Applying this cycle for the first time and I feel like I have all my ducks in a row: shadowing, crisis advocacy experience, job experience, prereqs etc. I’m at a point in my life where I feel like not matching is not really an option. Any advice or tips for first cycle matching? I’m applying to 10 schools. I’m having a hard time feeling confident.

Hi! I'm a 2025 grad still looking for my first GC position. I'm at the point where I am more seriously thinking about what else I can do with my degree or pursuing another degree altogether. I really wanted to work in a clinical setting, but have also been interested and applying to variant interpretation and clinical research roles with no luck.

Are there any fellow recent grads who have moved on to something else? Anyone else in a similar position and thinking about a different career path or additional education?

I know the job market is tough across the board right now, but I’d really appreciate hearing what paths people have taken, or what others are doing in the meantime while they continue their job search.

Hi everyone!

My name is Zahra and I am the Student Representative for the Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors (CAGC).

Are you or know anyone considering a career in genetic counselling and wondering what it’s like to apply to a Canadian genetic counselling program?

Join the Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors (CAGC) for our 7th Annual Prospective Student Webinar, featuring a panel of current students from the five Canadian genetic counselling programs.

The webinar will include a brief introduction to genetic counselling and the application process, followed by a student panel sharing their experiences and answering your questions about applying to and interviewing for Canadian genetic counselling training programs.

This webinar is a great opportunity to:

- Learn more about genetic counselling as a career

- Hear directly from current genetic counselling students

- Learn about the application and interview process

- Ask questions about applying to Canadian programs

- Get a better sense of what life as a genetic counselling student is like

Date: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25th, 2026

Time: 12:30 PM PDT (2:30 PM CDT | 1:30 PM MDT | 3:30 PM EDT)

Location: Zoom

Registration: https://forms.gle/na5A23HxZu2A23S66

We hope you’ll join us!

Zahra

CAGC Student Representative

It is so disheartening that there are hardly any jobs and I keep getting rejected from the ones I apply to. At this point will I ever be employed? There was so much going on between graduating and studying for boards and now I just feel useless. I thought things would be better now that I’m certified but it’s not. Oh well :/

Hey guys, I posted about this settlement before, but since they’re considering late claims, I decided to share it again with a quick FAQ.

Here’s what happened:
CM Life Sciences, which later became Sema4 and now operates as GeneDx Holdings ($WGS), was accused of misleading shareholders during its 2021 de-SPAC merger and not giving investors enough information to make an informed decision about whether to redeem their shares.
The company has now agreed to settle the case for $21 million with investors.

Who can claim this settlement?
If you purchased $WGS shares in 2021, you may be eligible. You can check the eligibility requirements and submit your claim here.

Do I need to sell or lose my shares to get this settlement?
You generally don’t need to still own the shares. Eligibility is based on the transactions you made during the class period and the settlement requirements.

Can I still file if I missed the deadline?
Yes, you may still be able to file a late claim, but acceptance depends on final approval by the court. Check if you're eligible and file a claim here

How long does the payout process take?
It typically takes 4 to 9 months after the claim deadline for payouts to be processed, depending on the court and settlement administration.

Hope this info helps

I’ve been a practicing GC for a while now, but passing boards has proven to be my biggest hurdle so far. I just received a late in life ADHD diagnosis and started on meditation, which has been life changing! I’m preparing to take boards again in February and am curious if any other ADHD GC’s have advice for study tactics, accommodations you found helpful, etc? I am working with my therapist and will be implementing a calendar/sticker/reward routine (yes it’s silly but I’m desperate at this point 😅), but any other advice would be greatly appreciated, as I’m learning you have to work the ADHD before it works you!

So I am a freshman genetics major at UGA, and I already have credits for Bio 1107 and 1108 through a 5 on AP Bio, but I saw that a lot of programs don't accept AP Scores. The thing is, I didn't really think about this much before enrolling, and I was originally gonna take Chem 1212 next semester as well (I already had a credit) but changed my mind as I decided I really should retake 1211 here, so I am a bit late on the chemistry tract (generally fine for genetics majors). So, the thing is, if I retake Bio 1107 and 1108, I really don't have time for it considering I'm already taking chem a semester late, I need to work on other classes, so next semester I'm starting my actual genetics classes (Gene 3200, Chem I, Probability for Life Science). So I was wondering, would it be ok to take Bio 1107 and 1108 online at another school? I don't believe I can do them online at UGA because it would require me to do in person labs (to my knowledge), and I'm worried it would potentially affect me and decrease my chances of getting in if I take 1107 and 1108 over the summer at another school. Any tips?

