2019-2020 Duke

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Hey all, Duke MS4 here. Not official in any capacity, but figured I'd throw my hat into the ring if I can help answer any questions. A few quick things:

1) I echo everything the other students have said about the pre-interview socials being super casual and fun. You do not need to dress up, and there are no secret spies reporting your answers to covert interview questions during the social. That being said, I'll give the same advice we get for residency interviews, which is, even if it's not the actual interview, it's part of the interview experience. No, we are not reporting back to the admissions committee. However, if you are a truly horrible person who no one wants to be around, that could make its way back. Anything short of that, you'll be fine. Use the time to ask the questions that are important to you, especially if there is something you may not be comfortable asking an official interviewer or admissions officer but would be important when it's time for you to make a decision.

2) For those asking if you should even apply with X GPA and Y MCAT- if you have the means and you want to go to Duke, just apply. You never know when your application will stand out to someone, even if the pure numbers aren't great. MSAR reports the 10-90th %ile range for scores. That means that 10% of the class is LOWER than what is published. It might be just a bit lower, or it might be significantly lower. I'm not saying that everyone with a great story will get an interview, but if Duke is where you want to be, don't let a score be the thing that stops you.

 

[subtlemedicinetraits]

II earlier today!! complete 8/21, mcat 524, gpa 4.0!

 

[907914]

II earlier today!! complete 8/21, mcat 524, gpa 4.0!

Congrats! That was a quick turnaround time! Must be something special in your app somewhere!

 

[71650]

Congrats! That was a quick turnaround time! Must be something special in your app somewhere!

Or something special everywhere...some damn good stats and im sure other things haha. Congrats!

 

[907914]

Or something special everywhere...some damn good stats and im sure other things haha. Congrats!

MAny specials. Such success. Much wow.

 

[710118]

II just now!

Was complete 7/26

 

[907914]

II just now!

Refreshing spam...

 

[907914]

A particular failure used to emphasize my overall perspectives on failure and growth (all revolves around that anecdote).

The humbling experience essay should be just that - when was a time you were humbled and why.

Hi all, how should we approach the humbling experience essay? Also, for the "failure" question are people responding in general what they have gained from failures, or are people focusing on a particular experience failing?

thanks!

 

[907914]

Also, for "Tell us more about who you are." is it your standard diversity question?

I took it as “Who am I ask a person.” Not “how am I different” or “how can I contribute” but truly an essay on “what makes me, me.”

 

[deleted972488]

According to one of the deans of admissions, about 90% of interviewees "pass" the MMI. Makes me wonder because I'm sure the post-II acceptance rate is not 90%...

Source: https://blog.accepted.com/all-about...que-curriculum-and-how-to-get-in-episode-272/

 

[MDToBe1!]

According to one of the deans of admissions, about 90% of interviewees "pass" the MMI. Makes me wonder because I'm sure the post-II acceptance rate is not 90%...

Source: https://blog.accepted.com/all-about...que-curriculum-and-how-to-get-in-episode-272/

I believe it means that 90% of the people perform well on the MMI, and then out of that 90% that “passed” the MMI (aka, those who gave a good interview), the new entering class is selected.

 

[deleted972488]

I believe it means that 90% of the people perform well on the MMI, and then out of that 90% that “passed” the MMI (aka, those who gave a good interview), the new entering class is selected.

I guess that goes to show that a good/decent interview in no way guarantees acceptance.

 

[texasvandy]

According to one of the deans of admissions, about 90% of interviewees "pass" the MMI. Makes me wonder because I'm sure the post-II acceptance rate is not 90%...

Source: https://blog.accepted.com/all-about...que-curriculum-and-how-to-get-in-episode-272/

MMI is more of a suitability test. If schools are basing admissions solely based on that, it would be odd?

 

[deleted972488]

MMI is more of a suitability test. If schools are basing admissions solely based on that, it would be odd?

Why interview 750 people to admit 180, though? What other criteria are they using post-interview?

 

[907914]

Why interview 750 people to admit 180, though? What other criteria are they using post-interview?

Phone interview 750 people as a prescreen so you only interview 450 so that you accept 450 and matriculate 180. Even if they just straight up interviewed 750 people for 350 acceptances that would be a 45% yield which is not that outlandish.

