Dukes Anonymous :)

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Mine also says 'not received' and I interviewed in October. I did call and verify that they have received my letters via VirtualEval awhile ago, so I wonder whether the not received is any indication that they decided not to review my file post interview....Although I am probably looking to far into this.

They review EVERYONE'S file post interview, so don't be :scared::scared:. The fact that so many of you have that not updated on the website is probably more indicative of the fact that the people in admissions are super busy and just don't have time to update the website. 👍
 
Yay page 8! Also, yay for holidays and not being at work today!
 
I can't believe yall have MLK off too. They pamper us here 🙂
 
Haha on Saturday we had class and some people were saying that their residents didn't want to give them the day off, which triggered a 10 minute lecture from our clerkship director about how it's a SCHOOL OF MEDICINE HOLIDAY and, as students of the school of medicine, we will abide by their rules, not the rules of the residents.
 
They review EVERYONE'S file post interview, so don't be :scared::scared:. The fact that so many of you have that not updated on the website is probably more indicative of the fact that the people in admissions are super busy and just don't have time to update the website. 👍

they review post interview on a weekly basis or monthly?
 
they review post interview on a weekly basis or monthly?

Who knows... honestly, it makes no difference. Que sera, sera... What will be, will be... I'm totally singing this in my head. +pity+

PS: The emoticon isn't for pity... it is for back up music to my singing.
 
Haha on Saturday we had class and some people were saying that their residents didn't want to give them the day off, which triggered a 10 minute lecture from our clerkship director about how it's a SCHOOL OF MEDICINE HOLIDAY and, as students of the school of medicine, we will abide by their rules, not the rules of the residents.

Well I'm glad they gave you your holiday. Seems only fair, given that the normal schedule apparently includes CLASS ON SATURDAYS! Egads.
 
That was definitely super nice having that long weekend.

I believe we're at 48. The nice thing about waiting until March to hear from Duke is that we will hear right before Spring Break, which will hopefully make the break much more enjoyable.
 
Ya that would be a pretty sweet lil spring break present.
 
Last year, I missed my letter addressed to "The Future Dr. Durden" because I was sipping rum punch on a ship in the middle of the Bahamas. Better late than never I guess...

:banana:
 
Well I'm glad they gave you your holiday. Seems only fair, given that the normal schedule apparently includes CLASS ON SATURDAYS! Egads.

You'll have class on Saturday once your entire first year. And that's only during the Physical Exam week to learn the breast exam. 😎
 
Last year, I missed my letter addressed to "The Future Dr. Durden" because I was sipping rum punch on a ship in the middle of the Bahamas. Better late than never I guess...

:banana:

MMMMM, Rum punch

Do you M1s get much of a spring break during this first year? Any big plans with your classmates?
 
We get a week. There's a small group that is going to Haiti for some medical stuff. Some people are going to Florida, NY, beach, etc. Who knows... we are all trying to currently survive Brain & Behavior.
 
Had my Duke interview yesterday, and it went so much better than I expected. Everyone was fantastically welcoming and upbeat and so happy. I think I'm in 😍. Did any of you current Dukies stop by the admissions office yesterday? It would be so awesome if we accidentally met. 47.
 
Can't wait to interview in February!
 
you are a grad student, right EkLilian?
 
Hmm, I'm gonna take advantage of this forum for creativity--I get tired of the same old standard medical school interview questions which are boring for everyone and have all sorts of canned answers...

For those of you who are applying now, what questions do you want to be asked in the interview?

For those of you who are my colleagues here at Duke, what things would you ask someone you are considering as a future colleague?
 
You should ask someone how much they have BSed thus far on the interview trail. Ask them to tell you a funny story or something. Just tell them to entertain you. Just be like... if you can make me laugh, I will write something really positive about you to the admissions committee. Oh ya... ask them what people have said to them about Duke that sounded like BS. You should also bring some trivial pursuit cards and just start firing away.
 
Had my Duke interview yesterday, and it went so much better than I expected. Everyone was fantastically welcoming and upbeat and so happy. I think I'm in 😍. Did any of you current Dukies stop by the admissions office yesterday? It would be so awesome if we accidentally met. 47.

I came by the admissions office yesterday... I think.
 
I interviewed @ Duke last week... & love love loved it! Its absolutly one of my top choices. Only one bad thing... I could never be a true duke bball fan.
 
I interviewed @ Duke last week... & love love loved it! Its absolutly one of my top choices. Only one bad thing... I could never be a true duke bball fan.

That is no problem at all! I'm a diehard Maryland Terrapins fan and gleefully celebrate Maryland victories over Duke. Go SPRET! Sometimes I think 3/4 of the nurses at Duke are UNC fans...
 
