October 30, 2025
Written By
Michael Minh Le
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The UConn Medical School acceptance rate can be the difference between feeling confident about your chances or second-guessing every part of your application. With competition this high, most premeds focus only on the numbers. But stats alone don’t get you accepted.
In this guide, we’ll break down how competitive UConn School of Medicine (UConn SoM) really is. You’ll get the latest acceptance rates, average GPA and MCAT scores, admissions requirements, tuition and financial aid details, and what makes UConn different from other schools. Most importantly, we’ll walk through exactly how to stand out, from your secondaries to your interview.
If you want to see what a successful application actually looks like, we’ve got you covered. Our free Application Database includes 8 full AMCAS applications that earned real acceptances to top med schools like UCLA and UCI. It’s completely free, and it’s your clearest benchmark for what AdComs want.
Get your free resource here.
For the 2025 entering class, the University of Connecticut School of Medicine received about 4,626 applications. Of those, only 112 students matriculated.
That makes the UConn medical school acceptance rate about 2.42%.
And here’s the kicker: around 80–90% of students admitted each year are Connecticut residents. So if you’re applying from out of state? Your chances drop fast.
Let’s get into the numbers. The average GPA for accepted students at UConn? 3.85. The average MCAT? 513.
To put that in perspective, the national average GPA for med school matriculants hovers around 3.77, and the average MCAT is roughly 511.7. So, UConn students are outperforming both.
And while UConn doesn’t post hard cutoffs, applicants with a GPA below 3.3 or MCAT scores below 505 are generally going to face an uphill battle, especially if they’re from out of state.
To be considered for admission to UConn School of Medicine, applicants need to complete the following prerequisites:
In addition to coursework, UConn looks for evidence of strong clinical exposure, meaningful service work, and research experience. Holistic review is the name of the game, but that doesn’t mean stats don’t matter.
And be sure you meet the criteria below as well:
The University of Connecticut School of Medicine offers a relatively affordable path to a medical degree, especially for in-state students.
For the 2024–2025 academic year, tuition for Connecticut residents is about $45,783, while out-of-state students pay around $74,739.
On top of tuition, students should expect to pay indirect costs such as housing, transportation, books, and personal expenses. UConn estimates these living expenses at over $43,000 for first-year students who live off campus, bringing the total cost of attendance to well over $100,000 annually for some students.
The good news is UConn offers a variety of financial aid options to help offset these costs. Students may apply for federal aid, including Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Grad PLUS Loans, as well as need-based institutional aid through the school. To be considered for institutional grants and scholarships, students must submit both the FAFSA and an internal financial aid application, including tax and income documentation.
Because institutional aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, early application is strongly encouraged. The financial aid office also provides loan counseling and debt management resources, helping students understand their borrowing options and make smart financial decisions during and after medical school.
The University of Connecticut School of Medicine has a reputation for blending academic rigor with community impact and student-centered training. From its small class sizes to its powerful commitment to primary care and public service, UConn stands out from other programs in the U.S.
UConn’s team-based curriculum emphasizes active learning and clinical relevance from day one. Students begin working with patients and learning clinical skills early in their training through its Clinical Longitudinal Immersion in the Community (CLIC) model. This integration of clinical and basic sciences helps students apply what they learn in real time, creating a stronger foundation for clerkships and Step exams.
UConn SOM is nationally recognized for producing physicians who go into primary care fields, with many graduates serving underserved and rural communities. The school’s mission prioritizes public health, community service, and health equity, making it a strong fit for students passionate about population health and social justice in medicine.
Compared to many private and public med schools, UConn SOM offers lower tuition for in-state students, and its institutional aid programs are designed to make medical education more accessible. For Connecticut residents, this makes it not only a financially sound choice but also a high-return investment in a quality education.
UConn SOM deliberately keeps class sizes small, typically fewer than 110 students per year, which fosters a supportive, collaborative environment. Students often highlight the school’s culture of mentorship, individualized attention from faculty, and the sense of community that helps reduce the competitive pressure seen at some larger institutions.
Whether you're interested in clinical trials, public health research, or basic science, UConn SOM provides access to robust research opportunities through its partnership with UConn Health and affiliated institutions. Medical students can pursue scholarly projects, earn distinction tracks, and even combine their MD with other degrees like MPH, MBA, or PhD through dual-degree options.
Located in Farmington, Connecticut, UConn SOM benefits from proximity to diverse clinical settings, from rural community hospitals to large urban centers like Hartford. This allows students to gain exposure to a wide range of patient populations and healthcare delivery systems, preparing them for any path in medicine.
Getting into the University of Connecticut School of Medicine means showing up with more than just a 4.0 and a 520. UConn Med wants to see the doctor you’re becoming, not just the student you’ve been. That’s why your story of how you’ve explored medicine, how you’ve served your community, and how you’ve grown from setbacks matters just as much as your stats.
UConn SOM uses the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) for its MD program admissions.
The school indicates that offers of acceptance are issued on a rolling basis, meaning that applications are reviewed as they are completed and decisions made until the class is filled.
