jbv510

I volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate with the foster care system in Indiana. I also volunteered with CTL for the more “traditional” experience, but in my GC interview, CASA was what I mostly talked about and was asked about. I learned so much that’s going to help with GC. I highly recommend it!

Welcome! From what I've seen and heard, positions in a molecular/genetics lab, whether it be clinical or research, or something patient facing, working with a research study or in a provider's office, would be good experience to boost your application. Definitely something in healthcare or genetics would be good. I've worked in clinical labs for 8 years and the last two and a half were in a molecular diagnostics lab. Since January, I've also been volunteering in a maternal-fetal medicine clinic with a genetic counselor getting to shadow and working on a stillbirth assessment program. I'm in the same boat as far as job hunting right now, but mine is as a result of a move. It's definitely an extra layer of challenge trying to find something that will help our apps, especially when, best case scenario, we'll only be working for about a year before programs start next fall. Good luck in your search and with your GRE!

Indiana University Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics in Indianapolis is planning a one-week intense shadowing program for this coming summer, I believe in July. The plan is for the participants to rotate through a number of departments in IU and IU Health. The GCs I’ve shadowed through IU have been top notch - if you’re in the Midwest or can arrange to be in Indianapolis for a week this summer, I highly recommend the program. Below is the link to apply, please feel free to PM me if you have any questions! https://redcap.uits.iu.edu/surveys/index.php?s=MXRRTPXN8A

Me too! I got my MB in 2016 after about 6 years of molecular experience and the genetic counselor I’ve been volunteering with has told me repeatedly what an advantage this is because I already know more than most first year GC students about molecular and genetic testing. I tried to get a job in a cytogenetics lab last month to try to balance out my molecular experience, but the job was frozen right before I interviewed. Either way, I think this experience is going to be invaluable, especially because not all programs do a lab practicum, which I don’t love. Before I moved to IN, I worked in the molecular diagnostics lab at VCU and the GC students rotated through our lab. I think that experience is so important to understanding the complex lab results involved in this field.

I feel like we’re kindred spirits! I’ll be 32 when I apply the first time, with an equally abysmal undergrad GPA. Since it’ll be almost 11 years old at that point and because I got a masters degree with a 4.0, I’m hoping it won’t be too detrimental. Good luck with the GREs again!

Hi everyone, I'm glad this board has started already! I was planning on applying this year, but trying to get applications together while finishing my master's thesis in the fall was too much. I've currently got an internship/volunteer position with a prenatal clinic in Indiana. I shadow half the time and work on database administration for a stillbirth assessment program the other half. With just this alone, I've gotten to shadow 25 patients in the last two months! I also volunteer with Crisis Text Line, as I've seen others mention. It's a nice option and is easy to work around your schedule, which is a definite plus when you've got a toddler at home I'll either be applying for VCU or IU (my applications will be limited due to my husband's career). Looking forward to going through all of this with you!

I think I'll go business casual - probably pants.

I'm going! Driving from Indianapolis, planning on arriving around 4-5 on Friday afternoon. Would love to meet for dinner! Where is everyone staying? I've been seriously dragging my feet on making a hotel reservation. It's on my to do list today.

Hi everyone, First time applicant here. I'm super anxious about the process to get in! A little background about me: -Education: I have a bachelor's degree in clinical laboratory science (GPA ~2.6). I will complete my master's degree in clinical laboratory science in December of this year with an anticipated 4.0 GPA. -GRE: V: 156, Q: 155, AW: 4.5 -Work Experience: I have eight years experience working in clinical laboratories, 5 of those years in molecular diagnostics, and two and a half of those years in a dedicated molecular diagnostics lab at an academic medical center. Our lab did a mix of molecular testing for infectious diseases and genetic testing for congenital conditions, tumor markers, etc. I'm certified as a medical laboratory scientist, a specialist in clinical chemistry, and a technologist in molecular biology. -Shadowing: I have about 16 shadowing hours so far (MFM and oncology), with 16 more scheduled at this time. I'm hoping to have at least 40 before I apply. -Advocacy: I volunteer as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, working with kids in the foster care system. I checked with the admissions coordinator at my top choice school and she said this was good advocacy experience. I'm also in the process of training to work with the Crisis Text Line, to boost my counseling skills. My application choices are relatively limited due to my husband's career. We'll either be in Virginia or Indiana this time next year, so I'm planning on applying to VCU and IU. VCU is my top choice as I worked there for a few years and lived in Richmond for eight. The genetic counseling students also rotate through the lab I worked in, so my lab directors have a good relationship with the genetic counseling program and have already offered to write me letters of recommendation. My biggest concern at this point is my undergraduate GPA. I hope my masters degree will compensate. I also don't have a straight genetics course under my belt yet, so I'll be taking a genetics class this fall. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Good luck to everyone, the next 11 months are going to be crazy!

I'm looking for application strengthening tips for applying to genetic counseling programs in January 2018. I have a bachelors in clinical lab science (~2.7 GPA). I hold ASCP certifications as a medical laboratory scientist (MLS), a specialist in clinical chemistry (SC), and a technologist in molecular biology (MB). I have 8 years working on the clinical bench, with 6 years experience working with molecular assays in the clinical setting and two and half years working exclusively in a molecular diagnostics lab in an academic medical center. GRE 156 V, 155 Q, 4.5 AW. I'm currently working on my masters degree in clinical lab science. I'm hoping to finish next fall, and I have a 4.0 thus far. I know I will get glowing letters of recommendation from other professors in the university (including one from my lab director who works closely with genetic counseling). I'm planning on shadowing a CGC next year as I read that looks good. I'm hoping my work experience will help me stand out and my CLS masters will help compensate for my abysmal undergrad GPA. What else can I do to strengthen my application? Thanks in advance for your help! Edit: Due to my husband's career, my family isn't in a position to move for a program. At this point, I'm planning on only applying to VCU.