Anybody recently have their ED interview? What questions have they usually asked in the past?
I had mine on Tuesday. I’d be happy to answer any questions.
Thanks! First off, did your interviewer focus more on your application, like talk about a certain activity etc… or did the focus more on like “What is your favorite piece of literature?”
They don’t have info from your application.
@BB1313 What sort of questions were asked? What do you think the expectation was of you (i.e. to ask questions more or to answer questions more, to “brag” about yourself)?
@ohyikes @jshu11 She told me upfront not to bring a resume and that she did not have access to my application. The majority of the conversation was just a discussion about my interests and her Duke experience. The expectations were a mix of all three, mostly me talking about myself though. There were only two actual direct interview questions, which were about my favorite people in history and how others would describe me. She was very nice and open and said she liked me and made me even more excited about Duke, but she also was very sweet in reassuring me that no matter where I go I will succeed.
Overall just relax and don’t worry too much! She was clear she couldn’t get me in alone but that she wouldn’t be the reason why if I don’t get accepted. As long as you don’t bomb it you’ll be fine!
Sometime after my son was admitted ED, we went to a Duke sendoff party which was packed with alum. The few kids that were admitted (both ED and RD) were there and so were their interviewers. The interviewers talked about each admit and then spoke about how over the years they’ve learned to accept the fact that often people that they interviewed whom they thought should be admitted weren’t. At times they’ve been perplexed by the admission decisions but that they are confident in those decisions and trust that admissions is making difficult and correct choices. The discussion reinforced the admission statistics: few get admitted even with positive interviews. What I took away from it is that the interview is not going to make or break you. Simply be yourself, polite, interested, and cordial. The interviewers/alum that I spoke with that day were friendly and enjoy meeting the applicants and WANT to like them. This is not a process designed to trip you up but rather a chance for Duke alum who love their school to meet you and advocate on your behalf.
I brought my resume just in case, and it was extremely helpful. He used it as the basis of most of his questions. He ended by saying he would highly recommend me. How did everyone elses go?
Oh mine was super casual, it was more like a conversation than an interview
Hello - I’m an alumni interviewer for Duke. I couldn’t agree more with @neonpinklime. We are not there to feed you trick questions. Instead we want to know about your soft skills and personality. Humor can go a long way during an interview.
Just be yourself, and relax. We are there to help you. Just give us some interesting tidbits about your life. Don’t focus on things that are already in your application, as we are likely to regurgitate it into our written feedback. Tell us about something that makes you more human. We are given a standard list of questions, but by no means are they mandatory. Here are a few questions that I typically like to ask:
Tell me about yourself
If you could be an important historical figure for 1 day, who would it be and why?
If you could be principal at your school for a day, what would you change and why?
Why Duke?
What is your favorite class? Why?
What is your least favorite class? Why?
The interview factors in for only a small fraction of your overall rating. Doing great on the interview won’t necessarily help that much. But bombing the interview can certainly spell disaster. If offered an interview, take it. As declining an interview signals that you are not really that interested in Duke.
Having interviewed students for nearly 10 years, I have some basic etiquette advice:
- If you list a phone number in your application, ensure this is a number that you check every day. If (like at my home) you NEVER check the house line, do not list it.
- The same goes for email - check your email every day. Adults communicate via email. And, we communicate efficiently by email. Keep responses on a 24-48 hour response window, and ALWAYS use proper grammar, spelling, and letter format.
- Realize that the interviewers contacting you are not only volunteers but are busy people. The interviewers in my region are primarily physicians, lawyers, and a few of us are consultants or business owners. Many regularly work 80+ hour weeks. Some interviewers ask when you are available and find a time from there - respond quickly and candidly. Some offer you a specific time, like an employer would for a job interview. Those of us who use the specific time method are often much more limited in our free time. Do not as for a different time. It simply does not exist. Make it work. Do not assume that you are the only applicant we are trying to schedule (regional chairs likely speak with 25+ applicants a season, in particular). Do not assume that we are available “after school”. Be flexible and realize that you’re the applicant here. If you wouldn’t do it for a job interview, don’t do it here (and if you aren’t sure - ask your guidance counselor what to do.)
- Interviews run from 12/15-2/15 on average: don’t worry if you haven’t been contacted on January 5. But, feel free to reach out to our ALUMNI OFFICE or the ADMISSIONS OFFICE. Do not call an interviewer you know, or track down your friend’s interviewer. They simply don’t know.
- We get that not ever kid is effusive and outgoing, but please - be personable, be conversational. If interviewing is not your thing, best to submit a 4th recommendation.
- Ask questions. “What’s your favorite Duke experience” is fine, but be specific in other questions. Go beyond the surface. We know what’s on the website, and if you’re asking about that, we can see your underprepared.
- If your parents MADE you apply, and you are going to “throw” the interview, decline it. Please don’t waste our time - we do our best to not waste yours.
- Always send a follow up thank you. Not that it’s necessary, but you should be doing this for your references, your future employers, etc. Get into the habit now.
Lastly, remember that the interview is one piece of a giant puzzle.