2014-2015 Duke University Application Thread

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jordan789 said:
I submitted my primary on 10/11. Secondary submitted on 10/17. Interview invite on 10/21. Duke is definitely my #1. School and city are amazing.

Interview process sounds intense. Anyone interview here yet or in past years that can give examples of the some the mini interviews and the scenarios that were given to you? Also the general environment of the process? How did Duke's interview process compare to other schools? Like it better or worse?
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I can't/won't give you specific MMI station questions, but I can give you general info/advice. Personally, I found Duke's interview to be relatively high-stress, mainly because the MMI lasts around 2 hours. But the interviewers are NOT there to stress you out, and I had many pleasant conversations. Take a deep breath before each station and remember that you're making a new first impression every time. My general advice is to check out some basic medical ethics scenarios; this has helped me not just at Duke but at every school I've interviewed with. https://depts.washington.edu/bioethx/topics/ read this page.
 
Does anybody know if Duke has a station that serves as a more traditional interview or is it all strictly MMI scenarios?
 
BioEngMD said:
Does anybody know if Duke has a station that serves as a more traditional interview or is it all strictly MMI scenarios?
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What @ProbablyAPenguin said. Just relax, it will be fine. No one knows the exact stations they will present you with, people who have already interviewed not withstanding.
 
This may be kind of a silly question, but what was the dress attire for the Chipotle dinner? I'm assuming completely casual (as in t-shirt and jeans should be fine) since it's student run, and more importantly, at a Chipotle.
 
mostlyharmless1 said:
This may be kind of a silly question, but what was the dress attire for the Chipotle dinner? I'm assuming completely casual (as in t-shirt and jeans should be fine) since it's student run, and more importantly, at a Chipotle.
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Your usual Chipotle attire will be fine!

Note: consider your order carefully. My stomach didn't appreciate the pre-interview abuse, and I felt terrible throughout the first half of the day.
 
jordan789 said:
Interview process sounds intense. Anyone interview here yet or in past years that can give examples of the some the mini interviews and the scenarios that were given to you? Also the general environment of the process? How did Duke's interview process compare to other schools? Like it better or worse?
Click to expand...

Most stations are challenges designed to test your physical preparedness for medical school. Station #1 requires you to complete a standing backflip; in station #2, you fight a bear, and so on. A few test your cognitive flexibility and ability to think under pressure. For example, in station 6, you are injected with a deadly virus and given some basic lab equipment, syringes, batteries, marshmallows, gun powder, a chain saw, and 8 minutes to devise a way to cure yourself. There's also a cooperative/team station in which you and another interviewee enter a room decorated with medieval weapons, close the door, and come to an agreement regarding which of you will never leave. Overall, I felt it wasn't too bad. I preferred it to a couple other MMI's I've completed.
 
Australopithekus said:
Most stations are challenges designed to test your physical preparedness for medical school. Station #1 requires you to complete a standing backflip; in station #2, you fight a bear, and so on. A few test your cognitive flexibility and ability to think under pressure. For example, in station 6, you are injected with a deadly virus and given some basic lab equipment, syringes, batteries, marshmallows, gun powder, a chain saw, and 8 minutes to devise a way to cure yourself. There's also a cooperative/team station in which you and another interviewee enter a room decorated with medieval weapons, close the door, and come to an agreement regarding which of you will never leave. Overall, I felt it wasn't too bad. I preferred it to a couple other MMI's I've completed.
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They gave you marshmallows!? That's no fair. By the time my group got around all that was left was the bag!
 
Australopithekus said:
Most stations are challenges designed to test your physical preparedness for medical school. Station #1 requires you to complete a standing backflip; in station #2, you fight a bear, and so on. A few test your cognitive flexibility and ability to think under pressure. For example, in station 6, you are injected with a deadly virus and given some basic lab equipment, syringes, batteries, marshmallows, gun powder, a chain saw, and 8 minutes to devise a way to cure yourself. There's also a cooperative/team station in which you and another interviewee enter a room decorated with medieval weapons, close the door, and come to an agreement regarding which of you will never leave. Overall, I felt it wasn't too bad. I preferred it to a couple other MMI's I've completed.
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I hope you don't mind if I start dispensing this advice to other undergrads at my school who keep grilling me for MMI advice...
 
