@riverandsasha3 Thanks! I found the tab.
Just curious, which major did you choose for Pratt?
I am struggling between Biology from Trinity and Biomedical Engineering from Pratt.
@MightyYan I chose BME for Pratt. I was thinking about double majoring in Biophysics or minoring in Biology/Chemistry, but that might be too difficult of a schedule.
That sounds great, I am thinking about double majoring too, but we will see what kind of class schedule we will have next year.
I am considering taking BME as my major too, we could possibly be classmates in the future haha.
Hi, My son had his Duke interview with a local alumni via facetime. Most interviews are expected to run 45min - 1 hour and his went an hour and a half. He found it very conversational and his interviewer often had follow up questions to each of his answers. No crazy unexpected questions although my son did prepare for questions like who are 4 people dead or alive you would want to have dinner with and what books or characters are meaningful to you (he did not get these type of questions during his interview). It was typical questions about courses, extracurricular, why duke, why you would be a fit. It was helpful that he had prepared details or stories to share as the interviewer was interested in learning more. As his college counselor advised - go into the interview confident!
@Hwashizzle That’s awesome! I still haven’t received any word about an interview, but I’m scared about getting one. I’m told by adults that I’m charismatic and respectful, but I always feel like I come off as reserved and awkward. Did your son just prepare for the interview as if he was going to be asked the same old interview questions (favorite book, favorite class at school, etc.)?
HI @riverandsasha3. To prepare for the interview my son did focus first on the typical questions and wrote out notes on how he would answer. His college counselor advised him to reinforce those things he mentioned in his application that was important to him. I would ask him random questions just to get him thinking about what he would say if he got asked (what does leadership mean to you, what is your favorite food, etc). He found that most of the basic preparation he could use in different ways based on how the interviewer asked the question. Another great piece of advice his college counselor gave to him was if he got a question he didn’t have an answer for he could say, can I think more about your question and come back to this or if they bring up a topic he is not familiar with, think about what Duke stands for and it’s ok to say I am unfamiliar with this but knowing Duke is XYZ, I can see why other students might care about XYZ. He didn’t have to use this but knowing he had a way to deal with these potential situation made him feel more at ease.
My advice for you is that if you think you can come off reserved and awkward is to prepare different story examples as part of your answer. They could be fun and short stories but could help you to be more personable. But if other parents have told you they think you are charismatic and respectful, trust in that feedback and don’t be so hard on yourself. This was my son’s 2nd interview (1st was with Wake Forest Admission) and in general he found that the interviewers are really trying to get to know you and make you feel at ease.
I should mention in the email exchange he had with the interviewer prior to the call he did ask if interviewer would like his resume and the interviewer did want a copy of the resume. Although it seems interviewer did look at resume, he still asked broader questions to allow my son to lead the answers (what class did you enjoy the most and not I saw you took AP Econ, what did you think).
@Hwashizzle Thank you so much! This is extremely helpful.
Do you have to fill out a form/apply for an interview or do you get ‘selected’ by Duke?
How long did it take everyone to receive their application portal info? I applied last night and am wondering how long it will take, so I can make sure everything from my school has been received. 
@spellrh37 It took 4 days for me to receive my portal info (although it felt much longer than that).
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@jsc8920 Within common app it asks if you are interested in an interview. Areas where there are high number of alumni, applicants will likely be contacted for an interview.
Thanks for the info, I submitted my ED application to Duke rather late (the 11th, I think?) and didn’t get a contact yet for an interview, so I was curious how you get notified for one.
I just got an interview offer, and I’m freaking out. Has anyone already had their interview? What was it like?
@jsc8920 Hi! My son received an email directly from the alumni assigned to interview him. They confirmed a date/time for a video conference call via email and my son did ask if interviewer would like a resume which he confirmed he did.
My D has her interview with a Duke alumni as well. It didn’t ask those crazy questions ppl mentioned previously (like meeting dead people or take you to a book stores and asked what books you would choose). Instead the questions were mostly around her interest currently and what she hopes to gain out of Duke.
Good luck, somehow I have been hearing Duke interview does not weight much and is more of an opportunity for you to learn from first hand from someone who studied at Duke.
Just had my interview. It went amazingly! It was super conversational, and my interviewer was so funny and charismatic. It was really easy to just continue talking and joke around. Definitely an amazing experience.
To everyone who hasn’t done the interview yet, do not be too nervous. The interviewer is just trying to find the best qualities about you to advocate for you to admissions. It’s nerve-racking at first, but just try to relax and let the conversation flow. It was much like a conversation with any other adult that’s just asking you what you want to do in life and what motivates you. Hope everyone has a great experience too!
Hey guys!! I applied ED to Trinity on Nov 9 and received the portal info a few days later.
I had my interview 2 days ago and it was very lowkey! Over Zoom and the interviewer was super chill. She had almost no questions prepared for me other than asking about myself, and of course “Why Duke”. The entire second half of the interview was me asking questions, since she didn’t seem to have that many questions prepared. It was just a normal conversation and even though the email said the interview should be around 30-40 minutes, we talked for a little over an hour.
Nervous for December!!!
Hey Guys,
Was wondering the impact of interviews in the admissions process. I submitted my ED app on 11/15, but have not received any interview request yet. My friend, whos a legacy, submitted his app on 11/16 and has already had an alumni interviewer contact him.
Does this mean my application was already “thrown out” or something?
thanks
@OmegaEnigma Do not worry about not getting an interview. Alumni are busy people, and the one that was assigned to you may just be trying to plan out when contacting you would be easiest for them. There’s still time to be contacted for an interview.
Also, if you end up not getting an interview, do not think it was because of your application. Interviews are basically given out randomly, and the chance of you getting an interview is influenced by so many factors (location, available alumni, number of applicants, etc.). Once you get in, you’ll see that the interview doesn’t matter much. If you don’t get in, don’t think it’s because of you not getting an interview. If you’re super worried about not getting an interview and you don’t receive an invitation by November 20th, then you can send in an optional recommendation that speaks more about your character outside the classroom setting, but this isn’t necessary.
Good luck with the process!