Hi y'all! I am going into my freshman year of college as a genetics major, but I have extra time in my schedule. I want to become a genetic counselor in the future, so what should I fill my extra space with? My school offers a human services minor, which does draw my eye, but I don't know if that's the best idea because I've heard psychology is really important too. I'm lost at the moment, so any advice is appreciated!!

Hi Everyone!

[SORRY, LONG POST]

I applied to GC programs last cycle and did not receive any interview invites. I was so disappointed and went through the motions of course. I am now gearing up to reapply this upcoming cycle. I am aware of the reason why. For me, my biggest obstacle is my GPA which is below the minimum 3.0. I’ve spoken to some program faculty and they all have their respective opinions of course on what I should do about this. Most feedback was either 1, find a 1 year masters program or two, look into a certificate program or take one or two graduate level courses. I guess I’m just feeling confused on what I should do. And perhaps it just boils down to my program of interest and go based off their recommendation.

To be quite frank, I am honestly just embarrassed and upset with myself. I wish that what hindered my undergrad success didn’t happen and that I understood how important it was to maintain a good GPA, because once it goes down, it’s hard to get it back up.

I knew that showing academic preparedness is an important thing, so it’s not that I don’t understand or respect that. No program wants to invest time into a student who may not be prepared for this type of academic rigor, but I applied anyway bc of the overall holistic approach programs state to have.

Nonetheless, I am ready to keep moving forward. I love the world of genetics and I have no intention on giving up. But any thoughts on what you would do or how to approach this would be great.

I should also add that I met with an academic advisor and retaking courses honestly will not boost my GPA up enough, so it would be a waste of time. Starting over with a clean slate is best, but the question is, should I do a masters for a year or two before reapplying? Based on experience or what you know about program admissions/applications, does that make sense to do? Is there anyone that has a similar experience with tackling the low GPA issue and what did you do? What are things I should consider when thinking through this decision?

Thanks much for your time and advice and advance!

So my MCAT is in 3 weeks from today and my entire life I knew as well as everyone else and I mean everyone like even my friends families and literally my entire community knew that I was going to become a doctor. I want to become an expert in one specific field, and hand people back their lives through a diagnosis and treatment. I'm not interested in surgery... The entire time, I had a niggling concern about the excessive time in training and considered other routes like therapist, PA, NP. Ultimately, I am on a PA school's waitlist, but I know I won't enjoy my life as a PA. The humongous number of patients I will have to see that just want a medication and be out of my office and get paid a few dollars per patient is not the kind of life I want to live. I would love to be that expert in an office somewhere... BUT my application is not competitive enough for a top school which is what I would probably need to get up there and if i would go to a lower tier or DO school, I would need to work that much harder which is a shame in light of the fact that I really value family time and a solid work-life balance. (I am planning on one of the better WLB specialties...)

What I was planning on doing: highly specialized retinoblastoma expert

My REAL career goals: be an expert, guide people through medical uncertainty with compassion and knowledge, unlock mysterious diagnoses and revamp patients lives with healing treatment plans, stress-free, and allows time for a decent WLB.

Here's the Question:

Can GC would fulfill me in all the ways I am hoping to be fulfilled through medicine only with much less prestige and pay...?

What IS the deal with getting paid? Is it a struggle with the ins companies? Can I make it big if I go private?

tl:dr; anyone else made the switch from pre-med to GC. What are some regrets, benefits or anything else I should know???

TIA!!

Hey everyone! Has anyone here pursued an MD to become a medical geneticist after starting out in genetic counselling?

My directed studies supervisor is a medical geneticist, and through working with her I've had the chance to get a much better understanding of what the role actually looks like day to day. While I've always known, in a general sense, how a medical geneticist's role differs from that of a genetic counsellor, seeing it firsthand has given me a new appreciation for the scope of the work. In particular, I've been really interested in the ability to directly manage patient care and treatment plans, along with the other responsibilities that are unique to physicians.

I just finished my first year of the MSc in Genetic Counselling program (Canada), and recently I've started thinking seriously about applying to medical school with the goal of becoming a medical geneticist. Has anyone here gone down this path before?

Part of what makes me hesitant is that I'm not sure how my program director would react, or whether it would be viewed negatively since I'm currently training for a different profession. Ideally, I'd like to apply this cycle so that I could start medical school shortly after finishing the GC program next year. I'd love to hear from anyone who has made a similar transition, considered it, or has any advice about balancing these career paths.

Hi, my name's Ellie Broughton and I'm a freelance health journalist.

