This page is for those planning to apply to dental school in the summer of 2026 for matriculation in 2027. Bookmark this page now and refer to it throughout the application process; this should be your first source when you have questions. There is also an Application Resources section which includes workshop resources.  Important things of note:

  • The deadline to declare your Intent to Apply is April 1, 2026.
  • Connect with advising via joining the Predental Society and Duke HPA.
  • If you are an alum who needs their NetID extended, please complete the Qualtrics Survey using a non Duke email for sponsorship.

 

 

The following outlines the action items you must complete to be eligible for a Duke HPA institutional letter packet for the 2027M cycle.

  • Be enrolled or have completed an undergraduate degree in Trinity or Pratt in the class years 2027-2022.
  • The deadline to declare your intent to apply is April 1, 2026.
  • Upload your final institutional letter essays to Qualtrics (link to be shared Spring 2026) no later than:
    • May 1, 2026 for first time applicants
    • May 15, 2026 for reapplicants.
  • Upload a verified application to Duke HPA.  Please see the Duke Dental Guide for directions.
    • 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.
  • In Spring 2026: 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 -June 1: Letter writers will upload their letters to PrivateFolio
  • May-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.
 
  • Declare your intent to apply.
  • Using the Career Center resources, update your CV/Resume.
  • Ensure you are connected to both advising resources:
    • If you have not, join Duke's PreDental Society.
    • If you have not been assigned a prehealth advisor on the Duke HPA team please email prehealth@duke.edu and tell us you're a dental applicant in the upcoming cycle who needs an advisor with our team.
  • Attend Personal Statement workshop hosted by Thompson Writing Studio.
  • Complete your 2027M Dental Essay for your Institutional letter packet.  
    • If you scheduled a Dental Essay Review appointment you can find the link for submission in your scheduling email or here on Box.
  • Talk to your recommenders early and no later than mid March.  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 to PrivateFolio if you are using an institutional letter packet.  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 upload your final essays by May 1, 2026, to Duke HPA.  
  • Complete the DAT by May 2026.
  • 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 in mid May 2026. 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 in late May/early June 2026.
  • Submit your application when the system opens in early June 2026.
  • 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, 2027; 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.