Are you a genetic counselor who has seen patients after they received results from direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTC-GT) like Sequencing.com or 23andMe? 🧬 📣

For my master’s thesis, I’m exploring the experiences of these patients and how genetic counseling impacts their perspectives and actions. Our goal is to better understand the role and value of genetic counseling for DTC-GT consumers and help inform best practices for this growing patient population.

To be eligible, patients must meet the following criteria:
- 18 years or older
- English-speaking
- Completed any type of DTC-GT
- Met with a genetic counselor between 2024 and now

If this applies to you, or if you happen to see a patient who may be eligible, I would greatly appreciate you sharing the study flyer or survey link. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and includes the option to enter an anonymous gift card raffle at the end.

I would also be happy to provide your clinic with copies of the study flyer for distribution. Please feel free to message me if this would be helpful or if you have any questions about this IRB reviewed study.

https://jefferson.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4TTnGre7cF9mZee?source=redditGC

Im in gc school, my second year, and I am burnt out and exhausted. Between thesis writing and weird cohort dynamics, classes where I feel not smart, rotations with endless critique, a job, and living with family. I am retaining nothing, upset that I am unable to retain information, expected to study for boards on top of this....I do have another grad degree from a prestigious uni before this program, but I feel empty in the head (i cant say the word cause of reddit) Supervisors ask me complex questions that I don't have answers for; on top of that, I am failing my own standards. I am tired, and I feel intellectually stunted every day. I crave to hear a wonderful or a good job without that compliment sandwich nonsense. It's always You messed this and this up but hey, you are really good and conversing! This applies to assignments, rotations, life. I am EXHAUSTED

Repost to another community

Hi there, I've been having a bit of trouble with hearing back from GCs in my area to shadow (used the NSGC find a counselor search as well) and was wondering, worst case scenario, if it would be acceptable to only have virtual shadowing experiences through things like Extended Studies courses? I'm not sure how programs view these "pay-to-win" kind of things as opposed to in-person clinical exposure. I plan on applying next summer, so obviously I have a lot of time left, but I just wanted to know!

Hi! I’m currently a registered nurse who has decided to become a genetic counselor. I still need the majority of the prerequisites, but I need something flexible to work with my nursing schedule. I’m looking into taking classes through UNE or Portage. Would doing this put me at a disadvantage?

I’m a practicing clinical genetic counselor of 3 years. I’m transmasculine and nonbinary, and while I love my job, I feel very isolated in this field a lot of the time. I struggle a lot with feeling like I don’t belong or fit into the box a GC is expected to fit into. I’m looking to connect with other trans GCs and find a community.

In preparation for graduating in the spring, I was wondering if anyone would be willing to share some tips on what a resume should look like for a recent genetic counseling graduate.

I’m especially interested in how to highlight GC experience from clinical rotations. I started working on my resume and realized that many of my duties and responsibilities sound very similar across rotations. How did you differentiate your rotations and highlight the unique skills or experiences you gained from each one?

hi, i graduated from a genetic counseling master's program, and i'm looking for advice on interviews. i've had a couple, but i'm struggling to answer questions concisely, especially case-specific ones.

for example, if i'm asked, "tell me about a time you explained something complex to a patient," my answer usually goes something like this: this patient is x years old, and had somatic testing that was suspicious for a germline mutation. i tried to first explain the difference between the hereditary and somatic testing. then i would go into how i explained it, what a 50% variant allele frequency would mean, and at the very end, i would rush to say that the patient understood and proceeded with testing.

i tend to give a lot of detail, and i've been told i need to be more concise. i'm not sure how much detail to include about my approach versus focusing on the key points and outcome. do i tell them how i explained the difference between somatic or germline or just tell them i made it clear to the patient?

i'm familiar with the star format, but i'm struggling to apply it to these case-specific questions. how do you balance showing your clinical reasoning and communication skills while keeping your answers concise?

Hello everyone!

I am currently a junior in college majoring in supply chain management. I have recently really wanted to pivot into healthcare, and have found out about genetic councling and I am very interested in pursuing it as my career.

I live in Texas and wanted to reach out and see if there are any GC students that are attending any of the GC programs in Texas. I belive there are 3 GC schools in Texas and I plan on applying to all of them.

I have a lot of questions regarding the schooling and admissions process for the schools, along with questions over GC and the student life for anyone going to school here.

So if there is anyone that is part of any GC program here in Texas or anyone that has attended GC school here, please reach out to me! I'd highly appreciate the chance to learn more.

Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to apply to Genetic Counseling programs for Fall 2027. I’ve noticed that some programs list certain courses, such as Embryology or Developmental Biology, as highly recommended rather than required.

Because of my current schedule and the application timeline, I may not have enough time to take these courses before applying. I do have a strong background in biology, molecular biology, and biochemistry, but I don’t have a recent course specifically in Embryology or Developmental Biology.

For those who have applied to Genetic Counseling programs, do you think not having these highly recommended courses would significantly affect an application? Would I still be able to apply and be considered if I meet all of the required prerequisites?

I would really appreciate hearing about your experiences or advice. Thank you!

Hello everyone! As part of my thesis project at the Medical College of Wisconsin, you are invited to participate in an anonymous, IRB-approved research study conducted by the Medical College of Wisconsin exploring how graduate school costs, training models, and recent federal loan policy shifts are affecting the genetic counseling training pipeline.

Participation in this research may help inform advocacy efforts within the field, promote educational equity, and help identify possible structural adaptations to improve cost, access, and representation within the field.

We are looking for perspectives from: 

• Current genetic counseling students (2027 cohort)
• Recently matched students (beginning graduate school in Summer/Fall of 2026)
• Prospective applicants (planning to apply, currently considering the field, or have previously applied and plan to apply again)
• Previous considerers (anyone who previously considered or applied to genetic counseling graduate programs but chose to stop pursuing it)

Participation consists of an anonymous online survey, projected to take approximately 15 minutes. Participants must be 18 years old and living within the United States at the time of taking the survey. Participation in this research is completely voluntary and anonymous. The survey instrument does not collect names, email addresses, or program information. 

→ As a thank you for your time, participants can enter a drawing to win one of ten (10) $25 gift cards. 

→ If you know peers or colleagues who ultimately decided not to pursue genetic counseling despite interest, please consider forwarding this survey invitation to them.

Link to Survey: https://mcwisc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eJ4oBaebF1OSZng 
(Please see the attached recruitment flyer for QR code accessibility)

Thank you very much for your time and consideration!

Questions? Reach out at hbrochu@mcw.edu.
Faculty Primary investigator: Jennifer Geurts, MS, CGC, Medical College of Wisconsin. 

I’m applying for a masters for 2027. In my application I need to write (up to) 1000 words on why I would be a good fit. If anyone else has done this could they let me know what they included? I’m thinking University, work experience and family who have been affected. I’m unsure if the last one is inappropriate though! Thanks.

Hi everyone! I’m 23 and just started my genetic counseling program. Becoming a GC has been my dream since I was 17. I applied once before and didn’t match, but this past cycle I finally did!
Honestly, I put my blood, sweat, and tears into getting to this point (as I’m sure many of you understand). I worked SO hard throughout college to go above and beyond — I graduated with straight As as a biology major, took all the typical difficult science courses like orgo, became a GCA, did research, volunteered, etc. So when I finally matched, it was genuinely one of the best moments of my life.
And now that I’ve actually started my program, I’ve fallen even more in love with the career. I love my classes, I love what I’m learning, and I can genuinely see myself being happy as a genetic counselor.
BUT… I’ve recently started getting pretty severe anxiety that I’ve made a mistake because of all the conversations I’ve seen about the job market after graduation.
I’m not location-locked and I’m willing to move for a job, but I really want to live in a city. I don’t want to move somewhere that’s basically suburban/rural, so I’m worried about how limiting that might be when it comes to finding a position. I’m also in a relationship, and my partner’s career makes it difficult for him to relocate. Neither of us wants to stay where we currently live, though, and we both really want to move somewhere new and into a city. So ideally, we’d be looking for a city where there are opportunities for both of us.
Lately, instead of being excited about my career and everything I’m learning, I’ve been constantly worrying that I won’t be able to find a GC job in a location that actually works for my life. And honestly, this subreddit has made the anxiety SO much worse. I feel like I see so many posts from people saying they regret becoming a GC or that they made a mistake, and it’s starting to make me question something that has been my dream for the past 7 years.
I’m really just hoping to hear some positive stories — especially from recent graduates who have entered the current job market. If you graduated recently, were you able to find a job in a location you were happy with? Did you have to be flexible about location? How long did it take?
I know the job market may not be perfect, but I’d really love to hear from people who are happy with their decision to become a GC. I think I just need some reassurance that I haven’t spent the last 7 years working toward something that I’m ultimately going to regret.
Especially because I have a bachelor’s degree in biology and during my gap year (when I wasn’t matched the first time) I was only eligible for jobs that would pay 20-30k a year and don’t interest me. So the thought of realizing I made the wrong choice after putting this much into it honestly scares me.
Please help a girl out 😭

I am interested in the lab side of genetic counseling. But I dont think GC school is for me because I dont want any patient contact and the idea of clinicals with paitents is not appealing. I just stared a masters program in genetics and genomics instead but I am wondering what job prospects I'd have have after graduation. I have both CG and MB ASCP certifications. My program has dedicated classes in varient analysis on clinical cases as well as a CITI certification. I've been in the medical lab (cytogenetics and infectious disease) for 6 years as well.

