Cricket643
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essee reacted to a post in a topic:
Genetic Counseling Fall 2018 Applicants
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Sorry that you didn't receive any interviews this past cycle - I understand that can be very frustrating. It's great to see that you are dedicated to improving your application and reapplying for 2018! Your research experience and volunteer position with a genetic counsellor sounds like a great experience to add to your applications. Does this role involve any counselling/advocacy work on your end, or have you had any other counselling experience in the past? If not, I think that doing the CTL counselling will be a good experience that will definitely help with your applications for next cycle. My understanding is that virtually all programs require you to have some counselling and/or advocacy experience, and this will hopefully help you to get some interviews next year. As for LORs as a second time applicant - most of the programs that I reapplied to required new letters. One program was willing to use the letters from the previous application cycle, but my references chose to re-write their letters. I think if you have new experiences (e.g. counselling) that are really important for your application, it is best to have references re-write their LORs and touch on the skills, etc that you gained. However, reaching out to the programs that you are applying to and asking their policies for LORs for second time applicants is probably the best place to start!
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Of the schools that I interviewed at, I would say that Wisconsin interviewers had the most questions about the fact that I had already completed an MSc and was now applying to GC programs. But they seemed very accepting of the route that I took to wind up knowing I REALLY want to be a GC. They said I was very high on their wait list so I don't think they held it against me at all. Minnesota seems to be quite research-focused (or at least that was my impression) so they were more interested in hearing about my experience having done a master's degree already and what my research ideas were.
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dragongc10 reacted to a post in a topic:
Genetic Counseling Fall 2018 Applicants
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I have an MSc, which I think helped me get interviews and get accepted into a GC program. More importantly, I think it prepared me to undertake another graduate degree, by allowing me to build on skills like time management, public speaking/presenting, problem solving, and critical thinking. If you think now is the right time for you to apply to a different master's program and it's something you plan to do eventually, it sounds like a great plan for you. I was concerned that programs would think that GC was an afterthought for me, but I didn't really experience that during my interviews. However, I really tried to explain my education path and how it led me back to GC, in addition to emphasizing the ways that already having an MSc prepared me for a GC program. I won't touch on cost, since @KeepSwimming2017 already pointed that out
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TAGC reacted to a post in a topic:
Genetic Counseling Fall 2018 Applicants
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There's still a chance we could be classmates, just different years of the program! There's definitely a lot of programs to choose from when you are also considering American programs. But it's really helpful that you and your husband were able to narrow down locations where you would both be agreeable to living. When ranking the programs after my interviews, I did take tuition into account, but I also thought about how much time I would be able to dedicate to my studies if I was also taking on a work position (e.g. TA or RA). As you said, you can save a lot on tuition at some programs, but it is also important to consider how well you can manage your time and whether working while in a GC program is feasible for you. I can definitely answer any questions you have about the Manitoba program, as well as applying/interviewing at the Canadian programs. Feel free to send me a private message if you have specific questions. I'm not sure how active I will be able to be on the forum once the program starts, but I would like to try and check it when I can
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First off, congratulations on receiving interviews this past year. I think that schools will be happy to see that you are really committed to this career path and are re-applying again this year. I am also a Canadian who applied to both Canadian and American programs. I think that everyone has different criteria when choosing which programs to apply to. For me, location was important since my husband would be unable to relocate with me. I was also interested in finding schools that offered a few specific rotations, though sometimes this information was not available on the program's website. In terms of tuition at the US programs I applied to... At Minnesota, tuition is almost the same for all students (whether in-state, out-of-state, or international) as long as you hold a TA position during your first year in the program.. I believe it is just under $40K. In Wisconsin, they said that your tuition is waived for each semester that you have a TA or RA position, though they encouraged students to wait until their second semester before beginning any work position. As such, you would only end up paying for your first semester ($13K for international students). Each student also receives scholarships from the MCH-LEND program and the GC program itself, which help with paying for the first semester of the program. If you have specific questions about tuition when deciding which programs to apply to, I would contact the program directly or the office that posts tuition costs on the university's website.
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GeneDawg reacted to a post in a topic:
Genetic Counseling Fall 2018 Applicants
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Hi everyone! I just thought I would post here as I am also willing to answer any questions for those of you going through the application/interview process for 2018. I can also provide a perspective on some of the Canadian programs, as I found most applicants on here applied to the American programs only. I was accepted to a program (second time applicant) for fall 2017. Last year, I applied to 3 Canadian programs and did not receive any interviews. I was lacking counselling experience and had not shadowed any GCs yet, but my supervisors suggested I apply, even just to get a feel for putting my applications together. This year, I applied to Wisconsin, Minnesota, Toronto, BC, and Manitoba and received interviews at all 5 schools. I was accepted at Manitoba and BC and wait listed at the other 3 schools, and will be attending the U of M in the fall. For my application this year, I added volunteer counselling experience (birth control and pregnancy counselling), shadowed a couple of GCs, and was more involved as a volunteer at school. I re-wrote my personal statements and tailored them to really highlight the experiences that I have had that parallel the role of a genetic counsellor or will contribute to my success in a GC program. I used 2 of the same references as last year, although they rewrote their letters. As others have said, if you really want to be a GC, keep applying and working on your application! You will get there!
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Thanks for setting this up! Just requested to join the group!
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I talked to Jessica yesterday and today. I would recommend calling her directly, I think she probably has more information than Cathy. Good luck!!
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@Joey0817 I agree - they definitely take your whole application into consideration, not just GPA. My GPA was not very strong in my first 2 years of undergrad - that came up at several of my interviews and the interviewers mentioned that they noticed I improved my grades in my 3rd and 4th years. Most programs post a minimum GPA required to apply, and may also expect a certain grade in related courses (e.g. genetics, biochem, statistics). Some of the programs only look at your GPA from your 2 most recent years in school. Try checking the admission guidelines for the programs you are interested in.
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KeepSwimming2017 reacted to a post in a topic:
Genetic Counseling Fall 2017 Applicants
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Just accepted my offer at University of Manitoba! So excited to meet my classmates and work with some of you as colleagues in the future!
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avargason reacted to a post in a topic:
Genetic Counseling Fall 2017 Applicants
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HSGC2017 reacted to a post in a topic:
Genetic Counseling Fall 2017 Applicants
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hey_ella77 reacted to a post in a topic:
Genetic Counseling Fall 2017 Applicants
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Congratulations to everyone on their offers! So far, I have been wait listed at Toronto and accepted at Manitoba. I am so ecstatic to know I will be joining a GC program next year! As for how to respond to their offers if you are not ready to reject/accept yet, I said I was very excited to be offered a position but needed a bit more time to make my decision and would let them know as soon as I decide. I definitely want to wait until my husband gets home to make sure we're both on the same page
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I also had a difficult time ranking my top two programs.. I went through all the information about each of the programs I interviewed at and ranked them on different variables (e.g. cost, rotations, coursework, atmosphere). After I totalled all the scores, my top two programs ended up having the exact same scores! Then I looked at the variables that were most important to me and ultimately decided on my top program based on the variety, length, and locations of the clinical rotations.
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Planning to spend the day with my mom, as my husband will be working and I don't want to be alone at home. Then will probably go for dinner with husband and friends, no matter what news I get!
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March 15-16. When is yours?
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Several of my interviews also include orientation/meeting with students the day before the interviews. I am planning to wear dress pants with a blouse and cardigan the day before and a dress with a blazer for the interviews. My U of T interview is Mar 15-16 - when is yours? I can't see signatures on my phone!