<p>I just got an email from the Duke Alumni Association saying that they were unable to honor my request for an interview. I applied ED like three weeks before the cutoff for interviews. I live in a small town in rural Tennessee, but I would have been willing to go elsewhere for the interview. Is this really going to hurt me? I dont' see what I can do about it.</p>
<p>The exact same thing happened to me. I actually live like 45 minutes from campus in a rural town of North Carolina. I submitted the Duke supplement back in September and had not been contacted for an interview so I called the Duke admissions office and they directed me to the Alumni Admissions Committee. Yesterday afternoon I received an email informing me that they could not honor my request for an interview at this time and reinforcing the idea that an interview is not required. I guess this is all we can do. I hope it wont hurt.</p>
<p>I hope that interviews are random and just out of luck and that they didnt single us out as not being competitive candidates!</p>
<p>Don't worry about the interview at all. My own interviewer admitted that interviews are not heavily (or even moderately) factored into the decision process. It's just another way for them to see another side of you (like the letter from parents/friends).</p>
<p>i wouldn't worry about it too much; as long as you submitted your application in time to qualify for the interview I don't thing they can hold it against you that they were unable to assign you one. although interviews are not designed to make or break your application, they can be an excellent opportunity for an otherwise borderline/tossup applicant to get that bump over the top. one alumni told me that they essentially use it to help make decisions between two very similar applicants.</p>
<p>Since interviews are optional, not having one will not hurt you, especially if they just can't find an alum to interview you.</p>
<p>Edit: while what DBD said could be true, that's assuming that both applicants had equal access to an interview and either one chose to decline one or one's interview is particualrly good. I think if one applicant was unable to get an interview due to circumstances not under his/her control, then the interview would probably have little weight in considerations.</p>
<p>Don't worry about it - I didn't have an interview and I got in. It's really just a chance for YOU to see what Duke is really like from an alumnus, and can serve as a tipping factor for on-the-edge applicants. Don't stress out about it too much :)</p>
<p>Thanks guys. Yall make me feel better. It's just frustrating. I would have been perfectly willing to drive to Memphis or wherever. I even emailed the head of the Duke Alumni Chapter, but she ipretty much ignored it. I hope it all works out.</p>
<p>Schoolsearching,
We also live in North Carolina, a few hours from Durham, and I was likewise surprised when my D was told there was no one available to interview her. She was admitted so apparently it is indeed not that important.</p>
<p>good to know, thanks for the info and encouragement foreverblue! Keep your fingers crossed for me on December 15th =)</p>