All applicants who meet the deadline for the preliminary application will be interviewed by the Duke Rhodes Committee. Notification of interview times will be done through e-mail or telephone. The interview provides one component for the Duke Committee's evaluation of the strength of the candidate. It is also meant to imitate the interview format of the State Selection Committees to provide experience for Duke candidates. Selected applicants will be invited for an interview by that State Committee which will then nominate two candidates to the District Committee.
Finalists attend district interviews later in that same week.
Each of the eight districts will elect four Scholars.