That means you need to apply early in the cycle to stay competitive.
Here’s the application timeline you need to know for UConn:
Your personal statement for UConn School of Medicine is your narrative. It’s not just about saying you’re passionate about healthcare or underserved communities. It’s about proving it.
If you say you care about health equity, then you should show experiences in free clinics, advocacy, or working with marginalized populations. If you say you care about mental health, then you should show experiences in crisis counseling, peer support programs, or working in psychiatric settings.
Secondary essays give the admissions committee a clearer window into who you are beyond grades and scores. They show how you think, how you reflect, and how you’ll fit into their community.
Below are the most recent prompts for UConn, specifically, plus advice on how to approach each one.
Prompt #1:
“Highlight your experiences in the health care field. What insights have you gained about potential problems you will face as a physician?” (1,800 characters max)
How to address it:
Use a specific healthcare experience you’ve had (shadowing, volunteering, research, etc.) and reflect on what you learned about real‑life medicine (systems issues, patient communication, equity, etc.). Then link that insight to what you’ll face as a physician. Highlight awareness of complexities rather than just “I want to help.” Show you’ve thought about the challenges and how you’ll respond.
Prompt #2:
“How will the University of Connecticut School of Medicine best serve your needs of becoming a physician or physician‑scientist?” (1,800 characters max)
How to address it:
Here you want to show you understand what UConn SOM offers (curriculum, research opportunities, clinical mission, community engagement) and match that to your goals. Be specific: what program, research focus, or educational approach at UConn aligns with how you want to grow? Then show how that fit will help you become the physician or physician‑scientist you envision.
Prompt #3:
“The University of Connecticut School of Medicine realizes that each applicant brings a unique perspective from a broad range of experiences that have been influential in leading to a career in medicine. How will your own life experiences and unique identity enhance the UConn SoM classroom and community?” (1,800 characters max)
How to address it:
This is your chance to bring in your “why you” story. Reflect on your background, identity, lived experiences, and how they shaped your path to medicine. Then connect that to how you’ll contribute actively to the UConn community, maybe through peer mentoring, community health, research, or leadership. Be genuine: don’t just say you’re “diverse,” but show how that diversity informs how you learn, how you relate to patients and peers, and how you’ll enhance the classroom environment.
Prompt #4:
“Have you participated in any of the Health Career Opportunity Programs (HCOP) or other outreach programs at UConn Health? If not, how did you learn about the University of Connecticut School of Medicine (e.g., recruitment event, word of mouth, research opportunity, website, etc)? Please list any activities/exposure and approximate time of engagement.” (1,800 characters max).
How to address it:
If you have direct UConn or UConn Health outreach involvement, state it clearly (program name, dates, what you did, what you learned). If you don’t, be honest but show you did your homework: explain how you found UConn (event, talk, faculty connection, etc.), what specifically caught your interest, and what you’ve done to engage with UConn’s mission or community. This shows you’re intentional about applying to UConn, not just applying everywhere.
For UConn Medical School, you’re encouraged to submit your letters of recommendation via the AMCAS system and have them ready by December 31 of the application year.
If your undergraduate institution provides a premedical advisory committee letter, UConn prefers that. This type of letter provides a comprehensive view of your readiness for medical school and is considered the gold standard.
If your school doesn’t offer a committee letter, you’re required to submit a minimum of three individual letters of recommendation. These should come from people who know your academic background well.
You’re also welcome to submit additional letters beyond the required three, especially if they highlight unique aspects of your experience, such as research, clinical work, community service, or leadership. While there’s no official maximum stated by the UConn School of Medicine, the university’s own premed advising office recommends not exceeding seven letters total.
The interview at UConn SOM is primarily a traditional, one‑on‑one interview (not a full Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) circuit). According to candidate feedback, most interviews last about 40‑50 minutes.
This isn’t just a conversation about what’s already on your AMCAS. They want to get a feel for who you are when the script runs out. UConn is serious about community, primary care, and serving underserved populations in both urban and rural Connecticut.
They’ll ask scenario-based questions to test your ethical reasoning and communication skills. Think: what do you do when a patient refuses a life-saving treatment, or how you’d handle misinformation about vaccines. But they’ll also want to hear why medicine, why now, and why UConn.
When choosing a medical school, it’s important to think about how the school’s mission, curriculum, environment, and opportunities align with your goals, values, and working style.
Here’s a breakdown of whether UConn might be a strong fit for you:
UConn is a good fit if you…
UConn may not be a good fit if you…
By now, you’ve seen how competitive getting into UConn Medical School really is, and why most applicants fall short. It’s not just about GPA and MCAT scores. Admissions committees look for something deeper: how well your application tells the story of who you are, what you’ve done, and why you’re ready to become a doctor.
But how do you really show that in your application?
Our free Application Database is built to show you what standing out actually looks like. You’ll get access to 8 full AMCAS applications, including my own, that earned acceptances from top-tier medical schools like UCLA and UCI. These aren’t curated highlights or cherry-picked stats. They’re the real thing with real personal statements, most meaningfuls, and more.
Get your free resource here.
