Genetic Counseling Fall 2018 Applicants

[JN212]

2 minutes ago, lchurchi said:

You are right...so many dates that they all just get mixed up! Thank you for clarifying.

No problem, dates are the worse to keep track of. I am just happy its 3 days earlier than I thought than later.  

[AspiringGC]

1 hour ago, Brifeir said:

What is Indiana's date if you don't mind me asking? do schools websites say specific date or is IU the only one?

Utah (February 12th) and Augustana (February 16th "last day for students to receive interviews") both have exact dates, others are more broad, like Arizona states late January for notification. If you go look around the websites for schools you've applied to, you can typically find this (if available) in the FAQs, on the Admission page, or some have admission timeline pages). 

[MidwestGC]

Brandeis University says on their genetic counseling program page that they will send out emails with interview invites January 15-19. I'm trying really hard to not think about how close that is!

[bryvy]

2 hours ago, ICGCDW said:

Brandeis University says on their genetic counseling program page that they will send out emails with interview invites January 15-19. I'm trying really hard to not think about how close that is!

Hi! I couldn't find this information on their website. Where does it say this? 

I almost can't believe it would be that soon since the deadline was at the beginning of this month!

[MidwestGC]

 

16 minutes ago, bryvy said:

Hi! I couldn't find this information on their website. Where does it say this? 

If you go to the main program page there is a green box that says "News and Updates" and a link to an "Admissions Information" page. It has a timeline on that admissions info page that says that date. (http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/genetic-counseling/index.php/admissions-information/) I just happened to be checking around and saw it recently. It really surprised me too, I applied to some schools with early December deadlines that don't even tell you until much later. 

[bryvy]

1 hour ago, ICGCDW said:

 

If you go to the main program page there is a green box that says "News and Updates" and a link to an "Admissions Information" page. It has a timeline on that admissions info page that says that date. (http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/genetic-counseling/index.php/admissions-information/) I just happened to be checking around and saw it recently. It really surprised me too, I applied to some schools with early December deadlines that don't even tell you until much later. 

Thank you!! I was wondering what other schools you found this information for?? 

This is super helpful, but also amping up my anxiety now that I know the dates haha

[AspiringGC]

47 minutes ago, bryvy said:

Thank you!! I was wondering what other schools you found this information for?? 

This is super helpful, but also amping up my anxiety now that I know the dates haha

Another way I got a rough idea of when schools would be contacting us is through the Results page here. 
As others mentioned, this might not be the most accurate anymore with Match and schools possibly (hopefully) moving up contact times/interview dates, but it gives a rough idea. 

For UCI for example, I saw contact about interviews in late February/early March (with the early contact mid February). I'd also note that of all schools that I applied to this year versus last year, UCI actually pushed BACK their app deadline from January 1st to the 15th, so that may play a factor for interview dates this year.
CSU has the same timeline of late February to early March, though earliest contact looks around February 21st. 

[MidwestGC]

No problem! I couldn't find definitive dates like this for any of the other programs I applied to, just general time frames. I'm hoping South Carolina, North Carolina, and maybe Boston are earlier as well because they had early December deadlines but who knows. I have no idea how I'm going to get anything done next week. I already check my email way too much..

[GCBrittany]

6 hours ago, AspiringGC said:

Utah (February 12th) and Augustana (February 16th "last day for students to receive interviews") both have exact dates, others are more broad, like Arizona states late January for notification. If you go look around the websites for schools you've applied to, you can typically find this (if available) in the FAQs, on the Admission page, or some have admission timeline pages). 

OOh I didn't know Utah had a date to send invites by! So exciting! Thanks for the info. 

[hb_94]

2 hours ago, AspiringGC said:

Another way I got a rough idea of when schools would be contacting us is through the Results page here. 
As others mentioned, this might not be the most accurate anymore with Match and schools possibly (hopefully) moving up contact times/interview dates, but it gives a rough idea. 

For UCI for example, I saw contact about interviews in late February/early March (with the early contact mid February). I'd also note that of all schools that I applied to this year versus last year, UCI actually pushed BACK their app deadline from January 1st to the 15th, so that may play a factor for interview dates this year.
CSU has the same timeline of late February to early March, though earliest contact looks around February 21st. 

