Duke ABSN Fall 2015

U.S.A. North Carolina

Published

Hi All,

Just wanted to get a thread going for those who are applying to the Fall 2015 ABSN program. What are some of your degrees in? Is anyone applying to other schools? Also, is anyone planning on moving to North Carolina to attend?

Hi all. I am applying for Fall 2015. I have a rather low GPA but did pretty well in the pre-req's, well on the GREs, and have lots of volunteer experience. So I'm hoping that helps me tremendously!

I would be relocating to NC from CA. Quite a change. So far, I have applied to UCSF, Hopkins, and UVa...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey all!

I am a Spring 2015 cohort and would like to offer some advice on the personal statements. They are what gave me the most anxiety in my application!

Please note that in cohorts past Duke did interviews with candidates at Duke Days. Starting with my cohort and yours, and beyond, this is not the case. Therefore, it is imperative that you include all pertinent information concisely in your personal statements, as well as delineate other pertinent info in your resume. I highly recommend EVERYONE upload a resume attachment; this can be as many pages as you want. I included my professional and my job resumes to show to Duke what I have been doing since undergrad to fill in the holes.

Some tips

- Don't get ahead of yourself in your essays. Duke already knows why you're applying to Duke vs. a community college. They know you want to be a leader in the health field. There's no need to jump ahead and discuss how you want to become a NP. Talk first and foremost about your passion for NURSING. If you wish, vaguely, and I mean at most in a sentence, discuss how you are open to exploring furthering your nursing career.

- DO add personality and flair. Since admissions officers don't do interviews anymore, this is important. Tap into your voice. Sound stoic and professional but also add in some solid word choices and/or narratives that illustrate who you are. Ex) "When my adorable morkie Teddy and I aren't being avid Netflix and Pinterest junkies, I concentrate my time on volunteering with the local boys & girls club."

- Be concise. The character limit is very binding. I edited my essays 4-5 times, submitted them to all my friends who are pursuing Master's, and then edited them even further. In fact, upon getting friends' advice, I completely changed up two of my essays. I am so grateful for their guidance

- Don't be cheesy. All admissions officers know that ABSN candidates had some kind of life changing moment where nursing was spelled out to them. Unless this story is very close to you (i.e. a family member's health has depreciated and you've been caring for them, a health issue of your own), avoid the dramatics and instead just state that you want to advance your biology degree by serving others.

- Do stress patient contact. It's what nursing is all about! You may come from a research background but what about your background and personality would make you excel with patients?

- GRE scores are not the end all, be all. GPA, work experience, volunteer and research experience are more credible. Having patient experience via research or CNA is invaluable in your chances of admissions!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey everyone,

I am currently a senior in college and in the process of filling out applications to 4 accelerated nursing programs; Duke, Jefferson College of Health Sciences, MUSC, and VCU. My number one choice out of these 4 schools is Duke. I do have one concern, and that is my GPA. I currently have a little over a 3.0 and I know that this is rather low but I do have a reasoning for this. When I was a senior in high school I was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent a very dangerous surgery to remove this tumor at UVa. When I first started college I didn't notice any side effects from this tumor that were affecting my school work because at first my classes were somewhat of a review. However, as time went on I began to notice that something wasn't right and went back to UVa to receive strenuous testing. They found that the traumatic surgery had indeed caused me to suffer from side effects and they put in place special accommodations and prescribed me medicine to help with the effects. Since receiving help from UVa, I have been on the dean's list for consecutive semesters and my grades are great. However, I am worried that my grades before these changes, although none below a C, will affect me getting into Duke's program! I have great recommendations as well as wonderful shadowing experiences at St. Jude Children's research hospital with their number one neurosurgeon, as well as shadowing with nurses and doctors in other clinics. Does anyone have any advice to offer?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hey everyone,

I am currently a senior in college and in the process of filling out applications to 4 accelerated nursing programs; Duke, Jefferson College of Health Sciences, MUSC, and VCU. My number one choice out of these 4 schools is Duke. I do have one concern, and that is my GPA. I currently have a little over a 3.0 and I know that this is rather low but I do have a reasoning for this. When I was a senior in high school I was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent a very dangerous surgery to remove this tumor at UVa. When I first started college I didn't notice any side effects from this tumor that were affecting my school work because at first my classes were somewhat of a review. However, as time went on I began to notice that something wasn't right and went back to UVa to receive strenuous testing. They found that the traumatic surgery had indeed caused me to suffer from side effects and they put in place special accommodations and prescribed me medicine to help with the effects. Since receiving help from UVa, I have been on the dean's list for consecutive semesters and my grades are great. However, I am worried that my grades before these changes, although none below a C, will affect me getting into Duke's program! I have great recommendations as well as wonderful shadowing experiences at St. Jude Children's research hospital with their number one neurosurgeon, as well as shadowing with nurses and doctors in other clinics. Does anyone have any advice to offer?

