Duke University School of Medicine (MD) Medical School - 2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format
Duke University School of Medicine, founded in 1930, pioneered the 3-year preclinical model where basic sciences are compressed into the first 2 years, freeing the entire third year for independent research. This structure has produced one of the highest numbers of physician-scientist graduates of any medical school in the United States. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is affiliated with Duke University Hospital and the Duke Health system.
Entry Requirements
What you need to apply to Duke University School of Medicine (MD).
Admission overview
Bachelor's degree and MCAT required. Research experience is extremely highly valued — Duke's 3rd-year research requirement means applicants should have demonstrated capacity for independent scholarly work. Clinical exposure and service required.
MCAT median
521 (range 516–526)
GPA median
3.90 overall / 3.88 science (BCPM)
Acceptance rate
3.3%
Class size
123
In-state preference
None
CASPer
Not required
Holistic review emphasis
Research commitment, academic medicine potential, intellectual curiosity, and independent scholarly capacity.
Notes
MCAT/GPA approximate from Duke School of Medicine class profile.
Specialities offered
Physician-Scientist Training, Research, Oncology, Surgery, Global Health
Interview Format
How Duke University School of Medicine (MD) interviews applicants.
Format
MMI; 3-year compressed preclinical curriculum frees Year 3 for research
Interview window
September–January
Decision date
March 30
What makes Duke University School of Medicine (MD) different
Duke's dedicated third-year research requirement is unique among top US medical schools and produces graduates who are among the most publication-ready of any school. The compressed preclinical structure means clinical rotations begin after Year 2 and Year 3 is entirely research-focused. This curriculum is ideal for applicants committed to academic medicine and physician-scientist careers.
Tutor insight
Duke's MMI tests collaborative skills and ethical reasoning, but what truly differentiates successful Duke applicants is a compelling research narrative. You will spend your entire third year on research — make clear in your secondary essays what you want to investigate and why Duke's specific research environment will advance those goals. If you are uncertain about academic medicine, Duke may not be the best fit; its curriculum is explicitly structured to produce physician-scientists. Out-of-state applicants with strong research profiles are welcomed — Duke has no public university in-state preference.
PrometheusQuestion Bank
595 medicine questions inside
Interview questions matched to Duke University School of Medicine (MD)
Two questions our tutors flagged as a strong fit for Duke University School of Medicine (MD)’s interview style. Try answering them out loud, then open Prometheus for the model answers and follow-up tips.
Hard·Panel · MMIQ1
US Healthcare Ethics: Abortion Access Post-Dobbs
In 2022, the US Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization overturned Roe v. Wade, returning abortion regulation to individual states. Physicians in some states now face criminal liability for providing abortion care that would be considered standard medical treatment elsewhere. You are a resident in an OB/GYN programme in a state with a near-total abortion ban. A patient presents with an ectopic pregnancy -- a life-threatening condition in which the foetus cannot survive. Your attending advises you to wait for more clinical deterioration before intervening, citing legal ambiguity. What are the ethical tensions here, and how do you respond?
Likely follow-up · What is the clinical standard of care for ectopic pregnancy, and how does delaying treatment affect maternal mortality risk?
3 expert tips in Prometheus
Hard·MMIQ2
US Healthcare Ethics: Reproductive Rights Post-Dobbs
Since the Supreme Court's 2022 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organisation, abortion is now governed state-by-state. Some states have enacted near-total bans; others have enshrined broad access. You are an intern in an emergency department in a state with a near-total ban. A 14-year-old patient arrives with a confirmed ectopic pregnancy — a non-viable, life-threatening condition. The hospital's legal team has instructed physicians to wait for explicit signs of clinical deterioration before intervening, citing ambiguity in the state's medical exception language. The attending tells you this is 'out of your hands.' What are the ethical dimensions of this situation?
Likely follow-up · What is the established medical consensus on the treatment of ectopic pregnancy, and why does it constitute emergency care independent of any abortion law?
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Duke University School of Medicine (MD) - Frequently asked questions
Bachelor's degree and MCAT required. Research experience is extremely highly valued — Duke's 3rd-year research requirement means applicants should have demonstrated capacity for independent scholarly work. Clinical exposure and service required.
MMI; 3-year compressed preclinical curriculum frees Year 3 for research
Duke University School of Medicine (MD) typically interviews in September–January.
Decisions are released March 30.
Duke's dedicated third-year research requirement is unique among top US medical schools and produces graduates who are among the most publication-ready of any school. The compressed preclinical structure means clinical rotations begin after Year 2 and Year 3 is entirely research-focused. This curriculum is ideal for applicants committed to academic medicine and physician-scientist careers.