 

[deleted972488]

Phone interview 750 people as a prescreen so you only interview 450 so that you accept 450 and matriculate 180. Even if they just straight up interviewed 750 people for 350 acceptances that would be a 45% yield which is not that outlandish.

I think it’s more like interview 750 for ~200 acceptances for ~100 spots.

 

[texasvandy]

Phone interview 750 people as a prescreen so you only interview 450 so that you accept 450 and matriculate 180. Even if they just straight up interviewed 750 people for 350 acceptances that would be a 45% yield which is not that outlandish.

Harvard interviews 4-5 people per seat also. I checked on the class size and it says 116 for class of 2021 (+8-10 for MSTP?). So are they admitting 180 to get to 125 or so or is it more than 180?

Columbia puts something like 400 on waitlist. Does not make much sense either but schools do what they do!

 

[907914]

I think it’s more like interview 750 for ~200 acceptances for ~100 spots.

Wait....this is Duke not Western Michigan....what am I doing? Disregard. I am confused.

 

[907914]

@MemeLord
The rate of profile pic changes has increased exponentially since II season started, u ok my man?

I have now established that Elmo is my baseline particularly when I am experiencing success in the cycle (so that I can say “yuh boi Elmo”) but beyond that, it is memeage, cats, and cool things like Mice howling at the moon.

 

[deleted972488]

Does anyone remember how long it took their secondary app for Duke to be complete? I submitted by app and letters for Duke 7 days ago and it still says that my app is incomplete/ still waiting for letters to arrive from AMCAS.

I think it was instantaneous... did you assign at least 4 letters on AMCAS? They require 4.

 

[gobucs21]

Someone from Duke viewed my LinkedIn recently. Is a decision coming soon? Lol

 

[907914]

Someone from Duke viewed my LinkedIn recently. Is a decision coming soon? Lol

If they are like UMich then that means the decision will come in 3 nights time.

 

[Engrailed]

If they are like UMich then that means the decision will come in 3 nights time.

*Checks linkedin*

 

[MDToBe1!]

Someone from Duke viewed my LinkedIn recently. Is a decision coming soon? Lol

Lol, I recently had the same thing happened to me for another school, and I freaked out. Two random people from the same school checked out my LinkedIn.

 

[Engrailed]

Lol, I recently had the same thing happened to me for another school, and I freaked out. Two people from the same school checked out my LinkedIn.

Which other school?
and is it enough that my linkedin mostly only has my recent employment experiences on it?

 

[MDToBe1!]

Which other school?
and is it enough that my linkedin mostly only has my recent employment experiences on it?

It was Harvard. They were two random people I don't know - one was a student, and the other a physician. I'm pretty sure you're fine, and I wouldn't stress about it. People checking LinkedIn profiles probably means nothing, and it's our neuroticism making something out of nothing. I highly doubt they're making any admission decisions based on LinkedIn profiles, lol.

 

[907914]

highly doubt they're making any admission decisions based on LinkedIn profiles, lol.

Hopefully not. I haven’t put anything on mine since 2014.

 

[chicken adobo]

Yes, it is. Most people will not be complete with Duke until after that. Only between a third and half of applicants who receive the secondary for Duke actually submit it (per their own statistics). I can only imagine most of those are late.

Is there a verifiable source for this? Highly considering submitting my secondary application this weekend but also wondering if I’m just wasting my money lol. I’ve done 3.5 of the essays so far and can realistically finish by Saturday I think.

 

[deleted972488]

Is there a verifiable source for this? Highly considering submitting my secondary application this weekend but also wondering if I’m just wasting my money lol. I’ve done 3.5 of the essays so far and can realistically finish by Saturday I think.

Just do it. At my interview they said only ~3,000 people have submitted a secondary at this point.

 

[MonsterSizedQuadriceps]

II!

 

[MonsterSizedQuadriceps]

anyone know like when "decisions" on acceptance/rejection/waitlist come out after ur interview

 

[babypotato]

Did anyone get a Duke Fuqua MBA email just now? I freaked out thinking it was an II. Don't do me like that Duke... Show me some love

 

[deleted972488]

anyone know like when "decisions" on acceptance/rejection/waitlist come out after ur interview

They said mid to late February.

