<p>My son applied RD and received an email from an alum yesterday to set up an interview. From what I’ve read on CC I know everyone says Duke doesn’t put that much weight on the interview, but is it reasonable to assume that an applicant would only be contacted if there was some chance of admittance? In other words, admissions must look at the applications to some degree and those applicants who are not qualified would not be requested to interview?</p>
<p>I’ve always thought that they offer alumni interviews simply based on availability in the applicant’s region, but after reading the article that someone posted a few days ago about “immediate rejection” for applicants who do not qualify (i.e. reviewed only once and rejected), I’m not so sure if they would bother offering them interviews.</p>
<p>@coffeegal: I’m afraid you’re entirely wrong. Duke attempts to offer an interview – never obligatory – to EVERY ED and RD applicant. Due to geographic location, to the number of approved alumni volunteer interviews in each venue, and to the sheer volume of applicants in the locality (among several other factors), some applicants are unfortunately not offered an interview. This, however, has absolutely nothing to do with applicant qualifications; furthermore, Duke Undergraduate Admission does not screen candidates prior to alumni interviewer assignment.</p>
<p>@ACT36Wannabe: As I indicated in post #2 to this thread, Duke attempts to offer an interview to EVERY ED and RD applicant (including those you’ve erroneously titled as “immediate rejection”). What you likely do not understand is the timing of the numerous elements in the application administrative and evaluation processes. Of necessity, interview assignments to the many regional Duke Alumni AAAC teams will be made LONG before Undergraduate Admission’s completes its first file reviews. </p>
<p>@TopTier That makes sense. Thanks for the insight!</p>
<p>@TopTier How many rounds/times is our application file reviewed? Do you know anything about the specifics of the admissions process? Thank you!</p>
<p>@Hersheybar315: There is no set number of “readings;” it varies by applicant. You should obtain an overview of Undergraduate Admissions’ processes by reviewing the pertinent information on their website.</p>
<p>Thank you @TopTier </p>
My son had an interview last week and he said it went very well. He was surprised by how thought provoking many of the questions were. Although it was very relaxed and conversational in nature, he said it was a lot more intense than he expected. He was pleasantly surprised because he felt he could really shed light on who he is beyond the application. He said the guy took notes the entire time (about an hour) and also asked for a copy of his resume, which luckily my son had on hand. I know Duke is pretty much a reach for everyone, but my son left feeling confident the interview could only help and not hurt his chances. He also loved learning about the alum’s Duke experience. Keeping fingers crossed!
Glad your son had a positive interview experience, but the intensity you describe is not typical and simply a function of the fact that every interviewer does things differently. Interviewers are explicitly told NOT to take notes during the interview (as it can make the applicant feel added pressure) and not to ask for a resume. I guess that interviewer missed those guidelines. Some candidates I’ve spoken with had a resume that they handed to me, which probably made the evaluation writing a bit easier since there were activities to reference that were detailed and already written down, but it’s by no means obligatory. I’d say probably around 15% of people I have interviewed brought a resume, so it’s pretty unusual. This is one of the reasons the interview can’t hold that much weight – alumni have very different methods and evaluation standards, so it’s not that consistent unfortunately. But it gives the applicant another viewpoint into Duke and it gives Duke admissions another lens to view an applicant, so certainly is still valuable.
I agree with @bluedog. I’m an alumni interviewer and have never asked for a resume. However I do admit sometimes when doing multiple interviews the same day, I sometimes jot down a few notes during the conversation.
I would never read the resume of an applicant even if it was encouraged by the committee. Who cares? Resumes don’t mean a thing to me when I’m screening 17 year olds for admission into my alma mater. Who you are, how you think, and what you are passionate about are of foremost importance. I’ll let the adcoms decide whether whats on your resume should get you in the door.
Coffeegal’s description of her son’s interview is how all interviews should be. Not relaxed. Applicants should be screened for personal integrity and character and frankly thats the only way to do it.
I had my interview last week and offered my resume, but my interviewer declined. I’d say bring a resume with you just in case, but don’t focus on how your activities define you. Showcase how you would contribute as a person, not a statistic. Well said @jwest22
Re resumes: As I recall, this year’s recommendations from Duke to AAAC volunteers specifically suggest “no resumes.”
any international applicants from India who applied RD or on the Dec 20th deadline gotten interviews yet?
Just clarifying resumes from my perspective – the “resumes” that I have accepted a few times (again, the majority do NOT bring them nor should they really) were not really resumes in the traditional sense, but rather activity lists. They didn’t have things like GPA, SAT scores, class rank, but simply extracurricular activities. Not vital from the interviewer perspective at all, but it probably did help steer the conversation a bit since I could ask about various activities and then when it was time to write the assessment, I had a sheet with certain items to reference. I agree that a resume in the traditional sense should not be given or accepted by the alumni interviewer since the adcom already has that information and the interviewer should start with a “blank slate” view of an applicant. I’ll have to double check Duke’s recommendations for this year, though…
@bluedog: Yep, it was a change this year. When I discussed it with the AAAC program’s director, she indicated (and this made perfect sense to me): (1) “clean slate” for the conversations and (2) no alumni interviewer access to GPA, standardized test results, class rank, etc.
Applied by 12/20 date and live in major metro area filled with Duke alums, yet have not heard anything about an interview. Should I be concerned?
@ackack: No applicant is guaranteed an interview, regardless of his application date, although Duke’s local alumni undergraduate interviewing groups try very hard to accommodate every ED and RD candidate. The simple truth is many venues simply have so many applicants that the alumni volunteers cannot accommodate everyone (obviously, not all alumni have volunteered and been approved for this responsibility . . . the fact that an area is “filled” with Duke alums does not mean it has adequate AAAC interviewers).
In addition, Duke alumni are almost quite universally accomplished and busy (personally and professionally) individuals, and that the deadline for RD interview report submission is mid-February, and it’s quite possible that you will still be contacted (in truth, I have one remaining interview to schedule . . . shame on me).
Finally, please remember three important facts:
- The interview almost always is a comparatively inconsequential application evaluation element.
- The interview is entirely optional; no on is required to be interviewed.
- If a candidate is not offered an interview, he is permitted to submit an additional letter of recommendation,
@TopTier thanks. I know all this, but I’m still hopeful. Tried my best to articulate interest in 150 word essay, but wish I could do more.