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Unlike some other medical schools, Duke doesn’t pre-screen applicants, so once your AMCAS application is verified, you will receive an invitation via email to complete the secondary application.
Duke University School of Medicine
Founded in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is a Private (not-for-profit) school located in Durham, NC. It is the medical school at Duke University. The application deadline for Duke University School of Medicine is October 15 and the application fee is $100.
Duke University School of Medicine is ranked 9 th in Best Medical Schools and 10 th in Highest MCAT Scores.
The following statements briefly introduce Duke University School of Medicine along with key academic facts.
- The average MCAT Score of enrolled students at Duke University School of Medicine is 519 – the average MCAT score of U.S. medical schools is 512.
- The average GPA of enrolled students at Duke University School of Medicine is 3.88 – the average GPA score of U.S. medical schools is 3.73.
- The 2023 medical school tuition at Duke University School of Medicine is $69,756 – the average medical school tuition is $62,125.
- The acceptance rate* at Duke University School of Medicine is 1.36% – the average acceptance rate of U.S. medical school is 3.52%.
- Total 584 medical school students have enrolled to Duke University School of Medicine for academic year 2022-2023.
*The acceptance rate: percentage of applicants who are enrolled finally.
2023 Duke University School of Medicine Tuition & Fees
The 2023 tuition at Duke University School of Medicine is $69,756. Duke University School of Medicine’s tuition is 10.90% higher than average tuition of U.S. medical schools and 4.6% higher than average tuition of North Carolina medical schools.
The medical school tuition differs and more expensive than the regular undergraduate and graduate programs. The average undergraduate program tuition & fees at Duke University is $62,688. The average graduate schools tuition & fees other than medical school is $61,522.
The average living costs including room & board and transportation costs is $21,936 and the personal miscellaneous expenses is $5,136.
| Duke University School of Medicine Tuition & Fees | $69,756 |
|---|---|
| U.S. Private Medical School Average | $62,900 |
| North Carolina Private Medical School Average | $66,702 |
| Living Costs | $21,936 |
| Miscellaneous expenses | $5,136 |
| Books & Supplies | $500 |
| Undergraduate Program | $62,688 |
| Graduate Program | $61,522 |
4-Yeras MD Program Total Costs
The tuition for MD program varies by medical years depending on mandatory fees and required course works. The estimated COA (cost of attendance) for the standard four(4) years MD program at Duke University School of Medicine is $390,045 based on the current tuition rate. The COA includes the costs for tuition & fees, room & board, transportation, books & supplies, and other personal miscellaneous expenses. The next table summarizes medical school costs for four(4) years by year and cost item.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | 4 Years Estimation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Fees | $69,756 | $69,376 | $69,376 | $69,052 | $277,560 |
| Room & Board / transportation | $21,936 | $22,581 | $23,226 | $24,810 | $92,553 |
| Books & Supplies | $500 | $300 | $100 | $200 | $1,100 |
| Miscellaneous Expenses | $5,136 | $5,136 | $5,136 | $3,424 | $18,832 |
| COA | $97,328 | $97,393 | $97,838 | $97,486 | $390,045 |
MCAT & GPA Scores
The average MCAT score of enrolled students at Duke University School of Medicine is 519. Compared to the average MCAT of all medical schools, the MCAT score of Duke University School of Medicine is around average of U.S. medical schools (the average score is 512).
The average GPA is 3.88 and it is around average compared to other medical schools (the average GPA is 3.73).
| 2023 | |
|---|---|
| MCAT – Duke University School of Medicine | 519 |
| U.S. Medical Schools | 512 |
| North Carolina Medical Schools | 513 |
| GPA – Duke University School of Medicine | 3.88 |
| U.S. Medical Schools | 3.73 |
| North Carolina Medical Schools | 3.72 |
Acceptance Rate & Yield
The 2023 acceptance rate at Duke University School of Medicine is 1.36% where 8,613 applicants have applied to and 120 students have accepted and finally enrolled to school. The acceptance rate at Duke University School of Medicine is much lower (extremely difficult to get in) compared to other medical schools in united states (the average acceptance rate is 3.52%). Note that the acceptance rate means the percentage of applicants who are accepted and enrolled (not just accepted).
