This page is for those planning to apply to medical school in the summer of 2025 for matriculation in 2026. 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, 2025.
  • Attend/watch all of the 2026M Application Curriculum workshops.
  • You are encouraged to complete a Review My Application (RMA) appointment.
  • If you are a reapplicant, follow the special instructions on the "Being a Reapplicant" 
  • If you are an alum who needs their NetID extended, please complete the Qualtrics Survey using a non Duke email for sponsorship.

Please attend or view all sessions. These are meant to complement individual advising appointments not replace them, nor will individual appointments be able to provide all of this critical information.

  • The Application Curriculum (AC) will become available in the 2026M Applicant Folder including materials for:
  • 2026M RMA Forms coming soon!
  • 2026M Guide for Duke Students & Alumni Applying to Medical School (coming Spring 2025!)

External Resources

  • AMCAS Applicant Guide (coming spring 2025!)
  • 2026M AMCAS Applicant Guide & Resources (coming spring 2025!) 
  • AACOMAS Applicant Guide  (coming spring 2025!)
  • TMDSAS Applicant Guide  (coming spring 2025!)

Plan to attend the 2026M Application Curriculum which includes each of the following workshops (Recordings will become available once the workshop occurs). The last day to declare your Intent to Apply is April 1, 2025.  Please register for events using information in the newsletter.  

It is Duke HPA's expectation that all applicants attend the Application Curriculum workshops outlined on this page to support their application process. If you are unable to attend it is our expectation that you review all posted materials prior to your RMA appointment which can be found on the 2026M Applicant Resources section of this page.

  • Begin to work on a draft of your RMA (Review My Application) form during break. It allows you to list, describe, and reflect on the experiences that have been significant to you, answer short essay questions that help you develop your story, choose who will write Letters of Recommendation for you, and identify schools you may apply to. It will take you time to write and to research schools, so plan to work on this over a period of weeks.  All versions of the RMA form can be found in the Applicant Resources section.
  • Consider subscribing to MSAR.
  • Begin conceptualizing and outlining your personal statement.
  • It is Duke HPA's expectation that all applicants attend the Application Curriculum workshops outlined on this page to support their application process. If you are unable to attend it is our expectation that you review all posted materials prior to your RMA appointment which can be found on the 2026M Applicant Resources section of this page.
  • Complete your RMA (Review My Application) form during break. It allows you to list, describe, and reflect on the experiences that have been significant to you, answer short essay questions that help you develop your story, choose who will write Letters of Recommendation for you, and identify schools you may apply to. It will take you time to write and to research schools, so plan to work on this over a period of weeks.  All versions of the RMA form can be found in the Applicant Resources section.
  • Subscribe to MSAR.
  • Keep working on your personal statement.
  • Schedule your Review My Application Appointment (RMA). 
    • RMA calendars will open in January 2025!  To get focused messages about this application cycle and avoid delays in receiving important information declare your intent to apply. 
    • RMA meetings are held January through the end of April 2025 and you will meet with a prehealth advisor to go over your RMA form. Your advisor will give you suggestions for a strong application and can answer any questions you have. Due to the large number of applicants we support, we can offer only one RMA meeting per applicant each cycle and it may be difficult to reschedule an RMA meeting, so we encourage you to schedule when you know you are available.    

 

RMA Appointment Types:

First Time RMA appointments are for applicants that have never had an RMA appointment with Duke HPA. (A RMEA for FlexMed does not count).

Power Planning RMA appointments are for applicants that have previously completed an RMA appointment with Duke HPA, but have never applied to medical school.

Reapplicant RMA appointments are for applicants that have already applied to medical school and are reapplying in a subsequent cycle.

Important! Please submit your completed 2026M RMA Form and an Assessing Candidacy Form at least 1 week before your RMA meeting so your advisor has time to review them. The link for submission will be found in your RMA email confirmation and as a clickable link in the 2026M Applicant Resources folder. Failure to submit your form may result in the cancelation of your RMA appointment.

