Admissions Season Underway
The 2022 PhD admissions season is underway! With 2,049 OBGE program applications – the first time breaking the 2,000 barrier, and a 10% increase over the past 2 years – OBGE programs have been diligently reviewing applications since the December 1 application deadline to find the best applicants to fill out their programs.
In 2021, OBGE transitioned to a holistic admissions review process, removing the focus from traditional metrics like the GRE (no longer required for biomedical PhD programs) and shifting to the use of a detailed rubric to help reviewers focus on the whole applicant, considering their entire background and body of experience as well as their interests and potential. We also added an optional video component to allow applicants an alternative method for showcasing their strengths in the application. In line with many of our peer institutions, we have transitioned to fully virtual interviews to allow programs an opportunity to interact directly with more applicants during the review period. We have also widened the number and range of applications available to programs by allowing applicants to choose more than one program of interest without the cost burden of submitting multiple applications; 70% of 2022 applicants listed more than one program of interest.
Because all interviews are now held virtually, the focus of the program sessions that will take place virtually in February and March has shifted to addressing admitted student needs. The stress of interviews has been removed from the virtual visits, and applicants can now focus solely on what Duke, OBGE, and the individual PhD programs and labs can offer them. With smaller numbers of students attending sessions, virtual visits can be more personalized to win over these top recruits. OBGE and the IDEALS office will also offer several virtual information sessions for applicants, some limited to smaller admitted student groups in order to better address individual applicant questions and needs.
While faculty interaction (whether virtual or in person) remains the top component steering applicant PhD program choices, a 2021 survey from BIOGAP (Biomedical Sciences Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals) indicated that even when campus visits are virtual, 89.3% of applicants surveyed find interactions with current students an important (28.4%) or very important (60.9%) factor in ultimately selecting their graduate program. Faculty and current students, that means you’re on! We appreciate all the time and effort you put into recruiting applicants each year, and we ask for your full participation to help programs make their virtual visit events meaningful to our 2022 admitted students. Taking time to get to know applicants during virtual admitted student days, whether in panels, breakout groups, or individual online meetings, can provide a welcoming atmosphere for applicants and allow for deeper exploration of Duke’s unique offerings. Additionally, it can help for faculty and students to provide contact information and encourage applicants to follow up with more personal or specific questions after large group sessions, or even initiate personalized emails to specific applicants that have shown interest in their lab or area of study to check in on their decision making process and offer additional information. Sincere faculty and student interactions throughout the admissions process may end up being a deciding factor in whether or not our top applicants choose Duke.
COIVD has continued to throw wrenches in our recruiting plans this year, but OBGE programs are stepping up to find ways to make virtual campus visits personal, exciting, and fruitful. Happy recruiting!