| Total | Residency | Gender | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | Other State | Men | Women | ||
| Applicants | 9,070 | 689 (7.6%) |
8,381 (92.4%) |
4,218 (46.5%) |
4,843 (53.4%) |
| Enrolled | 123 | 25 (20.3%) |
98 (79.7%) |
44 (35.8%) |
79 (64.2%) |
| Acceptance Rate | 1.36% | 3.63% | 1.17% | 1.05% | 1.64% |
| U.S. Medical Schools | 3.52% | 10.29% | 1.04% | 3.48% | 3.56% |
| North Carolina Medical Schools | 3.18% | 7.11% | 0.68% | 2.82% | 3.49% |
New Students and Total Enrollment
For the academic year 2021-2022, total 120 first-time students have enrolled in Duke University School of Medicine.By residency, 20.3% of new students is North Carolina residents and 79.7% of enrolled students from other States. By gender, 64.2% of enrolled students is women and 35.8% is men students.
A total of 584 students have enrolled to Duke University School of Medicine. By gender, there are 225 male and 359 female students at Duke University School of Medicine.
| 2022 | |
|---|---|
| Total Enrollment | 584 |
| Men Students | 225 |
| Women Students | 359 |
| First-time Students | 120 |
How to Get Into Duke Medical School: Requirements and Strategies
How hard is it to get into Duke University School of Medicine? Learn the Duke Medical School acceptance rate and requirements, plus read Duke secondary essay examples
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: Duke Medical School MD programs
Part 3: How hard is it to get into Duke Medical School?
Part 4: Duke Medical School secondary application essays (examples included)
Part 5: Duke Medical School interviews
Part 1: Introduction
Like other prestigious medical schools in the U.S., Duke University School of Medicine offers students an unbeatable medical education, exceptional research activity, and a first-rate reputation. There are also a few aspects that set Duke apart from the rest of its top-ranked peers.
Located in North Carolina, Duke is the only top-ten medical school in the South. Furthermore, it was founded in 1930, making it one of the youngest institutions to consistently land in this top tier.
Duke’s medical school boasts an innovative curriculum that allows students to work directly with patients earlier and to devote an entire year to pursuing their scholarly passions. Fittingly, Duke is ranked third in the country for NIH funding and is a pillar of the Research Triangle Park, the largest research park in the U.S.
If you’re a high-achieving premed, you likely have your sights set on Duke. However, you’ll need more than just a stellar GPA and MCAT score to get in. In this guide, we’ll reveal the essential components of how to get into Duke Medical School, from admissions statistics to application requirements to interview strategy. Most importantly, we’ll help you ace Duke’s secondary application prompts and show you example essays that fit the bill.
Part 2: Duke Medical School MD programs
Duke offers students two primary paths towards a medical degree:
- The traditional, four-year MD program
- The Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD)
However, Duke’s recently revamped MD curriculum includes a flexible third year that allows students to undertake in-depth research in an area of their interest. One way you can use this time is to pursue a second degree; possibilities include an MD/MPH, MD/MPP, MD/MBA, and MD/JD, among many other options. Around 40% of Duke medical students graduate with a dual degree.
Duke School of Medicine also offers two specialty tracks within its MD program: the Primary Care Leadership Track (PCLT), which aims to train future leaders in the primary care field, and the Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship Program (LIC), which allows second-year students to work with a set group of patients longitudinally rather than in blocks.
If you’d like to apply to PCLT, you can indicate your interest on your Duke supplemental application. On the other hand, if you are interested in joining LIC, you’ll apply during your first year at Duke.
Duke Medical School tuition and scholarships
In the 2022–2023 school year, first-year tuition and fees at Duke School of Medicine are billed at $69,756. With the inclusion of housing, books, and other expenses, Duke estimates the total cost of attendance to be $98,112.
Among graduates in Duke’s class of 2021, the average medical school debt incurred was $141,606, significantly less than the national average.
Part 3: How hard is it to get into Duke Medical School?
