Jump to content

UTGC

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    35

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Everything posted by UTGC

  1. UTGC
    When do you have to have a decision in by? It's important to consider that your dream school is not necessarily harder to get into than any other school on your list because everyone has wildly different rankings of schools. If you feel like a school is a great fit for you, they are probably more inclined to feel the same way than a school you aren't as interested in. Also consider that it's hard to know what your ranking of programs is before you've finished the whole interviewing process and get a good sense of the program. It's not uncommon for people to completely reverse their feelings about a program after doing an interview there. I understand this is a school that has been significant to you for many years, but who can say if the GC program in particular at that place is truly the best one for you? I think it's more reliable to make your decision based on whether or not you want to take a gap and work this really cool job. Put aside the thoughts about the program you'd go to after working being "better" than the one that you'd go to if you matriculated this cycle and turned down the job.
  2. UTGC
    You don't even have to make a mention of waiting for another school. You can just say "Thank you so much, I'm really excited to get that offer. I'm taking some time to think today and I will be in touch when I reach a decision". They're very accustomed to students not immediately accepting an offer, it's the norm. That said: if you get accepted by your 3rd ranked school and then get an offer from your 2nd ranked school, go ahead and call back school 3 ASAP and tell them you won't be accepting. You don't need to wait until you get in to your top choice to start turning down offers - only a better choice.
  3. UTGC
    Just want to say that two of my classmates only had one interview and it clearly worked out for them!
  4. UTGC
    For the waitlists: it's a bit frustrating because there really isn't a good answer to that question. It depends a lot on the schools and random chance. You can't count on it moving - sometimes everyone in the program's top choice list accepts. This is probably more likely for schools that are affordable, in a good location and have been around long enough to be pretty established. When I was interviewing, I was reassured by the observation that most of the people I was interviewing with had several interviews, which I took to mean that they would get multiple offers and have to turn down some. I never waited around on the 2 waitlists I was on so I can't speak to how much they moved. I don't remember exactly how big CSU was, but I'd say at least 6-8 students per class.
  5. UTGC
    Don't worry about it too much! Everyone involved in the process knows that timing flights is tight. You'll have plenty of opportunities to show your interest in the program during the interview itself that will totally overshadow missing the optional dinner. At most of my interviews, the attendance rate for the dinner was usually in the 50-75% range. You'll miss out on some info from the students but there's often an opportunity at lunch to talk to the students in private, so that may not even be a huge concern for you.
  6. UTGC
    This is tricky to do from just the program websites because they are often very similar. It's tough to say why you gravitated towards one or the other. Do the best you can before you arrive for the interview, but also know that you will have opportunities to talk to current students (usually at dinner the night before or when you are staying with them) about what makes the program unique and the program directors usually give a 30min-1hour talk before interviews start that is much more comprehensive than what is on the website. You can totally use things they highlight during that talk as reasons you are drawn to that program. Also: it's a totally acceptable answer to mention that the location is convenient for you because of COL, being near family, whatever it may be. Just don't have that be your only reason.
  7. UTGC
    From what I saw, a cardigan would be on the less dressy end of the spectrum but still within the normal range of attire. (Regarding that outfit in particular, I'd probably chose between bold colors or bold prints, both + a cardigan would probably be too informal). I think a simple blouse and dress pants/skirt with a nice cardigan could definitely work. You just want to be careful about not looking too business casual.
  8. UTGC
    A suit and tie is pretty typical for the men I saw interviewing last year. The general dress code is business/professional.
  9. UTGC
    Don't be disappointed yet! They're coming out in waves this week.
  10. UTGC
    In my experience, the California schools tended to be a bit behind the rest of the country with interview offers!
  11. UTGC
    I did a writing exercise for UT Houston so no guarantees it's the same sort of thing, but I bet it's not terribly different. I was nervous about it too, but it's really nothing to be worried about - honestly it'll probably feel like a "break" from the actual interviews. At UT, they put us in a room by ourselves and we just answered some simple prompts. It was mostly situational and about interpersonal things (not quizzing you about genetics or anything similar), like "how would you respond if your supervisor told you XYZ?". In my experience, they definitely provided sufficient time to complete the exercise and I didn't feel like there were any difficult or trick questions. They just want to get to know you and this is another way for them to learn about how you think. Feel free to send me a message if you have any more questions about how interviews are conducted!
