Lakers1960

Wayne State here as well! Can't wait!

So excited to have matched with Wayne State!!! Let me know if any of you are also headed there in the fall!! 

My Gene Counsel just posted a blog post with GC grad school interview advice from over 20 GCs. I found it to be helpful in preparing for my interviews. The most helpful tip for me, going in with 5 things you want to cover in your interview, kind of like a to-do list. It has helped me talk about a variety of experiences in my answers. 
http://www.mygenecounsel.com/blog-recent-posts/2018/2/26/advice-for-interviewingranking-genetic-counseling-grad-schools
I also interviewed a Sarah Lawrence interviewer (Eleanor Griffith) on her insight into the application process and the interviews. It's a podcast so you can listen on iTunes (DNA Today) or on the website below.
http://dnapodcast.com/episodes/2017/11/30/71

!!!! I was just accepted to a great MA program. They have a great renaissance lit program and I’m so excited! I’m sorry if i seemed a bit melodramatic before but this has honestly been such a long process. I initially applied to 6 MA programs and 4 PhD, each with lots of hope/consideration. I also have two more apps still pending but it feels so good to finally hear a yes! Especially one that’s funded. And from a phone call of all things. 
Thanks again everyone for being so supportive. I will probably seek professional help in the upcoming months and  I really appreciate everyone here.

Oklash,
I empathize so much with you. Please don't give up on yourself. Please don't even consider the thought of hurting yourself or worse. You deserve life! You deserve happiness. You can and will find your path. But I know that sounds so much easier than it is actually done. But please, listen to me:
I have been where you are. A few years ago, I applied to graduate school and got rejected at 6/8 programs. This crushed me. None of my top schools seemed even remotely interested. I was rejected swiftly. One acceptance was to my safety school. One acceptance was to a good program, but no funding. I was living at home. I didn't have a source of income. I was in a very bad relationship, which was ending. I didn't think the amount of loans I would have to take out to go to school and minimally survive was a good choice. I just couldn't bear the thought, and I said no. This devastated me. I felt like such a fuck up. I spent hours and hundreds of dollars to apply to these schools. It felt like such a waste.
My parents were pressuring me to move on. They didn't exactly see what this meant to me. I dreamed of going into academia. I really wanted to teach. And I felt like it would never happen for me. I felt like a crucial part of my identity was lost. They told me to get a job somewhere and move on. The only job I could find was at K-Mart. Meanwhile, my professors and advisors told me, "There's always next year. This happens. Just try again." Try again? As if this is easy? As if this is affordable? It's neither. This process can be soul-crushingly difficult. It depressed me. I spent months deeply, clinically depressed. Not many people understood what I was going through or had the bandwidth to relate to me and talk to me. I felt so alone.
But, I chose to just adapt and to go on a totally different path. It was not easy. I changed career tracks. I didn't like it. I still don't. I struggled to find work outside of retail, but eventually did. It was meager, however. Finally, I met my then boyfriend (now husband). I began to learn that life is not linear. Life often does not make sense. The path is arduous and twisted and broken and frightening, but sometimes, there is method to its absolute madness. I would have never met my husband had this all worked out the way I had hoped. I also realized that your career does not have to be the only way you find fulfillment in life. There are ways to engage in your love and research interests outside of academia. Focus on finding those things. Focus on filling your life with people who you connect to and can confide in. You need support during this process. You need friends and love. And sometimes, that is the greatest fulfillment in life.
Like you, I have a BA in English and philosophy. I felt really unemployable where I was living in the Midwest. But when I moved to a metro area, I suddenly found I was very employable, just not in anything I deeply care about, which has been okay temporarily. I have worked in an off-shoot of my field, and I have spent time building my resume with professional experience. I have saved up money to apply again to graduate school and fund some of my education, should I get in. I spent years preparing to try again. And, in that time, I focused mostly on healing myself--repairing the broken confidence, proving my commitment to myself, and polishing the skills I need. My time away from school and this process has honestly been so well spent, and I have hope it is paying off.
My advice for your situation is to consider doing those things: take a year or two or three to build your resume;  consider moving to a metropolitan area where there are more jobs, if you can afford it; stay committed to your field through independent study, research, and attempts at publication; research different programs, maybe try a completely different batch of schools; seek out professionals in your field to provide you constructive criticism on your applications; find friends and a support circle; find other hobbies and things that make you feel good; focus on your mental health by seeking medical attention, talking to a therapist or loved one, taking a break from this process, taking a vacation (or stay-cation), taking up a new hobby, trying new exercise, etc.; and finally give yourself a break.
Listen to all of us in your shoes. We are all struggling. You are NOT alone! You are NOT a failure. You should not blame yourself so much or feel so worthless. It's just NOT fair to yourself. Give yourself some credit for all of the hard work and effort you have put in. Give yourself credit for taking a risk and trying again. Look at how far you've already come. You are GREAT. Please don't forget that! <3