Hey guys,

Interviewed last week - 'twas awesome. Did you medical students send thank you cards promptly / at all to your Duke interviewers? Or maybe e-mailed a thank you?

Thanks!
 
I interviewed @ Duke last week... & love love loved it! Its absolutly one of my top choices. Only one bad thing... I could never be a true duke bball fan.

Just like nevercold said, most people stay true to their college teams. Personally, as a Kentucky bball fan, I find it appalling to root for Duke, but hey, **** happens.
 
Hi everyone,

I interviewed at Duke recently and loved it. During the interview day they told us to make sure that we send any new updates or accomplishments to the admissions office before mid-February so that it can help them make their final decisions. Should I send them my transcripts with my most recent grades (i.e. my last semester grades that aren't on my AMCAS)? I did well last semester, so it would help...but then again, if they really wanted updated transcripts wouldn't they just ask everyone to send those?

Would sending a new copy of my transcript be helpful or overkill?
 
Hi everyone,

I interviewed at Duke recently and loved it. During the interview day they told us to make sure that we send any new updates or accomplishments to the admissions office before mid-February so that it can help them make their final decisions. Should I send them my transcripts with my most recent grades (i.e. my last semester grades that aren't on my AMCAS)? I did well last semester, so it would help...but then again, if they really wanted updated transcripts wouldn't they just ask everyone to send those?

Would sending a new copy of my transcript be helpful or overkill?

I would go ahead and send it, along with a short letter talking about why you liked Duke. There's nothing wrong with a little GPA boost.
 
Hey guys,

Interviewed last week - 'twas awesome. Did you medical students send thank you cards promptly / at all to your Duke interviewers? Or maybe e-mailed a thank you?

Thanks!

I personally appreciate getting a thank you note, whether emailed or hard copy. I usually have submitted my interview evaluation before receiving a thank you note and even if not, it doesn't influence my evaluation. But I think you have to choose what sort of person you want to be--if you value a more traditional decorum, thank you notes are appropriate. The VERY least I would recommend is sending a thank you to the institution for inviting you and for their hospitality.
 
My husband called yesterday, and they said that they just haven't posted yet, which is not very helpful. I would feel fine if they were sent electronically, but I'd probably send multiple copies by snail mail out of worry that they did not arrive.
 
.
 
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I personally appreciate getting a thank you note, whether emailed or hard copy. I usually have submitted my interview evaluation before receiving a thank you note and even if not, it doesn't influence my evaluation. But I think you have to choose what sort of person you want to be--if you value a more traditional decorum, thank you notes are appropriate. The VERY least I would recommend is sending a thank you to the institution for inviting you and for their hospitality.

Thanks for the advice! I'm sure they probably sent in my evaluation already (I interviewed a week ago) but I still sent them in today -- I interviewed w/ Dr. Armstrong and she was amazing! I also interviewed w/ Dr. Bradford - who talked for a majority of the time but was a really genuine guy. Overall, amazing interview experience.

Do you guys know of anyone doing economics research at Duke through the Center for Clinical and Genetic Economics? Dr. Armstrong brought it up during my interview and its something that I would definitely pursue there.
 
Hey everyone,

Any information on regional interviews for Duke? I'm on the East Coast and have an interview scheduled on site at Duke for March 5. However, I'm concerned that at that point, I may just be interviewing for the waitlist. So I called the admissions office to ask if I could get an earlier regional interview.

They haven't gotten back to me but does anyone have opinions on whether the regional interview puts you at a disadvantage somehow? Any thoughts, especially from people who have had regional interviews, would be appreciated...
 
Hey everyone,

Any information on regional interviews for Duke? I'm on the East Coast and have an interview scheduled on site at Duke for March 5. However, I'm concerned that at that point, I may just be interviewing for the waitlist. So I called the admissions office to ask if I could get an earlier regional interview.

They haven't gotten back to me but does anyone have opinions on whether the regional interview puts you at a disadvantage somehow? Any thoughts, especially from people who have had regional interviews, would be appreciated...

Since Duke is non-rolling, there are no interviews for the waitlist. All interviews are considered for initial acceptance. However, for some reason regional interviews have had a higher acceptance rate in the past.
 
Hey everyone,

Any information on regional interviews for Duke? I'm on the East Coast and have an interview scheduled on site at Duke for March 5. However, I'm concerned that at that point, I may just be interviewing for the waitlist. So I called the admissions office to ask if I could get an earlier regional interview.

They haven't gotten back to me but does anyone have opinions on whether the regional interview puts you at a disadvantage somehow? Any thoughts, especially from people who have had regional interviews, would be appreciated...