  12. UTGC
    I'd recommend emailing someone (whoever seems to be in charge of coordinating applications), I don't think you have much to lose. Just be sure it's phrased in a calm and professional way. I think there may be some flexibility. One of my letters of rec writers didn't sign the letter she sent in and I had to get a signed version sent to a program after the deadline for receiving materials. It ended up fine and that's where I attend right now. At the end of the day, it's real - often compassionate and understanding - people who make these calls and no deadline is completely without any exceptions.
  13. UTGC
    That sounds about right! Good luck with finishing your apps up
  14. UTGC
    I did a single-spaced statement for UT too. The more space the better! Double-spaced would be a real challenge for that one. Also, things may have changed in the past year, but I think the prompt I wrote about for UT was a bit more detailed than what you mention. They have a simple one on the website somewhere and a more detailed one after you make an application account (though it also doesn't explain the spacing). There's also a short essay to write about research experience and an optional one (I think it was about personal hardship or something like that). You may just be condensing it in your post but thought I'd check in case you started writing based on the website before starting the official app
  15. UTGC
    I don't really have an answer for you, but from what I remember, some of the prompts were pretty specific about what they wanted you to include while some were more loose (just: "here's some ideas but write whatever"). I'd say in general, you should probably stick to what they're asking for if it's the more specific type of prompt. Many of those essays had super short page limits, I don't know if you could really do the topic of grades justice without hurting your ability to talk about the things they want you to include. It's a zero sum game for the 1 or 2 page essays. However, if you can mention it in a way that addresses the prompt, consider it. Honestly, some of the prompts I've seen are such that you probably could reference it easily. If you choose to do this, I wouldn't worry about if you're highlighting poor performance - they've seen your transcript, they know. But if you can't fit it in smoothly, I'd personally be inclined to not break the flow of your personal statement or cut out other important info by forcing it in. Some exceptions: if it was caused by anything unusual, like the death of someone close to you or serious mental health problems that weren't addressed at the time or any other kind of one-time freak accident or difficulty, I'd recommend finding some way to bring that to their attention. Or if you got a D or an F in a relevant class, you don't really have anything to lose by trying to explain that as I imagine it's a serious concern for them. If it was something more typical, like difficulties adjusting to college, making more commitments than you could handle, or a professor that didn't teach to your learning style, I don't think there's much to be accomplished by talking about it before the interview stage. They already know the most common reasons why people do poorly in a class or two, those sorts of things are probably their baseline assumption until told otherwise. If your GPA is still pretty good, you don't need to be worried too terribly much unless they were prerequisite classes for the program (and even then, hardly a death blow). Things happen. I know people with a C or 2 that still got in somewhere. They understand that you're human and that you probably learned from your mistakes and care about doing well in the future. That's just my gut instinct but I'd encourage you to also seek advice from anyone that you know in the world of academia who may have more experience with how admissions work.
  16. UTGC
    Hope to see you at UT Interviews! Some words of encouragement: Your GPA is still very good and your GRE scores are on point, don't stress about that. And it sounds like you've definitely got all of your ducks in a row with regard to prereqs. Volunteering as a clinic escort is also super awesome and definitely relevant. With research, I'd say it's not too terribly important (compared to volunteering and academic performance). I had some pretty mild research experience - just assisting in a lab for ~7 months, not taking on any projects or anything. Things still worked out. Perhaps do some thinking about what sorts of areas of research in the genetic counseling field would interest you (you can get ideas from reading what's been published in the Journal of Genetic Counseling for a sense of scope/scale) so that you can at least talk about the subject of research in an interview, if it comes up. Advice for having a weak spot with shadowing: be aware that interviewers will expect you to have a pretty solid understanding of what the field is, especially when it comes to ethical issues and general job responsibilities. Consider doing some reading to shore up that weakness. I recommend Ethical Dilemmas in Genetics and Genetic Counseling by Berliner and Facilitating the Genetic Counseling Process by McCarthy Veach. They're not too long and contain more detail than you'll be expected to know, but they can help you feel more confident when talking about the genetic counseling field and give you information that other interviewees will have picked up through observation. Another option is to read the Journal of Genetic Counseling but focus on ethical/psychosocial papers. You can expect to get questions like "how would you handle X ethical dilemma" and "tell me about a time when you observed Y in an appointment". Reading those books will allow you to pivot by saying you haven't experienced it firsthand but you can still offer some good insight into the issue and say how you think it would best be handled.
