Dukes Anonymous :)

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Well, I didn't get an interview...

Which, I'm pretty sure that Duke wasn't in my top list anymore, but still...

I'm confused. What do they base interview decisions on? My stats are pretty good.

Ah, well, more money saved!

Good luck to everyone else!
 
DoctorDreamer said:
Well, I didn't get an interview...

Which, I'm pretty sure that Duke wasn't in my top list anymore, but still...

I'm confused. What do they base interview decisions on? My stats are pretty good.

Ah, well, more money saved!

Good luck to everyone else!
Click to expand...

From my interview day they did the whole MCAT and GPA and not good indicators of how good of a doctor you are going to be. They have 2 people affiliated (and sometimes not) read your secondary and then if they both agree you get an interview. At least that is what they told us.
 
jsol said:
From my interview day they did the whole MCAT and GPA and not good indicators of how good of a doctor you are going to be. They have 2 people affiliated (and sometimes not) read your secondary and then if they both agree you get an interview. At least that is what they told us.
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Having only 2 people determine an interview decision isn't very fair IMO. One person with some prejudice might deny an great applicant an opportunity to come to Duke. Also, luck will inevitably factor in. Last year, I was probably got 2 people who liked my application was granted an interview. This year, when I'm a slightly stronger applicant, I don't even get an interview. Go figure. I still love Duke to death though - we're just not meant to be. 🙁
 
Tropicana100 said:
Having only 2 people determine an interview decision isn't very fair IMO. One person with some prejudice might deny an great applicant an opportunity to come to Duke. Also, luck will inevitably factor in. Last year, I was probably got 2 people who liked my application was granted an interview. This year, when I'm a slightly stronger applicant, I don't even get an interview. Go figure. I still love Duke to death though - we're just not meant to be. 🙁
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I have to agree. I am a pretty strong applicant and have not been rejected anywhere else, yet. I even got an interview at WashU.

Ah, well. Honestly, my favorite thing about Duke was it's condensed curriculum, but Baylor is condensed, too, and you get to use the extra time in clinicals, which is more up my line than research.

Duke is great, though. 🙂
 
Ya you have to realize that there is a lot of luck that goes into this process. The people that read your apps are human so maybe even their demeanor on a given day could influence you getting an interview or not. Who knows... I know I felt the same way last year. Honestly, the process isn't fair and it never will be. There are thousands of great applicants out there and when it comes down to it, at least that bodes well for the future of healthcare in this world right? 🙂
 
Am I suppose to send Duke my LOR now that I got an interview? I can't remember if I already sent them. Thx
 
Anybody know when Duke will update the LOR they have received on the secondary website? I interviewed there in late Oct. and they still aren't up. Thanks.
 
Just got a Duke invite at 10:54 PM EST last night! I was really surprised because my MCAT is nowhere near their avg...
 
baldwingrl89 said:
Just got a Duke invite at 10:54 PM EST last night! I was really surprised because my MCAT is nowhere near their avg...
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Congratulations baldwingrl89! Don't worry about stats. You've been invited because you showed the committee that you're prepared for the Duke curriculum. Now it's your job to show them that you're not just an amazingly brilliant student, but that you'll be a compassionate and thoughtful doctor. Dr. Armstrong gives an amazing speech at the beginning- it'll make you feel really, really good about yourself. By the way, when I was there a few weeks ago, I found that the interviews were a LOT more normal than SDN interview feedback and the extensive Duke interview prep website suggest. So, don't stress out. I hope your interview day is amazing- the school is GORGEOUS.
 
SBBunny said:
Congratulations baldwingrl89! Don't worry about stats. You've been invited because you showed the committee that you're prepared for the Duke curriculum. Now it's your job to show them that you're not just an amazingly brilliant student, but that you'll be a compassionate and thoughtful doctor. Dr. Armstrong gives an amazing speech at the beginning- it'll make you feel really, really good about yourself. By the way, when I was there a few weeks ago, I found that the interviews were a LOT more normal than SDN interview feedback and the extensive Duke interview prep website suggest. So, don't stress out. I hope your interview day is amazing- the school is GORGEOUS.
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Thanks for the encouragement SBBunny! But I'm starting to wonder if I'd be able to handle two years of basic science condensed into one. And then there's the thesis......
 
baldwingrl89 said:
Thanks for the encouragement SBBunny! But I'm starting to wonder if I'd be able to handle two years of basic science condensed into one. And then there's the thesis......
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If they don't think you can handle the curriculum, they won't accept you, so don't worry about that. And I would say that, for most people it isn't so easy to honor the blocks, but it is easy enough to pass (trust me, I did very little work during our last block and still came nowhere close to failing). The "thesis" is less like a thesis and more like a paper about the work you did. I think if you get published as a first author, you can basically use that as your "thesis".
 
I just wanted to refute some heresy I read on the last page. The divinely inspired scripture, "Human Structure" by the anatomic apostle, Matt Cartmill, is an amazing read. Except for chapter 21 (Pharyngeal Arches) which was no doubt inserted by some latter-day gnostic cult looking to sabotage our education.

