Duke c/o 2015 Applicants (2011-2012 cycle) Forum

[ds.princess]

but I didn't write a Why duke essay. didn't do any supplementals at all.

[hobojarpen]

Sent my LOCI a few days after I got notified of being PTL'ed. Hoping to hear some good news from them soon.

[Byzantine]

In! NO LOCI. Off the PT. now to decide.

Anyone here really sold on duke? My impression is that its many people's 2nd or 3rd. Can someone sell me on duke?

[whitman]

This is going to be an unedited, rambling mess, so bear with me. I'm going there next year, though.

1) It usually places just as well as the MVP tier, and is a very respected name both in the legal community (which matters) and in the greater world (which doesn't, but can be nice). They place very, very well in New York City, have the name to get you to your home market, and also command a shit ton of respect in the south. In the south, Duke and UVA rule. This can be a huge advantage if you decide you don't want to slave away in some big northern school, you're sick of your home market, and you think it sounds nice to have a more relaxed lifestyle in an affordable city such as Birmingham, or you like the weather but also want a more big city vibe, in which case you'd be pleased that Duke does very well in Atlanta. Basically, what I'm getting at is that aside HYS and maybe a couple others, Duke can open up more doors. Penn does well in the northeast, and especially NYC and it can get you home, but it doesn't have 5 or 6 other states in its back pocket. And so on and so forth.

2) People love to talk about how it's an easier school to get into, but that just ain't true anymore. Beyond the numbers, though, my impression is that Duke really draws a certain type of student. One who is interested in intellectual or career enrichment through a joint degree, someone who is drawn to the laid-back stereotype of the south, people who have done cool things rather than just attained high numbers. The student quality is very high, though, the 7th highest for the last class. This makes me think that the people who go could have gone elsewhere. As people have indicated, it seems like a fair amount of people who get into Duke, really want to go to say, Michigan, and likely are able to get into Michigan. Therefore, I would guess that the people who go to Duke really wanted to go to Duke - not just the highest ranked school they got into.

3) The triangle region. Durham is a burgeoning foodie city with great restaurants and taco trucks and coffee houses and breweries. Chapel Hill is gorgeous, with beautiful southern belles and quintessential southern neighborhoods. Carrborro is farmers markets and co-ops and hoola-hooping hippies. The highest number of phd's per capita. Pittsboro is a little artist/writer/musician town. Raleigh is just a good solid southern city with good ole boys and country clubs and hipsters and anything you want. It ain't NYC, but it's not a bad place to live.

4. The facilities are top notch, the class size is small, Duke Forest is huge. If you like studying and trail running, you can do both in excellent settings.

5. They are often very generous with money.

6. Dean Hoye is ridiculously nice and will think nothing of spending an hour with you going over any questions or concerns you might have.

7. COL is low, QOL is pretty high (depending on tastes).

8. I'm going there, so it'd better be the right choice.

[catmo]

Who is still hanging tight at 1st UR on 11/28?

I am.

[msblaw89]

Who is still hanging tight at 1st UR on 11/28?

I am.

+ 2 love me Duke!

[thisguy456]

In. RD no PT. UR end of October, updated middle of December.

[Take Two]

congrats!

[msblaw89]

In. RD no PT. UR end of October, updated middle of December.

Congrats! More details please?

[thisguy456]

In. RD no PT. UR end of October, updated middle of December.

Congrats! More details please?

Non-URM. LSAT < 170. GPA > 3.75.

[hypothalamus]

Just got in today, Priority Track! I submitted less than a week ago and they told me I won't hear until January, but I guess they were simply managing expectations!
<3 Duke

[hypothalamus]

My grammar and sentence coherence have declined significantly since I got that surprise email, so excuse my terrible writing right now

[ccmbr006]

Sitting at "File Complete; Ready for Review" since 11/30. Should I call them to ask what's up? I'm worried that maybe my Dean's Cert is causing the holdup. Should I be preparing for a rejection? RD not PT submitted 11/28, btw.

