First-Year Application Instructions

First-year applicants must complete either the Common Application or Coalition Application. There is no preference in application choice and only one application is required.

Submission of the $80 application fee (non-refundable) is available through the chosen application. Applicants who qualify for a fee waiver, as outlined in the application, may select the fee waiver option when completing their application. The University of Connecticut does not provide fee waiver codes.

Students who reside in Connecticut or attend a Connecticut high school applying on November 1 to any Connecticut public university for Fall 2026 will have the opportunity to have their admission application fee waived as a part of Application Fee Free Day for CT Residents. UConn is allowing Connecticut students to have their application fee waived from October 15 – November 1, 2025.

The personal essay is required and provides the applicant an opportunity to add a unique voice to the application as well as demonstrate writing ability. The personal essay is a component on the Common Application or the Coalition Application and should range between 250 and 650 words.

Two letters of recommendation are optional, but can distinguish an applicant’s character and are preferred. Recommendation letters can be sent electronically, by fax, or by postal mail.

The Self-Reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS) is a free platform used in place of a high school (secondary school) transcript which allows first-year applicants attending a U.S. high school to self-report all courses and associated grades earned from grades 9 through 12. With a variety of grading scales across the country, STARS allows us to automatically recalculate and weigh student grade point averages (GPAs) to ensure equal consideration is given to each applicant’s academic profile.

Students applying to the main campus in Storrs, or any of our four regional campuses, should obtain a copy of their unofficial high school transcript in order to complete their STARS Record.

Any student who does not complete a STARS Record may instead submit an official high school transcript(s) which the Office of Undergraduate Admissions will then use to recalculate the applicant’s GPA as a part of the admissions review process. Transcripts should include senior year classes, class rank (if applicable), and latest grades earned. Postsecondary official transcript(s) from each institution attended are also required whether or not credit is desired or expected. Transcripts must be submitted to UConn directly from the secondary institution, either electronically or by mail in a sealed envelope.

Students who have completed the State High School Equivalency Diploma (GED) should send an official copy of their diploma and a complete set of scores to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Official transcript(s) of any work completed in high school are also required.

All academic credentials not written in English must be accompanied by an official, certified English translation.

At UConn, we understand that one test may not accurately define a student’s academic progress and potential, which is why we are allowing first-year applicants the choice to submit standardized test results for the foreseeable future.

If you believe your SAT or ACT scores reflect your academic ability and want them considered, UConn requires official scores sent directly from the testing agency. Writing and science sections are not required or used in our review.

If you would like to have your test score considered, we superscore the SAT and ACT by combining your highest section scores from multiple test dates. For the ACT, we recalculate your composite score using the highest scores from each subsection, excluding science.

Institutional Codes: SAT – 3915 or ACT – 0604

*Combined SAT: 1320-1460 (Storrs Main Campus); 990-1280 (Regional Campuses)

*Combined ACT: 30-34 (Storrs Main Campus); 24-31 (Regional Campuses)

*Standardized test ranges represent the middle 50% of fall 2025 admitted students who elected to submit test scores as part of their application materials.

Application information may fit in a box, but our applicants shouldn’t. Certain populations require additional components to the application.

Home-schooled applicants are asked to provide equivalent instruction documentation of their academic curriculum. Please ensure that your outline is specific and comprehensive. Students should submit syllabi and transcripts, a portfolio or learning log, standardized test scores (optional), and official college transcripts, if applicable. Please indicate whether the curriculum has been conducted under an accredited homeschool program or any other accredited alternative program. Documentation should verify that the home-school program meets the applicant’s local or state high school graduation requirements.