That is all.
 
I heard Duke Univ's avg MCAT scores are about 36 most years, 37 last year. Perhaps the 33 was an outlier due to the bad publicity Duke got from the Lacrosse "scandal"


DulyNoted said:
Kinda off topic from the previous posts, but does a 36 MCAT average strike anyone as a little high? According to US News, the enrolled class of 2010 had an average of 33.3. A ~3 point jump in 1 year seems like the admissions criteria must have changed significantly OR the applicants themselves became that much more competitive. Though if you search profiles on MDapps for accepted to Duke in 2007, the MCAT numbers ARE insane...

I wonder also because this statistic was mentioned in the same breath as the school's USMLE average (reportedly 40 points above national mean, or an average of upper 250s). Even our student tour guide found that hard to swallow.

I guess I'm just looking for hope that this year's accepted class doesn't have an average MCAT of like 41 with an enrolled student body average of 39 something. I love Duke. Please overlook my shameful sub-40...:scared:
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argencolts said:
Anybody know when Duke will update the LOR they have received on the secondary website? I interviewed there in late Oct. and they still aren't up. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I'm wondering the same thing. Anyone have any thoughts?
 
Just got an interview invite today. Seems it is an automated system that is handled online based on when the reviewers submit and doesn't need to go through their admissions office (since the invite was sent on a Saturday).

My interview is scheduled on Feb. 14th (haha)
 
feb 15? wow is the calendar you used to schedule interviews all full until feb already?
 
Yep, was full until Feb. Fortunately, they're non-rolling.
 
looks like they're almost done inviting people for interviews then. good luck to all!
 
baldwingrl89 said:
Just got a Duke invite at 10:54 PM EST last night! I was really surprised because my MCAT is nowhere near their avg...
Click to expand...
I was in the same boat and I interviewed there last week. I went in with a bit of an inferiority complex. From what Dr. Armstrong (dean of admiss.) said, your essays (AMCAS PS and secondary essays) play a big part in whether you get an interview. You already made it through a huge cut, since they only interview 20% of those who complete the secondary. It sounded like from the admissions people who talked to us that once you get an interview, everyone is on a level playing field and the interview is the major factor in acceptance.
 
somewhow i doubt your on a level playing field post interview invite. they have all those points on a 5.0 point scale that are added up i think
 
Jamorama said:
somewhow i doubt your on a level playing field post interview invite. they have all those points on a 5.0 point scale that are added up i think
Click to expand...
could you explain this further, i am not familiar
 
well if you read the other sections on this thread, apparently each aspect of your application is given a score out of 5. i'm not sure how or which aspects but i'm assuming, mcat, ec's, interview etc are all given a value out of 5. the students there said these numbers are converted into a final score and the top 180 or whatever are accepted automatically and the next 100 are waitlisted.....anybody feel free to correct me or shed more light on this
 
well they haven't read your LORs yet either so that'll be a big thing too.

how was the interview? i have mine in 2 months (yea i was one of the last few people to get an invite LOL)
 
Jamorama said:
well if you read the other sections on this thread, apparently each aspect of your application is given a score out of 5. i'm not sure how or which aspects but i'm assuming, mcat, ec's, interview etc are all given a value out of 5. the students there said these numbers are converted into a final score and the top 180 or whatever are accepted automatically and the next 100 are waitlisted.....anybody feel free to correct me or shed more light on this
Click to expand...
oh, that makes it sound as if each aspect of the application is weighed equally. regardless, it sounds objective.
 
Jathin said:
My interview is scheduled on Feb. 14th (haha)
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My interview 2 years ago was on Feb 14th! There are four of us from that date in my class, which I would be willing to bet is the most from any one interview day. And the best part about it is that you don't have to wait long for an answer after you interview.
 
MrBurns10 said:
My interview 2 years ago was on Feb 14th! There are four of us from that date in my class, which I would be willing to bet is the most from any one interview day. And the best part about it is that you don't have to wait long for an answer after you interview.
Click to expand...

Yeah except I think, looking back on it, admissions realizes what a terrible idea it was to accept you 4. Therefore, I predict no Feb 14th acceptances this year. Thank Mr. Burns for that.
 
MrBurns10 said:
My interview 2 years ago was on Feb 14th! There are four of us from that date in my class, which I would be willing to bet is the most from any one interview day. And the best part about it is that you don't have to wait long for an answer after you interview.
Click to expand...


Haha, that's awesome. I was afraid they'd think I was a loser for interviewing on Valentine's day (I tend to schedule things on V-day for some reason, last year I did it and I even had a gf back then too -- whoops.)

I take it you heard back March 1st?
 
Jathin said:
Haha, that's awesome. I was afraid they'd think I was a loser for interviewing on Valentine's day (I tend to schedule things on V-day for some reason, last year I did it and I even had a gf back then too -- whoops.)

