2015-2016 Duke University Application Thread

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Does anyone know if you apply for the Primary Care Leadership Track (PCLT), you are considered for that track?? Can you be accepted to Duke MD, but not the PCLT?? I really want to try applying to PCLT, because I am interested in primary care, but I'm not sure if I have enough activities that can show that I am interested in this field... thanks!
A current student could probably tell you more, but they have been sending out emails to the incoming class asking people to consider applying to PCLT. The vibe I've gotten is that they're looking to recruit more students. So, I would hazard a guess that if you can get into Duke, you can join PCLT without too much trouble. Again, though, I haven't started yet and could be completely wrong.
 
Is anyone else having trouble with the link to the secondary app? It worked before but now it isn't loading and it's not a connection problem since other pages in my browser are loading
 
I have been mulling over this advocacy prompt for a while and was wondering if my idea would fit. I was in a leadership position in an org, and we were going over officer elections. I decided to argue for an individual who on the surface didn't seem like a good fit for the role, but I brought up their underlying values that might make them a good selection. Would this work? I don't want to choose a topic that is too superficial or mundane.
 
I have been mulling over this advocacy prompt for a while and was wondering if my idea would fit. I was in a leadership position in an org, and we were going over officer elections. I decided to argue for an individual who on the surface didn't seem like a good fit for the role, but I brought up their underlying values that might make them a good selection. Would this work? I don't want to choose a topic that is too superficial or mundane.
I did something similar, and I think that's fine!
 
Oh man. I already submitted and now you all are making me nervous. I did my advocacy prompt about a political internship I did. Seems completely different than all of your guys' responses!
 
For the part where is asks how your advocacy has developed, do you think they mean how the particular example you have developed? Or how your advocacy in general throughout your life has developed?
 
Oh man. I already submitted and now you all are making me nervous. I did my advocacy prompt about a political internship I did. Seems completely different than all of your guys' responses!
I wouldn't worry about it at all. There's so many ways you can take these prompts, and as long as you had a good explanation, I don't see why that wouldn't work!
 
I'm thinking about writing about my experience protesting--do you all think that's a no-go? On one hand it's advocacy for a group, on the other hand it's opposing an institution (university)...
 
I'm thinking about writing about my experience protesting--do you all think that's a no-go? On one hand it's advocacy for a group, on the other hand it's opposing an institution (university)...
I feel like that hinges on what you were protesting.
 
I participated in a couple marches against discriminatory practices against POC at my school. It's not much at all in terms of involvement and long-term advocacy, but for me the change in mentality from bystander to participant was important.
 
I participated in a couple marches against discriminatory practices against POC at my school. It's not much at all in terms of involvement and long-term advocacy, but for me the change in mentality from bystander to participant was important.
Were the marches peaceful in nature?
 
On MSAR, all of duke's requirements are "recommended". I never took a sociology class, but I have humanities and psychology. Do you think its a problem that I don't have an actual sociology course?
 
On MSAR, all of duke's requirements are "recommended". I never took a sociology class, but I have humanities and psychology. Do you think its a problem that I don't have an actual sociology course?
I hope not...I didn't take a soc class either...
 
On MSAR, all of duke's requirements are "recommended". I never took a sociology class, but I have humanities and psychology. Do you think its a problem that I don't have an actual sociology course?
Even if they are required, course requirements only need to be completed by matriculation, not application.
 
These secondary prompts...amidst all these secondary apps, having to deal with this beast is just so exhausting. I half-joke when I say I'm considering not even applying so I can focus on other apps instead.
PREACH. Got this on 7/2 and tomorrow is going to be my first time trying to tackle it.
 
Sorry to repost, but what are your thoughts on this? For the part where is asks how your advocacy has developed, do you think they mean how the particular example you have developed? Or how your advocacy in general throughout your life has developed?
 
PREACH. Got this on 7/2 and tomorrow is going to be my first time trying to tackle it.
Haha I opened it on 7/2 and said "nah." Been working on 7/6 secondaries ever since. "Normal" secondaries look so welcoming now. Good luck to you!
 
Just finished these beastly essays. Definitely happy with how they turned out... It's funny because many of the ideas I thought of for these essays were actually great to use for other secondaries. Pour your heart into these! I also hope I didn't write too much...
 
Sorry to repost, but what are your thoughts on this? For the part where is asks how your advocacy has developed, do you think they mean how the particular example you have developed? Or how your advocacy in general throughout your life has developed?
I wrote about a particular example. :shrug:
 
Oh man. I already submitted and now you all are making me nervous. I did my advocacy prompt about a political internship I did. Seems completely different than all of your guys' responses!
This is much like my essay. I think it's a better topic b/c there's more substance to it tbh
 
Sorry to repost, but what are your thoughts on this? For the part where is asks how your advocacy has developed, do you think they mean how the particular example you have developed? Or how your advocacy in general throughout your life has developed?
I wrote about how my advocacy in all arenas of life has developed since the specific example I wrote about.

I really don't think it matters though. You just have to tell your story in a compelling way.
 
On MSAR, all of duke's requirements are "recommended". I never took a sociology class, but I have humanities and psychology. Do you think its a problem that I don't have an actual sociology course?

I hope not...I didn't take a soc class either...

Sorry if you found your answer already, but you do NEED a sociology course prior to matriculation. I contacted the dean of admissions and she told me you need it independent of what MCAT you took.
 
Sorry if you found your answer already, but you do NEED a sociology course prior to matriculation. I contacted the dean of admissions and she told me you need it independent of what MCAT you took.
Fuuuu so you need a sociology course even if you took several psych classes? 🙁
 
Fuuuu so you need a sociology course even if you took several psych classes? 🙁
I took several sociology classes and was told I still needed psychology, so I'd assume the converse is true.
 