  17. UTGC
    Hey guys, Just wanted to share this awesome and comprehensive spreadsheet with info about every program for those of you still trying to decide where to apply! (I didn't make this) https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1du5DmuGbTQYqF9bLtcM3PIDQlHGEHG3lbMfBr6UbpKo/edit#gid=1913023984
  18. UTGC
    The advice to talk about specific professors and their research is usually given to PhD candidates because they have to eventually join a specific professor's lab and spend a lot of time working with one individual. This is not really the case for GC master's students, so don't worry about that. Just let the prompts guide you - they are usually aimed at your personality, background and interests. Don't worry, they aren't going to expect you to have included something that they aren't asking for in the prompt. Not sure if I have very good advice for your second question. Perhaps a safe route would be to mention that you have had exposure to counseling and then focus on what that taught you about the role of a counselor and the impact a counselor can have on someone going through a difficult experience, rather than making the reasons you needed counseling the star. I think there's a way to talk about it without getting too personal, certainly. Best of luck!
  19. UTGC
    You sound like you're ready to apply! I'd only recommend waiting if you are very selective about wanting to get into a specific program and want to be as competitive as you possibly can be, really just want a gap year to work, or if you are concerned about spending money on applications/interviews when you're not 100% confident in your application. Seems like you feel that the GRE scores are your weakest point, but it also seems like you don't plan to retake the test. Why not apply this year? You may feel like it's a bit late in the cycle to make a bunch of applications from scratch (especially because you're in college right now), but maybe you can just pick a few programs you're really interested in and gain some experience by sending in those applications and attending a few interviews. If it doesn't work out, you'll really know what you're doing next cycle. But I think you have decent chances, especially with all that GC/advocacy exposure.
  20. UTGC
    This may be frustrating, but there isn't a genetic counseling program ranking at all. The undergrad and med school ranking is pretty irrelevant, as the GC programs usually operate relatively independently. Therefore, you don't really need to consider Stanford more of a reach school than the other programs you've listed. It's Ivy League, sure, but when it comes to the GC program, I'm pretty sure they receive a similar number of applications as other desirable, established programs do (note: the number of applicants displayed on some program websites may be several years out of date, do not put too much stock into reported admission rates - they change quickly). And do remember: every accredited program gives the same degree and they all prepare you to do well on boards or they wouldn't be accredited. The closest thing you'll get to a ranking is perhaps to compare the pass rate for boards, but most were pretty high. My tips for picking schools when the time comes is to focus on these elements (in no particular order): Location/cost of living/tuition: Is this a city you see yourself enjoying? Can you afford this program in this location? How do you feel about the access to clinics for rotations - are you in a big medical center or do you have to commute a few hours to some of the sites? Rotation schedule: Are you the type of person that wants to jump into rotations in your second semester and learn by experience? Or do you prefer to wait for the summer when you might feel more confident and knowledgeable before seeing a patient? Pay attention to when rotations start as this is a pretty significant element of any program. Class structure: Are all of the classes GC only? Or do you take most of your classes alongside students in other programs, like a med school? Who teaches the classes - genetic counselors or doctors? Gut instinct: How did you feel about the program after your interview? Could you see yourself at this school? Did you like the program director and other staff? There are other things that are important, like the class schedule and way that research projects are handled, but it's difficult to make decisions based off of that when you're in the applicant stage, so don't worry about it if you're not sure what your ideal program would be in those areas. Oh - and I think you're a very strong applicant. Good luck!
