misunderstood: What are people most likely to misunderstand about you and why?

Toughest Feedback: What is the toughest feedback that you ever received? How did you handle it and what did you learn from it?

Good luck to everyone applying!

 

[sunflower18]

definitely one of my top choices... 1 year for pre-clinical plus time devoted to research? so awesome.

 

[No Limits]

definitely one of my top choices... 1 year for pre-clinical plus time devoted to research? so awesome.

Also one of my top five dream schools. Duke is just amazing there are no other words. Hope we get some love here🙂

 

[capnncrunch]

good luck everyone. i gave up this dream for a nearly guaranteed spot at my IS school.

 

[Copernicium]

Pretty specific course requirements needed for this place...was thinking about adding Duke but not sure anymore:

For those who are applying in the 2013-14 and 2014-2015 admissions cycles with anticipation of matriculation in the fall of 2014 and 2015(1), the current academic expectations/requirements will remain. These expectations include the following:

• Biochemistry(2)
• Cellular Biology(3)
• General Physics(4)
• Math (1 semester of Calculus or AP equivalent)(5)
• Expository Writing (2 semesters)(6)

1. The above criteria presumes applicants will take the current MCAT examination.
2. The "prerequisites" for Biochemistry are purposefully left to the individual undergraduate institution, given the variability across collegiate institutions where coursework leading to Biochemistry is concerned.
3. The "prerequisites" for Cellular Biology are also purposefully left to the individual undergraduate institution, given the cross-disciplinary course offerings which may include cell biology, molecular biology, and genetics together in appropriate courses with or without laboratory.
4. Coursework in Physics may be completed with or without a laboratory component.
5. Either AP credit for Calculus or one semester of College Calculus is expected. Students anticipating entrance to medical school in Fall 2014 and 2015 are strongly advised to have at least one semester of college Statistics.
6. Fulfillment of this academic expectation may include coursework with significant requirements for papers, essays, etc, in courses such as Political Science, Public Policy, Economics, History, Anthropology, Psychology, etc.

Anyone know if Bio I/II fulfill the Cell Bio req?

 

[gettheleadout]

Pretty specific course requirements needed for this place...was thinking about adding Duke but not sure anymore:

Anyone know if Bio I/II fulfill the Cell Bio req?

If your school does Bio I/II the way I'm familiar with (I: cellular bio, II: organ systems) then I would imagine so.

 

[exmoderpina]

So a "General Genetics" class would fulfill the Cellular Bio req according to Duke's description?

 

[BrCo]

I am in love with DukeMed... Their secondary... Not so much.

 

[FFF2012]

definitely applying here!

 

[Kay293T]

Also one of my top five dream schools. Duke is just amazing there are no other words. Hope we get some love here🙂

Same here! I've visited a couple times and absolutely love it. Here's hoping 🙂.

 

[Innocuous]

Good luck everyone! Duke is an amazing place, and the secondary is worth it! The opportunity to pursue a second degree during third year (MBA, MPH, clinical/translational/basic research) is unique, and the match list speaks volumes to how competitive we are for residency as a result. You will not regret applying here!

 

[geeyouknit]

What's it like with 1 year pre-clinical? Is it stressful to cram all of that material into that short of time?

 

[504196]

Anyone know if we can send additional letters besides the 4 required ones? Or would that be overkill?

 

[Willy38]

Definitely a top choice! Good luck to everyone applying. I've heard the secondary is rough though..

 

[ta8901]

long shot for me

 

[Lamel]

Last Year's Secondary:

a. Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions that you hope to make to your community as a medical student and to your career in medicine?

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?

What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients?

Pick ONE OPTIONAL:

Giving Back To Your Community: What is the value of giving back to your community? Is it a more important attribute of a physician than of others performing other roles within a community?

How Are You Misunderstood: What are people most likely to misunderstand about you and why?

Toughest Feedback: What is the toughest feedback that you ever received? How did you handle it and what did you learn from it?

 

[pyrrion89]

If you really want to get invited to interview here, put some hard work into those essays. They really do consider them carefully. Each secondary essay gets read by 3 people (many of them are members of the Durham community), and a vote of 3/3 or 2/3 will get you an interview (granted, other factors beside your essay may apply toward the vote).

 

[sunflower18]

If you really want to get invited to interview here, put some hard work into those essays. They really do consider them carefully. Each secondary essay gets read by 3 people (many of them are members of the Durham community), and a vote of 3/3 or 2/3 will get you an interview (granted, other factors beside your essay may apply toward the vote).

Do you know how long most essays are? Two of mine are shaping up to be really long (~5000 characters) because I am putting so much detail and thought into them. Do you think that's okay?

 

[pj77]

Woo hoo! Secondary

 

[j314]

Are others getting a blank screen after activating your application?

 

[onceawolverine]

Received secondary, but I'm having trouble logging in... After activating my account, every time I try to sign in just yields a blank page. anyone else having this issue?