  • RMA meetings will be held with a prehealth advisor to go over your RMA form.
  • Ask for your letters of recommendation by Mid March. This should be based on requirements outlined by the medical schools you are going to apply to. We encourage you to finalize this list by April and you can send your writers our Instructions & Tips for Letter Writers.  
  • Take your MCAT by the end of April if you have not yet.
  • Evaluate if you need to take the PREview Exam and sign up to take it some time between March and July.
  • Submit all outstanding RMA materials to Duke HPA if you are a first time applicant planning to request a committee letter by May 1, 2025.  Reapplicants have until May 15, 2025 to submit all materials.
    • If you completed an RMA in Spring 2025 and your advisor said you were all set you do not need to do anything.
    • If you completed an RMA in Spring 2025 and your advisor requested additional materials they must be submitted to continue to be eligible for a committee letter.
    • If you did not complete an RMA in Spring 2025 you must submit correct essays to continue to be eligible for a committee letter.
  • Start Your Primary Applications in the application systems.
    • The AMCAS (allopathic schools) application opens to begin to enter information in early May.
    • The TMDSAS application opens to begin to enter information in early May.
    • The AACOMAS application opens in early May; some applications may be submitted in May.
    • Questions about how to complete your applications? Please start by reading the 2026M Guide for Duke Students & Alumni Applying to Medical School. 
  • Finalize the list of schools to which you will apply. 
    • Confirm what Letter of Rec requirements are for each school.
    • Confirm you have met all prerequistes for each school.
    • Confirm if you will need CASPer and/or PREview exam and schedule for next month as needed.
  • Finalize your personal statement.
  • Enter your letters of recommendation information into your primary. Each application system has different guidelines for submission, so please refer to the system and our Duke Guide (coming late spring 2025) for what you then need to send to your writers.  
  • Send a final transcript to AMCAS & AACOMAS with final spring grades once spring grades are posted. Directions for Duke transcripts. Please note, TMDSAS has different directions and you should follow those posted on their website.
  • Evaluate if you need to take any additional assessments:
    • Register for CASPer to take it in June or July
    • Register for the PREview Exam and take it some time between March and July.
  • Submit Your Application!
    • Submit your TMDSAS application when the application service opens for submission in mid May 2025.
    • Submit your AACOMAS application when ready, which is usually around mid May once you can request final transcripts from Duke.
    • Submit your AMCAS application as soon as the application service opens for submission around the end of May 2025. 
  • Complete any additional assessments such as CASPer & Preview
  • The application service will then verify your application, by checking and verifying the listing of your courses and grades.
    • If you submit your application in the first week of June, verification may take a few days or a week. If you submit your application in mid/late June or July, verification may take several weeks. This delays the transmission of your application to medical schools.  
      • If there are errors or inaccuracies during the verification process, you may submit an Academic Change Request to be reviewed by AMCAS. After the review, the request can either be granted or denied.
  • AACOMAS will begin releasing applications to medical schools at the end of June 2025.
  • AMCAS will begin releasing applications to medical schools at the end of June 2025.
  • Submit secondary applications within two weeks of receipt.
    • Some schools send secondary applications to all applicants; some send applications only after reviewing the primary application and some do not use secondary applications at all.
    • Each school has their own specific questions and essays and most will require a secondary fee.
    • You are not considered fully complete until the secondary application and fee have been received. You cannot be considered for an interview until you are fully complete.  
  • Please see the Duke Guide for guidance on secondary writing.

  • 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.

  • Receive acceptances or waitlist notices from October 15, 2025 to July 2026.
  • Update your application as appropriate. 
    • Follow directions from the schools in which you apply to in regards to updates.
    • If you are considering sending updates to schools that you have not heard from we suggest you wait until late October 2025 to send those.
  • Choose Your Medical School Tool becomes available in mid February for AMCAS applicants. You do not need to make any decisions this early.
  • Continue to update your application as appropriate.
  • Send letters of interest or intent as appropriate.
  • Watch trafficking rules.  
    • Choose Your Medical School Tool.
    • April 2026, applicants with more than 3 acceptances must narrow their school choice to 3 and decline their seat at other medical schools.
    • May 2026, applicants with more than 2 or 3 acceptances must narrow their school choice to 1 and decline their seat at other medical schools. You may stay on waitlists.
  • Accept admission offers; if you have decided NOT to attend a school to which you have been accepted, promptly withdraw your application from that school.  
  • Pay attention to the medical school you are choosing to attend’s acceptance policy. Follow Commit to Enroll deadline outlined by your school.
  • Matriculate to medical school!