Applying to the M.D. Program

Academic Preparation

There is no standard, prescribed pre-medical curriculum. Applicants are encouraged to seek a firm base in mathematics, the prerequisite sciences, social sciences and humanities. The applicant’s preparation should engender breadth in the selection of courses taken, and depth and rigor in areas of special interest. Survey courses in biology, chemistry, and physics for non-science majors do not satisfy the core science course prerequisites. Applicants must take the introductory science course sequences required for students majoring in those fields.

Please note that if you are a dual degree applicant and wish also to apply for the M.D. degree alone, notify the School of Medicine Admissions Office of your request so that your application can be reviewed appropriately. Email your intention to apply for the M.D. program to admissions@uchc.edu.

Requirements

The specific academic program requirements include:

1. Bachelor's Degree
2. Completion of Required Undergraduate Courses:

1. • Chemistry (2 years of college credit with lab with at least 1 semester being Organic Chemistry)
   • Physics (1 year of college credit with lab)
   • Biology or Zoology (1 year of college credit with lab)
   • English ( 1 year of college credit - courses in composition and literature are strongly recommended)

While completion of these basic prerequisite courses is considered the norm, the school may consider innovative and less traditional preparations on an individual basis. The applicant must present convincing evidence for equivalent preparation in these subject areas. Of note: AP credit courses do not count towards prerequisite course requirements (see FAQs). Courses in biochemistry, genetics, and physiology are recommended but not required. While an applicant may present a minimum of three years of college work, ordinarily a four-year bachelor’s degree is considered a prerequisite and is strongly encouraged for entry.

Medical College Admission Test Scores

The MCAT exam is given in January, and then March through September. Applicants are required to take the MCAT no later than the September exam preceding their expected date of matriculation. Applicants are required to sit for the exam within three years of application. Test registration materials may be obtained from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) website or:

MCAT Resource Center
2450 North Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
Phone: 202-828-0690
Email: mcat@aamc.org

Technical Standards

Candidates for the M.D. degree must have abilities and skills in five domains: observation, communication, motor, conceptual/integrative and quantitative, behavioral and social. Technological or other accommodations can be made for some disabilities in certain of these areas, but a candidate should be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner. Nevertheless, the candidate must be able to perform a full physical examination, must consistently, quickly, and accurately integrate all information received by whatever sense(s) employed, and must have the intellectual ability to learn, gather information, communicate, and integrate, analyze, and synthesize data. View information on the Technical Standards. Adherence to these technical standards is designed to ensure that the M.D. degree attests to the basic acquisition of general knowledge in all fields of medicine, as well as the acquisition of the basic skills necessary for medical practice.

Application Process

AMCAS Application

The School of Medicine participates in AMCAS, the American Medical College Application Service, a unit of the Association of American Medical Colleges. AMCAS administers the centralized process that allows applicants to apply to participating schools by submitting one application directly to the service in Washington, D.C.

AMCAS verifies the applicant's academic record and then makes the application available to the designated medical schools via their database.

Note that the school does not have the ability to make changes to the application. Please do not contact the school regarding application verification status. If you are chosen to be interviewed, the school will be in contact with you by phone or email.

The AMCAS deadline for the UConn School of Medicine is November 15.

Supplemental Statement and Application Fee

Once AMCAS notifies UConn that an application is being processed, you will receive an email acknowledgement from the school along with pertinent information to complete your application. The following items are needed within four weeks of receipt of the email to complete the application:

• Letters of recommendation via AMCAS.
• Completion of the supplemental application.
• Payment of the school application fee online through our applicant portal, or submission of AMCAS fee waiver, or fee waiver request to the Admissions Office.

The UConn Supplemental Statement requests responses to several questions. The statement affords the applicant the opportunity to highlight aspects of preparation regarding research, teaching, and clinical experience. The statement also affords the opportunity to further discuss motivations for a career in medicine, and to discuss important issues facing medicine and health professionals. The intent of the Supplemental Statement is to provide the applicant with an additional opportunity to present and to amplify on relevant preparation and experience, as well as their specific interest in attending the UConn School of Medicine.

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants are prompted to submit letters of recommendation to AMCAS as soon as notification that an application to the school has been received. While these letters are due within four weeks of receipt of the email, applicants are encouraged to submit the letters to AMCAS immediately.

The applicant is advised to submit a composite recommendation from the premedical advisory committee at their undergraduate school. The composite letter ordinarily contains a summary review and recommendation statement from the advisory committee and either full-text letter attachments or excerpts from statements provided by several faculty and others the applicant has selected to provide comment. For applicants from schools that do not provide a composite advisory committee letter, the applicant must provide a minimum of three letters from individuals familiar with their academic history. For students that have pursued additional academic preparation through post baccalaureate or advanced degree programs, letters are expected from either the advisory committee or from individual faculty advisors. For students that have pursued research or special summer program activities, a letter is normally expected from the program advisor or faculty supervisor.

Additional references confirming the applicant’s experiences and containing comments on personality and character traits are often quite helpful in capturing the personal and professional aspects of a candidate’s overall preparation. In some instances, additional recommendation letters or updates are requested from the School of Medicine Admissions Office.