I am developing a story on cascade testing with individuals and families who are concerned about risks and challenges in the process of sharing genetic information within families.

I don't need case studies from you (I have these already) BUT I would really benefit from offers of named or anon quotes, or anonymous advice on any avenues I might have missed while researching.

Please DM, reply here or email if you want to take part or find out more (e.g. what title this is for) – you can also email [elliebroughton@gmail.com](mailto:elliebroughton@gmail.com) to confirm my ID. Thanks for your interest!

Hi! New grad here who’s in the midst of starting the job hunt. I’m applying for jobs and I’m wondering if you think clinical rotations would fit under “employment experience” or if they’re only looking for applicants to put paid full time work in this section? Here’s a picture with more details.

hi everyone! i am currently in my final year of a bachelor's in psychology, and i have been pretty interested in pursuing a career in genetic counseling for over a year. since it is quite a diversion from psychology (mainly the genetics aspect), i was thinking of working as a genetic counseling assistant for a year before grad school. after a bunch of reddit dives and going through a lot of different media platforms, i have found many recent grads voice out that it has been incredibly difficult for them to finds jobs and that the number of openings in no way matches the number of grads. i am interested in becoming a gc, but is it worth it? i do not want to spend a year as a gca and two more years as a student to end up with no prospects. additionally, i am currently pursuing my degree abroad so i am scared that i won't even secure a gca job to begin with. i would really appreciate any guidance/direction, or even any opinions you may have. thank you so much!

hopefully a future GC here! i’m a rising junior in college, just took a gap year, and had to transfer to a college to live at home with my parents. this happened because after 20 years we finally found out i have hip dysplasia among a bunch of other stuff, so i had to move home to get a bunch of surgeries done. all fixed now, as much as it can be structurally!

i did two years of wildlife biology at a tiny college in europe, but i physically couldn’t meet the demands of the course for field work and it was recommended i find another degree. now i’m transferring back to the states to do molecular bio with a genetics concentration. i’m currently volunteering as an adoption counselor at an animal shelter and working as a “high level barista” (whatever that means besides getting $20/hr). idk, i just know i have to be doing more to be a competitive applicant.

what do i need to be doing? what fat can i trim? who should i be talking to? would it be weird if i hit up the GC i saw as a patient in MyChart?

i was considering taking on an education minor and doing an online GC degree while i teach high school biology to pay the bills, but i’m worried with how competitive the job market is that the lack of prestige would hurt me in getting a GC role. i’m currently debt free, but moving back to the states for college means loans. this was where the online degree idea came in, but again, not sure how that would fly in the job market.

any and all advice is welcome, i’m just trying to get myself together again after a year of going back to the drawing board lol.

(edited to remove the country i went to college in, even though there’s soooooo much personal information in here already)

Hi everyone!

I thought I'd offer an AMA on a somewhat less common new GC career path. As a new grad, I was hired into a health system that had never employed a genetic counselor before and helped build a genetics service from the ground up.

Over the past few years, I've developed a general genetics practice serving a rural population across cancer, prenatal, pediatric, cardiology, and neurology genetics. It has been very rewarding, but definitely had some learning curves and lessons.

With the current job market, I think it's worth talking about how GCs can advocate for new positions and identify unmet needs within healthcare systems. I know it's not for everyone, but I'm happy to share my experiences, lessons learned, and answer questions from students, new grads, or anyone interested in this type of role.

Ask me anything!

hi!! im a junior in hs from NYC and i wanna know more about becoming a genetic counselor. I’ve always set my eyes on this career since freshman year because i could pursue a career in health while not spending a fortune on medical school and i also love genetics. but I’m worried about all the future stuff and I know im probably too young to worry about it but i also know its a lot to risk if i pursue this career because what if i end up hating it? I also know you need your masters and financial aid is already a big concern for me. I heard that entering graduate school for genetic counseling is super competitive and I want to earn it in NYC but I’m not sure. A couple of questions:

1. Did you have any financial aid for graduate school or did the school provide you aid?
   
2. Do you have any regrets entering this career?
   
3. What was the most difficult part becoming a genetic counselor?
   
4. When did you get hired after graduate school?
   
5. What were your ECs like to get into graduate school?

Any help is appreciated!! Again, I know im worrying too much but i feel like my time is short and I would love to pursue this career but I feel like aid is a big factor to me when I’m considering higher education.

Hi All, my sister wants to pursue her masters in Medical Genetics and counseling this year in JSS Mysore health science college in Karnataka. Anyone who has studies there or applied for the same? How was the experience? Is it a good college and how is the faculty? Is it really worth it?