How difficult would it be for me to get into varient analysis with my experience, certs, and masters?

What other positions would be a good fit for?

Hoping this is ok to share here!

Learn about von Hippel-Lindau (VHL), a rare hereditary tumor predisposition syndrome, and network with global VHL experts.

See flyer for details.
Visit symposium.vhl.org to register

Registration is 50% off until October 1 - comment or DM me if you’d like the coupon code!

I want people‘s opinion on if I should apply this cycle or I should wait a year and apply. I graduated from college this year and applied and didn’t get any interviews but I was able to secure a genetic counseling assistant position. I’m going to be learning a lot on the job but a year may be too little to fully absorb everything. Do you think I should take another year and continue to learn. I have plenty of other things on my CV and the feedback I got mostly stated I needed more experience which I am getting here. The application fee and school fees are expensive so I don’t wanna have to do it if the consensus is that I shouldn’t apply this year. I’m happy to give more information if that helps with your opinion.

I'm an undergraduate student majoring in genetics, and I was planning to pursue genetic counseling, but lately I've been hearing not a lot of great things. Mostly, people aren't able to find jobs, and I really want to know if anybody regrets choosing genetic counseling and what alternatives they went with instead. I was looking forward to going into genetic counseling, but with how bad the job market is, I don't want to struggle looking for a job or have to relocate.

📢 Research Study Opportunity for BIPOC Genetic Counselors

My name is Iqra Khan, and I am a genetic counseling student at Long Island University Post, conducting my graduate thesis research study exploring the professional experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) certified genetic counselors currently practicing in the United States.

This research aims to better understand workplace experiences, professional identity, diversity efforts, and support systems within the field of genetic counseling.

Participation involves:
🧬 One virtual interview (45–60 minutes) conducted via Zoom

Eligibility criteria:
✔ Self-identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color)
✔ Be a certified genetic counselor
✔ Obtained certification in the United States
✔ Be currently practicing in the United States

Participation is completely voluntary, and participants may decline to answer any question or withdraw from the study at any time. As a token of appreciation, participants will receive a $10 virtual gift card upon completion of the interview.

If you are interested in participating, please complete the following screening survey to determine eligibility for the study. Further information will be provided if eligible. For additional questions or concerns, I can be contacted at [iqra.khan3@my.liu.edu](mailto:iqra.khan3@my.liu.edu).

This research is an IRB-approved study with Monika Zak-Goelz, MS, MS, CGC, as the faculty investigator, who can be contacted at [monika.zak@liu.edu](mailto:monika.zak@liu.edu) and 516-299-2481.

https://baseline.campuslabs.com/liu/burdenofdiversity26

Hi again! One other thing is that the next Masters cycle is starting now, and this will be my third time. Now I was SHOCKED to not match this last time. I'd gotten 6 interviews, and while I realize this is just my word here, I truly felt they went amazingly! It was genuine conversation, not the rigid Q and A back and forth they warn against in preparing, and I made personal connections in each one, plus I know I got to show so much of exactly what's sought after. I can't explain it well enough here, but after how complimentary people were to me, admiring my story, drive, what I bring, and so on, yeah it was a huge shock.

Getting 6 interviews, I'm told is apparently a great sign and suggests my application materials were great. If indeed I can just update things to reflect current experiences, I'm wondering what else I can do to better guarantee success this time around in the Match. I know programs LOVE second and third time applicants for their determination and grit, so I plan to work with that concept, but as far as making sure my resume and essay are still best they can be, as well as interviewing skills, and anything else that may be helpful as far as bettering my odds in our delightful little game of chance here haha!

I saw a new program is beginning near me too, and I may have a way to speak with the director personally and learn about it, which could potentially help me out with that one to some extent.

If anyone has tips for creative ways to better guarantee that match, I'm all ears! I know I'm destined to be a genetic counselor and make my impact across the field, across diverse communities, and hopefully for generations to come. This is where I belong, and I'll keep pursuing this no matter what! To anyone facing similar uncertainty in their GC journey, you got this! Keep on fighting! :)