I take it you heard back March 1st?
Click to expand...
Yep, I heard when everyone except diosa did. I think they wanted to just throw out diosa's application and pretend it never happened, but she bugged the admissions office enough to make them figure they had to send her something.
 
MrBurns10 said:
Yep, I heard when everyone except diosa did. I think they wanted to just throw out diosa's application and pretend it never happened, but she bugged the admissions office enough to make them figure they had to send her something.
Click to expand...

I really have nothing to say to that. So instead, here are some fun smilies.

:barf::biglove::banana:😆:barf:+pissed+
 
The Doctor said:
I just wanted to refute some heresy I read on the last page. The divinely inspired scripture, "Human Structure" by the anatomic apostle, Matt Cartmill, is an amazing read. Except for chapter 21 (Pharyngeal Arches) which was no doubt inserted by some latter-day gnostic cult looking to sabotage our education.

That is all.
Click to expand...

If Human Structure is your idea of divinely inspired, consider me an atheist.
 
Jathin said:
Just got an interview invite today. Seems it is an automated system that is handled online based on when the reviewers submit and doesn't need to go through their admissions office (since the invite was sent on a Saturday).

My interview is scheduled on Feb. 14th (haha)
Click to expand...

My husband and I both scheduled our interviews for the fourteenth. We're the couple from Mississippi.
 
wow i can't even imagine what it's like to be in med school and married...marriage just always seemed so far away haha. so are you and your husband determined to go to the same med school or would long distance be cool too?
 
Hi, I'm a relatively new member to SDN, and just returned from an interview at Duke (as in I got back ten minutes ago from the +14 hour drive). Absolutely fell in love with the school (though it was already my top choice) and have been seriously considering reapplying next year if I don't get in this cycle. Is there anything I could do right now until I hear back on the 1st of March to show them how interested I am in the program? Don't want to sound desperate, but I pretty much am 😛 Guess it doesn't help that I couldn't tell how I did whatsoever from the two interviewers (I'm scared I bombed it; I was very flustered). What's a LOI? Thanks for any advise at all!
 
i'm not sure how useful a letter of interest would be....i feel like if its meant to be its meant to be...i'm just sitting tight on my butt and praying
 
arsenic, what was it that made you think you bombed the interview? I am sure it was all in your head...I too am absolutely in love with Duke and felt like I didn't perform as well as I could have on the interview, guess we will have to wait a couple months to find out the truth
 
yeah, I'll probably sit here and pray as much as i can. uggh, all this wait is pretty much killing me inside. mango67, I think I got pretty flustered and all during the interviews, and so didn't really do as well as i wanted to/could. it's good to know that we're all here together, though! good luck to you guys!!
 
.
 
Last edited:
ryandote said:
Truer words were never spoken!

What's up Females? How's Durham treating you?
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ryandote!!! This is such a blast from the past. I am doing great! How is med school treating you this year?!?!?!?!?!

Concerning the comments about an LOI, I must say from experience that LOIs and all that jazz really do work. Duke loves to take people that love Duke (i.e. ppl like me who bug them until they decide... FINE, we will let you in already). So ya... you should write some LOIs and stuff if you really wanna go to Duke... but don't sound desparate.

diosa... :banana: :banana: :banana:

dr. d, im an atheist with you...

gemma, keep it in your pants.

burnsie 🙂 :banana: :banana: :banana:

for those of you in my class who are reading this... stop lurking on the forums... im talking mainly to my roommate 🙂
 
Ok FCD - I'm ready to enter the world of SDN. If you guys have any questions about Duke or why I chose Duke send me a message. Though it seems as though the 1st and 2nd years are currently dominating the message board.
 
pfire = my roommate = ms1 baller = the chang's man

:banana:
 
Wait, wait! I'm heeere!!! I probably would've spent more time on here if I hadn't had mycoplasma for eight weeks in the middle of Normal Body, but such is life. Whoops.

Hmm, perhaps if we can get Cardiologist, dmg18, and dreamersmelody on here, we'll probably have a quorum of MS1's on this thread. I love being on vacation, but I miss you guyyysss... 🙁 So sad, all these brownies around and no one to share them with.

On the issue of being married in med school, quite a few of our classmates are married, although none of them to each other (yet). jdizzle is a good person to talk to about that... also! He's going to be a daddy! Woohoo! Took my rent-a-baby business advice to heart, I see. 😉

Ok, I have more sleeping and eating to do. For all you Duke hopefuls, best of luck, PM me, etc. For all you hopeless Dukies, I'll see you in Brain and Behavior.
 
I hope there's still a chance that I can get an interview submitting my secondary an hour before the deadline. 😱
 
synth said:
I hope there's still a chance that I can get an interview submitting my secondary an hour before the deadline. 😱
Click to expand...

No kidding, I'm in the same boat! I didn't think it would take this long!!! Aaaah! I think I'll just turn in what I have at 11 pm or so, rather than not turn it in at all. G'luck and I hope we finish SOON!!!!!
 
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