Interviews

All submitted and completed applications are reviewed for consideration for an interview. Early Decision interviews are offered in late August and early September. Regular Decision interviews are conducted September through March. An important part of the admissions committee’s final selections, the interview provides an opportunity to meet the applicant and to gather additional personal and supplemental data for the committee to evaluate the applicant. For the applicant, the interview day provides an opportunity to meet with students and faculty and to evaluate the school. Interviewers provide the admissions committee with personal impressions and insights on the applicant by evaluating and putting in perspective all aspects of the applicant’s background, experiences, coursework, motivations, and values.

The interview day begins at 9 a.m. and typically concludes around 2:30 p.m. In keeping with our intent to get to know the applicants well, no more than nine students are scheduled for an interview day. Applicants ordinarily have a faculty interview, a student interview, financial aid information session, a tour of the UConn Health, and lunch with current students. Interviews are conducted on Mondays and Fridays throughout the regular interview season. Approximately 320 applicants are selected for interviews.

The Selection Process

The selection process at the School of Medicine is implemented by the faculty admissions committee consisting of basic science and clinical science faculty, medical students, and community representatives. The committee considers the applicant's achievements, ability, motivation, and character and evaluates the AMCAS application, supplemental application, letters of recommendation, and interviews. The committee looks closely at the entire academic record and MCAT scores in relation to the difficulty of the academic program. The committee considers evidence of academic achievement beyond regular course work, intellectual growth and development, substantial extracurricular activities, and the strength of the letters of recommendation.

Following a rolling admissions model, applicants are considered as the interview season progresses. Decisions are issued to candidates at the discretion of the committee. With only 102 positions available in the first year class, the committee proceeds cautiously and conservatively in the early months. As the admission season progresses, more candidates are accepted as the committee develops a more complete understanding of the current year’s applicant pool. The committee establishes a prioritized alternate list toward the end of the admissions cycle. As the new entering class appears to be taking shape, acceptances are issued to alternates as positions become available. Most alternate list activity occurs between May and July. Admission and reapplication counseling is not available for those wishing to discuss aspects of the application process or specific concerns related to individual circumstances.

Acceptance

For the regular admissions cycle, acceptances are offered on a rolling basis beginning October 15 and continue throughout the admissions cycle. All admission decisions are made by the Committee on Admissions and are final. While it is impossible to provide a numerical ranking for those listed on the alternate list, every effort is made to inform alternate candidates where they are placed on the prioritized list, and the likelihood of whether a position will become available by the start of classes.

Deferral of Matriculation

Accepted applicants may wish to petition for a deferred matriculation. Deferrals are considered on a case-by-case basis, ordinarily for one year, and are usually related to personal circumstances, or some unique service, research, or educational opportunity. Deferred applicants are restricted from applying to other medical schools during their deferment with the applicant required to apply only to UConn School of Medicine at the end of their deferment. Failure to abide by this restriction will be considered a violation of the admissions process with subsequent formal notification to AMCAS.

Merit Scholarships

A limited number of partial merit scholarships ($500 - $5,000) are provided by the UConn Foundation through private donors. These scholarships are granted yearly for four years to recipients who remain in good academic standing. Restricted awards are based on academic merit as well as any personal intent of the donor (e.g., research, women’s health studies, oncology, community service). Unrestricted awards are based on academic merit as well as additional holistic factors (e.g., financial need, life experience, special activities, communications). All admitted students are considered for these awards; no additional application is required.

Primary Care Scholarship and Loan Program (PCL)

The UConn School of Medicine is pleased to offer a low interest loan program as an incentive to attract more students to careers in primary care. The goal of the loan program is to ameliorate the financial concerns that limit students’ pursuit of primary care careers by decreasing indebtedness. Enrolled students will apply via the Office of Student Affairs and up to four students per year will be chosen. Students will be eligible for financial support by means of a scholarship of $10,000 and annual loan of $40,000, at a flat interest rate of 1%, for a maximum of four years during medical school training.

Selection Criteria for students in good academic standing may include:

• Residency of the State of Connecticut or residency application pending approval
• Need as assessed by the FAFSA and AMCAS application
• Underserved background, past residency in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) or a Medically Underserved Area (MUA)
• Merit as assessed by AMCAS application and UConn School of Medicine academic performance
• Prior experience with/participation in primary care activities
• Performance during a face-to-face interview
• Assessment of a personal statement elaborating interest in a primary care career
• Participation in Urban Service Track or another primary care or community service based track

Policies Governing Admissions

The UConn School of Medicine believes diversity is a necessary component of excellence. Diversity, by definition, is broad and inclusive, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socioeconomic background. The UConn School of Medicine is strongly opposed to prejudice and discrimination and has a strong tradition of seeking diverse students with a myriad of experiences. UConn prohibits discrimination in accordance with provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX Education Amendments of 1972, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other federal and state laws and executive orders pertaining to equal rights pursuant to the University’s Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment and Related Interpersonal Violence.​ We are making a continuous effort toward diversity, equity, and inclusion within our student body, faculty body, and curriculum. Our goal is to train physician-advocates who not only provide the health care needs of the community but also promote social justice and health equity.

For questions pertaining to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, please contact the Office of Multicultural and Community Affairs (OMCA) at omca@uchc.edu or through their website.

Further information on medical school admissions is included in the Medical School Admissions Requirement (MSAR), an annual catalog for applicants that provides profiles of United States and Canadian medical schools, as well as descriptive information and data on recent applicant characteristics. Copies of this book are available in most college libraries, in the offices of pre-professional advisors, and from the Association of American Medical Colleges, One Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C. 20036.