maybe I'll finally get Duke's Secondary?

[QuantumMechanic]

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theyre so behind with sending out secondaries that they are going to interview more applicants per day, and they are going to do regional interview this year. This can't be good for their purposes of selling the school to applicants!

The Office of Admissions at the Duke University School of Medicine would like to take this opportunity to thank you for considering DukeMed for your medical education.

We deeply apologize for any challenges you may have experienced with the technical operation of our secondary application. The staff which oversees the electronic process for the Office of Admissions has recognized the issues that have prevented us from distributing the secondary application as quickly as we would have liked as well as any problems you have be encountering accessing the DukeMed admissions portal. If you have not yet received your invitation to complete the Duke secondary application, delivery is imminent.

We deeply appreciate your patience and encourage you to complete your secondary application if you are still interested in attending DukeMed. We've heard your frustration and in response felt it would be helpful if we modified our application deadlines. The application deadlines have been changed and are posted to our website - www.dukemed.duke.edu (click the account login); the AMCAS Application Deadline is now December 15, 2006 and the Duke Secondary Application Deadline is now January 2, 2007. In addition, we will be increasing the maximum number of applicants on our on-campus interview days to accommodate students who wish to travel to Durham for their interviews and a dedicated alumni network is enthusiastic and graciously prepared to interview additional applicants at regional locations throughout the United States.

If our office can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at 919-684-2985.

Best wishes,

Richard S. Wallace
Associate Director of Admissions

 

[Dr Durden]

Just got that email myself, exactly one month to the day from my AMCAS verification. Perhaps it's the gunner in me, but I hope they're having a hard time selling their school. Less competition...... 😉

 

[spygal]

I was also wondering if the email meant that application numbers are way down this year.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

I'm considering not applying due to this extreme delay in allowing me to fill out the secondary. Every other school was able to get the materials out to me by early August at the latest (even the screening schools!), yet here it is, almost fall break, and Duke still hasn't given me the secondary! I understand they are having technical problems, but I also have seen that the secondary is also rather substantial. Given these considerations, I'm going to have to carefully consider whether or not I actually want to end up at Duke, given the cost of time and money to do the secondary. This is especially relevant since I haven't written an admissions essay in over 2 months! I'm not in the essay mode anymore!

 

[dopaminesurge]

I'm considering not applying due to this extreme delay in allowing me to fill out the secondary. Every other school was able to get the materials out to me by early August at the latest (even the screening schools!), yet here it is, almost fall break, and Duke still hasn't given me the secondary! I understand they are having technical problems, but I also have seen that the secondary is also rather substantial. Given these considerations, I'm going to have to carefully consider whether or not I actually want to end up at Duke, given the cost of time and money to do the secondary. This is especially relevant since I haven't written an admissions essay in over 2 months! I'm not in the essay mode anymore!

Yeah, I got the secondary but I didn't apply. I thought they were so inconsiderate to send it so late in the season, and to demand 6 full essays at that. If they don't respect my time, that's great for them, but I'm not applying. Still, though, it might just be a glitch that you never received it, because at this point it's just surreal... Have you talked to the office?

 

[cubbbie]

I was also wondering if the email meant that application numbers are way down this year.

I'm sure. The email sounded pretty desperate. Too bad for them!

I'm not applying either; it'll just boost their rankings when they reject me and make themselves seem like an incredibly competitive school. I will not participate in that game!

 

[bretticus]

Just got the email as well. I'm wondering if the extended deadlines imply they'll also extend the two week deadline? I'm still wondering about that one anyway, since it's only on one page of DukeMed that I can find.

 

[peterpansy]

Just got that email myself, exactly one month to the day from my AMCAS verification. Perhaps it's the gunner in me, but I hope they're having a hard time selling their school. Less competition...... 😉

One month? That's too early to complain, I got verified in July and I still don't have access to the secondary. 😳 The funny thing is that four months ago, Duke was my top choice. Now I am not sure I will apply - is it really worth the fee and the travel expenses to interview if I would be perfectly happy at some of the other schools I already interviewed with?

 

[bretticus]

One month? That's too early to complain, I got verified in July and I still don't have access to the secondary. 😳 The funny thing is that four months ago, Duke was my top choice. Now I am not sure I will apply - is it really worth the fee and the travel expenses to interview if I would be perfectly happy at some of the other schools I already interviewed with?

I believe they have regional interviews, but I don't know where. If there's something nearby, travel might not be as much of an issue. I'm not holding out for any place near TN though, assuming I even get an interview 🙁

 

[peterpansy]

I believe they have regional interviews, but I don't know where. If there's something nearby, travel might not be as much of an issue. I'm not holding out for any place near TN though, assuming I even get an interview 🙁

Yeah, but regional interviews don't give any kind of feel for the school, the student body, the faculty. They are with alumni, I believe, and the alumni may not even be able to answer that many questions. An interview isn't just a chance for the school to evaluate the applicants, but also for the applicants to get acquainted with the school.

 

[bretticus]

Yeah, but regional interviews don't give any kind of feel for the school, the student body, the faculty. They are with alumni, I believe, and the alumni may not even be able to answer that many questions. An interview isn't just a chance for the school to evaluate the applicants, but also for the applicants to get acquainted with the school.

True, I didn't think about that. I guess another $300-400 is a drop in the proverbial bucket...

 

[Creightonite]

they website looks too fancy. Could've done it more simple but more informative... That's the problem I find with some school websites.

 

[kirexhana]

no, that's not true, if you're accepted, then you'll be invited to second look weekend at the end of march/beginning of april, where they wine and dine you and you get to meet us. although for the ones going to the regional interviews, it will really be your first look 🙂

 

[DoubleU]

Just got the email as well. I'm wondering if the extended deadlines imply they'll also extend the two week deadline? I'm still wondering about that one anyway, since it's only on one page of DukeMed that I can find.

I'm pretty sure that the two week thing is more of a guideline rather than a hard and fast rule.

 

[bretticus]

I'm pretty sure that the two week thing is more of a guideline rather than a hard and fast rule.

Just going by this page: we will notify you to fill out an on-line supplemental application, which should be returned to us within two weeks (no later than December 1).

Like I said, haven't seen that anywhere else, so maybe it's a leftover from previous years?

 

[Stolenspatulas]

Just going by this page: we will notify you to fill out an on-line supplemental application, which should be returned to us within two weeks (no later than December 1).

Like I said, haven't seen that anywhere else, so maybe it's a leftover from previous years?

i work at duke and am applying to duke med. I know for a fact that the two week thing is no longer the case. actually, someone on the admissions committee told me this personally.