Although Connecticut may not seem like the first option for those who want to pursue a career in medicine, some excellent medical schools with decades and decades of educational tradition grant M.D. degrees. Their unique programs and facilities make them very different from other universities. Requirements to enroll and to get your license are similar to those in other states: having a bachelor’s degree, taking the MCAT, completing the four-year program, taking practical and written examinations, and more.
However, even if this is a long journey, medical schools in Connecticut make it easier and very enjoyable! So, let’s see which universities are qualified to grant M.D. degrees.
Top Medical Schools in Connecticut
1. Yale University
Yale University’s School of Medicine was one of the first established in the United States in 1810. Although it’s one of the oldest and best medical schools in the USA, its curriculum and programs are among the most flexible and innovative.
Education at the Yale School of Medicine is very flexible and will depend on each student’s interests, with its many dual-degree options. Besides the most common combinations, such as a joint M.D./Ph.D. degree program or an M.D./Master of Public Health, students can pursue other dual degrees according to their interests. They can combine their M.D. degrees with a Master of Divinity, sciences of engineering, or even a juris doctor degree (along with the Yale School of Law).
It also has physician assistant programs and online programs. If you choose the latter, your education will combine online classes and coursework, clinical rotations where you live, and three-week immersions on the Yale campus. Students must also write a thesis before graduating, and there is an extensive and varied list of electives.
Admissions to Yale School of Medicine are highly competitive, but the process is not very different from that of other medical schools. In 2018, 4,374 people applied, but only 104 were admitted. To apply, you must start with the online and Yale Secondary applications. Then, you’ll have to submit your letters of recommendation and attend the interviews if invited. They also accept international students and offer financial aid.
See Also: How to Become a Doctor in the United States
2. Quinnipiac University
Formerly known as the Frank H. Netter M.D. School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University, Quinnipiac Medical School is one of the newest medical schools in the U.S. It was established in 2010 and received preliminary accreditation to grant M.D. degrees in 2012. In 2017, it received full accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, or LCME.
However, being a new medical school in Connecticut doesn’t mean that it isn’t as good as others. It has an innovative curriculum and a different approach. In addition to the M.D. program, they also have an anesthesiologist assistant program. Another exciting aspect is that students must complete a capstone project before graduating.
Quinnipiac Medical School is focused on primary care and student preparation. That’s why they ensure that professors focus entirely on education rather than personal research. Another priority here is the clinical experience. This medical school also has hundreds of affiliated centers where students can make their clinical rotations or get research or residency opportunities. Students also start having clinical experience when they begin the four-year program.
Admissions at Quinnipiac Medical School are competitive, especially because class sizes here are slightly smaller than in other universities. Although it is a relatively new medical school, there were 7,675 applicants for the 2020 class! Six hundred fourteen of them were interviewed, but only 90 were admitted. They expect to expand class size throughout the years. Actually, for the class of 2021, they accepted 96 students, and for the class of 2022, they accepted 99 students.
The application process is very similar to the process in other universities. It starts with the online application through the American Medical College Application Service, or AMCAS. Then, you’ll receive an invitation to submit a secondary application, and you’ll be invited to an interview. They also offer on-campus information sessions for prospective students.
3. University of Connecticut
The University of Connecticut‘s School of Medicine was established in 1968 and is part of the UConn Health Center. This medical school is known for its research centers and many program and admissions options. It offers a few dual degree programs, including a joint M.D./Ph.D. program, an M.D./MBA program with the School of Business, an M.D./MPH program, and a Special Program in Medicine (B.A./B.S. and M.D.).
The four-year program is divided into three phases: foundation coursework, clinical rotations, and a flexible phase during the last year that comprises electives, clinical experiences, a capstone project, and a boot camp experience. Additionally, a new curriculum, called M-DELTA, was implemented to prepare students for the medicine of the 21st century through innovation and by taking advantage of new technologies. It’s also part of the biomedical research institution, which started in 2011 and is called Bioscience Connecticut.
Regarding admissions, the UConn School of Medicine accepts 3.3% of its applicants. They only accepted 98 students in 2018. However, they have more admissions options than other universities. There is an eight-year program for high school students who meet specific requirements. There’s also a post-baccalaureate program for those who must meet specific course requirements and complete science coursework before applying.
The application process has the same steps as those mentioned in the other two medical schools above. Unlike other universities, they accept transfer students from other certified top medical schools in Canada or the U.S. They also offer different financial aid types, including grants, loans, and scholarships.
Connecticut is a great destination for medical students, for it is home to some of the most renowned universities in the U.S. Going through medical school is a paramount step to becoming a doctor in the United States, and Connecticut has a reputation for being very accepting of international students—something that cannot be said about many states in the country.
We hope that this article on Connecticut’s best medical schools was helpful. If you are interested in studying in the United States, feel free to check out our Study in the USA Page and the Available Programs for International Students in the USA!
