Medical Schools That Require Casper and Duet

Putting together your med school applications sometimes feels like a jigsaw puzzle. There are so many different pieces, and each one plays its own equally important part in painting your full portrait as a future medical student.

Depending on the schools on your application list, the Casper and Duet assessments might be among your applications’ puzzle pieces. Casper and Duet are often overlooked during the application process, but it’s very important to make sure you complete them on time so you don’t experience any unnecessary delays.

In this guide, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about applying to medical schools that require Casper and Duet scores.

This post is all about schools that require Casper and Duet.

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List of Schools That Require Casper and Duet

What Is Casper for Medical School?

Casper is a computer-based situational judgment test designed to measure a student’s personal traits, such as professionalism, collaboration, problem-solving, communication, ethics, and empathy. It takes between 90 and 110 minutes to complete and requires students to submit answers both in writing and in the form of recorded video responses.

The assessment helps medical schools screen prospective students based on their non-cognitive abilities. The results can paint a more accurate picture of a student’s personality, going beyond just the academic portraits to help schools determine whether or not a student would be a good fit for their program.

What Is Duet for Medical School?

Duet is a subset of the Casper test. Using a series of 100 multiple choice questions, it assesses a student’s values and preferences to determine whether or not they align with the mission of the medical school to which they applied. The test is untimed, but it usually only takes students about 15 minutes to complete it.

Like in the case of the Casper assessment, schools use Duet to better understand prospective students and what they might be looking for in a medical school. Duet is also helpful to students who can view it as an opportunity to think critically about their own values.

Casper and Duet Timeline

Fitting Casper and Duet into your application timeline might not feel like a major priority compared to other things you have to do, but you shouldn’t put it off until the last minute. Schools that require Casper and Duet scores will need them before they can process your secondary application, and it takes about 2 to 3 weeks for scores to arrive after you complete the assessments. Make sure you take both assessments early enough to avoid any delays in your application process.

Luckily, Casper test dates appear pretty frequently. There should be a date available about once a month, so pay attention to the schedule and sign up for one that works for you. I recommend getting it done in Spring (usually April or May). This ensures you have plenty of time to also take Duet. Then have both scores arrive on time for your secondary applications. 

You will be able to take Duet anytime after you finish Casper. The site will recommend that you complete the exam within 14 days so your scores can be sent together. However this necessarily isn’t a requirement. Deadlines for the Duet and Casper assessments will be set individually by each school. So pay attention to them as you schedule your test.

What Schools Require Duet and Casper?

Not every medical school requires you to take the Casper test. However more and more are adding it to their list. So make sure to check the schools you plan to apply to in order to be on the safe side. 

So, is Duet required for medical school? Also not always. Some schools will require prospective students to take Duet after they complete Casper, but for others it’s entirely optional.

The table below tells you which medical schools only require Casper and which also ask you to complete the Duet assessment.

MD Schools that Require Casper and Duet

DO Schools that Require Casper and Duet

Why Schools Require Casper and Duet

Medical schools use the Casper and Duet assessments to better understand prospective students. Both assessments expand a student’s profile to include much more than just grades, test scores, and clinical experience. They tap into the non-cognitive traits that can make some students better suited for one program than another based on things like personality and values.

Before Casper and Duet, many schools relied solely on interviews to assess these aspects of a student’s character. Now, some use the Casper test as a pre-screening to help determine which students will receive interview invitations. Others may use a combination of Casper test results and interviews to make a decision. It all depends on the school’s policies. So I recommend doing as much research into the schools on your list as you can.

How to Prepare for Casper and Duet

Acuity Insights, the company that administers the Casper and Duet assessments, claims that neither assessment requires any prep beforehand. But, if you know me, then you know there’s no way I’m going into any assessment without at least a little bit of preparation!

I recommend taking the free Casper practice test available on the website. So that you can get a feel for the types of questions you’ll be asked. You’ll be to practice with the time limit on each question. This way, you won’t be surprised, confused, or anxious when you take the real test. Knowing what to expect going into any kind of assessment is always a huge confidence booster.

Find more information on how to best prepare in my blog post Casper Test Tips.

Since Duet is a multiple choice assessment, you won’t be able to take a practice test. However, you can prepare by researching the schools on your list. Pay attention to their mission statements in particular or any pages that state their values. Duet centers on assessing how your values align with those of the schools on your list. So it helps to have an idea of what those schools are looking for in prospective students. Nevertheless, you should always respond honestly instead of forming your response based on what you believe they want to hear. Since otherwise you might end up at a school that doesn’t actually align with your own personality. 

While it is good to set aside a little bit of time to prepare for Casper and Duet, you don’t need to stress about it. Both of these assessments are minor pieces of the application process. It won’t make or break your application to any school. Try not to overthink the questions. Instead, go with your gut! If there are schools on your list that you really want to attend, your values probably already align with theirs anyway. So don’t worry!

Final Thoughts on Casper and Duet

I hope this guide helped you feel prepared to take the Casper and Duet assessments during your application cycle. Remember, just a small amount of preparation goes a long way for these tests. However, you do need to make sure you get them done on time to avoid delaying your application while schools wait for your scores. So focus on scheduling your assessment as early as you can. Good luck!

Related Posts

What is the AAMC PREview Exam? Is It Required?

Duet for Medical School: What It Is & How to Prepare