[msblaw89]

Sitting at "File Complete; Ready for Review" since 11/30. Should I call them to ask what's up? I'm worried that maybe my Dean's Cert is causing the holdup. Should I be preparing for a rejection? RD not PT submitted 11/28, btw.

No, it took me just about a month to go UR from being complete

[mickeyD]

Okay, just got the email saying I'm on the "Priority Reserve list", that's the same as the waitlist, right?

Not exactly. Did you write a "Why Duke?" supplemental? The consensus tends to be that if you write a solid LOCI expressing real interest in attending, then you'll have a good chance of gaining admission. There is, in fact, a separate "wait list."

Good to know! No, I didn't write a "Why Duke?"... and when should I send out that LOCI?

Eh... you'll have to hope someone else can answer that for you. I don't really know. I'd think you could send it ASAP at this point given that they've actually assigned you as priority reserve, but I'm no expert.

Anyone else have thoughts?

Most advice I've read is to send it in ASAP. I just got the Priority Reserve email on the 26th and sent my LOCI today. Hopefully it's just YP- not hearing anything from Michigan + radio silence from H and S has made me really nervous this cycle.

[quaker10]

I've been UR at Duke since 10/24 with no change since...
Should I just be waiting on a rejection?
LSAT < 170, GPA > 3.8

[hypothalamus]

Most advice I've read is to send it in ASAP. I just got the Priority Reserve email on the 26th and sent my LOCI today. Hopefully it's just YP- not hearing anything from Michigan + radio silence from H and S has made me really nervous this cycle.

mickeyD, I was literally just reading through Michigan's website, and there are at least 10 places where they repeat that you shouldn't worry if your decision is taking a long time. In their application acknowledgement email, they said I will only have the ability to check my status online after about 4 weeks... So it doesn't seem surprising that actual decisions also take a loooong time . I wouldn't sweat it.

[msblaw89]

Still UR 11/28 grr

[beachbum]

Post

This is all pretty credited. (I'm skeptical about Duke's ability to open up smaller southern markets without ties, but I haven't hit OCI yet, and I won't be targeting those markets, so your guess is as good as mine).

But really - and I'm not trying to be arrogant here - Duke is awesome, and if you aren't sold on the school, or if it isn't your first choice, then stick with your preferred school and leave a seat open at Duke. I have a group of four close friends here: one of them chose Duke over Harvard, two of them EDed to Duke because it was their top choice and they wanted to do everything they could to secure admission (despite having numbers that would have produced offers from most of the non-HYS T14), and the fourth chose Duke over similar offers from peer schools. And while I didn't have spectacular numbers, I chose to ED to Duke over UVA, Penn, and Michigan because, like my buddies, Duke was my top choice.

Now, Duke (and Durham) isn't for everyone, and that's understandable. But there are a lot of applicants (I was one of them) who dream of getting an offer, and there are a very limited number of seats.

So to everyone who has been admitted: congrats, and I hope you decide that Duke is where you want to be. But if another school is calling your name, then follow your gut. Fit counts for a lot - probably more than it's (lack of) presence in TLS threads would suggest. You'll be spending the next three years at your school, after all, and you'll always be an alumni.

But, again, I'm pleased with my decision to attend Duke. I've had a great experience thus far, both in the school and in the surrounding community. And in my relatively limited interaction with employers and other attorneys, the Duke name certainly seems to carry a certain weight and mobility. (And a little lay prestige never hurt anyone). So if ya'll have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.

[msblaw89]

Movement this week please

[ccmbr006]

Movement this week please

Second.

[cactuarX3]

In. RD no PT. UR end of October, updated middle of December.

Congrats! More details please?

Non-URM. LSAT < 170. GPA > 3.75.

Congratulations! Any ridiculous softs? You must have had some with those acceptances on your profile.

[captainwasabi09]

In with Priority Track. Sent in 12/27 and got it today.

[Curious1]

Just withdrew. Best of luck to those still waiting!

[msblaw89]

Has any 11/28 1st UR RD moved since?