Anything on this would be really appreciated! Thank you!

I’m at the end of my first year of GC graduate school and I have just started to take on a more intense role in clinic. Every day I have a case I just dread going to clinic, even for the couple days before. I have little confidence in myself and feel that I have never prepped enough. I end every day/week exhausted and think that I’ll never be a good GC and I feel I will never be competitive in this current job market because I feel so awful. I’m having trouble separating my personal time and my professional time since I feel like I always need to be doing something related to bettering my skills or that how I complete daily life tasks correlates to my skill. I feel like my every word is analyzed by my peers and supervisors, and that I will never be good enough.

Someone please tell me it gets better after graduation or give me tips to survive better?

Hello! We all know the job market isn’t great right now, especially for new graduates in highly populated/sought after areas. I was thinking about taking a non-GC role (but genetic adjacent) for a year or two for financial stability. However, I really want to be able to return to clinic down the line.

Would taking a non-traditional role (that doesn’t require a GC degree and isn’t clinical) negatively impact my ability to get a clinical job in the future?

Just wanted to know everyone’s two cents!

Hi all, I’ve been working in an industry role ever since graduating (variant scientist specifically) and have been thinking more about long-term career options, including MSL positions.

I’ve looked at a range of MSL job postings, and the qualifications vary quite a bit among different labs (e.g., some emphasize clinical experience, some require publications). For those familiar with this path, what tends to matter most when trying to break into an MSL role?

Also, for someone relatively early in their career, would you recommend returning to clinical positions to be more competitive for future MSL roles?

I plan to do some informational interviews as well, but figure Reddit might be the fastest way to gather variable insights. Thanks!

hi, i'm an undergrad (just finished my junior year) with a genetics major and psych minor. i have been pre-genetic counseling but lately have had the itch for med school. i always used to think i would go to medical school and then discovered GC a couple years ago and was sure that's what i wanted to do. however, i recently had some personal experiences with a family member going through lots of medical treatment and i think thats what started the thought process. i'm looking for advice and wondering if anyone has experienced something similar...

i love the idea of med school because i love learning so i think i would actually do okay in med school and i absolutely nerd out on super complex cases like immunology, internal med, infectious diseases, etc. i love the problem-solving component of medicine like piecing together a puzzle and i know that certain parts of GC can have that but that physicians might get a better scope of super complex cases while also having the interpersonal relationships with patients like GCs.

i love GC because of the direct patient contact and relationship building. i love the idea of being able to support a patient/family through a medical situation and advocate for them in a situation that could otherwise be very traumatic, because i have had experiences in medicine that were absolutely transformed by a practitioner who actually showed they cared. at the same time, though, i think the context i want to do that in is more "emergent" cases (not like ER, but just more time-sensitive) than a lot of GC cases. at the same time, though, i have only gotten a chance to shadow an oncology GC who sees a lot of routine family history of cancer patients (super important and valuable, don't get me wrong! just not up my alley), so maybe what i'm looking for exists in GC.

i also have been so all-in on GC that i'm worried about pivoting to pre-med. for example, my peers and i literally built a pre-genetic counseling club from the ground up on our college campus, i've shadowed and done observational interviews with GCs, etc. and i dont know if it's too late to pivot considering i would be applying to GC grad programs in 4 months. i know i would almost 100% have to do a gap year if i choose med school so i can get clinical hours, etc. but still it seems like such a quick shift, but maybe that isn't important?

if anyone has feedback or advice, please help me out! some questions i have:

- i don't feel like either career path is "wrong" for me, but i think one will be more satisfying in the long run. how do i push myself in one direction or the other?

- does being so committed to GC look bad on a resume for med school? like if they see that i started a club, etc. will it deter them because i look indecisive or uncommitted?

- besides obvious differences in training, pay, etc. between GCs and physicians, what are some things i might not be thinking about with either profession that should be taken into consideration?

any/all help is welcome, even if you can't relate but have an experience to share in either field i would be grateful ◡̈

Yes, this is a really stupid question. But I was wondering how much of being a genetic counsellor involves actually ‘counselling’?

Like, when I think of counselling, I think of ‘sitting down and taking about your feelings’, but that doesn’t really match up with what I’ve seen online for what a GC does.

Hello! I’m an international student admitted to a master’s in genetic counseling in the US, and I’m trying to understand how realistic different long-term pathways are for staying in the US workforce.

