kds27

Interviewed scheduled for KGI !

Interviewed scheduled for KGI !

Interviewed scheduled for KGI !

Interviewed scheduled for KGI !

Ahhh I'm so nervous! I really hope Arizona sends out invites today. I feel like I've been on the edge of my seat just waiting for days. lol
 
Hope everyone is having a great day today!!

Ahhh I'm so nervous! I really hope Arizona sends out invites today. I feel like I've been on the edge of my seat just waiting for days. lol
 
Hope everyone is having a great day today!!

For anyone who hasn't started sending their emails to programs, Stanford emailed me back saying they prefer to send out that information in mid-June when they are a little slower, but would answer any time sensitive questions Just wanted to let you all know!

Hello! I am also a second round applicant.  I only received one interview, and I think its because of the dang GRE! UGH!  If you want tips on how to prep better, feel free to send me a message and I can talk about the resources that I was given.  I feel like I am improving, which is good I guess, but we will see!
 I personally think that your work experience as a lab assistant and working at a teratology center is excellent!  Have you been able to shadow a genetic counselor a couple of times or interview with one?  I have joined CTL too!  I like how flexible it is.  I think it may be a good idea to have more advocacy/volunteer experience. If you go onto volunteermatch.org, you can find both virtual and local volunteer positions available for the healthcare, nonprofit, and advocacy sector.  The site is extremely helpful!  
As for grades, I am not sure about this one.  Honestly, I don't think its worth going in debt to take more classes.  From my experience, researching graduate classes have been difficult since they all are so expensive.  I took an extended education class at UCSD once and it was $500, so I understand your concern.  I think the UC embryology class sounds exciting! I really don't believe that taking a class at a JC would be held against you.  I think it shows that you have made the effort to raise your GPA, which is great!  Every program is different, so I would ask if you are concerned.  
As for LORs, I believe they will have to be resubmitted.  I would check with each program, since they may have a different process for second applicants!  
 

Hey all! I got in to UCI this cycle by the skin of my teeth and am feeling some mad survivor guilt.
I paid like $70 for the magoosh gre study program and knocked the gre out of the park - 170v, 163q - so I'd totally recommend that if you can afford it and are concerned about the gre.
I got started on my essays really early because I'm kind of a slow writer and I wanted time lots and lots of editing. I'm happy to edit your personal statements if you pm me! 
The 2017 applicants channeled their nervous energy into generating a lot of data. Here is a great deal of it -
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScblLkOC10eqmrQDn_PLVrutN5sllsTnQ4A6Xoq8OnMJfq7uQ/viewanalytics
This is survey results about how 2017 applicants ranked different schools - it includes fairly extensive qualitative pros and cons of each program.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1o1QTZb-PHuih117SY9LW7rPF0-Qm_WGjUvfc7pj0NVM/edit?usp=sharing
This is survey results about how many schools applicants applied to versus how many schools invited them to interviews. I made it mainly to get data for this one:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bvloEuIlsL5AohmhoBjuF_3UV_ADCF3lz8yVtkLjY9o/edit?usp=drivesdk
This spreadsheet gathered data about how many positions each program had and approximately how many applicants each program interviewed in the 2017 cycle. In addition, I used the data from the survey to make some guesses about admission.
If you have any questions please feel free to pm me! I'm eager to help. 

Hi guys! I am excited to say that I will be applying for the Fall 2018 cycle alongside you all! Although I am lacking in experience, I want to try applying anyways and see what my chances are! I've been lurking around the Fall 2017 forum and it has provided me with a lot of insight. I admire everyone's resilience. Let's all support one another for this coming cycle  
A little bit about me:
4th year Honours Biology student at University of Waterloo (Canada) with cGPA 3.3 (still have a year left of school)
GRE: will write end of this August (currently studying, was wondering if you guys have any study guides you recommend? currently using Manhattan Prep and Kaplan)
Volunteer: 3 years undergraduate research experience (mostly in plant and bacterial genetics)-worked in industry, academic and government settings, currently volunteering at a distressline and women's advocacy (pro life human rights organization), hopefully have a genetic counseling shadowing opportunity lined up for me in the Fall although I am being waitlsted
I don't think my experience and grades are that amazing compared to a lot of student BIOs I have read, but after seeing the resilience of all the applicants, I am determined to at least try, I don't see any other career path for me other than genetic counseling and I am excited to share my application experience with you all !  

ro help.
 

