2016-2017 Duke University Application Thread

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GinkgoTree said:
If you have the money, I would go. I almost canceled one of my most recent interviews because I was physically and financially drained from the traveling and stress of the interview season, and I already had a few acceptances at places I was more than happy to attend. I am SO GRATEFUL that I put on my big girl panties and went because I couldn't have known how perfect it was for me or how much I really wanted to attend - more than any other place I had visited - until I actually went. And the following week I got offered a spot in the class. It all becomes surreal when I reflect on the fact that I nearly canceled it. So I say if you can afford it, go!
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BigSkyBeta said:
I'll give the above sentiment another bump because I greatly agree.

As far as your concerns about interviewing late in the cycle lowering your chances of acceptance. Duke operates on a non-rolling admissions model because they want to be able to evaluate everyone interviewed on a level playing field. It would be essentially pointless for them to have this model if they were already assigning seats in the class to those who interviewed earlier. If you bothered to fill out the secondary here, then you know that Duke tends to do things a little differently.

From what I understand their admissions committee meets and every applicant is assigned a score based off of everything in their file. At the end of the season they look at everyone's scores and make their decision based off of where everyone falls in order of their scores. In short, there is still ample opportunity to earn a high score and find yourself within their acceptance group.
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gms11235 said:
I think the fact that you much prefer another school that you've already been accepted to is the
only thing here that matters! I turned down an interview for the same reason

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@GinkgoTree, @BigSkyBeta, @gms11235: thanks so much! Those points are definitely helping me as I decide.

jchillin333 said:
Anyone know how to withdraw your app? No replies to my email, phone calls go unanswered / no voicemail. Trying to free up my interview slot for someone else!
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Sorry, not sure either.
 
shine with me said:
Hey all! Just received an II (omg, yay!) and now I'm trying to figure out if I should attend; any advice would be much appreciated.

Here's my dilemma: I'm grateful to already be holding onto more than one acceptance. In fact, I've assumed for a few weeks now that I was silently rejected at Duke (since I was complete way back in August). So in my mind, I had already selected my first choice school. But, now I'm trying to be rational and realize that Duke presents a wonderful opportunity.

Pros:
- I mean, it's DUKE :wideyed:
- I feel like I excel at MMI so hopefully that should be right up my alley
- They have non-rolling admissions and, based on previous years' threads, there were some cases of people interviewing late in the cycle who were accepted
- Get a chance to visit NC, which I've never been to
- Early preclinical experience, like Vanderbilt, which I'd prefer
- If accepted, they're apparently generous with merit scholarships?

Cons:
- Post-interview acceptance rate is apparently ~34% (with 253 accepted out of 750 interviewed); not *great* odds but one of the schools I was accepted had a similar rate so who knows?
- Much prefer another school where I've already been accepted
- While some people may have been accepted after interviewing later in the cycle, I don't know the percent (i.e., maybe more were proportionally accepted who interviewed in September)
- Will need to break out the wallet again 😱

So what do you all think? A part of me is like, 'just do it, why are you overanalyzing'. But the fact that I'll interview right on the tail end of the cycle is what's throwing me. Thanks so much in advance for any thoughts/suggestions and best of luck to all!

P.S. For those interested, the interview dates available when I logged in earlier were 1/26, 1/30, 2/3, and 2/6. The email indicated that interviews will "tentatively" be done by 2/10.
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When was your application complete?
 
When they make decisions on who they're accepting, do they make a re-review of the apps holistically and focus on stats/EC's and all that? Or is it that once someone is interviewed the stats/Ec's/PS/Recs are good enough so they mainly factor in MMI performance. If someone has low stats but did very well on the MMI, might they not accept him because his stats are low? (But if that's the case why would they have even bothered sending him/her an II and wasting the time and money when they deny many "more qualified" applicants?)
 
Are any more II's coming out or are they all gone?
 
Can anyone tell me how their interview was here? I've heard a couple of horror stories... and am a bit nervous
 
Does anybody know if Duke is receptive to letter's of intent at this point in the process, or does it only bear weight if you have been placed on a waitlist?
 
linsanity17 said:
Complete date / stats / IS? Congrats!


