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2020-2021 Duke
Started by TheDataKing
You could answer that part of a question in a way similar to NYU’s COVID-19 essay, on how the pandemic has changed your view of the role of the frontline healthcare provider. And then broaden from there.
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Hmm... That sentence is badly written. It would be much clear if they wrote: "Applications will be screened this year and considered for interview without the MCAT score." Based on the next sentence, "Applicants must have a MCAT score posted to their application in order to be considered for admissions," that follows the poorly written sentence, I think MCAT still plays the important role in the admission process but I would double check with the adcom whether everyone's MCAT score is blinded in the admission process ... In my opinion, it is highly likely that they will still look at your MCAT score if you have one.
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I'm probably going to do this but with certain modifications. Like NYU is specifically asking about frontline healthcare workers, whereas Duke is talking about medicine and society more broadly. I'm definitely taking a lot from NYU but I'm not going to copy and paste since the questions are not identical.
I interpreted it differently so I just wrote a new one but am interested on what other people have to say!
i’m using my diversity essay and changing my conclusion to fit more of the prompt.
It's poorly written, for sure. Even though I have a lot of research experience, I'm considering using another non-research experience to exemplify critical thinking. Not sure if that looks bad, though, if they mentioned research specifically?
With this question do you think you can mention an experience that makes you diverse instead of self-identity characteristics they mention (I'm an ORM cis male)? That's what my diversity essay was on
This is what I did (for this and other diversity essays). This one also specifies a WIDE range of definitions of self-identity, so if you experience contributes to your self-identity then it should be fair game.
As am I. I talked about the expectations associated with being a South Asian male with two parent-physicians and how I spent most of my life running from medicine, only to work my way back to it after my own experience with illness.
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Well, you’re ahead of me. I’ve still got to write seven essays essentially from scratch.
Gotta love Duke huh. I'm in the same boat.
So I tried to submit my secondary, which prompted me to pay their $100 fee. But as soon as I clicked pay, the application portal crashed. I paid the fee, and they sent me the order confirmation, yet it still prompting me to pay the application fee before i can submit it. I already emailed, but does Anybody else have this issue too? I was using chrome, so try Firefox or Edge for those who are worried this might happen to you too.
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deleted1055566
This happened to me too. I emailed them and they said they'll let me know after they look at it tomorrow.
For the race essay are you guys writing it using a personal anecdote or writing about it from a fact-based standpoint?
anxiouspremed123
Full Member
are people able to answer the diversity question without feeling like they are repeating something already mentioned? I feel like I've taken parts of it for each of those 7 essays already
I think it’s possible that you already submitted and then paid the application fee, but they just haven’t processed the fee yet, so it’s still prompting you to pay the fee. Because when you lock-in your application, there’s a blue button called “submit application” you need to click before it directs you to the application fee page. I think they should’ve been more clear about this. Hope to hear back from them to confirm this.
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CanadianApplicant2020
Full Member
Yes
Hello everyone! I'm a current MS2 at Duke and just wanted to offer myself as a resource to you all during the application cycle. I'm not too sure how things will be running amidst the whole pandemic so I won't be able to offer much insight there, but if you have questions about student life, the curriculum, minority groups, etc., feel free to ask!
Good luck to everyone and I hope to be able to meet you soon!
Good luck to everyone and I hope to be able to meet you soon!
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deleted1038508
Hey, thank you! So, how's student life lol. Do you enjoy it there? What do students do for fun?
For the advocacy question, how different of a background should the person/people we are using as an example have? I talked about helping another student at my university (who I didn't know) with depression but I'm not sure if that would be too similar of a background.
What I'm struggling most with is the balance between directly answering their questions, which seem often to demand thoughtful, almost academic responses, and incorporating discussion of my own skills, experiences and aspirations.
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Duke is also using VITA 
Mine says "Application Screening - Your supplemental application has been completed. Your application is now being reviewed by a set of independent screeners on our admissions committee."
Submitted yesterday, verified 7/15
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deleted1055566
When I clicked pay, I got an error message. Is that what happened to you, too? Did you figure out how to resolve this?
No, still haven’t heard back from them yet. I think it takes a few more days to process the fee, it perhaps goes away. Regardless, I’m waiting to hear confirmation from them.
I was planning on using it as a gap year essay
Abcdefghijklmno1
Full Member
I used an edu email and received it the day it was sent out.
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deleted1058832
I'm having the same issue... but the prompt does say that we can use a non research experience too so I'm conflicted
I'm doing non-research, despite having a lot of research, because I feel like I can make a more interesting and compelling essay that way.
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deleted1058832
For their COVID-19 prompt, I started writing about the role of the federal government vs. state governments in creating/enforcing COVID related policies (i.e. mask wearing rules, closing businesses, etc.) Would something like this be too political to submit?
I also ran into the payment issue and emailed them 🙁 sigh
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deleted1055566
I know a lot of people had issues, including me. For me, I emailed them and then it got fixed the next day. Maybe they have to go around and fix it for everyone because their original issue isn't fixed yet? I don't know, I'm guessing
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deleted1064759
Geez some of these questions are straight up wicked. What was most humbling exp for me? The MCAT....
How did it teach me to interact with others? It showed me that there are 523+ savages with higher LizzyM scores and I'm not a hotshot.
On a serious note, what did y'all talk about? I feel like going the academic route may be a slight copout and is less introspective.
How did it teach me to interact with others? It showed me that there are 523+ savages with higher LizzyM scores and I'm not a hotshot.
On a serious note, what did y'all talk about? I feel like going the academic route may be a slight copout and is less introspective.
ferocas
Full Member
I would try to focus more on your personal experiences. Anyone can write about the political landscape, but they're looking for how it has impacted your pursuit of medicine specifically. Like any other secondary question, they're trying to get to know who you are, not necessarily what you know. Just my two cents.
Yeah, so it's not in my junk/spam, but they said they sent it out so idk what went wrong. But I got it today by emailin, thankfully.
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deleted1064759
I see where you're coming from but it's a bit difficult to reflect on how it has impacted us when we're still going through it. And Qstem also asks outlook on medicine so I think we can get away with broad generalizations than "...it made me want to be a physician...". Furthermore, it was close to a start of a cycle so it really shouldn't have impacted your pursuit that much.
