According to Emelis Santos \u201924, UConn Waterbury is the place to be. The allied health sciences major has nothing against the main campus in Storrs or any of UConn\u2019s other regional campuses. But the Waterbury native majoring in allied health sciences says the close-knit atmosphere and opportunity to stay close to her community gives Waterbury the edge.<\/p>\n
Santos isn\u2019t alone. She joins a growing number of students choosing to attend all four years at the Waterbury campus to pursue allied health sciences since the program\u2019s inception in the fall of 2020. Enrollment in the major has ballooned from 44 students in spring 2021 to 72 in spring 2022. There will be 37 incoming first-year students for the fall 2022 semester as well.<\/p>\n
\nThe allied health major is definitely preparing me to be successful in the future. I’m glad to be a part of this. — Emelis Santos<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Santos says she appreciates the manageable size of the Waterbury campus and the allied health program, as it has allowed her to form close relationships with her peers and faculty.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince UConn Waterbury is a small place, you get to know your peers more and form a community with them,\u201d Santos says.<\/p>\n
Santos says the faculty and staff in the program have supported her at every turn, even helping her decide to pursue the major when she was applying to UConn.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a first-generation student, having the support of the allied health [program] is amazing,\u201d Santos says. \u201cI\u2019m glad I\u2019m a part of this.\u201d<\/p>\n