It says none are available and I should "check back later"...I guess I'll call tomorrow. I didn't see the email until I got back from work (22:00 in the East) so I hope I didn't miss the earlier ones. Once I find out, I'll let you guys know
 
...wow guys, sorry to have messed up the wall but I was complete late July*********** my bad. work exhaustion + Duke excitement make for poor proofreading
 
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puddingbrainnation said:
...wow guys, sorry to have messed up the wall but I was complete late July*********** my bad. work exhaustion + Duke excitement make for poor proofreading
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We also should have inferred that since I don't think they started sending out supplementaries until July 1st.
 
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Taking a short break from my self-imposed sanity hiatus just to say interviewing at Duke is a pretty great experience. The school has optimism and energy that pretty much no place I have been so far can match. It's very much in your face from the start of the day with the intro from Dean Armstrong through the bookend deliverd by R Dubs. The whole culture really spoke to why I wanted to be a physician, and particularly why I applied to Duke.

If you're reading this in the future while applying and wafflling on whether to sink into those immense secondaries like I did initially, I say give it a chance. It's worth it.

Now it's back to the grueling four month wait to hear an answer. (I forgive you Duke 😉).
 
Just wondering, does Duke do rolling admissions? I couldnt find it on their site..
I havent heard anything from them and no change on portal since I was complete in late July.
 
Ash2015 said:
Just wondering, does Duke do rolling admissions? I couldnt find it on their site..
I havent heard anything from them and no change on portal since I was complete in late July.
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I'm not 100% on this, but I think that pre-interview rejections are distributed through the portal and post-interview decisions are released in March via email. Duke advertises themselves as non-rolling.
 
gettheleadout said:
February this year, but yeah.


Sent from my neural implant using SDN Mobile
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My online portal says "early in march." But I also recall that there was some dispute about Feb/March decisions during my interview day, so I would definitely believe* a February release date.

*prefer**
**hope for***
***pine for****
****BE A LOT HAPPIER IF IT WERE
 
onceawolverine said:
My online portal says "early in march." But I also recall that there was some dispute about Feb/March decisions during my interview day, so I would definitely believe* a February release date.

*prefer**
**hope for***
***pine for****
****BE A LOT HAPPIER IF IT WERE
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Fin aid presentation had February 2015 on it. Also, amazing school and people.
 
onceawolverine said:
My online portal says "early in march." But I also recall that there was some dispute about Feb/March decisions during my interview day, so I would definitely believe* a February release date.

*prefer**
**hope for***
***pine for****
****BE A LOT HAPPIER IF IT WERE
Click to expand...
Dean Armstrong told us February at my interview day.


Sent from my neural implant using SDN Mobile
 
Interviewing here Dec. 11th. Those of you that have interviewed already, what rate did you pay to stay and where?

I put in for staying with a student, but haven't hear back.
Duke advertised a special rate of 99 per night at the Millenium, but when I use Millenium's website, its only 67 a night without any discount. Anyone that booked using the special rate have any input?
 
Mr.Boston said:
Interviewing here Dec. 11th. Those of you that have interviewed already, what rate did you pay to stay and where?

I put in for staying with a student, but haven't hear back.
Duke advertised a special rate of 99 per night at the Millenium, but when I use Millenium's website, its only 67 a night without any discount. Anyone that booked using the special rate have any input?
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I would put in again or email them! I haven't heard the greatest things about that hotel and the students can really give you a unique perspective. It's possible the host people wait until closer than the date--I think I got mine the week before.
 
Mr.Boston said:
Interviewing here Dec. 11th. Those of you that have interviewed already, what rate did you pay to stay and where?

I put in for staying with a student, but haven't hear back.
Duke advertised a special rate of 99 per night at the Millenium, but when I use Millenium's website, its only 67 a night without any discount. Anyone that booked using the special rate have any input?
Click to expand...

I stayed at the millennium and I really liked it. The room service was tasty and the shuttle drivers were really nice. One guy drove me and a small group of applicants to a BBQ restaurant in town and didn't even charge us for it. I also liked the opportunity to talk with a local that lives there all 12 months and get their perspective of the city. I don't know about the cheaper cost online vs the 99.00 deal because I took the deal. When I called it was definitely more expensive without the deal though.
 
Also, is there a consensus about thank you notes? Thinking about just sending one to RW
 
I am interviewing at Duke on November 17th and I filled out the form for a student host. I still have not heard back. Anybody who is interviewing so soon requested one and heard back? I really wish to utilize the student host to get a better feel of the school and life there and also to cut down on cost. I literally do not have money for hotel.
 