I have a feeling things will be moving A LOT tomorrow. It's past 6 EST time, So probably no updates. THANKS SUPPORT GROUP!
 

There is definitely still hope for people on waitlists! I got off two waitlists already and have to deny 3 offers today so shift WILL happen. Good luck!!!!!

Some strategies I have been using to help ease my anxiety:

-Only one tab open at a time on my internet browser.
-Only allowing myself to check my email twice per hour.
-Keeping my phone on silent in my desk (especially when I am trying to teach).
-I have forbidden myself from talking about admissions with my friends, family, and fiance.
-Anytime I get anxious while at home, I go for a walk (with no phone).

This all seems to help a bit!

 

Hey! I'm interviewing at Utah on April 3rd as well! I live downtown (about 15 minutes from the university) so if you need anything, let me know! The assistant director told me they're interviewing around 40 people. I think that's about average.
I'm also a second round applicant. If I get in this round, I'd be happy to give advice to anyone that didn't get in. Hopefully my application improvements work and I can spread my wisdom  Just message me after D day and I'll be happy to look over your application and/or tell you about my experiences! 

I'm sure you were fine. They weren't expecting you to just know everything about a field you aren't even in, why would you need to go to school then. I think they just wanted to see how you could think on your feet, and they chose to do it with topics instead of the typical interview questions that anyone could easily Google search and thus prepare for. So I'm sure they are expecting everyone to fumble, but it's how you pushed through or atleast tried to answer that probably matters more.

I am literally in the same boat and situation as you.  I have received 3 rejections, 1 interview offer, and am waiting to hear from 3 more schools.  The GRE is the only thing that I don't believe is stellar on my application.  Besides that, I have about 2 years of crisis counseling experience, have a history of community service at hospitals, rehab/care centers, etc. I have volunteered with an organization who supports individuals with metabolic disorders for 9 years. I also have interviewed and shadowed multiple GCs, and have volunteered in their clinic at one of the best cancer centers in California.  Receiving rejections has been hard, I truly thought that I would get many interviews based on my grades and experience. At first, I was like how can my GRE score bring everything down? I have been told that its not everything, but who knows what they are exactly looking for.  There are sooooo many different components of the application that they are looking at, as you know!
 A GC told me that every program is unique and many qualified individuals get turned away each year.  Each year they are looking for something different. I have interviewed about three GCs that didn't get in the first or even second time and they are phenomenal GCs now.  My best advice to you, is to stay strong and don't feel defeated. You have an interview and thats amazing!  Think about it, you passed many different admission screening processes to get that interview.  They know you are qualified to be a GC on paper, now its time to meet you and see if you are a fit for the program, as well as, the program being a fit for you! So prepare well for your interview.  It only takes one interview to get in.  I have friends who applied to like 13 grad programs, only got one interview, and were accepted!  I totally understand how you are feeling, If you ever want to talk feel free to message me.  I hope you have an awesome day!

I am literally in the same boat and situation as you.  I have received 3 rejections, 1 interview offer, and am waiting to hear from 3 more schools.  The GRE is the only thing that I don't believe is stellar on my application.  Besides that, I have about 2 years of crisis counseling experience, have a history of community service at hospitals, rehab/care centers, etc. I have volunteered with an organization who supports individuals with metabolic disorders for 9 years. I also have interviewed and shadowed multiple GCs, and have volunteered in their clinic at one of the best cancer centers in California.  Receiving rejections has been hard, I truly thought that I would get many interviews based on my grades and experience. At first, I was like how can my GRE score bring everything down? I have been told that its not everything, but who knows what they are exactly looking for.  There are sooooo many different components of the application that they are looking at, as you know!
 A GC told me that every program is unique and many qualified individuals get turned away each year.  Each year they are looking for something different. I have interviewed about three GCs that didn't get in the first or even second time and they are phenomenal GCs now.  My best advice to you, is to stay strong and don't feel defeated. You have an interview and thats amazing!  Think about it, you passed many different admission screening processes to get that interview.  They know you are qualified to be a GC on paper, now its time to meet you and see if you are a fit for the program, as well as, the program being a fit for you! So prepare well for your interview.  It only takes one interview to get in.  I have friends who applied to like 13 grad programs, only got one interview, and were accepted!  I totally understand how you are feeling, If you ever want to talk feel free to message me.  I hope you have an awesome day!