2019-2020 Duke

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For those interviewing on Oct. 31st, have you received an update on where the night-before get together will be? I added this interview somewhat last minute and am wondering whether they forgot to include me on the update.
 
blax34 said:
Anybody who interviewed have the piece you wrote on interview day go blank on your application?

I know it showed up right after I interviewed, but now a few weeks later it is blank, while the rest of the essays are still populated. Is it just me?
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Did you have to write yet another essay on the day of your interview?
 
blax34 said:
Anybody who interviewed have the piece you wrote on interview day go blank on your application?

I know it showed up right after I interviewed, but now a few weeks later it is blank, while the rest of the essays are still populated. Is it just me?
Click to expand...

Yes, mine is blank too!
 
So what does it really take to get an interview here? I really felt like my application fit well at Duke, so I am just wondering if I still have a chance--to those of you who got an interview, what do you think made you stand out? I have right at Duke's MCAT and a higher GPA according to MSAR. I also poured my heart into my essays. Research and service histories. A couple other unique things. Mid-August complete. From the South, which I have been told is a mark against me.. I assume that answers to this post would be helpful to others who are wanting to get a chance here. Thanks, guys! And best wishes.
 
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iwannabadocta said:
So what does it really take to get an interview here? Does your undergraduate school's prestige matter significantly? I really felt like my application fit well at Duke, so I am just wondering if I still have a chance--to those of you who got an interview, what do you think made you stand out? I have right at Duke's MCAT and a higher GPA according to MSAR. I also poured my heart into my essays. Research and service histories. A couple other unique things. Mid-August complete. From the South, which I have been told is a mark against me.. I assume that answers to this post would be helpful to others who are wanting to get a chance here. Thanks, guys! And best wishes.
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I can’t see why being from the south would be held against you. If anything it probably means you’re more likely to attend if accepted. I also don’t think you’re gonna get any great answer for what Duke in particular is looking for. They’re probably looking for basically the same things that all other top schools want, and nobody can ever say why you might receive IIs from some top schools and not others.
 
iwannabadocta said:
So what does it really take to get an interview here? Does your undergraduate school's prestige matter significantly? I really felt like my application fit well at Duke, so I am just wondering if I still have a chance--to those of you who got an interview, what do you think made you stand out? I have right at Duke's MCAT and a higher GPA according to MSAR. I also poured my heart into my essays. Research and service histories. A couple other unique things. Mid-August complete. From the South, which I have been told is a mark against me.. I assume that answers to this post would be helpful to others who are wanting to get a chance here. Thanks, guys! And best wishes.
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Duke gets more than 8000 applications and interviews about 750. So, 90% of applicants never get an interview. 90%. About 7300 individuals such as yourself, who put their blood, sweat and tears into those essays, will never get an interview. It's a crapshoot. Don't take it personally.
 
Very true. Thanks you guys, haha needed to be reminded of those things as I sit here re-checking my email inbox! Best wishes~
 
jecki46 said:
Duke gets more than 8000 applications and interviews about 750. So, 90% of applicants never get an interview. 90%. About 7300 individuals such as yourself, who put their blood, sweat and tears into those essays, will never get an interview. It's a crapshoot. Don't take it personally.
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Didn’t someone/Duke rep say less than half actually complete the secondary? lol
 
iwannabadocta said:
So what does it really take to get an interview here? I really felt like my application fit well at Duke, so I am just wondering if I still have a chance--to those of you who got an interview, what do you think made you stand out? I have right at Duke's MCAT and a higher GPA according to MSAR. I also poured my heart into my essays. Research and service histories. A couple other unique things. Mid-August complete. From the South, which I have been told is a mark against me.. I assume that answers to this post would be helpful to others who are wanting to get a chance here. Thanks, guys! And best wishes.
Click to expand...

I understand your possible confusion and your questions are totally legit, thank you for asking (someone's gotta ask em tbh)! It is hard to say what gets you an II from other top schools and not Duke. Like others have said, they look for things other top schools look for. These include strong research, high stats, service, and leadership potential. These schools get on top due to their research and producing alumni and faculty who are "change makers". You don't necessarily have to have started a non-profit or anything (though it helps) but you have to have shown some potential to be more than just a doctor, the capacity to be a leader, agent of change, known in your field, etc.

In addition, I think Duke wants "fit" and also people who want to go to Duke. Unlike other Top schools, they're not at an especially favorable location and they're not at the tippy top. To protect their yield, they want people who would choose them over schools at better locations or higher ranked.

Just me two cents.
 
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Fruitjuice said:
I'm interested in where you got this number.

MSAR says they get about 8000 verified applications, this does not include completed applications because MSAR does not keep track of that. I am willing to bet a big portion of that do not complete the secondary.
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Dean Yee Mentioned during interview
 
jecki46 said:
Duke gets more than 8000 applications and interviews about 750. So, 90% of applicants never get an interview. 90%. About 7300 individuals such as yourself, who put their blood, sweat and tears into those essays, will never get an interview. It's a crapshoot. Don't take it personally.
Click to expand...

During the interview, they also said they were aiming for giving out 650 interviews this year.
 
Shadowkeep said:
Valid points, but the "ONLY" top school in a desirable location is quite a stretch imo.
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Cold and crowded, cold and crowded, cold and crowded, insanely crowded despite being beautiful, insanely crowded despite being beautiful, cold and crowded, etc, etc.

Like I said, location is very subjective lol. I can totally see how someone could be more interested in NYC/Boston/Philly/etc, but as I type this my toes are cold cause I just stood outside in the Rhode Island November for 2 hours, and I’m sick of it!! Add in growing up in the DC area... I hate traffic!!
 
FuturePedsDoc1993 said:
I think it's actually primary applications not secondaries because that number is reported on MSAR from their application data. not Dukes reported secondary completion. For other schools, it's primary applications.
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Yes. I think i read somewhere that secondary apps drop down to closer to 5-6k completed.
 
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