Genetic Counseling

Courses: Intro Biology I & II, General Chemistry I & II, College Writing, Intro Psychology, Statistics.

Activities: Join a pre-health or genetics-related student group; begin volunteer work.

Fall Semester

• Intro Biology I, General Chemistry I, College Writing, Intro Psychology.
• Join a pre-health or genetics-related club (e.g., AMSA, Genetics Society).
• Begin light volunteering (hospital, community organization).

Spring Semester

• Intro Biology II, General Chemistry II, Statistics, Sociology or Anthropology elective.
• Start developing relationships with professors (attend office hours).
• Research genetic counseling as a career (read NSGC resources, attend webinars).

Summer

• Volunteer in healthcare or community service setting.
• Shadow healthcare providers if GC shadowing isn’t available yet.

Courses: Organic Chemistry I, Genetics, Developmental Psychology, Sociology/Ethics elective.

Activities: Begin shadowing opportunities; continue volunteering; seek summer research.

Fall Semester

• Organic Chemistry I, Genetics, Developmental Psychology.
• Join or form a Genetic Counseling student group if available.
• Apply for research assistant positions in biology, genetics, or psychology labs.

Spring Semester

• Organic Chemistry II (if required by target programs), Cell/Molecular Biology, Counseling or Ethics course.
• Begin shadowing a genetic counselor (reach out to clinics or use NSGC volunteer directory).
• Continue research involvement.

Summer

• Secure a research internship (university, or summer research experience for undergraduates - REU).
• Increase clinical exposure (hospital volunteering, patient advocacy organizations).

Courses: Biochemistry, Molecular/Cell Biology, Counseling or Behavioral Science elective.

Activities: Research experience; leadership role in student organizations; seek GC internship or additional shadowing.

Prep: Identify programs of interest; attend genetic counseling open houses.

Fall Semester

• Enroll in: Biochemistry, Advanced Genetics or Human Physiology.
• Take a leadership role in student organizations.
• Continue shadowing and document hours (programs often ask for specifics).

Spring Semester

• Enroll in: Public Health or Bioinformatics elective, Research Methods.
• Present research at a symposium or conference (if possible).
• Begin identifying faculty and supervisors for recommendation letters.

Summer

• Work/volunteer in a genetics-related clinical or research setting.
• Finalize list of genetic counseling programs and their prerequisites.
• Draft personal statement.

Courses: Advanced electives (e.g., Human Physiology, Public Health, Bioinformatics).

Activities: Finalize shadowing hours; collect recommendation letters.

Application Timeline:

• Summer/Fall: Apply to programs via the Genetic Counseling Admissions Match (GC Admissions Match).
• Spring: Interviews.
• April: Match Day.

Fall Semester

• Enroll in: Capstone electives (e.g., Medical Genetics, Psychology of Health, Counseling Techniques).
• Ask for letters of recommendation early.
• Prepare résumé and finalize personal statement.
• Apply to programs via the Genetic Counseling Admissions Match (applications typically open in fall).

Spring Semester

• Attend interviews (Jan–March).
• Continue volunteering/research until graduation.
• Match Day (April).

Summer (Post-Graduation)

• Wrap up clinical/research commitments.
• Prepare for transition to graduate program.

Ongoing Throughout All Four Years

• Maintain competitive GPA (3.5+).
• Track experiences (shadowing hours, volunteer hours, research projects).
• Reflect on experiences in a journal (helps with interviews and personal statement).
• Stay updated on the field through NSGC, webinars, and professional conferences.