<p>My son applied by 12/20, but hasn't been contacted about interviewing for Duke. Meanwhile, he's completed interviews for the several Ivy's to which he applied. We live in a metropolitan area. Do you think we should contact admissions, or just let it drop? Is this a bad sign? He's really interested in Duke.</p>
<p>VaMom,</p>
<p>If you review a few of the many threads regarding this precise subject, you’ll immediately ascertain that it’s absolutely not a “bad sign.” Rather – and I have, for many years, been one the undergraduate admissions interviewers in Fairfax County, as well as a member of several Duke Executive Committees and a chair of our DC alumni organization – it likely indicates that the alumni volunteer who has been assigned your son’s interview has simply encountered several unanticipated, higher priority requirements. We work hard to preclude this sort of thing; however, as you’ll easily understand, it happens – unexpected personal and professional commitments complicate all our lives. You can call Undergraduate Admissions, but your son may prefer the option of an additional letter of recommendation. Finally, please understand that these interviews are almost always an inconsequential element of the applicant’s aggregate “package.” PLEASE don’t be concerned and know how much your – and your son’s – Duke enthusiasm is appreciated.</p>
<p>Thank you so much, TopTier - and sorry I didn’t review the other threads on this topic first! My son was concerned about this, but I’ll tell him to relax. His friend just interviewed for Duke and that seemed to worry him.</p>
<p>Really appreciate your advice, and thanks for the time you volunteer doing interviews.</p>
<p>I am an interviewer for a major metropolitan area in the south and looking at the numbers, about 1/4 of the applicants in our area would not be interviewed. In our area I think each interviewer is assigned a max of 5 applicants to begin with and can volunteer to do more if they are willing. So to get to everyone that would require something like 120+ active alumni which I doubt we have. Given that each interview takes time to set up, conduct, then write up, I feel the numbers are working against us. </p>
<p>Nice post, SBR. And even if your AAAC had 120+ active alumni volunteer interviewers – VERY difficult to achieve and maintain – there’s always the unanticipated child’s illness, extended business trip, last minute proposal to be drafted, and so forth. We all try to provide 100 percent applicant coverage, but with over 32,000 candidates and with Duke having a relatively small alumni population – when compared (for example) to “flagship” public schools and even to large private universities – it is becoming increasingly difficult to do so. THANK YOU for your service to Duke and to your community! </p>
<p>Thanks TopTier, just out of curiosity, is the Fairfax County AAAC part of the DC AAAC?</p>
<p>^DC is combined with Montgomery County (MD). Alexandia, Arlington, and Fairfax/Loudoun are organized by three different AAAC heads.</p>
<p>SBR and bluedog: As always, bluedog is correct. I don’t know if other geographic areas do so, but (under the wonderful Carole LeVine’s guidance) we have subdivided those three areas into several committees; for example, in Fairfax, we have basically Eastern, Western (Loudoun included) and Southern groups, each with a separate chair. I appreciate what you both do for Duke and your tutelage on CC. Warm regards. </p>