Duke Medical School admissions statistics
With an acceptance rate of just 2.9%, getting into Duke School of Medicine certainly isn’t easy. Let’s examine the admissions numbers for the class of 2026:
- Applications: 7,883
- Complete applications: 4,798
- Interviews: 541
- Matriculants: 105
- Median GPA: 3.9
- Median MCAT score: 520
Duke Medical School admissions requirements
Unlike the majority of medical schools, Duke doesn’t require applicants to have taken specific courses in order to apply. That said, serious applicants are expected to have prepared themselves through coursework in the subjects below:
- Biochemistry
- Cellular biology
- Statistics/biostatistics
- Physics
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Expository writing
Specific numbers of courses aren’t given for most subjects, so you’ll want to review Duke’s admissions website for a more complete sense of their academic expectations. Take note that Duke seeks out students who have a “broad and balanced” interdisciplinary education.
Applicants must also submit an MCAT score. For Fall 2023 admission, you’ll need to have taken the exam sometime between January 2018 and September 2022.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is currently possible to submit your application and be invited to interview without an MCAT score. However, your application will be reevaluated once your score is in, and an MCAT score is ultimately required in order to be accepted.
Duke Medical School application timeline
Below is a timeline of key dates and deadlines to keep in mind as you complete your Duke application. Duke’s dates for 2023-2024 applications have not yet been released.
- May 2, 2023:AMCAS application opens
- May 30, 2023: AMCAS application can be submitted
- June 25, 2022: AMCAS transmission begins
- July 2022: Duke secondary application opens
- September 2022–January 2023: Interviews conducted
- Mid–late February 2023: Admissions decision released
- October 15, 2022: AMCAS submission deadline
- November 15, 2022: Duke secondary application deadline
Unlike some other medical schools, Duke doesn’t pre-screen applicants, so once your AMCAS application is verified, you will receive an invitation via email to complete the secondary application.
Duke releases all admissions decisions towards the end of February instead of admitting students on a rolling basis. Nevertheless, rather than wait until the fall to submit your application, we encourage you to submit both your primary and secondary applications as early as you can—without sacrificing quality.
Part 4: Duke Medical School secondary application essays (examples included)
Once you’ve submitted your primary AMCAS application, you’ll want to focus your energies on writing your Duke secondary essays. Duke’s secondary application is notoriously long and features a number of unique prompts, so it’s a good idea to get started ahead of time. You can look to the fact that only 60% of initial applicants end up submitting a secondary to get a sense of the effort that is required!
Duke notes that the secondary application is an important component of their holistic application review. The wide range of required prompts, many of which focus on demonstrating personal characteristics, signals that they are looking to your secondary essays to better understand who you are as a person, what unique life experiences you’ll bring to the table, and what you have to offer beyond excellent grades and test scores. They also want to ensure that you have clear, well-thought-out reasons for committing yourself to medicine and serving others.
Therefore, get ready to dig deep and bring your complete self to the fore. Below, we’ll walk you through each of Duke’s secondary essay prompts, offering strategies for tackling each essay as well as real-life example essays that worked.
Question 1: Advocacy: Describe a situation in which you chose to advocate for someone who was different from you or for a cause or idea that was different from yours. Define your view of advocacy. What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (400 words)
Duke highlights through this prompt that there’s more to medicine than diagnosing and treating illness; being a physician also comes with a social responsibility. Physicians must work to empower patients and improve access to healthcare, whether on an individual or societal level.
In brainstorming topics for this prompt, consider times when you’ve stood up for the rights of others, helped someone find their voice, or enabled them to access something they needed.
Since many applicants understandably think of volunteer experiences for this essay, keep in mind that not all volunteer work necessarily involves being an advocate. For example, serving meals to the unhoused, while worthwhile, may not in and of itself be viewed as advocacy. On the other hand, accompanying an unhoused individual to appointments or helping them fill out paperwork might better fit the bill of “empowering others.”