 

[deleted688779]

Did anyone get a Duke Fuqua MBA email just now? I freaked out thinking it was an II. Don't do me like that Duke... Show me some love

No but that potato is literally the cutest thing I’ve seen on SDN

 

[Corali]

Does the Duke MMI contain a "traditional" interview station (like a station with the typical "why medicine?" "why us?" questions), or is it all MMI-typical prompts? Also, does anyone know if the Duke interviewers have read our apps or is it all closed-file?

 

[deleted972488]

contain a "traditional" interview

Yes

is it all closed-file?

No

 

[Corali]

I have been watching people getting IIs with LM 75-82/MCAT 520-525. But the accepted applicants average MCAT was only 518 last year in most of these schools. When do 514-518s get IIs, to get to that average eventually? Later?
So my question is actually:
Do med schools always start sending IIs with LM scores of 75+ in August, and do they always send IIs much later to people like me, with LM of 72?
I sent my 20 applications in, at the same time with most of these guys, I am senior in college, I have reasonably strong stats, and have no IIs from anywhere.

For what it's worth, I have a 518 and got an II from Duke reasonably early (I'm also IS though)

 

[claywalker20]

I have been watching people getting IIs with LM 75-82/MCAT 520-525. But the accepted applicants average MCAT was only 518 last year in most of these schools. When do 514-518s get IIs, to get to that average eventually? Later?
So my question is actually:
Do med schools always start sending IIs with LM scores of 75+ in August, and do they always send IIs much later to people like me, with LM of 72?
I sent my 20 applications in, at the same time with most of these guys, I am senior in college, I have reasonably strong stats, and have no IIs from anywhere.

I think the strongest applications in general get the earliest interviews, not just those with extremely high stats. I have well over a 3.9 GPA to complement a balanced 524 and I have no II’s yet.

 

[texasvandy]

I have been watching people getting IIs with LM 75-82/MCAT 520-525. But the accepted applicants average MCAT was only 518 last year in most of these schools. When do 514-518s get IIs, to get to that average eventually? Later?
So my question is actually:
Do med schools always start sending IIs with LM scores of 75+ in August, and do they always send IIs much later to people like me, with LM of 72?
I sent my 20 applications in, at the same time with most of these guys, I am senior in college, I have reasonably strong stats, and have no IIs from anywhere.

Is your state resident friendly for admissions?

 

[texasvandy]

Yes it is. Are you saying that with LM 72 that is my only option?
In other words, these guys don't drop the bar later?

You need one admission to go to medical school. A large percentage have only one, in state. All extra ones are for bragging rights..

 

[Hopeful and resilient]

I think the strongest applications in general get the earliest interviews, not just those with extremely high stats. I have well over a 3.9 GPA to complement a balanced 524 and I have no II’s yet.

Your answer is somewhat comforting that if they take the strongest applicants first, you are suggesting that they do invite the "weaker ones" next. On the other hand I realize that it is a long wait for me because it appears like there are still many strong applicants like you who are next in line before they would consider me.

 

[filthy_premed]

anyone have advice for the interview day here? Or have a link to an interview review post

 

[907914]

Does anyone who has not gotten an II have their portal say they have been reviewed?

 

[CoitusInterruptus]

Does anyone who has not gotten an II have their portal say they have been reviewed?

Mine, meme

 

[907914]

Mine, meme

Thank you for the information. While I am glad that at least means I have not been reviewed, I am sorry to hear. Hopefully they swing back through and do second reviews.

 

[I<3PopeyesFriedChicken]

Mine says the following: "Your supplemental application has been completed. Your application is now being reviewed by a set of independent screeners on our admissions committee."

Is this what you all are referring to?

 

[907914]

Mine says the following: "Your supplemental application has been completed. Your application is now being reviewed by a set of independent screeners on our admissions committee."

Is this what you all are referring to?

Mine has said that for over a month. I was more asking if anyone without an interview has their portal say something like "Your application has now been reviewed."

 

[I<3PopeyesFriedChicken]

Gotcha! Yes same here, mine has said that for over a month. I wasn't aware the status could change to "reviewed." Fingers crossed to still be under consideration for an interview!

 

[CoitusInterruptus]

Mine says the following: "Your supplemental application has been completed. Your application is now being reviewed by a set of independent screeners on our admissions committee."

Is this what you all are referring to?

Yeet

 

[907914]

Yeet

Would you prefer sad reacts or laughter reacts?