University of Cincinnati
Home

 

The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Connections Program

The Connections Program, a dual admissions BS/MD program, allows high school seniors to apply for and be accepted to both the University of Cincinnati undergraduate college and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine simultaneously. By having a reserved seat at a top- ranked medical school, our students have the freedom to explore other interests throughout their undergraduate years-all while still maintaining their focus on medicine.While the advantages of this program are many, only students who are high academic achievers, motivated to pursue a career in medicine, and interested in making the most of their four years in college are best suited for our program.

 

ONLINE APPLICATION NOW AVAILABLE
(NOTE: if you are not automatically redirected to the online application from this link, please use the following URL address: https://comdo-wcnlb.uc.edu/MedOneStop/onlineapp/intro.aspx.)

 

APPLICATION DEADLINES:
The Connections Dual Admissions Program (DAP) involves a separate application process from that of the University of Cincinnati undergraduate admissions office. For the 2010 high school graduating class, the online Connections Dual Admissions application will be available from November 2, 2009 —February 1, 2010.

Please note that the February 1, 2010 deadline is for  the Connections DAP application and supplementary application materials only.  There are different division/college admissions and scholarship deadlines for the University of Cincinnati undergraduate programs. For example, the priority application deadline for the College of Engineering and Applied Science is December 1, 2009. You are responsible for familiarizing yourself with these deadlines and  adhering to the policies and deadlines that affect your situation.If you have any questions regarding the undergraduate admissions process, please contact the Office of Admissions at (513) 556-1100 or refer to the admissions website at www.admissions.uc.edu.

 

FAQs about the Connections Program

How can I get an application for the Connections Program?
The Connections Program application is ONLY available online. To be considered for the Connections Program, however, you must apply to University of Cincinnati undergraduate college first. You do not have to be offered admission to the undergraduate college at the time you submit the Connections application. You MUST, however, receive an offer of admission before you can be offered an interview.  The application to this special program is IN ADDITION TO and does NOT replace the undergraduate college admissions applications.

What additional application materials are required for the Connections Program?
 The following application materials are required to be considered for admission:

  • High School Transcripts: An official high school transcript must be forwarded from your guidance counselor. 
  • ACT/SAT Scores: Admission into the Connections Program requires that you either take the SAT or ACT.  There is no ACT or SAT school code for the Dual Admissions Program. Therefore, you cannot have your scores directly forwarded to us. We will retrieve this information from your high school transcripts or an official test report.
  • Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation are required. These letters should be written by people who can comment on your academic ability (especially in the sciences), your service and leadership skills, and/ or your commitment to medicine.  You may use your own discretion in choosing your recommenders.
  • Application Fee: A $25 fee is required to process your application. This payment must be sent by check or money order to the address below. Please make checks paybale to The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Please note that this fee is in addition to any fees associated with the undergraduate college application. If necessary, an application fee waiver may be submitted in lieu of payment.

ALL application materials must be mailed to the following address:

Connections Program
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
French East Building
3202 Eden Avenue, Room 229
P.O. Box 670668
Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0668

What can I do to “help” my chances of getting admitted to the Connections Program?
Students must show signs of maturity, independence, intelligence, motivation towards medicine, and interpersonal competence. We evaluate these characteristics in a number of ways. Students should also meet all deadlines. Make sure that YOU (not mom, dad, teacher, guidance counselor, etc.) follow up with questions regarding the application and interview process.

What are the minimum academic requirements to be considered for this program?
While there is no grade point average requirement, there is a standardized test score requirement. Students must achieve an SAT score of at least a SAT score of 1300 OR an ACT score of 29.

Is there an Open House? Can I arrange a tour of the College of Medicine campus?
We will no longer host an Open House on the College of Medicine's campus. Students selected to interview for the program will be given a tour of the College of Medicine in conjunction with designated interview days.

What happens after I submit my DAP application?
Applicants will be contacted by the College of Medicine if they are selected to interview.  Interviews will be conducted in March only. Approximately 24 students will be invited to interview and offers admission will be made to 8-10 students. You will be notified of your admissions status on April 1st.

How many years will it take me to complete the Connections Program (to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a medical degree)?
Eight years. Students spend four years at our undergraduate college and four years at the College of Medicine. Students in the Engineering program at the University of Cincinnati have a five-year undergraduate curriculum that includes co-operative education. Therefore, they will take nine years to complete the program.

If I finish college early, can I begin medical school in less than four years?
No. The vast majority of our Connections students come into the program with a significant amount of college credit earned by Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEOP) coursework.  Therefore, many students could graduate early. However, our students are expected to utilize this advantage by participating in opportunities like study abroad, internships, co-ops, research, extracurricular activities, double-majoring, etc. Your seat in our College of Medicine is reserved for four years post- high school graduation. (Five years for the Engineering program only.)

Are there residency requirements for this program?
Students must be U.S. Citizens or permanent residents (green card in your possession) by the time of application. Preference is given to permanent residents / citizens of the state of Ohio.

Once admitted to the program, do I have to take the MCAT or maintain a certain GPA?
Yes, both! Connections students must take the MCAT. The minimum acceptable score total is a 27, with no less than a nine (9) in Biological Sciences and no less than an eight (8) in any other categories. Although students may take the MCAT more than once, we do not look at different subsection scores across administrations. Students must also maintain a 3.45 AMCAS-calculated GPA in all science courses and a 3.40 cumulative GPA.

If I am admitted into the Connections Program, are there any additional requirements I must meet during my undergraduate career?
Students accepted into the Connections program are required to participate in the University of Cincinnati University Honors Program. For more infomration regarding this program, please refer to the website.

How can I find out about scholarships and financial aid?
The College of Medicine does not offer any financial incentive to be a Connections student. Our undergraduate college, however, does offer various scholarships and awards. Please contact them directly for more information. 

Is this program binding—am I restricted to attend only the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine or can I apply to other medical schools?
This program is not binding, however, very few students choose to apply “out.” The transition from Connections undergrad to medical student is quite simple. Connections students who transition to the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine pay NO fees and are not required to obtain letters of recommendation or interview for their seat in our medical school.

Contact Us
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at the information below. 

Mailing Location
Connections Program
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
French East Building
3202 Eden Avenue, Room 229
P.O. Box 670668
Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0668

Phone
(513) 558-5581

Email
DualAdmissionsProgram@uc.edu

Fax
(513) 558-6259

Univeristy of Cincinnati Undergraduate Contact:

Pre-Professional Advising Center Website:

www.uc.edu/sas/preproadvising

University Honors Program Website:

University Honors Program
P.O. Box 210007
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0007
Phone: 513-556-6254; Fax 513-556-2890
E-mail: honors@uc.ed

Undergraduate Office of Admissions Website:

www.admissions.uc.edu