Last year I believe UCI's application was due the Feb. 1st because I turned my app in on Jan. 27th and it was considered on time. So hopefully this means that UCI will be contacting applicants sooner than last year! Which would be fantastic because I didn't get contacted by UCI until late March last year and that waiting game was awful.

[AspiringGC]

24 minutes ago, hb_94 said:

Last year I believe UCI's application was due the Feb. 1st because I turned my app in on Jan. 27th and it was considered on time. So hopefully this means that UCI will be contacting applicants sooner than last year! Which would be fantastic because I didn't get contacted by UCI until late March last year and that waiting game was awful.

Oh, then I must have had the date down wrong on my old spreadsheet! Whoops, I was contacted by them around the same time as you last year. Fingers crossed that you're right! I just submitted my last app (UCI lol) and I'm so relieved. At least my biochem class just started, so I'll have that to distract me a little bit..

[Brifeir]

9 hours ago, lchurchi said:

They sent an email to their applicants saying it would be Jan. 23rd!

I didn’t get an email, that’s odd. I know they have my materials because I’ve been getting emails from Joan. Do you think I should be concerned? 

[Brifeir]

4 hours ago, ICGCDW said:

No problem! I couldn't find definitive dates like this for any of the other programs I applied to, just general time frames. I'm hoping South Carolina, North Carolina, and maybe Boston are earlier as well because they had early December deadlines but who knows. I have no idea how I'm going to get anything done next week. I already check my email way too much..

I’m really hoping boston let’s us know soon bc of the early deadline!!! It’s my top choice and this waiting is killing me. 

[Nefelibata]

2 hours ago, lchurchi said:

She sent me the email right around Halloween. I started my applications in Sept. then turned them all in before thanksgiving so i think she just was updating me each month about what marerial they had and did not have. It is odd if she didnt email you...there was a supplemental document attched in the email regarding to transcripts. Because i turned in my app early, they wanted to know if i would be sending my new and updated transcript (though their due date was the last day of my finals week). 

I submitted my application on December 11th and got the email from her on Jan 8th. @Brifeir depending on when you submitted your app, it probably wouldn't hurt to reach out to her.

[JN212]

8 hours ago, Brifeir said:

I didn’t get an email, that’s odd. I know they have my materials because I’ve been getting emails from Joan. Do you think I should be concerned? 

I also submitted my application at the end of October and received an email from her a few days later with an email with the interview email release date, the interview days, and a form to fill out stating which program you were applying to, adding your NMS code, and whether or not you needed to submit other transcripts. We were suppose to submit this in order for them to begin to review our application as that's what they said last year. So I would definitely reach out to her, if she did not send you this email, especially since she has been sending you updated info. on materials received. 

[JN212]

12 hours ago, ICGCDW said:

No problem! I couldn't find definitive dates like this for any of the other programs I applied to, just general time frames. I'm hoping South Carolina, North Carolina, and maybe Boston are earlier as well because they had early December deadlines but who knows. I have no idea how I'm going to get anything done next week. I already check my email way too much..

I totally feel you on the waiting game. Last year it was a little easier since most of the programs specially said it wouldn't be until late Jan./early Feb. but due to the NMS its so stressful to know when it will be this time around. I am also hoping North Carolina will be soon. There deadline was so early and based on past results they contacted people as earlier as the beg./middle of Jan. but like you said who knows. 

[GCBrittany]

Did anyone else apply to Arcadia with personal recs that weren't from a GC?

Edited January 11, 2018 by GCBrittany
typo

[Brifeir]

Oh wow feeling dumb! I just looked back at my emails from her and found it. I submitted back at the end of october as well, I guess I just didn’t remember that piece of the email! Thanks guys!

[GCBrittany]

On 1/10/2018 at 12:34 PM, GeneDawg said:

I thought I would feel relaxed after finishing all my apps. But, now I am just obsessively checking the results page three times a day. How are you all dealing with the wait? 

Totally hear ya on the wait. With every ding of my email, I'm jumping to look. I'm sure after another couple of weeks I'll mellow a bit (probably not ;P). I've started a second job to cover costs and this has kept me away from home during the evenings. Also I'm trying to work out and read a bit more, just to find distractions. You'd think a few months wouldn't be so bad. I bet once this process is all said and done and we're in grad school, we'll be wishing we had all this free time back :).