Just stick with what you've got. As diosa428 said, Duke has a non-rolling policy, so they won't send out acceptances until after they've completed interviews. The way the process works, you will be at no disadvantage interviewing on March 5th. For people at the end, the adcom just has to work harder to make sure they've finished thoroughly evaluating everyone by the time they want to send out the acceptances. You should come for the interview here since you have the chance so that you can see if you like it here at Duke.
 
Thanks for the advice! I'm sure they probably sent in my evaluation already (I interviewed a week ago) but I still sent them in today -- I interviewed w/ Dr. Armstrong and she was amazing! I also interviewed w/ Dr. Bradford - who talked for a majority of the time but was a really genuine guy. Overall, amazing interview experience.

Do you guys know of anyone doing economics research at Duke through the Center for Clinical and Genetic Economics? Dr. Armstrong brought it up during my interview and its something that I would definitely pursue there.

Wow, you hit the jackpot for interviewers, I imagine both of them have a lot of weight in the admissions process, and they're both extremely nice.

Woohoo, 44!
 
who's the best professor at duke and why?

I would echo that Dr. McIntosh is a great teacher. I had him in my first year and loved histology because of that.

On the clinical side, there are a ton of great people. I would have to pick Dr. Tony Galanos, a geriatrician. Besides being super friendly and fun to work with, he has a tremendous amount of wisdom to impart on his field and on the doctor-patient relationship in general.
 
Dr. Galanos is a great teacher, despite his abysmally boring field. . . McIntosh was also good. However, I gotta say that my favorite teacher for first year HAD to have been Dr. Cartmill's right hand man. . . Crap, I forget his name right now because I'm an awful human being, but his mustache alone is enough to get him on the list. 🙂 His impression of evolving gait over time is quite good as well.

As far as second year is concerned, my vote goes to Dr. Carlos Marroquin.

Yes I know a lot of you will disagree with me but he really does a LOT behind-the-scenes to make sure that we're getting a good surgery experience - questioning/disciplining residents, trying VERY hard to convince the surgeons to come and lecture to us (even though sometimes that results in things like the Murabee fiasco). Plus if you're really interested in surgery he'll do whatever he can to make sure that you get connected with people who can help you get to where you want to be.

And he's a UCLA alum. 😉
 
Dr. Galanos is a great teacher, despite his abysmally boring field. . . McIntosh was also good. However, I gotta say that my favorite teacher for first year HAD to have been Dr. Cartmill's right hand man. . . Crap, I forget his name right now because I'm an awful human being, but his mustache alone is enough to get him on the list. 🙂 His impression of evolving gait over time is quite good as well.

As far as second year is concerned, my vote goes to Dr. Carlos Marroquin.

Yes I know a lot of you will disagree with me but he really does a LOT behind-the-scenes to make sure that we're getting a good surgery experience - questioning/disciplining residents, trying VERY hard to convince the surgeons to come and lecture to us (even though sometimes that results in things like the Murabee fiasco). Plus if you're really interested in surgery he'll do whatever he can to make sure that you get connected with people who can help you get to where you want to be.

And he's a UCLA alum. 😉

Dr. Schmidt? Something with an S anyway...

Let's see how you feel about Dr. Marroquin in May when you still don't have your surgery grade...
 
I'm interviewing Feb 5th, Duke sounds like it has a great community feel for it. I checked out the facebook group too, lol--there are some pretty good quotes in there.
 
You all have no idea. Dr. Marroquin has DRAMATICALLY changed the experience of the surgery rotation at Duke for students rotating through. He was just starting when I went through and so things hadn't all changed yet. He's really worked it out so that instead of the rotation being one of shadowing and hoping you don't get yelled at, it is one in which students learn a ton and get a great experience. And he's a great guy, too.
 
Yes... good ole Dr. Schmidt and his inability to censor himself... gotta love him. T-Mac is also a baller. I remember one lecture his said that a bronchiole is like a cheap hotel. One hallway with a lot of rooms and a lot of heavy breathing going on... ZING!!! We have a lot of really great teachers first year. Rockman was pretty freakin baller. Raetz was also the man even though he is leaving. Dr. Bedlack (ALS Man) is really cool. Ya... so either way, lots of great people at Duke. You get the picture.
 
Yes... good ole Dr. Schmidt and his inability to censor himself... gotta love him. T-Mac is also a baller. I remember one lecture his said that a bronchiole is like a cheap hotel. One hallway with a lot of rooms and a lot of heavy breathing going on... ZING!!! We have a lot of really great teachers first year. Rockman was pretty freakin baller. Raetz was also the man even though he is leaving. Dr. Bedlack (ALS Man) is really cool. Ya... so either way, lots of great people at Duke. You get the picture.

:laugh: Does T-Mac actually say ZING? If so, he's already my favorite.
 
Does anyone want to do my surgery presentation for me?
 
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