Dreaming of going to the University of Connecticut? Read this guide on how to get into UConn to make that dream a reality!
Nestled in the charming town of Storrs, Connecticut, the University of Connecticut is a highly regarded institution known for its rigorous academic programs and stunning main campus. It was founded in 1880 as an agricultural school and eventually became a university after granting its first four-year Bachelor of Science degree in 1915.
Keep reading, and we’ll break down everything you need for a successful UConn application!
The University of Connecticut's acceptance rate is 55%. There are more than 40,000 first-year applicants across all its campuses. The University of Connecticut’s most recent incoming class consisted of 48,000 undergrad students, with 4,100 first-year students enrolling at the Storrs campus.
UConn is continuing its streak of admitting a more diverse first-year class, seeing strong numbers of first-generation students, students representing racial and ethnic minorities, and students from low-income backgrounds.
About 75% of UConn’s current undergraduate students are Connecticut residents, while the remaining 25% come from other states. Interest from international students, which were negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, continues to gain traction as well.
Source: Common Data Set
UConn doesn’t offer early decision or early action applications and therefore has no acceptance rate for these categories.
The University of Connecticut is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 55%. Students should try to make their application competitive in order to secure an offer of admission.
Successful UConn applicants should aim for a 3.74 GPA, 1330 SAT, and 30 ACT. These scores put students in a competitive range for chances of admission.
The average GPA at UConn is 3.74. Students applying should try to maintain an average in the A-range. This will ensure their GPA remains competitive when their applications are reviewed. It’s also important to note that different programs have different GPA expectations.
The average SAT score at UConn is 1330. Scoring between 1220 and 1440 will help keep students in the acceptable range for UConn applications. To boost your chances of scoring within this range, consistent practice is key. Take advantage of Quad’s free full-length practice test to make the most of your prep time!
The average ACT score at UConn is 30. Students who score in the range of 28 to 33 will be on par with other successful applicants
How Uconn evaluates applicants is mostly through academic criteria, such as GPA and test scores. Most of their applications emphasize how students perform in an academic setting.
Source: Common Data Set
The Common Data Set highlights the importance of academics in a student’s profile. Criteria like GPA, class rank, course difficulty, and standardized test scores are all crucial aspects of admissions. Other important qualities include the application essay, extracurriculars, volunteer work, and recommendations.
You’ll need a high GPA and test scores to get into UConn. Aim for a 4.0 GPA and test scores in the 75th percentile, meaning a 1430 on the SAT and a 33 on the ACT. Since UConn highly values academic excellence, take rigorous IB or AP courses to make your application stand out!
Here are the UConn application requirements you should be aware of before applying.
Here is a list of UConn’s application requirements:
If you are applying to one of the following special programs, you will have other additional components for your application:
Making sure you have everything in is very important, so make yourself a checklist of these items so that you can check them off your list as they are finished.
The University of Connecticut has some specific academic requirements that students need to meet before they can apply. Students are required to complete college preparatory classes, such as those offered through the AP or IB programs. All first-year applicants must complete the following:
If you’ve completed these academic requirements, then you will be able to apply to UConn.
Something to note when applying to UConn is that they do not have a specific GPA requirement for applicants. This is because they recalculate grade point averages as part of their admissions review process. They do this so that the admissions committee can review students using the same metric.
In other words, they recalculate your GPA so that it reflects your academic standing when compared to other schools, not just those you went to school with. With that said, the University of Connecticut does value academic achievement, so you should assume that getting good grades is a requirement to enter.
In terms of standardized tests, the University of Connecticut does not technically require you to take the SAT or ACT, but it does recommend it. If you decide to send in your scores, aim for an SAT score between 1230-1430 or 28 and 33 on the ACT.
Note that about one-quarter of students who are admitted get a higher score than those mentioned above. So if UConn is where you want to go, make sure to take the tests and aim high.
To apply for the University of Connecticut, there are various deadlines that you need to know. The following table gives you all the information you need to make sure you can apply on time.
Source: UConn
If you are applying to the University of Connecticut, keep this table close to make sure you do not miss a deadline.
