Hi guys, so I submitted my RD app for Duke 2 weeks ago. My friend, who goes to the same high school as me, submitted his app a week before me, and he was contacted by a local alumni interviewer within 5 days. I have not yet been contacted about an interview. My application was received by Duke well before the December 20th priority consideration for interview deadline, so I was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts as to why I haven’t been contacted. Should I contact admissions or should I wait and see what happens? Is this a bad sign, or am I looking into this too much? I would really love to have an interview if given the opportunity, so let me know what you guys think! Thanks!
I wouldn’t read anything into it. Your friend may have gotten his application in just early enough to beat the holiday crunch. As long as you were before the priority deadline, you should be fine. A follow-up after the holidays if you haven’t heard anything would not be inappropriate.
We have no idea what your stats are. The alumni interviews are assigned based on a number of factors, including the date you submitted your application, and the availability of alumni. It has nothing to do with how strong/weak of a candidate you are, we simply have no idea, and are blinded to your grades/SAT scores.
The RD interviews in my region have not yet been assigned. I would sit tight, there is still plenty of time. IMHO its better to be one of the later interviewees anyway.
My DS applied over Thanksgiving weekend, so before Dec. 1. He just got an email tonight for an alumni interview. She said she is a teacher and is available after Christmas. What should he expect during an interview? Clothing attire?
@tripleteens Read my earlier posts on this subforum for sample questions and a list of Dos/don’ts.
Dress nicely - business casual is fine.
Also know that not getting an interview at all does not mean that you have no chance of getting in. I live in a heavily-populated area with many Duke applicants and did not receive an interview but was fortunate enough to be accepted anyways. Don’t give up hope!
I’m the interview director for another college. I randomly assign interviewers to students. Once the interviewer slots are filled, there’ll be invariably situations where 4 kids out of 5 in one city or HS who get an interview – I feel bad for that fifth kid – but it was no indication of the strength/weakness of the application. Frankly, I wouldn’t even know.
@drew1710 Don’t worry about interviews too much - if you didn’t get one, it won’t be held against you. A few of my friends did get interviews, and they ended up being waitlisted. I know a few people at Duke who didn’t have interviews at all (myself included), that are now happy students there. Don’t think too much into it haha.
I went to a Duke info session, and they said that doing the interview helps, but if you are not offered an interview (due to a lack of alumni in the area) then it will not hurt you in any way
@sgopal2 I cant seem to find the link you mention regarding sample quesions/ do-don’t. Can you provide the link?
Thanks so much for the link- my daughter has some interviews coming up and it will be very helpful. Of course it was very intertaining to read some of the blunders!