There's a lot of specific information about UConn's program and curriculum from current/past students in threads already if you do a search for UConn, but I can let you know what I learned from interviewing there this cycle.
- The integrated medical curriculum is not common for most dental schools. At UConn the dental students and medical students are in the same basic science lectures and taking the same exams, while also taking additional dental specific classes. Most dental schools have separate basic science lectures that are more dental focused, and therefore (from what I was told) UConn students are learning a wider range and greater depth of the basic science curriculum. They also have significantly higher classroom hours than many other schools in order to accomplish this.
- The curriculum also ties in to the specialty rate, as the intense basic science background prepares the students very well for the board exams and they tend to score very high. Specifically for the students that want to do OMFS, an additional board exam is required, which is very similar to part 1 of the medical boards (which UConn students are obviously well prepared for after a medical school curriculum).
- From the impression I got during the interview day, the main focus is the academics & the curriculum, but the clinics looked great and the students did not have trouble getting enough patients. They do start the pre-clinical/simulation training a bit later than other schools though because of the high classroom hours. The school does not seem to be 'research focused' however the school is located in a medical center and there is a significant amount of research that goes on there. CT in general puts a lot of money into the UConn systems, so the clinic was pretty new and very up-to-date.
- The small class size is definitely a plus, though more important is the student/faculty ratio, especially in the clinics. This size also helps in getting strong letters of recommendation because the professors can get the chance to know the students well.
- I don't remember hearing anything about a MPH/MBA but I don't know for sure.
- Farmington, CT is definitely different from NYC, but it isn't quite the middle of nowhere. (I did my undergrad at UConn in Storrs, CT and that would probably qualify, but not Farmington). I wouldn't really count Hartford as a particularly exciting city but both NYC and Boston are drivable, and the school seems to organize/sponsor a good amount of events for the dental and medical students. It is also in a safe/relatively wealthy part of CT.
- The students seemed to like the P/F system and said that their classmates were generally very supportive in sharing notes, etc. They also told us that while the students don't know their ranking, the school keeps track of everything, so it is available to specialty programs if needed (now that the boards are also P/F) and it is something they can include in their letters of recommendation.
Overall the impression I got was that the medical curriculum was something they really value and emphasize to prospective students. They place a great importance on training knowledgeable and highly competent medical professionals that can give their patients the best care possible.
(Side note: If the person you're speaking with seems to be a sports fan...UConn Basketball Dual Champions 2014
)
**Current students please correct any wrong info**
