Ready to Join UCHL?
Any interested applicants should review our Expectations and FAQ page before applying to understand what to expect as a volunteer. When ready to apply, please read the information on this page carefully.
Application Process Overview
There are 3 stages involved in becoming a volunteer:
- Fill out UCHL application before the deadline, including onboarding forms as listed below.
- After review of your application, we will invite you for an interview if you meet the required criteria listed below.
- If accepted, we will contact you with further steps.
It is beneficial to your application to submit as early as possible after the application period opens. Interviews are granted to applicants who fulfill the required criteria listed below. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. Qualifications are also listed for your consideration.
Required:
-
- Completion of undergraduate freshman year by the start date of the program
- 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) or better
- Completion of onboarding forms fully and correctly (see Application section)
- Completion of application by the deadline
Preferred:
-
- Interest in working with and/or coming from an underserved or underrepresented population
- Leadership experience
- Applicants who demonstrate:
- Ambition, adaptability, creativity, and persistence
- A desire to impact patients' lives
- An inherent desire to learn more about health care
- Note: If you only have ONE shift open to volunteer, you may be deferred to a future semester. We HIGHLY recommend applying during a semester in which you have AMPLE time to commit to volunteering. Many volunteers are deferred from the program due to lack of availability.
There is an application FAQ at the bottom of this page. If you have any additional questions on these requirements or the application, contact us at uconnhealthleaders@uchc.edu. Once you are ready to apply, proceed to the application below.
Application:
The Fall 2026-Spring 2027 application is now open and close Monday, July 6th at 11:59pm. You may fill out our Interest Form to receive email notifications throughout the application cycle and/or when future application cycles begin.
UCHL Fall 2026 - Summer 2027 Application Link
Fall 2026 - Spring 2027 Important Dates
- Training Day: Saturday, September 19th, 2026 - it is mandatory for our volunteers to attend this!
- Fall 2026 Start Date: Monday, September 21st, 2026
- Fall 2026 End Date: Friday, December 4th, 2026
- Spring 2027 Start Date: Monday, February 1st, 2027
- Spring 2027 End Date: Friday, April 16th, 2027
- Mandatory Group Meetings:
- 3 mandatory meetings, one per month.
- Meetings are held in-person at UConn Health in Farmington - We expect our volunteers to be available to attend all of our monthly group meetings!
- General Body Meeting 1: Tuesday, September 29th
- General Body Meeting 2: Tuesday, October 20th
- General Body Meeting 3: Tuesday, November 17th
Important Information:
-
All materials must be complete, accurate, and submission-ready at the time of submission. Applications that require follow-up or correction will not be considered.
-
All instructions must be followed exactly. Failure to adhere to formatting, naming conventions, or submission requirements may result in a reduced score or removal from consideration.
- UConn Health Background Form
- Instructions for the Intern/Student/Volunteer box:
- Circle "Volunteer"
- UConn Health Host Name: Dr. Henry Siccardi
- UConn Health Department: UConn Health Leaders
- Begin date: 09/21/2026
- End date: 04/16/2027
- A sample form can be viewed here: Example UConn Health Background Form
- Instructions for the Intern/Student/Volunteer box:
- UConn Health Adult Volunteer Application
- A sample form can be viewed here: Example UConn Health Adult Volunteer Application
- UConn Health Onboarding Packet
- Safety Checklist for Unpaid Participants with Potential Exposure to Workplace Hazards
-
- Included in the Onboarding Packet
-
- Self-Learning Orientation Acknowledgement
-
- Included in the Onboarding Packet
-
- UConn Health Confidentiality Policy
-
- Included in the Onboarding Packet
-
- Applicants often fill out the Onboarding Packet incorrectly. Work as a volunteer will require attention to detail and properly filling out forms. Applications with incorrect or incomplete onboarding forms will not be considered for an interview.
- As a tip - the last page of the packet has a blank column labeled "Participant Initials". Make sure you initial every box of this column!
- A sample form can be viewed here: Example UConn Health Onboarding Packet
- You must review the following materials and discuss any questions with us:
- Safety Checklist for Unpaid Participants with Potential Exposure to Workplace Hazards
- Trinity Health Background Check Authorization
- A sample form can be viewed here: Example Trinity Health Background Check Authorization
- Trinity Health Acknowledgement of Code of Conduct
- Read the Trinity Health Code of Conduct FIRST and then complete the Acknowledgement of Code of Conduct
- A sample form can be viewed here: Example Trinity Health Acknowledgement of Code of Conduct
-
- A sample form can be viewed here: Example Trinity Health Volunteer Services Adult Application
-
- A sample form can be viewed here: Example Trinity Health Orientation Packet
- Trinity Health Badge Form
- A sample form can be viewed here: Example Trinity Health Badge Form
HPA Letters (After volunteering with UCHL):
- HPA letters are an objective evaluation of a volunteer's time with UCHL. These letters will be submitted to an individual's pre-health advising office and may be used during the time of application to medical/dental/PA school. HPA letters are not letters of recommendation.
- ALL volunteers will receive an HPA letter.
FAQ
Q: I don't have my own car. What should I answer for the transportation question?
- A: Volunteers are required to arrange their own transportation to volunteer shifts and meetings. In the past, volunteers without cars have successfully participated in the program using public transportation. If you do not have a car but are still interested in participating, you should provide a plan for acquiring transportation in your application (Note: relying on a carpool with another volunteer does not count. There may be opportunities for carpools after our schedule is finalized; however they are not guaranteed at the time of application.
Q: I already graduated from college! Can I still apply?
- A: Yes! Many of our volunteers are currently in their gap years.
Q: Where do I get an HPA Letter of Endorsement?
- A: An HPA is a health professions advisor - an advisor or advising office that specializes in working with pre-health applicants. Many schools do not assign a formal advisor to students; however, it is important for you to know your HPA office, as you will work with them on your school application. Below is a list of HPA contacts for various schools in CT.
- University of Connecticut - premed_predental@uconn.edu
- Wesleyan University - mrodriguez01@wesleyan.edu
- Trinity College - alison.draper@trincoll.edu
- Quinnipiac University - anna.gilmore@quinnipiac.edu
- University of Hartford - mahan@hartford.edu
- St Joseph University - ireed@usj.edu
- Central Connecticut State University - oseip@ccsu.edu
- Southern Connecticut State University - pangj1@southernct.edu
- Eastern Connecticut State University - prehealth@my.easternct.edu
- Western Connecticut State University - cordeiraj@wcsu.edu