FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR
PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS 

What is required for admission the Genetic Counseling Program? 

To be accepted into the Genetic Counseling Program, students must have:

·        A Bachelor’s degree in any subject documented by formal transcripts from all educational institutions attended. 

·        GRE scores from the last five years.  Subject GRE scores are not required. 

·        A three page essay should clearly articulate why you have applied to the program. 

·        Three letters of reference are required.  The letters should complement your essay and transcripts.

Are any prerequisite courses required for admission?

No prerequisite courses are required for admission.  However, we expect accepted students to have a foundation in the basic sciences.  We suggest that undergraduates consider what science courses fit into your major and schedule that may also serve as a firm foundation for graduate study.  Consider taking some (not necessarily all) of the following courses--basic and advanced biology, genetics, human genetics, molecular genetics, organic chemistry, biochemistry.  When reviewing applications, we look for some exposure to genetics. 

Should I submit my high school transcript as part of my application?

No. Submit transcripts reflecting your education after high school, only.  

I already have a masters (or doctoral) degree in another field. Am I “over-qualified” to apply to your program?

No, an applicant with a higher degree from another field is not over-qualified. We have admitted and graduated many students who had already earned one or more previous advanced degrees. If you want to be a genetic counselor, you must train in an accredited master’s degree program in genetic counseling. Previous academic training may make you even more qualified than the average applicant to succeed in our program. We are delighted to help such candidates define a unique future in the genetic counseling profession.
  
What is the minimum GRE score required to gain admission to our program?

We don’t expect any set minimum GRE score.  Of course, good scores, combined with great grades and relevant interests and experiences, may place a student in a better position than mediocre scores.  If your GRE scores do not match your expectations or academic abilities, try taking them again and/or explain in your application what factors may be relevant to your less than expected performance on this exam. Scores between the 50^th-99^th percentiles are competitive.

I took the GRE exam about eight years ago.  May I submit those old scores?

No, the University of Cincinnati Graduate School requires all applicants to submit GRE scores that are less than five years old. You will need to re-take the GRE exam.

I would like to ask my crisis hotline supervisor to write a reference letter. Is that type of reference acceptable?

Yes.  Three letters of reference are required. The letters can be written by professors, research mentors or other academicians, and/or they can be written by internship supervisors, and/or other people who know you from volunteer or work experiences. Ideally, the letters will reflect different aspects of your experience and/or motivation to enter the field of genetic counseling, and they will complement your essay and transcripts.  

What if one of my letters of reference does not arrive by February 1?

Ideally, all components of the application will be in our program office prior to February 1.  Although we understand that when we receive reference letters is not entirely in the applicant’s control, we begin reviewing applications shortly after the February 1 deadline, and an applicant lacking one or more letters will likely be at a disadvantage.  Applicants should approach their referees about writing letters at least a month before our deadline. It is your responsibility to check with each of your referees to be sure they have written and sent in the requested letters.  

What happens after I submit my application?  

1. You will receive an email message when your application is complete.
2. You will be contacted in late February or March 2008 if you have been selected to interview in Cincinnati.
3. If you have not been selected to interview, you will receive a letter in April 2008 stating this.
4. Interviews are held on four days in March and April, 2008 that are set by our Admissions Committee.  Interviewees indicate their preferred dates to meet with the Admissions Committee, students and others over approximately 1.5 days.
5. Interviewees are contacted by telephone on May 2, 2008 to learn if they have been accepted, rejected or placed on our waiting list.
6. All acceptances must be confirmed by the following week.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS 

What financial opportunities are available to help fund my education?

Every year, many applicants qualify for a University Graduate Scholarship (UGS), which provides a partial tuition waiver.  An estimate of the scholarship dollar amount is shared with the applicants when they are accepted into the Genetic Counseling Program.  International students may qualify for UGS awards.

There are opportunities for students to receive a Graduate Assistantship (GA), a stipend to help pay for living expenses.  Graduate Assistantships are awarded to a limited number of students every year.  Students funded with a GA stipend must work for 10 hours a week throughout the academic year, by assisting faculty with research projects, clerical tasks, and/or teaching.   

A few students have received Teaching or Research Assistantships through grants or other departments at UC or Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. 

Underrepresented (African-American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, Native American) US citizens or permanent residents may be eligible for the Yates Scholars Program. This award includes a full-tuition scholarship, a waiver of general fees, and a monthly stipend to help pay for living expenses. You will be notified by our program in early February if you are nominated for a Yates award.  

CHARACTERISTICS OF ACCEPTED STUDENTS 

What is the average GPA of students accepted to the program?

