University of Connecticut Admission
University of Connecticut Undergraduate Program
University of Connecticut Application

The Facts

This rural state school in Storrs, Connecticut has been ranked the top public university in New England for six consecutive years. Formerly, it had the reputation of being a bit of a “safety school,” but that label is changing as the admissions standards become more and more selective. The class of 2004 had an average SAT score of 1177, with 72% of the students in the top 25% of their high school graduating class. It was founded in 1881 as an agricultural college, and since then has grown to encompass 13 schools and colleges at the main campus in Storrs alone. They also have schools of law and social work in downtown Hartford, 5 regular campuses throughout the state and the schools Medicine and Dentistry a University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington.

U Conn. offers 8 types of undergraduate degrees in more than 100 majors. Because of its agricultural roots, the agriculture program is a big draw. However, there are a wide range of majors available, some of the most popular being in the college of liberal arts, such as English, psychology, economics, history and political science. The core curriculum has a wide range of required courses that include such varied classes as math, literature, philosophy, ethics, science, foreign language, writing and modern society.

There are approximately 15,000 undergraduates at the university, so some popular classes are notoriously difficult to get into, and many required classes are extremely large. However, many classes consist of only 20 to 30 students. The professors are generally well-liked and knowledgable, with over 95% of the full and part time faculty having Ph.Ds.

The Social Scene

Some students see the campus’s remote rural setting as a drawback, complaining there is nothing to do. However, some students see it as an initiative to create their own social activities, which has played a big part in establishing U Conn.’s reputation as a big party school. Many students live by the motto “Work hard, party hard.” There are many on-campus events to keep students busy, and with more than 250 clubs and organizations, it isn’t difficult to find a niche.

Less than 10% of the student population joins fraternities or sororities, however, the existing houses do a lot in the way of community service work. The Greeks don’t govern social life as much as they do at other schools; most parties at U Conn. are simply help in dorms and at off-campus apartments.

The town itself doesn’t really have much to offer, however, there are a few local bars and hangouts popular with some students. And for those who need an escape from rural life, both Boston and New York City are less than three hours away by train.

Sports are a huge draw for many students at U Conn. Both their men and women’s basketball teams are regularly in major NCAA tournaments, and many other teams are also considered to be very strong including soccer, football and even field hockey. Students say that sports is what ties the school together and inspires a strong sense of school spirit not present in more urban schools.

The guys range from potheads to jocks to geeks, and the girls are equally as diverse, so chances are, there’s someone here for everyone.

What's Good

“Sports are the best anywhere, there’s a sport for every fan.”

“There’s always a party happening, usually with cow tipping and bonfires involved.”

“If you’re not 21, don’t worry. Everyone knows how to make a fake ID.”

What's Bad

“People party waaay too much, there’s no time or rest for people who actually care about learning.”

“You can’t have a car until you’ve taken 54 credits, which, for a lazy person like me, is a bummer.”

“Storrs is in the middle of nowhere. I get really tired of the sound of tractors in the morning.”

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