#87 Genetic Counseling Grad School Apps (Part 1)

A panel of four incoming genetic counseling graduate schools discuss the application process. This is part one of two podcasts, discussing how to gather the experience and classes to have a competitive application. Early next year (2019) we will also release a follow up episode focusing on the second part of the application process: interviews, ranking and matching.We also surveyed over 50 incoming genetic counseling students (enrolling Fall 2018) who went through the last application process, which was also the first time the Match System was used. Their feedback has been summarized on the blog post with this episode on DNApodcast.com. We hope prospective and applying students find this summary and episode helpful!The Incoming Genetic Counseling Student PanelKira Dineen hosts DNA Today: A Genetics Podcast (and radio show), which was founded in 2012 and features over 85 episodes interviewing genetic counselors, patient advocates and other genetic experts. The show was nominated in the 2015 and 2016 Podcast Awards. She is the Communications Lead at My Gene Counsel, a digital genetic counseling company. Kira is also a member of National Society of Genetic Counselors’ Digital Ambassador Program (aka #NSGCGenePool). She received her Bachelor's of Science degree in Diagnostic Genetic Sciences with a concentration in Cytogenetics at the University of Connecticut. Kira is excited to be in Sarah Lawrence College’s Genetic Counseling Class of 2020.Brynna Nguyenton will be a first year genetic counseling student at The Keck Graduate Institute. She earned her BS in Biology with a minor in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience from San Diego State University in 2016. Brynna’s professional interests include accessible healthcare, neuropsychiatric and cancer genetics, and promoting scientific literacy and education in the community. She is also the lead staff contributor of the genetic counseling blog, Maps and Genes. Outside of genetic counseling, she enjoys thrift shopping, traveling and trying new foods, and spending time outdoors with her Husky/Shepherd puppy, Kenobi.Katie Church is a member of the 2020 Genetic Counseling class from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Originally from Colorado, in 2017 she graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Biology with minors in Psychology and Spanish from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Throughout undergrad she spent time volunteering with adaptive recreation and a domestic violence hotline, helping with research, shadowing various genetic counselors, and staying active in her sorority. Post graduation she worked as a research assistant in a fly genetics lab and a high school cheer coach.Brianna Van den Adel was born and raised in the small northern town of Kitimat, B.C., Canada. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Psychology at The University of Northern British Columbia in 2017. With her recent acceptance into the Master of Genetic Counseling program at The University of British Columbia, she looks forward to completing her degree and working towards introducing the field of genetic counseling to Prince George, and serving the northern communities of British Columbia.On This Episode We Discuss:Overall Application TimelineCost of our Application ProcessesPreparation for Applications & Helpful ResourcesPrerequisites, Extracurricular Activities & Recommended ExperiencesFinding Genetic Counselors to ShadowWriting the Personal StatementsLetters of Recommendation: How Many to Request & Who To AskDifferences Applying as an International Student (Outside US)Deciding Schools: Features to Focus on & Number to Apply toStay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on August 17th. New episodes are released on the first and third Fridays of the month. See what else I am up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes.Questions/inquiries about the application process for the four of us can be sent to [email protected]. Interested in getting i