Zobasity said:
I am interviewing at Duke on November 17th and I filled out the form for a student host. I still have not heard back. Anybody who is interviewing so soon requested one and heard back? I really wish to utilize the student host to get a better feel of the school and life there and also to cut down on cost. I literally do not have money for hotel.
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Do you have friends in any of their other programs? Duke's campuses are all relatively close to one another, so theoretically you could stay with someone in another program if everything else falls through.
 
StayCoolIceCube said:
Do you have friends in any of their other programs? Duke's campuses are all relatively close to one another, so theoretically you could stay with someone in another program if everything else falls through.
Click to expand...


I wish. This is actually the only school/interview where I have no type of connections in terms of students already at the University. *sigh*

Thanks for the suggestion though.
 
Australopithekus said:
Most stations are challenges designed to test your physical preparedness for medical school. Station #1 requires you to complete a standing backflip; in station #2, you fight a bear, and so on. A few test your cognitive flexibility and ability to think under pressure. For example, in station 6, you are injected with a deadly virus and given some basic lab equipment, syringes, batteries, marshmallows, gun powder, a chain saw, and 8 minutes to devise a way to cure yourself. There's also a cooperative/team station in which you and another interviewee enter a room decorated with medieval weapons, close the door, and come to an agreement regarding which of you will never leave. Overall, I felt it wasn't too bad. I preferred it to a couple other MMI's I've completed.
Click to expand...
Love this summary, but I am a bit miffed that you neglected to mention the recitations from memory--Paracelsus in German, Avicenna in Farsi and Arabic, Sushrata in Sanskrit. I was ready for all that, but I completely did not prepare for the recitation of the Nostradamus "centuries" in both Latin and 16th century French. I had totally forgotten that Nostradamus was a practicing physician. Sorry if I am breaking the nondisclosure agreement, but I really think people need to know about the linguistic requirement. :pompous:
 
BengaliBrat said:
Love this summary, but I am a bit miffed that you neglected to mention the recitations from memory--Paracelsus in German, Avicenna in Farsi and Arabic, Sushrata in Sanskrit. I was ready for all that, but I completely did not prepare for the recitation of the Nostradamus "centuries" in both Latin and 16th century French. I had totally forgotten that Nostradamus was a practicing physician. Sorry if I am breaking the nondisclosure agreement, but I really think people need to know about the linguistic requirement. :pompous:
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Lmfaaaooo whaaatttt are you guys talking about????
 
Australopithekus said:
Amateur. Have fun with your REJECTION.
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Are you fou, mon ami? One of the centuries I had to recite was (roughly translated)

Triumph transcribed on magic screen--
All hail the new-crowned Physician Queen!
So lustrous shines the Indian maid
That caveman sulks in endless shade.

I think the prophecy is clear.

(Joking is such a welcome change from suffering "status anxiety-is-us"!!)

😛
 
BengaliBrat said:
Are you fou, mon ami? One of the centuries I had to recite was (roughly translated)

Triumph transcribed on magic screen--
All hail the new-crowned Physician Queen!
So lustrous shines the Indian maid
That caveman sulks in endless shade.

I think the prophecy is clear.

(Joking is such a welcome change from suffering "status anxiety-is-us"!!)

😛
Click to expand...

I'm simultaneously honored and insulted to be a player in your verse.
 
BengaliBrat said:
Are you fou, mon ami? One of the centuries I had to recite was (roughly translated)

Triumph transcribed on magic screen--
All hail the new-crowned Physician Queen!
So lustrous shines the Indian maid
That caveman sulks in endless shade.

I think the prophecy is clear.

(Joking is such a welcome change from suffering "status anxiety-is-us"!!)

😛
Click to expand...

@BengaliBrat love it!! HAHAHHA
 
Does anyone know if you are required to take the GMAT for MD/MBA here? I know some schools require it and some will sub in the MCAT. Just wondering which is the case here?
 
Current student here! Letting you know from the source that we are sadly not doing official Chipotle dinners the night before interviews anymore - it was mainly done by MS1s who have exams on Mondays, so it was difficult to find many hosts for Sunday nights. They were started by MS1s this year who wanted to give applicants a better look at how DukeMed is socially in a casual setting and to let applicants relax the night before. If you are staying with a host, however, there's nothing that says you can't meet up with other applicants and their hosts on your own! I did that several times last year through SDN and try to do that currently with applicants I host.
 
Rejected 🙁 complete in July. Via portal update so I don't know the exact date
 
ZPS111 said:
Got invited for an interview today. OOS with a 33 MCAT and 3.54 GPA, felt like this would be a definite rejected! Any advice on the interview?
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Congrats! 🙂

Could you let us know which interview dates were available?
 
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