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November 13th ( I was EXTREMELY LATE in all APPs), 3.9 GPA 510 MCAT. I know my stats aren't amazing but i got involved in alot of EC. Thank You! there were several dates after so there is Hope!
 
BackwoodsAppalachia said:
Can anyone tell me how their interview was here? I've heard a couple of horror stories... and am a bit nervous
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My interview was fantastic. The MMI was way better than I expected, and the people were friendly. Don't stress about it!
 
KPstudent said:
My interview was fantastic. The MMI was way better than I expected, and the people were friendly. Don't stress about it!
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congrats on interviewing! how would you recommend preparing for it?
 
BackwoodsAppalachia said:
Can anyone tell me how their interview was here? I've heard a couple of horror stories... and am a bit nervous
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I'm surprised to hear that. While there were a few challenging questions presented, I found the overall tone to be quite relaxed and conversational. I have heard much of the same from the interviewees I have spoken with this year.
 
BigSkyBeta said:
I'm surprised to hear that. While there were a few challenging questions presented, I found the overall tone to be quite relaxed and conversational. I have heard much of the same from the interviewees I have spoken with this year.
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I had a similar experience and enjoyed their MMIs


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StudyCat said:
congrats on interviewing! how would you recommend preparing for it?
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I read two books that helped me tremendously. One was Multiple Mini Interview by Samir P Desai and the other was Doing Right by Philip C Hebert. Both were tremendously helpful and made me feel very confident about how to answer various types of ethical and other MMI questions. Also on my drive down to Duke from DC I practiced speaking a bunch of scenarios out loud to myself.
 
linsanity17 said:
Fellow Tar Heel?! Congrats!
Complete date / stats?


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Thanks!! Complete date 8/1. My LizzyM is 74, GPA 3.83, MCAT 518. OOS (although I don't think it matters). If it helps, The interview dates I saw were Feb. 6, Feb something on a thursday, and then Feb 13 (I don't remember because I wanted the Monday dates, coming from OOS).
 
tarheelpenner said:
Thanks!! Complete date 8/1. My LizzyM is 74, GPA 3.83, MCAT 518. OOS (although I don't think it matters). If it helps, The interview dates I saw were Feb. 6, Feb something on a thursday, and then Feb 13 (I don't remember because I wanted the Monday dates, coming from OOS).
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Awesome, thanks for the info!
Did you send any updates/interest letters?


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linsanity17 said:
Awesome, thanks for the info!
Did you send any updates/interest letters?


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Sort of. I'm working in my gap year, and in December I asked my PI to send in a letter of recommendation (I had just barely started working when I submitted my application, so I didn't ask him then), which I added right before Christmas (I called Duke, they said they were still accepting letters). I'm not really sure if this counts as an update, but it did get mailed directly to their admissions office (not through AMCAS).
 
Anyone know if there are certain days they send invites? I completed my app in late september, and I have heard pretty much nothing since. It says my app is still being reviewed, so I am just curious if there is any hope for a II at this point.
 
linsanity17 said:
Ayee congrats! hit us with that complete date and stats!


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Complete early Oct. (This secondary took me awhile!) LM 70-72. OOS, but attended undergrad in NC. I also saw Monday Feb 6th, Thursday Feb 9th, and Monday Feb 13th as options for interview dates.
 
SDYote said:
Anyone know if there are certain days they send invites? I completed my app in late september, and I have heard pretty much nothing since. It says my app is still being reviewed, so I am just curious if there is any hope for a II at this point.
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If you haven't heard I would suggest calling them! I hadn't heard back since october so I called yesterday and they immediately moved me to the interview list. Dates I saw were Feb 9 and 13.
 
BadNewsBears2016 said:
This sounds like a cruel trick...
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I don't know what black magic they used. When I called them they told me there was nothing I could do and to keep checking my portal and they interview through February. I did get an II but several weeks later, and Im 100% sure it had nothing to do with me calling. They didn't even ask me for my AAMC ID number on the phone.
 
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