In navigating your medical school application journey, you may come across schools that require the Altus Suite of tests, which include Casper, Duet, and (formerly) Snapshot. These are non-academic assessments that many medical programs in the United States use as a part of their admissions process.
This group of assessments helps admissions committees understand candidates beyond their academic achievements. Think of these assessments as your digital interview panel, each with a unique lens on who you are. There are no wrong answers!
Here’s what they measure:
The AAMC PREview is a similar assessment tool to help medical school admissions understand the cognitive and value-based aspects of applicants’ profiles. Some medical programs will accept either the PREview exam or Casper, but it’s unlikely that a program will require you to take both.
These types of get-to-know-you admissions requirements show the value medical programs place on competencies and problem-solving in addition to academic metrics like GPA and MCAT scores.
Casper is a timed test that assesses your situational judgment through a mix of video-based and written scenarios followed by open-ended questions. Expect 60-90 minutes to complete Casper.
Casper has 2 sections. Each section is designed to gauge how you analyze situations, think critically, and communicate your reasoning:
The test automatically advances from one section to the next and offers an optional 15-minute break midway.
Related: 121 MMI Sample Questions (Plus, How To Answer) – ProspectiveDoctor
Duet is an untimed computer-based test that takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and has around 100 multiple-choice questions.
It’s designed to assess how your values align with potential medical schools through a series of questions, matching your preferences and values with the school’s mission. Schools that require Duet use this assessment to ensure applicants share these values.
It’s important to know which schools require Casper and Duet. While it’s often beneficial to take Duet even if not required, our table indicates MD or DO schools that specifically recommend (but don’t require) these tests with an asterisk (*).
| Institution | MD or DO? | Casper Required? | Duet Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| American University of The Caribbean School of Medicine | MD | Y | N |
| Baylor College of Medicine | MD | Y | N |
| Boston University Aram V. Chobanian & Edward Avedisian School of Medicine | MD | Y | N |
| California University of Science and Medicine | MD | Y | N |
| Central Michigan University College of Medicine | MD | Y | N |
| Drexel University College of Medicine | MD | Y | N |
| East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine | MD | Y | Y |
| Florida Atlantic University College of Medicine | MD | Y | N |
| Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine (HMSOM) | MD | Y | Y |
| Hofstra University School of Medicine | MD | Y | N |
| Indiana University School of Medicine | MD | Y | N |
| Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine | MD | Y | N |
| Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University | MD | Y | N |
| Medical College of Wisconsin | MD | Y | N |
| Meharry Medical College | MD | Y | N |
| Michigan State University College of Human Medicine | MD | Y | N* |
| Netter School of Medicine Quinnipiac University | MD | Y | N |
| New York Medical College | MD | Y | N |
| Rush University Medical College | MD | Y | Y |
| Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School | MD | Y | N |
| Stony Brook University School of Medicine | MD | Y | N |
| Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine | MD | Y | N |
| Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine | MD | Y | Y |
| Texas Christian University, School of Medicine | MD | N* | N |
| Texas Tech Health Sciences Center El Paso | MD | Y | N |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine | MD | Y | Y |
| Tulane University School of Medicine | MD | N* | N* |
| University of Colorado Denver Medical School | MD | Y | Y |
| University of Miami Miller School of Medicine | MD | Y | N |
| University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine | MD | Y | Y |
| University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine | MD | Y | Y |
| University of Texas Health Science Center Houston, McGovern Medical School | MD | Y | N |
| University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, Long School of Medicine | MD | Y | Y |
| University of Texas Medical Branch, John Sealy School of Medicine | MD | Y | Y |
| University of Texas Southwestern | MD | Y | N |
| University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine | MD | Y | N |
| Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine | MD | Y | N |
| West Virginia University School of Medicine | MD | Y | N |
| Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine | DO | Y | N |
| Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine | DO | Y | N |
| Kansas Health Science Center – Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine | DO | Y | Y |
| Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine | DO | Y | Y |
| Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine NY/MT | DO | Y | Y |
| Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine- Nevada | DO | Y | Y |
| Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest | DO | Y | Y |
| William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine | DO | Y | Y |
Note: This table is accurate for the 2023/24 application cycle and will be updated when dates are posted for the 2024/25 cycle.
As with every step of the medical school application process, timing matters when taking the Casper and Duet assessments.
The distribution deadline for Casper and Duet results to medical schools aligns with the individual deadlines set by each school for their application process. Check the specific deadlines of each school to ensure the results are included in your application package.
All fees are final, non-refundable, and apply exclusively to the current admissions cycle. For that reason, only book a Casper test date or select your program distribution list when you know that it is required by the individual programs you’re applying to.
The fees for the Casper assessments for pre-meds (test CSP-10111) are as follows:
For efficiency, if you complete Duet before Casper scores are dispatched, your Duet scores will be consolidated and sent together with your Casper score report. Results typically reach schools within one to 2 days post-completion.
For fee assistance information, you can visit the Fee Assistance Programs page on the official Acuity Insights webpage.
Snapshot and Duet differ in that Duet emphasizes value alignment with medical schools rather than assessing communication skills through video responses.
Duet is not timed and takes around 15 minutes to complete.
To schedule your Casper and Duet exams, you’ll head over to the Altus Suite website, where you can select your location (the area of the world where you live) and register for the appropriate test. The process is super user-friendly, guiding you to pick dates and times that work for you.
Duet doesn’t include a video component. It’s all about you to express your values and preferences without the need for a camera.
Acuity Insights stated that their Snapshot assessment was more effective as a tool during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the importance of video interviews during that time. The questions asked on Snapshot are more than likely to simply show up as part of your typical interview (whether virtual or in-person).
Need help prepping for Casper or any other part of the med school application process? Our application advising services at MedSchoolCoach provide expert insight and direction throughout your medical school application process.
Dr. Marinelli has practiced family medicine, served on the University of California Admissions Committee, and has helped hundreds of students get into medical school. She spearheads a team of physician advisors who guide MedSchoolCoach students.