The average undergraduate GPA of students accepted to the Genetic Counseling Program is 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.  However, accepted students have presented a wide range of GPAs from a variety of institutions in their applications.  Students with an undergraduate GPA of less than 3.0 should demonstrate strong credentials in other areas of the application for the applicant to be competitive.
  
What is the average GRE score of applicants accepted to the program?

Accepted students have presented a wide range of GRE scores in their applications.  In general, GRE scores ranging anywhere from the 50^th to 99^th percentiles are competitive. 

What degrees do accepted applicants hold?

Most students have bachelor’s degrees in biology, genetics, or psychology, but any undergraduate four year degree is acceptable.  

What are typical extracurricular and volunteer activities?

• Crisis hotline or counseling experience
• Resident assistant
• Teaching assistant
• Planned Parenthood
• Working with people who have genetic conditions
• Shadowing a genetic counselor
• Leadership and/or involvement in campus groups or community projects.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS 

What would make me a good candidate for the Cincinnati Genetic Counseling Program?

The best candidates have grades and GRE scores reflecting that they are academically capable and focused students.  They will also demonstrate or more of the following characteristics: knowledge of genetics (through courses, lab work or other experiences), exposure to counseling and/or working with people in crisis or with disabilities, volunteer or work exposure to clinical genetics or genetic counseling services.  It is important to be knowledgeable about the
genetic counseling field so you can be sure it is the best career option for you.  Motivation, preparation, intelligence, good interpersonal skills, and enthusiasm are also welcomed attributes!  

Do Genetic Counseling Program students have mentors/supervisors during their clinical work?

Students will participate in clinic from the outset of the program.  Students participate in 5 week clinical rotations where they are assigned to a mentoring/supervising genetic counselor.  The student is expected to gradually assume additional clinical roles.  By the end of the first year, students are counseling entire sessions by themselves.  The supervising genetic counselors serve as mentors and teachers during this process.  Supervisors observe each case and provide the student with feedback on his/her counseling skills. In the past, mentors have been able to share their genetic counseling expertise in prenatal, pediatric, cancer, research, and fetal intervention settings.

During the summer between the first and second years of study, students participate in a six week full time internship in another genetics center.  As long as a genetics center is staffed by genetic counselors and/or clinical geneticists certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling, American College of Medical Genetics or Canadian College of Medical Genetics, the student can go anywhere in the country (or the world) for the summer internship.  This is a good opportunity for students to work in potential future job settings, work close to home, or live/work somewhere exciting!   

Can you tell me more about your program’s emphasis on diversity?

The Cincinnati Genetic Counseling Program is a leader in proactively addressing the need for genetic counselors to work effectively with a growing ethno-culturally diverse patient population.  We place emphasis not only on recruiting culturally diverse students into the program, but also on launching and supporting all of our students on their journey to become culturally competent practitioners.  Each student is unique in terms of his/her age, personal experiences, family background, religion, worldviews, etc, and we encourage applicants to reflect on their own experiences via their essay and/or references.  Supported by institutional grants and other funds, our program is nationally recognized for recruiting underrepresented minority students and improving the cultural competence of faculty, supervisors and students.  Since becoming a culturally competent practitioner involves an ongoing journey of self-awareness and learning/demonstrating skills and knowledge, there is no defined endpoint.  Our program’s goal is to facilitate the student’s personal and professional growth process.   

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE FUTURE  

How and why is the program changing?

Recognizing the goals of our mission statement and keeping the high standards we have set for ourselves and our trainees, we streamlined and revised the overall program design and coursework to address new health care needs emanating from the Human Genome Project.  The outcome of these efforts, superimposed on the existing foundation of an extremely strong curriculum, places our graduates at the forefront of the profession.  To realize the goal of streamlining the program, a pause in the Fall 2007 admissions created an opportunity for our faculty and administration to focus attention on vigorously transforming the curriculum without jeopardizing the progress of students in the pipeline.  The new curriculum is posted on our website and it will be fully implemented for the entering class of Fall 2008. 

Is the Genetic Counseling Program accepting students for Fall 2008 admission?

Yes, we encourage you to submit an application. We anticipate accepting 8-10 students to begin in September 2008.  Accepted applicants will be notified on May 2, 2008.  This student cohort will be the first to benefit from our curriculum transformation. 

How can I obtain more information about the program? 

• Request an information/application packet from our office (gcprog@cchmc.org or 513 636-8448)
• Watch our website for dates and times of upcoming Open Houses for prospective students. Attend an Open House if you live nearby. For the benefit of students who live outside this region, we’ll posted the Open House slides on our website.

GOOD LUCK IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS!!

Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling
College of Allied Health Sciences
University of Cincinnati
P0 Box 670394
Cincinnati, OH 45267-0394
(513) 636-8448 (phone)
(513) 636-0543 (fax)
GCPROG@CCHMC.ORG