Here’s an example that works:
Toby turns his computer towards me. “Does this look good?” I nod as I read the email, which confirms his extra time accommodations for an English in-class essay. I can tell he’s unconvinced as he hesitates to send it. Toby is typically apprehensive when approaching teachers and worries that his classmates find his learning differences weird. Despite these fears, I encourage him to ask for help when struggling in class, assuring him that I will proofread his emails so that he can feel confident. I give Toby a thumbs up and remind him that using his voice is something to be proud of. “I used to be nervous talking to teachers,” I tell him. “Different learning is not bad learning! Just because Beyoncé has a vocal coach doesn’t mean she’s a bad singer.” Toby hits send.
Though I myself have not experienced the physical challenges of having cerebral palsy nor the social anxiety and distractibility associated with ADHD, I still support Toby’s goals by leading with empathy. I advocate for Toby every day by learning from his perspectives, encouraging him to identify and communicate his views, and anchoring him through difficult academic and social experiences.
Coming from an all-boys K-8 in Los Angeles that espoused speaking up for the voiceless, my understanding of advocacy was previously limited to providing services to the underserved and increasing education around inequities. Working as a personal aide with Toby has since expanded this definition. I’ve learned that advocacy comprises inherently selfless actions that focus on guiding people to feel empowered by their own decisions. It means empathetic listening first, then providing advice if called for. It requires challenging internal biases. In addition to sharing his experiences with disability, Toby has taught me about the nuanced manifestations of ableism: “toxic positivity,” viewing disabled people as broken humans who need to be fixed, and savior complexes are all harmful. I try to reflect upon and unlearn any attitudes that veer towards ableism and incorporate disability awareness into conversations with family and friends.
Being an advocate risks facing conflict with those who don’t believe in your cause. Not everyone will prioritize your advocacy goals, but this extra effort is worth it when you know that you’ve helped someone else. As a physician, I will encounter patients with varied conditions and health determinants; I will approach every individual with empathy and a readiness to support their health decisions.
Why does this work?
- This student recounted a specific experience and demonstrated how it was an opportunity for them to empower someone else. They didn’t just talk about helping Toby, nor did they use this as a chance to pat themselves on the back. Instead, they illustrated how their work with Toby provided him with what he needed to complete an important task.
- This student defined “advocacy”—in line with the prompt—and explained how their definition has been shaped by varying life experiences. In doing so, they also explained how that definition was influenced by the work they did.
- One word stands out, “empathy.” This student’s experience allows him to frame his definition of advocacy within the idea of empathy, a necessary attribute for doctors. The way these ideas are linked shows clear communication skills and an ability to consider the profession on a deeper level.
- The response concludes by tying advocacy to their future work as a physician.
Question 2: Coping with Disappointment: Not achieving a goal or one’s desire can sometimes be disheartening. What have you learned/gained from your setbacks and disappointments and how does this translate to your current way of thinking? (400 words)
Question 3: Value Systems: Describe a situation in which you had to utilize your values to interact with people from different backgrounds. How did those values impact the relationship? (400 words)
Question 4: Leadership: Leadership, teamwork, and communication flow synergistically. What do you value most as a leader and as a contributor? What attributes do you possess as a leader and as a team member and how do you apply them on a daily basis? (400 words)
Question 5: Critical Thinking: Critical thinking involves a number of characteristics. Research experience enhances critical analysis skills. Describe any research experience or another situation in which you utilized critical thinking. How will critical thinking be important in your future career? (400 words)
Question 6: Understanding the Need for Health Care Changes: Potential sources of health inequities exist. Duke’s Moments to Movement (M2M) is a collective stand to address these issues. Describe your experience and reflection with race and its relationship to disparities in health, health care and society. Consider the values of justice, diversity, inclusion and equity. (400 words)
Question 7: COVID-19 Implications: How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced your journey to medical school? Have these events changed your outlook on medicine’s role in society? (400 words)
Question 8: Tell Us Who You Are: Tell us more about who you are. This is your opportunity to tell us how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. (500 words)
Question 9: Race / Ethnicity / Geographic Origin / Socioeconomic Status / Advantage / Disadvantage / Religious Affiliation. Use the text box below to provide additional information on how these parameters have/will influence you. (200 words) (Optional)
Question 10: Please let us know of any additional information that you would like us to consider while reviewing your application. (No word count given) (Optional)
