<p>hey, i had an interview a couple weeks ago and i personally think it went really well. my interviewer is a retired professional soccer player, he was only 26..wow. anyways, he told me a lot of stuff i wanted to hear, saying that i was one of the best, if not the best, prospective student he has interviewed...although, i honestly think he was just saying that to make me happy. but anyways, i was wondering what effect the interview has on the admission decision. i think i'm in range sat, gpa, extracurricular-wise, (and i think i'm a big fish in a small pond..i don't mean to belittle myself or seem cocky...however u see it) although i don't think i'm exceptional because the ppl who apply to duke, or any school of it's caliber, are pretty amazing. just for the record, i have already been deferred by cornell and uchicago, and have been accepted by notre dame. so are my chances of getting into duke like 0?</p>
<p>cahu29, I was also deferred by Uchicago. Anyway, college admissions are a complete crapshoot. If you're in a school's range statistically, all you can do is wait and hope. Duke is a strange school. Three years ago a girl from my school was rejected from Duke, but got into Harvard. I also heard of a kid being rejected from UCLA (don't get me wrong, UCLA is a very prestigious school) and getting into Duke.</p>
<p>From my understanding, interviews serve as an additional recommendation and generally carry about the same weight.</p>
<p>i don't think they can make or break an application. UNLESS you come in high on drugs and drunk, they'll definitely break your application. but if you have an outstanding one, then it won't make your admissions.</p>
<p>Got my likely letter two days before my interview. So I don't think it's one of those make/break big deal things.</p>
<p>College interviews definitely don't make or break an application. It just gives the admissions office an idea of what kind of a person you are. I took time in the interview to ask some questions I had about Duke and never even felt the need to bring up my test scores/grades.. but definitely brought up EC's. I'd say if you were yourself and didn't come in with a hangover or just acted like a total jerk.. you wouldn't be wl'ed/rejected because of the interview. </p>
<p>Good luck with getting in!</p>
<p>umm.. yea well people in the range of likely letters arent on the make/break side of anything...</p>
<p>from what I can tell its just the whole package... no one thing is weighted that heavily (except perhaps grades / test scores).</p>
<p>I don't think interviews weigh that much at all. </p>
<p>I didn't have interviews with Duke or Columbia, and I still received likely letters from both schools. </p>
<p>I think it's really a way of you understanding the school from an alumnus. But if you are really on the verge, an awesome one might help you.</p>
<p>Well, they always say that they won't penalize someone that doesn't have an interview. I hope it can help a bit since my interviewer and I got along really well and he said he was going to give me the highest rating possible.</p>