Preparing for the University of Connecticut School of Medicine interview

Distinguishing yourself at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine (UConn SOM) isn’t just about your GPA or pronounced passion for medicine—it’s about how deeply you understand Connecticut’s layered healthcare ecosystem, its quirks, crises, and ongoing transformation. With UConn SOM’s mission rooted in advancing health equity for the populations of Connecticut (from Hartford’s urban core to the state’s rural Litchfield Hills), successful applicants tie their story to the region’s real, pressing needs.

This comprehensive guide will help you approach your UConn interview with policy fluency, regional sophistication, and community-mindedness.

1. The UConn SOM Interview: Structure, Themes, and Hidden Priorities

UConn employs a blended interview format emphasizing community-driven solutions and ethical reasoning:

• Traditional One-on-One Interviews: 30–45 minutes with faculty or medical students. Expect reflective questions like, “Describe a time you advocated for health equity” or “How would you improve access to care in Windham County?”

• Scenario-Based Discussions: While not full MMI, UConn often incorporates ethical prompts (e.g., “A patient refuses a vaccine due to misinformation. How do you respond?”).

• Themes:

  • Health Equity: UConn’s Urban Service Track trains students to serve underserved areas like Hartford’s North End, where 35% live below the poverty line.

  • Interdisciplinary Innovation: Highlight UConn’s partnerships with Jackson Labs (genomic research) or Connecticut Children’s (pediatric care).

  • Community Embeddedness: Discuss experiences with organizations like Community Health Center, Inc. (a national model for FQHCs founded in CT).

Insider Tip: UConn values “Nutmeg Grit”—stories of collaborating with diverse populations (e.g., volunteering at migrant clinics, addressing opioid overdoses in Waterbury) resonate deeply.

2. Connecticut’s Healthcare Policy: Progressive Reforms Meet Persistent Disparities

1. Medicaid Expansion & the “Covered Connecticut” Program

CT expanded Medicaid under the ACA, covering 325,000+ residents. In 2021, it launched Covered Connecticut, eliminating premiums for 40,000 low-income residents. Yet disparities persist: 14% of Latinos in Bridgeport remain uninsured. UConn’s Health Disparities Institute focuses on closing gaps in cities like New Britain.

Tip: Name-drop UConn’s Partnership for Advanced Care Team Training (PACTT) when discussing team-based care models.

2. Opioid Settlement Reinvestment

CT is allocating $600M from opioid lawsuits into:

• Harm Reduction Vending Machines: Installed in New London and Norwich, dispensing naloxone and fentanyl test strips.

• Recovery High Schools: UConn partners with High Watch Recovery Center (founded in 1939, the world’s first 12-step facility) to support teens in Kent.

3. Telehealth Expansion Post-COVID

CT’s 2023 Telehealth Modernization Act mandates permanent insurance coverage for virtual visits. UConn’s Telehealth Corps trains students to serve rural towns like Canaan, where 30% lack reliable broadband.

3. Current Events & Social Issues: The Connecticut Lens

Local Flashpoints

• Mental Health in Schools: CT’s 2022 Mental Health Care Act funds school-based clinics. UConn students staff clinics in Danbury, where 45% of teens report anxiety.

• Lyme Disease Epidemic: CT averages 3,000 Lyme cases annually. UConn’s Center for Vector Biology maps tick hotspots in Litchfield County.

• Maternal Mortality: Black women in CT die postpartum at 4x the rate of white women. UConn’s Maternal Health Equity Initiative trains doulas in Bridgeport.

National Issues with CT Stakes

• Abortion Access: CT’s “safe haven” status post-Dobbs has strained clinics like Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. UConn OB-GYNs lead research on telehealth abortions for out-of-state patients.

• Climate Health: CT’s 2023 heatwaves spiked ER visits for asthma in Hartford’s North End. UConn’s Climate Change and Health Initiative partners with Yale on cooling center networks.

Tip: Reference UConn’s Mobile COVID Vaccine Unit (which administered 50,000+ doses in underserved ZIP codes) to demonstrate program-specific savvy.

4. The 5 Questions University of Connecticut School of Medicine is most likely to ask during your medical school interview

1. “Why UConn over other New England schools? How does our focus on rural/urban health align with your goals?”

2. “A patient in Waterbury refuses insulin due to cost. How do you respond?”

3. “Connecticut has the nation’s largest income gap. Design a clinic intervention for Bridgeport.”

4. “Describe a time you navigated a cultural barrier in healthcare. What did you learn?”

5. “How should medical schools address implicit bias in maternal care?”