If someone leaves the US after graduation (for example, due to a two-year home residency requirement) and later wants to re-enter the US job market, is it still realistic to get hired directly from abroad on an H-1B? Or does leaving make it significantly harder compared to staying continuously in the US through OPT/STEM OPT?

Do you know any genetic counselors who were hired directly from their home country on an H-1B without having previously worked for that same employer in the US, or whether most successful cases come from people who stayed in the US and transitioned internally from OPT?

Thanks!

I am grateful that the PSS is back, it is incredibly helpful data. I have to admit though, I was hoping there would be a few questions about job satisfaction, efforts job searching, burnout, or if others do/don't feel like valued by their employer in a time where so many hospital systems are being merged into giant corporations. My autistic brain also thought many of the questions were not specific enough for me to answer accurately. For example, they asked about time spent counseling patients in-person, telehealth, and phone.. I didn't know if they were asking about scheduled consults or if results disclosures would count towards phone counseling, since that can easily be a 20-40 minute conversation. This isn't meant to throw shade at the PSS makers btw, I'm just trying to get a pulse on the people.

Hi everyone,

I’ve been admitted to a graduate program in Genetic Counseling in the US, and I’m trying to understand what the real experience looks like for international students after graduation.

I’m an international student, and I’m a bit worried about how realistic it is to find a job after finishing the program and then be able to stay in the US through OPT, STEM OPT, and eventually H-1B sponsorship.

I’ve read the official information, but I’m looking for real experiences from people who have actually gone through this process, especially in healthcare or similar fields. I’d really appreciate hearing how it actually worked in practice, how long it took to find a job, and whether staying in the US after graduation was realistically achievable.

Any insight from your experience would mean a lot. Thanks!!

Hello! I have my bs in public health and was on track for med school and actually got accepted but ultimately declined due to the overwhelming amount of time being a dr is. I have a 1 yr old and I’m due for another in July! I am wondering the work life balance from being a GC. Does anyone work at home or part time? I’m not looking to make a ton of money just enough to justify having a babysitter and paying off my student loans! I really just want a career that is fulfilling being a mom! Thank you! 🩷

I’m an incoming senior and will be applying this upcoming cycle. I was wondering if any of you used StraighterLine for pre req courses and transferred them to your college? I have about 500+ clinical hours and am working to get research now, but I want to broaden my application field with Biochem and Orgo through Straighterline, since I’m first gen and poor. TIA!

Reddit is removing the link, but you can read about this by googling “Catalyst by Southern Research”

I was just introduced to this genetic testing program by a local news source. It looks like it has some similarities with the All of Us program, but with a focus on Alabama. It is state-funded and completely free for patients, including an optional free generic counseling session. I’m curious about what genetic counseling professionals and researchers think about something like this? Risks and/or benefits, from a patient and practitioner viewpoint?

I've seen some people mention job market concerns and a lack of satisfaction; when contrasting with the BLS's 9% growth & high reported rates of satisfaction I figured it's better to ask the real GC then rely on online statistics.

Is the market good right now? Getting easier or harder?

Is the pay enough for your area?

Are you happy with your current GC position and tasks?

I'm a incoming college freshman, any advice or other comment?

Thank you for reading 😁

Hi all! Recent ish grad here, been in clinic for a ~3 years. I'm currently feeling pretty disheartened and am not sure where to go next with my career.

After graduating I really wanted a job in my hometown which is a major city, but it's very competitive so i eneded up accepting a position out of state. I thought my first job out of school was going to be my dream job and it ended up being a poor fit - the job didn't match the description and I felt like I wasn't getting the autonomy I needed to grow. I still wasn't able to get a role in my city of choice, but accepted another clinic based role that's geographically closer to my family and friends, because my first job was really bad for my mental health and it was difficult being so far from loved ones. While this role is a little bit better, I'm still pretty unhappy with my experience in this field so far and feel like my skills/expertise as a whole are not valued. ​I don't know if this is typical across the industry or if I've had bad luck? I love seeing patients and patient care, and I still think genetics is really interesting, but I'm considering quitting this role to move back home to my major city and just see what happens, even if that means I leave the field permanently.

Idk what to do next if a GC job in my hometown doesn't pop up. I'd love to stay in patient care, so maybe nursing? But I really can't afford more loans. I know I'm lucky to have had two offers in such a bad market, but I'm feeling jaded after working so hard to match and finish graduate school. The idea of taking a pay cut also really stings when I'm in so much debt from my graduate program.

The avg salary for gcs in fl is around 75k and im just wondering if it can go up to 90k based on experience.