My advice would be to DEFINITELY take the GC intern position if you think you'll be okay living with your parents temporarily (I moved back home for this past year, and I understand how rough it can be). I say this because I was high on a program's waitlist last year and when I asked for feedback the director told me that the ONE thing that would have bumped me up would have been consistent exposure to genetic counseling. I had shadowed in 3 different specialties for multiple appointments and that wasn't enough to get a good grasp of the profession. The programs are getting more and more competitive each cycle so if acceptance is your end goal you need that exposure.

No but because i have already received a bunch of interviews closer to home, VCU is not one of my top choices anyways and i know there are others who would rank them high so i want them to get it instead

I'm back!!!!
 I got interview offers from UAB and Utah yesterday. It still feels really surreal. I'm beyond happy! 
Also want to prepare for these interviews as best as possible! 
Does anyone have any opinions when choosing interview dates if you should or shouldn't go in the last group? 

YAY Mt. Sinai interview invite!! Beyond excited as this is my top choice so far!

So today had a weird turn of events, its was my second time applying and out of the six schools I had applied to this year I had received 5 rejections in a row. I had started to map out my plan B since it seemed Genetic Counseling was just not meant to be and then all of a sudden I received an interview from Indiana State this morning. To all of you feeling down right now,  trust me I know and understand the pain of rejection, I have received nothing but rejection (5 last year and this year) but there's hope and hard work will pay off. 

I got three rejections in one day.
michigan, colorado, and rutgers. Surprisingly, I’m not taking it to heart. 

Got my rejection email from Colorado today. Womp womp. 

@Lakers1960 I applied to Colorado and haven't heard anything yet! I'm hoping they didn't go out all at once but hey whatever happens happens. 

Nice, I'll see you there! I interviewed at Wayne last year as well if you have any questions or anything!

@Lakers1960Our Wayne State interviews are on the same day :-)

Hey guys, it's still January...on Michigan's website it says interviews will be extended in February. Patience grasshoppers, it'll ease the anxiety  

Hi, I am a student at Wayne, and I can GUARANTEE she did not say it in a rude way. She is one of the nicest women I have ever met, and I am not saying that because she is my program director. 

IU why do u say 1/23 and not mean 1/23 -.-

anyone else anxiously waiting to hear from Indiana today? I hate knowing the actual date interviews are supposed to send out!!

I applied to Bay Path this year. I chose to apply there because of the flexibility that an online program would give. However, my living situation has changed since submitting my app and admittedly Bay Path has fallen to the bottom of my preference list. I am still applying because with no application fee and the option of a Skype interview, there's nothing to lose!

Just called to Indiana and all seven offers are still open. Paula said the same thing happened last year, where everything's stuck until someone stops holding out/gets an offer/etc. 

Had my first interview yesterday so I figured I'd post some of the questions I was asked:
(some are repeats that have been mentioned before, but they really do ask these questions!)
Tell me about yourself/Tell me about your advocacy (5/6 of my interviewers asked about my advocacy with Crisis Text Line) What do you think is the biggest challenge genetic counselors face? What do you think you will struggle with the most in graduate school? Other than location, why did you pick this school? What is something we can't tell about you on paper that you want us to take away from this interview? & my personal favorite: If you had an entire month with no responsibilities and unlimited resources how would you spend it? Good luck at interviews everyone! I have my second one on Monday!
 

Oh that's exciting! @Lakers1960 where are you interviewing?
Best advice I have is write down a list of as many questions you can possibly think of... about the program, about the clinical rotations, about the city, etc.  Even better if you can think up some personalized questions for the people who will be interviewing you.
You would be surprised how fast all of your questions get answered throughout the day! It helps to prepare a loooong list so that you have something to say when they ask "Do you have any questions for me?!" hahaha 

For worst qualities - Go with something honest but show how you are working on it. Interviewers hate those worst qualities that aren't actually worst qualities like "I'm too much of a perfectionist", "I pay too much attention to detail".

Hey everyone! I just wanted to share this Ted talk about genetic counselling with you all. Jacyln provides a great summary of what genetic counsellors do, and also shares some powerful insight into the challenges and rewards of the profession. I think this video is useful to share with anyone who would like to learn more about genetic counselling. I liked it, and I hope you enjoy it as well!