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Considering applying to the UConn School of Medicine? You’re not alone. UConn’s School of Medicine is ranked as the 33rd most diverse medical school in the country by U.S. News & World Report and has an acceptance rate of just under 5%—which means, if you’re interested in applying to their BS/MD program, your essays need to be top notch to make an impact on admissions. Let’s dive into their essay prompts and break down not only what admissions is looking for, but also how you can set yourself apart!
The first essay prompt is as follows:
We’re not sure we would qualify 600 words as “brief”—almost the length of a personal statement—but the good news is that you have more space than the activity list to showcase what has inspired your decision to pursue the field of medicine! Start by making a list of influences on your career, and then review that list to pick what is most relevant and meaningful, including the people who have inspired you. If your personal statement talks at length about your experience at a neuroscience summer program, you should elaborate on what you haven’t yet covered instead. “Medical-related activities” can be interpreted as anything from volunteering at a hospital to conducting lab research or taking an anatomy class. And remember: this should read as a creative essay with cohesion and a hook to draw your reader into the story, not simply resume items strung together. As always, specifics about your experiences are more memorable and persuasive than vague observations.
This prompt isn’t qualified by “briefly,” but you still get the same 600 words to talk about your life outside of health sciences. Knowing that most applicants bring to the table a strong background in medical-related activities, this is your opportunity to differentiate yourself while still demonstrating your suitability for both a career in medicine and a competitive accelerated program. If you do improv comedy, what does that say about your ability to respond to unexpected situations and be a “yes and” team player? If you are the president of your school’s Model UN club, how has that prepared you to not only speak compellingly, but also think critically about national issues like healthcare? As with the prior question, you’ll need to elevate your essay beyond a list of interests, activities, and hobbies by finding a creative throughline. Avoid general phases like “I enjoy swimming” and, instead, reflect on the specifics of why the activity fulfills you and how it reveals who you are as a person. Admissions is looking for well-rounded applicants with diverse interests that inform a love of medicine.
No BSMD program wants to admit an egocentric Captain Ahab, which is why admissions is screening to make sure you can work with your crew. The nuance of this question is that it isn’t necessarily asking about a leadership position, but rather a meaningful role, so accolades and recognition should not be at the heart of your answer. Maybe your semester working as a prop manager taught you to always have the tools of the trade ready and organized to support the actors on stage. Perhaps taking minutes at your Korean Culture Club meeting taught you to take efficient and legible notes to share with the group and stay on schedule.
Make sure that whatever you pick is sufficiently focused on collaboration and teamwork. While most students will lean toward elaborating on an official leadership role, such as founder of a peer-support group for mental health awareness, the emphasis must be on interpersonal strengths like active listening, conflict resolution, and communication. How did you grow from the experience? How did you facilitate growth in others as you worked toward a common goal? Don’t fall into the trap of over-describing the role and its dry logistics; your reader is less interested in how you catalogued soccer equipment at away-games and more in how you mentored players and took lessons from the experience.
Our team of experienced Advisors can help you transform a list of activities and ideas into impactful, refined essays that tell your story. Don’t hesitate to fill out a contact form to learn more about our one-on-one advising services, so we can ensure you are not only focusing on the right material, but also submitting essays that will differentiate you from similarly qualified applicants!