Wow! I'm glad to hear you're doing much better. I think the info you provided, along with settling your anxiety, would be perfect in submitting to Duke. I forgot the actual email address, maybe [email protected]?, but call up DUSON and ask how you would go about submitting further information critical for admissions officers to know in making their decision on your behalf. I submitted something similar just to cover my tail and to settle my anxiety. Nora or Tia, whoever answers the phone when you call, will point you in the right direction as far as what email you can send this info to. Just make sure this is submitted before the full application deadline. I submitted the same thing to UNC and they claimed that they can only take what's submitted at time of deadline, NOT any updates or other info afterwards.

It sounds like you have a compelling background and grades already, but this will help you even further!

hope this helps.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hey everyone,

I am currently a senior in college and in the process of filling out applications to 4 accelerated nursing programs; Duke, Jefferson College of Health Sciences, MUSC, and VCU. My number one choice out of these 4 schools is Duke. I do have one concern, and that is my GPA. I currently have a little over a 3.0 and I know that this is rather low but I do have a reasoning for this. When I was a senior in high school I was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent a very dangerous surgery to remove this tumor at UVa. When I first started college I didn't notice any side effects from this tumor that were affecting my school work because at first my classes were somewhat of a review. However, as time went on I began to notice that something wasn't right and went back to UVa to receive strenuous testing. They found that the traumatic surgery had indeed caused me to suffer from side effects and they put in place special accommodations and prescribed me medicine to help with the effects. Since receiving help from UVa, I have been on the dean's list for consecutive semesters and my grades are great. However, I am worried that my grades before these changes, although none below a C, will affect me getting into Duke's program! I have great recommendations as well as wonderful shadowing experiences at St. Jude Children's research hospital with their number one neurosurgeon, as well as shadowing with nurses and doctors in other clinics. Does anyone have any advice to offer?

Current student here... In the past I would say the GPA wouldn't necessarily be a problem. Duke looks at applications holistically. However, I have heard information that the admissions committee does seem more focused on GPA than in the past. How accurate this is I have no idea, I didn't hear it directly. I would try to acknowledge it in your essays. You won't know unless you apply.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would say like what has already been said. Make sure you take your time with your essays. I would have someone proofread to make sure that there are no grammatical mistakes. But most importantly, let your personality shine through. This is their way of getting to know you, so let them see "you" shine through. I was nervous about my essays but when I started to write, i let my passion and my love for nursing take over. I am sure you will do a great job.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am a senior at NCSU and am in the process of applying to Duke. My top choices are UNC and Duke, but I can't apply to UNC until August, 2015. Has anyone been in the same boat as me? I feel like I will have to make a decision for Duke before I hear anything for UNC... If I do get into Duke, I think I would have a really hard time turning them down. I know that financially, UNC may be a better option for me, but I could definitely see myself at Duke. Is anyone else applying to other ABSN programs the same time they are applying to Duke?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am applying to Vanderbilt, Duke, Emory, and Florida. They are listed from my first choice to last choice.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I just submitted my app. The Admissions Office has been extremely helpful and responsive to a few of my questions, so that's always great.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hello all! I'm applying to Duke and VCU's ABSN programs. Nursing will be my second career as I already have a Master's degree in another science. I don't have a lot of nursing experience yet aside from 2 semesters in an LPN program but am hoping that my essays reflect my passion for nursing. I was very impressed with the school when I visited a few months ago. The admissions counselor was great and was able to answer all of my questions. Now the wait....

Up Vote Up Vote ×

applying for fall 2015. is duke rolling? i've been told that it's better to submit early but don't know if it'll hurt chances to submit in november. i like to take the time to edit, reedit my essays

Up Vote Up Vote ×
applying for fall 2015. is duke rolling? i've been told that it's better to submit early but don't know if it'll hurt chances to submit in november. i like to take the time to edit, reedit my essays

Duke is not rolling. There are two deadlines a calendar year to make up a spring and a fall cohort.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment