Duke ABSN Spring 2015

vbee · Aug 11, 2014

It's frustrating, myischmo. It's hard to know because this spring cohort process is so different from all of the rest.

+No interviews required. I wish we could still have that face-to-face--think it can make such a difference. I bet they'll go back to this step in the future.

+Two "Duke Day" events that were optional for students who had already accepted, were waiting for loan/aid approval, or just plain on the fence. I'm sure many didn't make it down to Durham from California, etc, due to cost. Would love a group count from both days. Homelife said it looked like many were buying Duke gear, but it doesn't necessarily mean they accepted. Maybe they bought it for a friend or family member who loves Duke.

+Changes to the curriculum. I'm sure some were disappointed, but I don't think it was a deal-breaker. Maybe for a few.

+The timing and dates are a little different. If I'm remembering correctly, it appears from looking at old threads that some were taken off of the waitlist in late September. I suppose they can take people off of the waitlist all the way up until the first day of class? And, of course, some student plans fall through for personal or financial reasons. The first day of class is a long way off, so who knows?

All we can do is hope for the best. I have to say that when I look at past cohort posts, I get really irritated by the applicants(the ones that lived near Johns-Hopkins or some other major competitor) that were sent an offer but weren't ever really seriously considering

Duke. It seemed like it was just an ego boost for them. I sincerely love Duke and would be so grateful to get my nursing education there. I want to do some things overseas and Duke is well-known internationally. My husband received his MBA at Duke and he loooved it. The faculty seem so amazing when you read their bios--seriously good mentoring and opportunity. Oy vey. I know I'm rambling. Good night!

myischmo · Aug 12, 2014

Vbee, you are on point with everything! I'm definitely not giving up hope, yet. I should also be grateful I have another program to fall back on. Unfortunately, I only have a week after the program starts (it begins next week) to drop my classes for a full refund. I hate the idea of doing that to the university and to someone on their wait list. It would be too late at that point for them to join the program. It's a good university, but it's not Duke. Duke is my #1 choice. I know many argue the cost, but I believe the education I would receive would be worth every penny.

anixon · Aug 13, 2014

I think the only thing that really bothers me is that we don't get the Duke day opportunity. I don't care about the interviews or curric change really.

myischmo · Aug 13, 2014

Anixon, I agree. I certainly understand and respect their reasoning, but it would have been nice to hear everything first-hand, ask questions, speak with faculty, current, and other prospective students.

myischmo · Aug 13, 2014

Does anyone know how we will be notified or if we will be notified? Do they just inform those from the waitlist that are accepted, or does everyone receive a notification? Are we even notified? Should we just log-in and check periodically?

running05 · Aug 13, 2014

Nora said they would contact us directly if our status changed and that we would be told to login to the self-service portal to see the update. I assume that would be for those accepted off the list. For those that are not, I am not sure if they will send out notices.

myischmo · Aug 13, 2014

Thanks running05. I just got off the phone with Nora. I guess I should have checked here first. :facepalm: She couldn't say much (totally understandable), but did say they have not sent out any notifications yet or made any decisions regarding the waitlist. She couldnt tell me if any spots were available. Like you mentioned above, they will send an email to check our portal for a change in status. The portal will tell us then. I didn't want to bug her with too many questions since I just spoke with her last week.

vbee · Aug 13, 2014

Yeah, I emailed her earlier and she responded with the same information. My guess is that the faculty will look at the list next week sometime. :)

anixon · Aug 13, 2014

Almost seems like the wait list isn't ranked! They will just go thru and decide who they want to send invites too. It should have been ordered as they ranked the first round applicants. And as student decline seats, they admit student individually. That's how other programs have done it lol strange.

myischmo · Aug 13, 2014

I don't think the waitlist is ranked, which is understandable since they use a holistic approach to selecting their applicants. Holistic admissions processes are not about performance but the actual person. It's a subjective process. So when they're deciding who is pulled, they are more than likely taking into consideration who declined from the first offer and choosing the applicant that will best fill their place. They're looking at the person and not the numbers.

Now a performance based admissions will have a waitlist ranked and ready to go because it is based on numbers (GPA, test scores, etc.) Very cut and dry.

homelife · Aug 14, 2014

Like, myischmo said, I'm sure the waitlist IS indeed "ranked", though not by GPA, test scores, etc so much as it is ranked as who would best fill a declined offer's spot, who has the most to their name/credit.

Can you imagine the possible drama that could ensue from waitlisted students attending Duke Days, with some students claiming Person X promised/guaranteed them a spot in the cohort? This is why they don't invite the waitlisted students, and too - not to give them false hope and sell them on the idea of this incredibly amazing program and facilities as a kind of tease to those who weren't 100% accepted yet. Also, there is a reason why not my information can be given per the waitlist, in terms of number of people on it, how it's ranked, etc. It would leave students that much more heartbroken if they fell in love with Duke and the faculty, only to ultimately get a rejection letter from the waitlist. That said, however, materials ARE available to those who are waitlisted and by all means, you CAN seek answers to such vague questions as, "how many students of a cohort were on the waitlist?" Though, as other users have mentioned, with this year's approach to admissions, little can be taken from the many users on these boards who declined their admissions offers in semesters past due to finances. They encouraged us to look into private loans no later than mid-October. So say for instance a student who accepted their offer does wait until then and finds they cannot get the funding they need to pay for their Duke tuition, a spot in the cohort would be vacant. Many people accept their offers while they "shop" around, awaiting offers at other schools and programs and before they've 100% figured it out financially.

Nora had sent us Duke Daysters the documents and links to the recorded video lectures from that day for second view, or for those who were unable to travel with such short notice. If you PM me, I would be more than happy to share these links with you. Or, you can e-mail her directly and ask her if you can be privy to that info. Either way, I've got you.

anixon · Aug 18, 2014

Well, I am not sure I agree with all of that Homelife, but that's okay. I am still contemplating the cost and whether or not to be a nurse. I am not liking the outlook of the career and what I have seen on the job. I currently have a great job opportunity this week and may just take that as it pertains to the degree I already have. Also, it's out of the healthcare field and pays more which is what I may be leaning toward. I'll know by the end of the week what my plans will be. Adding 80k of debt sounds absolutely disgusting to me right now when the economy and pay for nurses isn't as the demand suggests.