 

[blubearzangel]

.

 

[Lamel]

Yup blank screen after logging in. Don't worry, they JUST released it.

 

[No Limits]

Got the secondary as well (hooray) but can't log in. It will probably get fixed soon

 

[zinthafan]

^Can't log in either.

 

[singads]

For those who are applying in the 2013-14 and 2014-2015 admissions cycles with anticipation of matriculation in the fall of 2014 and 2015(1), the current academic expectations/requirements will remain. These expectations include the following:

• Biochemistry(2)
• Cellular Biology(3)
• General Physics(4)
• Math (1 semester of Calculus or AP equivalent)(5)
• Expository Writing (2 semesters)(6)

Do we need to have these courses done before applying or can be completed before matriculation?

 

[Anchwo]

Anyone see where to pay the fee?

 

[:))]

Anyone have any advice on how long these essays are supposed to be? Kind of annoying there aren't any limits.

 

[BioEngMD]

Nevermind. Completely missed the first section...

 

[Anchwo]

Its right on top of the background info

 

[BioEngMD]

Its right on top of the background info

Thanks! I don't know how I missed that...

 

[akhart]

What is the word count? I still don't see it....maybe because I haven't filled out the background info yet?

 

[BioEngMD]

To my knowledge there isn't one.

 

[Emeryx09]

.

 

[purplepolarbear]

1st post here, hoping for some advice on the essays! As it turns out, my biggest obstacle is also the most humbling experience. I have the humbling essay mostly written, but couldn't think of a better topic to write about for the obstacle in the past couple of weeks. Would it be ok to write about the same experience but talk about it from a different perspective?

 

[gettheleadout]

1st post here, hoping for some advice on the essays! As it turns out, my biggest obstacle is also the most humbling experience. I have the humbling essay mostly written, but couldn't think of a better topic to write about for the obstacle in the past couple of weeks. Would it be ok to write about the same experience but talk about it from a different perspective?

I'd imagine that would be fine.

 

[acquiescing]

I have read that Duke doesn't look at LORs until they decide to interview. Can anybody comment on the veracity of that statement? My LORs aren't in so I'm wondering if submitting the secondary quickly is even worth it.

 

[slopes23]

Did anyone use the "additional considerations" space for a why Duke essay? Or do they already know they are the bee's knees and not need to hear it?

 

[gettheleadout]

Did anyone use the "additional considerations" space for a why Duke essay? Or do they already know they are the bee's knees and not need to hear it?

I wasn't planning on it.

 

[slopes23]

I wasn't planning on it.

I already submitted it, I decided not to. I am sure they have enough to read and make a decision. Doubt an essay reminding them that they are top US program will change things.

 

[zinthafan]

Does anyone know the number of people who tend to complete a full Duke application? I'm just wondering how competitive it is number wise in terms of people who complete the full secondaries. (I think the numbers online tell us of anyone who submitted the primary)

 

[acquiescing]

I already submitted it, I decided not to. I am sure they have enough to read and make a decision. Doubt an essay reminding them that they are top US program will change things.

+1

 

[halfwaycrooks]

Is expository english just any writing intensive course?

 

[acquiescing]

Is expository english just any writing intensive course?

That's what I took it to mean. Similar to Vanderbilt's English requirements: "you may be granted credit for our English requirement by completing non-science courses with a significant writing component."

 

[halfwaycrooks]

That's what I took it to mean. Similar to Vanderbilt's English requirements: "you may be granted credit for our English requirement by completing non-science courses with a significant writing component."

Thank you

 

[mjhhockey98]

I have read that Duke doesn't look at LORs until they decide to interview. Can anybody comment on the veracity of that statement? My LORs aren't in so I'm wondering if submitting the secondary quickly is even worth it.

Does anyone have an answer to this? I'm in the same boat.

 

[No Limits]

Does anyone have an answer to this? I'm in the same boat.

Submitting early is always worth it. Just make sure you don't half-ass your secondaries just to submit early.

 

[mjhhockey98]

Submitting early is always worth it. Just make sure you don't half-ass your secondaries just to submit early.

I guess I was just wondering if they would consider me for an interview without having received my letters of rec.

 

[No Limits]

I guess I was just wondering if they would consider me for an interview without having received my letters of rec.

I'm not entirely sure but my gut tells me you wont be fully considered until everything is in. @gettheleadout can probably confirm though. You could also call and ask.

 

[gettheleadout]

I'm not entirely sure but my gut tells me you wont be fully considered until everything is in. @gettheleadout can probably confirm though. You could also call and ask.

Without reason to believe otherwise I would assume that LOR's must be received before an application will be considered for interview, since 1) a "complete" application at every other school includes LOR's and 2) it makes sense to read LOR's before sending an II in order to check for red flags, gain a better picture of the applicant, etc.

It seems both unlikely and impractical for the opposite to be the case.