School of Medicine, Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a transcript?
How do I apply to Med School?
What are the average MCATs and GPAs you accept?
What prerequisites do I have to have?
How much does Med School cost?
What is the average debt of graduates?
What kind of curriculum does Duke have?
What is the Research Year all about?
What kinds of student activities are there?
The Social Calendar
Service Projects
Societies
Student Government
How does the Match work?
1. How do I get a transcript?
Go to Forms at the School of Medicine Registrar’s Office, scroll down to Transcripts, click on Transcript request. Download and print the form. Requests must have an original signature but can be faxed to 919-684-4322.
Students that graduated from the School of Medicine from May 2000 to present may request that transcripts be sent to your requested location via a secure electronic email. If you prefer this method of delivery, please indicate that on the transcript request form. You must include your contact information as well as the email address of the person/place in which the transcript is to be provided. Note: if a transcript is required as part of a package that is being sent to a licensing board, etc., and other documents are required to be sent with along with the transcript, you must select the option to mail or you may pick up the transcript and other required documents after they are processed. The SoM Registrar's office makes every effort to process requests by 1:00pm the next business day, following receipt of the request. Please contact us if you have questions about the secure electronic transcripts. There is no fee for the processing of transcript requests.
2. How do I apply to Med School?
The first step is The Primary (AMCAS) Application – American Medical College Application Service. The American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) provides a standardized primary application service for most (>95%) of allopathic medical schools. The AMCAS becomes available in April for the class entering in the fall of the following year. AMCAS begins accepting applications on June 1. Before your application is complete, AMCAS must receive an official transcript from every college you have attended. For more information, please see the School of Admissions website or contact them via telephone.
3. What is the range of MCAT scores and GPAs for the currently enrolled medical school classes?
The mean MCAT score and GPA for the years 2002-2009 have been in the range of 34/45 MCAT and 3.74/4.00 GPA respectively. The MCAT scores for entering students have ranged from 23 to 44.
4. What prerequisites do I have to have?
The essential qualifications for admission to the Duke University School of Medicine are intelligence, character, and integrity. We're looking for individuals who have compiled remarkable undergraduate records with clear evidence of leadership and scholarship, commitment to community service, and motivation for a career in medicine.
Admission requires at least 90 hours of approved college credit, including:
A minimum of 1 semester of general chemistry with lab
A minimum of 1 semester of organic chemistry with lab
A minimum of 1 semester of biochemistry (lab optional)
One year of biology with lab; a course in cell and/or molecular biology is strongly recommended
One year of college English or a university writing course
One year of physics with lab
One semester of calculus plus one semester of an additional college-level math, statistics or biostatistics are strongly recommended
All science requirements must be completed not more than seven years before you enter medical school.
All applicants must also have taken the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), administered by the American College Testing Programs and Services, PO Box 414, Iowa City, Iowa 52240
The test is given every April and September at numerous locations. If possible, applicants should arrange to take the MCAT as early as possible to be certain scores are recorded in the AMCAS application. Duke accepts only "verified" AMCAS applications and in order for AMCAS to verify an application, MCAT scores must be on file with AMCAS. MCAT scores dated earlier than four years before the year applied for will not be considered.
5. How much does Med School cost?
Please go to the Financial Aid Office website, estimated budgets for a breakdown on the expenses.
medschool.duke.edu/education/financial-aid-office
6. What is the average debt of graduates?
Please see the Financial Aid website for more information. http://medschool.duke.edu/education/financial-aid-office
7. What kind of curriculum does Duke have?
The Duke University School of Medicine curriculum is unique. Students here learn the core basic sciences in the first year, complete core clinical clerkships in the second year, devote the entire third year to scholarly investigation, and fulfill elective rotations in the fourth year. By condensing the traditionally structured training from four years into three, we provide students ample opportunity to pursue their own independent interests. For more information, please go to the Office of Curriculum.
8. What is the Research Year all about?
See: http://dukemed.duke.edu/modules/ooa_myedu/index.php?id=4
9. What kinds of student activities are there?
There's a lot to do at Duke outside of classes and labs. Our medical students participate in literally dozens of activities, from service to social, beginning with a class-wide campout during orientation. Here's a quick look at just a few extracurricular events.
10. The Social Calendar
Starting with a day-long retreat off-campus prior to the week-long orientation, Duke offers plenty of opportunities for students to bond and blow off steam. Each year brings events like the black-tie Davison Ball, a Durham Bulls baseball night sponsored by the Alumni Association, Super Bowl and Halloween parties, a campout for Duke basketball tickets, and the Student-Faculty Show.
11. Service Projects
Student volunteers staff free clinics in rural, underserved areas through the North Carolina Student Rural Health Coalition, collect and wrap gifts for needy families during an annual "Share the Holidays" party, salvage medical supplies and ship them to developing nations through the Duke Medical Gleaning Program, volunteer in middle school classrooms, volunteer at a local homeless shelter each Monday night, and work on Medical Center-wide projects like the Cancer Patient Support Program and Children's Miracle Network telethon.
Almost every national group for medical students has a chapter at Duke, including the American Medical Association Medical Student Section, the Student National Medical Association, the Christian Medical and Dental Society, the American Medical Women's Association, and Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association.
All students belong to the Davison Society -- named for the medical school's first dean--and elect representatives to the Davison Council. The council, which meets biweekly, communicates student interests to the School of Medicine administration and faculty, alumni, and community. Students are also invited to sit on virtually every major committee in the Medical Center, from the admissions committee to the judicial board to the Institutional Review Board (which reviews all clinical trials in the Medical Center.)
Application to residency programs is handles by the Office of Student Affairs. Updated information will be available soon at http://www.nrmp.org/