Fuuuu so you need a sociology course even if you took several psych classes? 🙁

Yes, you need a SOC independent of anything else you have. Duke is one of the only reasons I am enrolled in a course for the fall.
 
Sigh. I'll try to find an online class then. Do you think I'll have to send them an update email?
 
Sigh. I'll try to find an online class then. Do you think I'll have to send them an update email?
They will accept courses that aren't traditionally labeled as sociology but that cover social determinants of healthcare, etc. So you may have other courses in your curriculum that fit that bill
 
They will accept courses that aren't traditionally labeled as sociology but that cover social determinants of healthcare, etc. So you may have other courses in your curriculum that fit that bill
Oh that's good to know! I'll try emailing the admissions committed about my health psych course and hope for the best. Thanks for informing me!
 
Did anyone write anything under the additional considerations? I feel like after writing the four essays and an optional essay, there isn't much left to say. Maybe filling them in on what you have been up to this summer is fitting?
 
Did anyone write anything under the additional considerations? I feel like after writing the four essays and an optional essay, there isn't much left to say. Maybe filling them in on what you have been up to this summer is fitting?
Imagine the people who will be reading your application. 5 essays! What a headache that'll be. Now imagine them reading THOUSANDS more. Migraine. Give them a break. They've earned it.
 
Imagine the people who will be reading your application. 5 essays! What a headache that'll be. Now imagine them reading THOUSANDS more. Migraine. Give them a break. They've earned it.
Haha that's why I wanted to ask. After all those essays, there's not much else to say, or that I want to say seeing as I have already written so much. Thinking about it, I don't know how these adcoms read that many essays. I'm sure they skim, but I don't think I would be able to do that.
 
Haha that's why I wanted to ask. After all those essays, there's not much else to say, or that I want to say seeing as I have already written so much. Thinking about it, I don't know how these adcoms read that many essays. I'm sure they skim, but I don't think I would be able to do that.
This would NEVER happen but let's just imagine for a moment that all these top tiered schools DON'T EVEN READ OUR ESSAYS. You submit and your app goes into a digital trash bin. Adcoms then simply pick from a hat. With our 97th pick of for the Duke Class of 2016, we select..."PASTAMAHN!"



I'm sorry. I'm procrastinating. Don't want to finish my Duke secondaries.
 
This would NEVER happen but let's just imagine for a moment that all these top tiered schools DON'T EVEN READ OUR ESSAYS. You submit and your app goes into a digital trash bin. Adcoms then simply pick from a hat. With our 97th pick of for the Duke Class of 2016, we select..."PASTAMAHN!"



I'm sorry. I'm procrastinating. Don't want to finish my Duke secondaries.
Hahahaha I'm dying imagining the selection process being something like a lottery draft. I'm slowly closing in on finishing Duke off, but still 1.5 essays to go. :yawn:
 
This would NEVER happen but let's just imagine for a moment that all these top tiered schools DON'T EVEN READ OUR ESSAYS. You submit and your app goes into a digital trash bin. Adcoms then simply pick from a hat. With our 97th pick of for the Duke Class of 2016, we select..."PASTAMAHN!"
I'm sorry. I'm procrastinating. Don't want to finish my Duke secondaries.
This is too funny. I wrote 2 out of the 4 essays, but I'm just not feeling it. The required Psychology and Sociology (not recommended) is putting me off, as I didn't take them (took the old MCAT). Also, I browsed their website, and their diversity statements are pretty limited to URM race/ethnicity (doesn't sound like they are diverse in their concept of diversity). The compressed first year is worrisome, and the whole fit isn't working for me. Sadly, I'm bowing out of the Duke secondary. I have too many other schools that I'm genuinely excited about. Good luck to you all!! Signing off the Duke Thread for 2015.
 
This is too funny. I wrote 2 out of the 4 essays, but I'm just not feeling it. The required Psychology and Sociology (not recommended) is putting me off, as I didn't take them (took the old MCAT). Also, I browsed their website, and their diversity statements are pretty limited to URM race/ethnicity (doesn't sound like they are diverse in their concept of diversity). The compressed first year is worrisome, and the whole fit isn't working for me. Sadly, I'm bowing out of the Duke secondary. I have too many other schools that I'm genuinely excited about. Good luck to you all!! Signing off the Duke Thread for 2015.
Wow respect. Best of luck to you as well. Kinda wish I had the courage to say no to some of these secondaries but the paranoid, uncertain side kicks in.
 
great send me your 2 essays let me submit them 😉
Sadly, the one I wrote as my most humbling experience; I talked about my learning disability. I just don't think they would be too accommodating about it.
Other schools specifically address this is in a positive manner, and Duke is totally silent. Then my greatest advocacy has been my mentoring and volunteer work with other people with visual and other disabilities. It all centered around this experience. Sorry, just don't think it will get a warm and fuzzy reception from the Duke Adcoms. Best wishes to you all!
 
Sigh. I'll try to find an online class then. Do you think I'll have to send them an update email?

Not near a computer at the moment, but I don't think Duke accepts online courses. Might want to double check!

Edit: Looks like it is on a case-by-case basis. Orange checkmark found on their MSAR page.
 
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How many of you ended up writing an optional essay?
 
I want to because I feel like if you can write a pretty good optional essay, it shows that you're passionate about the school. But at the same time, do the adcoms really want to read 5 essays?
 
I want to because I feel like if you can write a pretty good optional essay, it shows that you're passionate about the school. But at the same time, do the adcoms really want to read 5 essays?

Also, half of people write below average essays (by definition) that may actually be detrimental to their applications.
 
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