If you are applying to dental schools in summer 2025 for matriculation in fall 2026, then you need to begin to prepare this spring. Students applying to Texas schools through TMDSAS should be aware of differences in timelines. Please bookmark this page now and refer to it throughout the application process; this should be your first source when you have questions. If you are an alum who needs their NetID extended to view Box documents, please complete the Qualtrics Survey using a non Duke email to request sponsorship. Please review the action items and guidance below for each time period of your cycle. We encourage you to review the entire page before we start your cycle to have an idea of what to expect. 

The following Guides may be helpful as well:

The Application to Dental School: ADEA AADSAS

Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service: TMDSAS

Duke Dental School Guide 

Duke Dental Applicant Resources 

The following outlines the action items you must complete to be eligible for a Duke HPA institutional letter packet for the 2026M cycle.

  • Be enrolled or have completed an undergraduate degree in Trinity or Pratt in the class years 2026-2020.
  • The deadline to declare your intent to apply was April 1, 2025, if you are a first time applicant.  Please contact Brittany Morhac at brittany.morhac@duke.edu if have not yet declared.
  • The deadline to declare your intent to apply was April 15, 2025, if you are a reapplicant.  Please contact Brittany Morhac at brittany.morhac@duke.edu if have not yet declared.
  • Email completed 2026M Dental Essays to Dr. Keels no later than May 15, 2025.
  • Have submitted application(s) to the application service by June 30, 2025.
  • Upload a verified application to Duke HPA.  More directions forthcoming in Spring 2025.
    • AADSAS requests require a PDF of one of your verified applications.
    • TMDSAS requests require a PDF of your application for one school and a PDF of the email from TMDSAS stating your application has been sent to schools.

  • May 1: applicants who have declared their intent to apply will receive an email with the Initiation Survey which will provide all information to open your Duke HPA PrivateFolio account and begin adding your letter requests.

  • May 1-June 1: Letter writers will upload their letters to PrivateFolio

  • May 27-August 1: Once all letters are received by PrivateFolio AND you are verified in your application system you will submit a PDF of your application to Duke HPA to signal Duke HPA to package your letter packet.  Please follow directions found in the Duke Dental Guide.

  • Monitor and respond to all emails from Duke HPA team members as detailed directions will only be sent to those that have declared their intent to apply. 

    • Past emails will be found in the Dental Applicant Resource folder for future reference as well.

 
  • The deadline to declare your intent to apply was April 1, 2025.   Please contact Brittany Morhac at brittany.morhac@duke.edu if have not yet declared.
  • If you have not, join Duke's PreDental Society.
  • Talk to your recommenders early, at least six weeks before the application opens (mid-May, 2025). To determine who should write your letters, look at the web pages for the schools you are applying to because it varies. Provide the materials your recommenders may need (resume, cover letter, draft of personal statement, outline, etc.) and let them know that they will need to upload their letters directly to AADSAS.  If you are requesting an Institutional Letter Packet from Duke please refer to the process and requirements on our Letters of Recommendation page.
  • If you are requesting an institutional letter you will need to email your completed Predental Essay Questions and a photograph to Dr. Keels at keels001@duke.edu no later than May 15, 2025.  Please put “Request to set up an interview” as the subject to the email. Dr. Keels will then set up an interview with you.
  • Complete the DAT by May 2025.
  • Initiate your Duke HPA PrivateFolio account and start adding letter writers.  Directions will be emailed to those that have declared their intent to apply.
  • Begin your AADSAS application when it becomes available on May 13, 2025. If you are applying to Texas state schools, also begin your Texas application (TMDSAS) when it opens around May 1.
  • Please see the Duke Dental Application Guide for directions for adding your Institutional Letter packet to your application.
  • Have a transcript sent to AADSAS/TMDSAS with final spring grades.
  • Submit your AADSAS application as early as you can, so you will be considered in the first cycle. AADSAS cycle opens for submission on June 3, 2025.
  • Submit your application when the system opens in early June 2025.
  • Once verified and all your letters of recommendation have been received in PrivateFolio follow the directions in the Duke Guide to request your Institutional Letter Packet.
  • Complete secondary applications.
  • Prepare for your interview using our resources.  Return here when you have an interview invitation to schedule Mock Interviews.  You may do one traditional and one MMI mock.  Schedule your mock interview with HPA.
  • Update your application if appropriate.
  • First acceptances are released on December 15, 2026; acceptances by schools not doing a rolling admission will be released in March and April. By April 1, you should be holding only one seat in a dental school. In April, AADSAS will release information to dental schools if you are holding more than one seat and an offer to you could be rescinded.