<p>My daughter has applied ED to Duke and is a double legacy. We received a letter today from an alumni advocate at Duke saying our daughter was on her "radar screen." Has anyone received a similar message? Does anyone know what it means? Our son applied last year and got wait-listed (at UVA and very happy) and we never received any such communication then. Thanks.</p>
<p>I am a Duke alum with twins applying RD (just finished apps). I have interviewed applicants in the past through the Duke Alumni Association, but am not eligible this year since they are applying.</p>
<p>I have never heard of an “alumni advocate”. Perhaps it is a first year program and my kids have not been contacted yet since they just submitted their apps. However, my understanding is that the only advantage that legacies receive is a guaranteed third reading of their application to ensure that nothing was missed - no quantitative advantage at all.</p>
<p>Was the letter sent from the Alumni Office (DAA) or the Admissions Office? I will definitely let you know if my kids hear anything.</p>
<p>rmldad,</p>
<p>Good luck with the twins. What are the odds as my daughter has a twin brother. He has applied to Duke RD (Georgetown EA and so could not do Duke ED). </p>
<p>The letter was from the head of the Alumni Office and sent by a staffer there. Evidently, the head of this Office sits on the Admissions Committee (as stated in the letter). The letter had a positive tone and told us we could contact the head of Alum if we needed anything and that my daughter was on her “radar screen.”</p>
<p>Last year, my oldest son applied to Duke RD and got wait listed (they took no one from the wait list last year), and we never received any such letter. The wait list did not bother me much because Duke called when they first got his application and advised him to apply ED and stated there would be a better chance for his admisison (he was not ready to commit then and is very happy now at UVA). Also, while a strong candidate, he was not a sal like my daughter.</p>
<p>Any ways, maybe it is a function of my daughter applying RD? Maybe they are trying to soften the blow? Maybe she is fighting for my daughter (I have heard that at other schools sometimes Alumni gets involved when Admissions is ready tor reject someone, but do not know if this happens at Duke). Maybe my daughter is in and the Alum Office is just trying to butter us up for more donations. Lot of possibilities, but wanted to know if anyone had seen anything like this before. </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>This is a standard letter sent every year to all legacy applicants (parent/grandparent). It’s basically a courtesy to alums who have kids applying, basically just acknowledging that their kid’s app has been received and giving contact info for any questions. Carole Levine heads the Duke Alumni Admissions Office and you can direct any questions to her. You shouldn’t read anything into the letter other than Duke has connected the dots that your son/daughter has applied. I have no idea why you wouldn’t have received a letter last year - I can only guess that it was an oversight.</p>
<p>@dukedad - thanks for the information. My previous post was misleading, since my twins are applying RD this year. I will look for their letters soon. Carole Levine is a name I recognize - she organizes the DAA Alumni Interviews.</p>
<p>@muckdogs - My twins are also boy/girl! They are both applying RD due to my concern about FA - I’m not in a position to write a check for $120K per year for the next four years. They are both applying to Pratt, following in my footsteps. I was in the Danny Ferry/Quin Snyder/John Smith graduating class.</p>
<p>Thanks Dukedad!</p>