The UConn regular decision deadline is January 15 for the Storrs campus. Students applying to the regional campus will have until May 1.
UConn doesn’t offer early decision or early action applications.
The University of Connecticut is looking for students who show certain qualities; when deciding on acceptances, they look for students with rigor, involvement, performance, and good personal qualities.
To show rigor, you will have to complete the admission requirements to the fullest, making sure that everything UConn is looking for has been done to a high standard. UConn will look at the courses you took in high school to determine if they were at a challenging level.
The second criterion to think about when figuring out how to get into UConn is how involved you were in extracurriculars. The University of Connecticut is looking for students who are highly involved with their school and community. They will be checking to see which clubs and organizations you were a part of and how you gave back to your community.
Sometimes students struggle with leveraging their extracurricular activities on college applications. Consider a Quad success story from David, who used his interests to gain admission to the University of Michigan:
The University of Connecticut places a strong emphasis on academic performance, so the admissions committee will closely review the grades of applicants. They will be looking for applicants who have demonstrated high achievement throughout their high school careers.
Once they’ve looked at your grades, they will then look at your personal qualities to see if you would be a good match for the university environment.
They want to know about your character and what motivates you to do well as a student and in life. They look to see if you have demonstrated an appreciation of multiculturalism, responsibility, and empathy towards others.
These four areas are very important to UConn and should be considered when thinking about applying to this university. Your application must reflect these characteristics, and if you can demonstrate them, then you are likely to get into UConn.
UConn requires a 250-650-word personal essay. This serves as a great opportunity for students to help admissions officers get to know them better. UConn advises to highlight the following points:
{Insert Expert Quote}
Title: Rachel’s Top Tips for Writing Stellar Admissions Essays
Admissions Advisor Rachel Woods offers these top tips for writing stellar admissions essays:
"I think the biggest thing that schools look for in essays is authenticity. To craft a stand-up essay, you really need to stay true to yourself. Write something that feels right for you. Plenty of people will say: “You should write about this, or you should write about that.” I think that writing about something that comes naturally to you or something that you’re actually excited about—even if it doesn't seem like you know the most unique thing. If it's unique to you and important to you, that will show."
"Obviously, you want to make sure there are no errors in your essays, and you also want to really focus on a narrative. I always tell students I think a really great way to start your essay is with a story—a really short anecdote that pulls the reader in. You really want the admissions committees to say: “Wow, I really need to keep reading this essay because I need to know how this story ends.”
Interviews are not considered for UConn’s admissions process.
Still have questions about how to get into UConn? Here are some commonly asked questions and their answers that will give you the information you need.
It can be somewhat hard getting into UConn, as the acceptance rate is 55%.
The admissions committee prioritizes students who are involved in their school and community, so having a wide variety of extracurriculars can help you gain admittance.
Though you’re not required to take the SAT or ACT, if you choose to do them, they will look at those scores to help make their decision about admittance. So, it is a good idea to sit the tests. If you’re worried about getting a good enough test score, get a tutor to help!
A low GPA does not necessarily mean that you will not get into UConn, as they adjust applicants' GPAs so that they can be evaluated on equal ground.
This means that your GPA from high school might change when the university makes the adjustments, so try not to worry if you think your GPA might be too low. Also, they take into account what courses you take in high school, so if you are taking very hard courses, this will look good on your application.
Though the acceptance rate for out-of-state students is a bit lower, the total acceptance rate for UConn is 55%. If you’re worried about getting into UConn, remember that they look at the overall rigor, involvement, performance, and personal qualities, so as long as you show these criteria, you will be a shoo-in.
UConn and Penn State have similar acceptance rates and difficulties of admission.
UConn has higher academic requirements and values extracurricular involvement. The ease of admission to either university depends on your qualifications and the admission criteria used.
In-state tuition at UConn is $17,010, while students coming from out-of-state will pay $39,678.
Getting into the University of Connecticut is not easy, but through this guide, you should be able to gain acceptance. Remember to show UConn that you are involved in your school and community, as this will help you with your application. By using this guide, we hope that you can follow your dream of becoming the next UConn Husky!
