The DUNE Admissions Committee holistically reviews applications.

Applications and two (2) letters of recommendation must be submitted by February 9, 2025 at 11:59pm EST.

Admissions decisions will be announced in March 2025.

If you have any questions, please check the FAQs or email duneprogram@duke.edu.

Eligibility

To apply for 2025, students must:

  • Be a current high school sophomore or junior (grades 10-11 for the 2024-2025 school year), or a senior (grade 12) who does *not* plan to attend college in fall 2025;
  • Attend a public or charter high school in Durham, NC (C.E. Jordan High School, City of Medicine Academy, Durham School of Technology, Durham School of the Arts, Excelsior Classical Academy, Hillside High School, Ignite! Online Academy, J.D. Clement Early College High School, Middle College High School, NC Cyber Academy, NC School of Science and Mathematics [Durham], NC Virtual Academy, Northern High School, Research Triangle High School, Riverside High School, Southern School of Energy and Sustainability, or Voyager Academy High School);
  • Have reliable transportation for daily commuting to Duke University;
  • Be at least sixteen (16) years old by June 16, 2025; and
  • Be a U.S. citizen, national, permanent resident, or legal resident.

For Applicants

A good application tells us about your character, your interest in science, and how you would benefit from participating in DUNE. We value authenticity and enthusiasm over a record of accomplishments. Whether you have had extensive opportunities in science or are just beginning to explore this realm, what matters most is your genuine interest and the potential you see in yourself to grow as a future scientist. We wish you good luck and look forward to getting to know you!

To complete your application, you may find it useful to prepare:

  • Contact information for two (2) recommenders who have agreed to write letters of recommendation for you
  • An unofficial high school transcript
  • A list of your extracurricular activities with brief descriptions (1-3 sentences)
  • A list of any honors and awards that you have received
  • Responses to the following short-answer questions:
  1. Tell us about your favorite activity, class, or honor and why it is meaningful to you. [150-word limit]

  2. Why are you interested in brain science? (For example, you may wish to discuss one of the following: a science class you’ve taken, lived experiences, a neuroscience lab at Duke, a specific research question, or anything else you think is relevant.) [150-word limit]

  3. What are your short- and long-term academic/career goals? How will participating in DUNE help you achieve these goals? [250-word limit]

  4. Some students have a background, identity, personal interest, or talent so meaningful that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. Please share your story. Include any challenges that you have overcome and the strengths that you have gained from these experiences. [250-word limit]

Remember to request your letters of recommendation:

  • Consider asking teachers, counselors, sponsors, supervisors, or other community leaders who can discuss your character, your interest in science, and how you would benefit from participating in DUNE.
  • Recommenders cannot be members of your family.
  • We strongly encourage you to ask your recommenders to write letters for you at least two weeks before the deadline, and to send them friendly reminders as the deadline gets closer.
  • Please tell your recommenders to submit their letters in the next section below. You will receive a confirmation email when your recommender submits their letter.
  • We can only accept letters that are submitted directly by the recommender.
Complete your application here

For Recommenders

The DUNE Admissions Committee must receive two (2) letters of recommendation for each applicant by February 9, 2025 at 11:59pm EST.

  • Recommenders can be teachers, counselors, sponsors, supervisors, or other community leaders who can discuss the applicant’s character, their interest in science, and how they would benefit from participating in DUNE.
  • Recommenders cannot be members of the applicant’s family.
  • We can only accept letters submitted directly by the recommender.

Please use the link below to submit your letter of recommendation as a PDF.

Submit your letter of recommendation here