  21. UTGC
    Best of luck with your application! I think your experience as a doula will be *incredibly* relevant. I know my program - and I'm sure the same is true for many others - really wants their graduates to have a deep understanding of the pregnancy and birthing process, as this is very important for prenatal counseling. They definitely will know what a doula is and understand the role you've played in many women's pregnancies. Many of the skills you had to use as a doula will be very relevant to a career in genetic counseling, as well. As far as I know, most programs are very accepting of people who don't follow the typical path for GC applicants (that being: major in bio or psych and head to grad school either fresh out of college or after a year or two). However, there are some in particular that I feel were especially open to older or otherwise nontraditional students. If your husband wouldn't mind living in Boston, I'd recommend checking out Brandeis. They had the fewest number of "fresh out of college" students that I saw and I got the impression they strongly preferred applicants with some work experience between college and grad school. Interning with a GC is HUGE, you will probably have some of the highest number of exposure/shadowing hours. That combined with your doula experience will really convince the program directors that you really understand the field. Your academic history isn't as bad as you think - that's a great GPA and the time it took you to finish seems to be based in very valid difficulties that you have since overcome. If you're confident that you can now handle a full course load, I'm sure you won't have too much trouble convincing them. Honestly, I think you're quite competitive. I'd be very surprised if you didn't get most of those interviews, if not all. It is a competitive field, that's definitely true, but it looks to me like you have everything you need on paper. I'd work in some crisis counseling volunteering if you can spare the time (maybe you can work on a hotline from home), but you might also be able to cover that requirement with your doula work for that if you've worked with difficult pregnancies.
  22. UTGC
    [Disclaimer: I am obviously not on an admissions panel, this is just what I've gathered from the speculation of others] I'd say you should definitely consider retaking the GRE if you are getting scores below 50%, just to see if you can do better. If you're stuck with low scores despite multiple retakes, this may just not be a test that works well with you. You'll have to accept that and work on other areas of your application. For 50-70%, it's probably a judgement call. Do you have all the time you need to get the rest of your application in great order and then some? Sure, go ahead and put some more time into studying and retaking it. Would studying for a second exam take time away from volunteering/classes/personal statement/shadowing/filling out applications? Unless you're really sure you can bring it up, that may not be the best use of your time. For 70+%, there's probably a pretty low chance that retaking the GRE would have an effect on which grad programs you get an offer from. Another thing to consider (I didn't personally do this, so don't feel obligated to) for anyone who just can't bring their score up is to take a GRE subject test in a relevant subject (bio, psych, chem, biochem) that you're confident in. This obviously won't replace your GRE score, but it has the potential to show standardized academic competency if you do well. These tests might be more in-line with your strengths than the standard GRE, so it's possible you'll do better on a subject test and that might mitigate the damage of a low GRE score a bit. Again though, just speculation.
  23. UTGC
    If your GPA the last two years is higher than the first two years, that's a good thing! The last years are usually given more consideration than the first if there is a big change. Especially if you can be reflective and show that you learned how to be a good student etc.
  24. UTGC
    I'd say those GRE scores are perfectly fine (I imagine you're in the 80-90 percentile?). I haven't heard anything specific to genetic counseling, but I know that most graduate programs just want to see that you get at least a decent score. Chasing a slightly higher GRE score probably isn't the best use of your time, it will very minimally impact the success of your applications, especially since you already have good scores. Instead, work on your personal statements or volunteering or shadowing. A few more hours into those areas can help your application a lot more than studying more for the GRE, I imagine. Your GPA is okay, probably a bit lower than the average accepted student, but don't worry too much. It's a very holistic process. Just be sure that you are really solid with your volunteering and shadowing and I imagine you should be just fine You will absolutely be considered.
  25. UTGC
    Not that I know of, no. Most programs are going to have their own online application that they're going to want you to fill out. It's tedious. However, there are things like interfolio.com that allow you to have your recommenders submit their recommendation to the site and you can use that site to upload the letters to the online apps or email them to the program for a small fee without having to pester your recommenders over and over. I think programs would prefer you just do it the traditional way, but they'll usually allow services like that.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use

  I accept