[HSGC2017]

Hey guys,

I’m a second time applicant this cycle. Last clue I had one interview which was pretty good considering my low under Graduate GPA (2.86 due to personal hardships). I did contact programs I applied to for application feedback for this cycle and applied  as much of it as I could to help me be a better applicant this time. I am nervous that I might not hear back from many programs this cycle because I haven’t accomplished as much as I had originally hoped I’d be able to. A year goes by really quick.  This year I’ve applied to 10 programs so I hope I hear back from a few.

Undergraduate GPA- 2.86

Genomic advocacy Graduate certificate GPA - 3.85 so far (I’m doing 3 classes in the spring)

Old GRE scores: 157/154/4.0 (V/Q/AW)

New scores: 162/166/4.5

Old volunteer experience: volunteered with a free clinic for people who have no insurance (for 5+ years). 

New Volunteering experiences: I started volunteering with a sexual assault crisis line in august. I also am a volunteer Sunday school teacher. I was a camp counselor this summer and have been more active in the networking aspect of the clinic I was volunteering with last year. 

 

Anyone else applying with a lower than ideal GPA?

Edited January 11, 2018 by HSGC2017

[GenMed]

49 minutes ago, HSGC2017 said:

Anyone else applying with a lower than ideal GPA?

Yes! I have a 2.87 from my undergrad. I'm a first time applicant and would love to hear what feedback you were given about reapplying. I've taken some graduate courses and have done well...so I'm hopeful but also trying to be realistic! 

[GCBrittany]

1 hour ago, HSGC2017 said:

Old GRE scores: 157/154/4.0 (V/Q/AW)

New scores: 162/166/4.5

Wow amazing job second time around!  Also, I'm obviously no expert, but I think your perserverance and experience is more important than a good GPA! 

[HSGC2017]

On 1/11/2018 at 2:40 PM, GenMed said:

Yes! I have a 2.87 from my undergrad. I'm a first time applicant and would love to hear what feedback you were given about reapplying. I've taken some graduate courses and have done well...so I'm hopeful but also trying to be realistic! 

Taking Graduate classes to show you can handle the coursework is definitely a good idea. One of the things my application was missing last year was a solid advocacy experience (some of the programs admitted that applications that did not have that didn’t make it to first review). Other things that were recommended were trying to get more exposure to the field of genetic counseling, (which is something I’m still working on, has anyone taken the University of Cinncinati online Genetic counseling cases course?), retaking the GRE (my original scores were passable but higher ones are usually more competitive) and in general I was told that because it’s not uncommon for people to be applying for their second or third times, sometimes it can’t be helped when other applicants have that much more experience over you. Best of luck to us all though!

 

A lot of the programs were generally friendly, this year when applying I made sure to pick schools that emphasized that a low GPA wouldn’t automatically disqualify an applicant.

[HSGC2017]

51 minutes ago, GCBrittany said:

Wow amazing job second time around!  Also, I'm obviously no expert, but I think your perserverance and experience is more important than a good GPA! 

Thank you! I really hope I hear back from a couple programs this year. I went through and rewrote my personal statement which previously focused on trying to explain the GPA to instead address it in a way that underscores the rest of my better aspects as an applicant ?

[AspiringGC]

2 hours ago, HSGC2017 said:

Anyone else applying with a lower than ideal GPA?

I'd put myself into this category. Overall, I have a decent GPA, 3.36. But my major/science GPA is only a 2.68 with it possibly getting up to around a 2.78 or so with my biochem (assuming I get an A)/neurogenetics class factored in. 

So, I do really think that played a big factor last year (as both my GPAs were even lower than now). Most schools told me to focus on pre-reqs for anything I might retake. They didn't care too much about ochem or any of my bio classes instead pushed me towards biochem as that combines both. Idk what else to offer pass that. I didn't receive a single interview last year, and I already have one (albeit, this school has a lower minimum GPA they accept, but still). 

Overall, I think what helped more was the amount of GC experience/exposure I got in the past months. I applied having never shadowed a GC to now having 60 direct hands-on hours with them. 

Edited January 11, 2018 by AspiringGC