What Medical School Admissions is Looking For

Perspectives from Duke School of Medicine admissions staff

By Andrea Liu, Assistant Dean of Admissions, School of Medicine, Assistant Director, Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD), Duke University School of Medicine

It is 7:30 am on May 1, 2018 and the admissions office phone is already ringing. The American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) just opened their portal and applicants can now start their application to medical schools, choosing which schools they want to apply to.

As the phone begins to ring we are back to helping applicants determine how to be the best, most competitive they can be with the credentials they have to apply to DukeMed. “What happens if I did not take a class in chemistry” is our first caller’s questions. “My degree is not in biology will you still consider my application” another applicant asks. “How many times can I take the MCAT before it is not considered?” is another question. “My daughter is in high school and wants to be a doctor; Duke Medicine is her dream school, what can she do now to make herself as competitive as possible?” These are just a sampling of some of the questions we entertain on a daily basis (answers to these and more can be found on the admission website under the FAQ section).

With over 8000 applicants this past admissions cycle, Duke Medicine continues to be in high demand and each year the Executive Committee on Admissions has to ask: what are we looking for in the next generation of doctors?

Remembering that each applicant is coming to Duke Medicine with their own story about where they are and how they got there, we remind each person we interact with that Duke Medicine takes a holistic approach to each individual application and it is not one specific criteria that determines if an applicant will be considered.

You may still be wondering, what makes the best medical school applicant? There is not one criteria in the application that determines an applicant’s fate for medicine. The application these days is long and comprehensive and we make it that way on purpose. When we review applications, things we consider are:
Does the applicant have the stamina to complete all the essays?
Are the essays thoughtful?
Do the essays answer the questions we are asking by giving examples of their experiences to show their compassion, empathy, advocacy, team work, and ability to overcome failures?
Do the essays delve into their passion for medicine and helping others?
Do the essays elaborate on their experiences?
Does the applicant have depth and breadth of experiences longitudinally? Does the applicant have emotional maturity?
What about the letters of recommendation: do the letter writers know the applicant?
Do the letters give examples of the applicant observing them with patients or in community service endeavors?
If the letters of recommendation are coming from research mentors, do they highlight the applicants’ abilities to perform scientifically, with and without help?
Is the applicant a leader in their community and at their school?
Has the applicant taken one or two extra years before applying to solidify their experiences and to show their commitment and dedication to medicine and helping others?

In addition to all of these questions, we consider academics to make sure that an applicant’s GPA and MCAT scores are acceptable for Duke Medicine and its fast paced curriculum.

But applying to DukeMed is not about checking a bunch of boxes, it is about building experiences and sharing these experiences on the application to show that you have what it takes to be a member of the Duke School of Medicine. Gone are the days when one area of the application dictates whether or not an applicant will be considered at DukeMed. Duke is a diverse community of learners who have many experiences and it is our job to make sure the applicants who apply to Duke are aware of these criteria and understand what DukeMed has to offer.