Updated: 11/14/24: Please note there is now an additional fieldwork track offered at CentraCare. For more information, please see our Fieldwork Training page.
University of Minnesota admissions philosophy
We encourage applicants from a variety of backgrounds and experiences to consider our program. We approach admissions in a strengths-based manner and are committed to holistic review of candidates’ applications. We value the varied paths applicants have followed to genetic counseling and seek to recruit cohorts of students who bring a variety of strengths to our program. A strong background in biological sciences is important, but this does not mean you have to be a biology major (we have alumni whose undergraduate majors have ranged from public health or psychology to music or theater). Our program strives for innovation, cultural engagement, self-awareness, leadership, and ongoing professional development, so we are looking for applicants with strengths in one or more of these areas.
Our admissions team has reviewed our processes to align with the new Supreme Court ruling that precludes the consideration of an applicant's race/ethnicity in admissions decision-making. We remain committed to health equity and training genetic counselors who will serve our state, country, and world. Our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging have not changed and to this end, we:
- Provide training for all admissions committee members on implicit biases in selection
- Use our mission and vision statements to guide our admissions practices
- Remain steadfast in our determination to include the spectrum of all views to make us better educators, practitioners, and researchers
- Seek to implement best practices in candidate selection
- Evaluate our process each year for ways to improve our holistic approach.
University of Minnesota admissions criteria
Required criteria
- A four-year Bachelor's degree (or comparable degree from another country).
- Completion of prerequisite courses:
- Genetics
- Psychology
- Biochemistry
- Statistics
Notes about required coursework. All prerequisites should be taken for a letter grade (see below for COVID-related exceptions). The statistics and psychology requirements can be met using AP exams if you received college credit. Any course in the psychology department covering psychological theories and principles will meet the requirement, though most applicants use an Introductory/General Psychology course. Classes may currently be in progress — for grades received in December after the application deadline, forward a copy of your transcript on to gsquest@umn.edu as soon as grades are available. One remaining prerequisite may be completed in the spring semester if needed (the same year you intend to begin school in the fall).
Recommended criteria
- Strong academics with a GPA above a 3.0 overall and a B- or better in required prerequisites.
- Experiences where you have developed skills transferable to genetic counseling practice. There are numerous skill-based components of genetic counseling and many ways to develop these skills. For example, you might develop counseling skills by volunteering with people in distress, patient-education skills by working as a teacher or tutor, confidential data management skills from time spent as a research assistant, collaboration/teamwork skills from organizing events, or advocacy skills from helping your family navigate the medical system. In your application, help us see how the skills you gained from these experiences will inform your work as a genetic counselor. We are particularly interested in experiences that promote leadership, innovation, self-awareness, and/or cultural engagement, as these are our program’s pillars.
- Strong understanding of the field of genetic counseling, including the varied roles available to genetic counselors, the dynamics of providing both education and counseling in our work, and current issues/debates. This may be from shadowing experiences, informational interviews, webinars, reading blogs, listening to podcasts, or many other avenues. See our Prospective Student Resources section on our Resources page for some ideas to get started.
Note on the GRE. Based on careful examination of recent evidence regarding the predictive validity of the GRE for performance on the ABGC Certification Exam using both national and our own program data, as well as our pilot experience of not reviewing GRE scores, we will no longer collect GRE scores. Any GRE information submitted by applicants will be removed from applications prior to review by our admissions committee, so please do not include this information via sending official scores or including scores in your application materials.
University of Minnesota admissions process
Stage 1: Application review. At the University of Minnesota, we receive more than 250 applications each year. Applications are read by multiple members of the admissions committee, who score the submission on multiple dimensions as well as provide feedback on overall strengths of the applicant. We typically select approximately 45 to interview.
Stage 2: Interviews. Interview typically take place from late January to mid-March. We conduct all interviews virtually using video conference software. We moved to all virtual interviews due to our commitment to improving accessibility and reducing the financial burden for applicants. Applicants will interview with three members of the admissions committee, including at least one member of our program leadership team. Applicants interested in the Mayo Clinic Fieldwork Track and/or the CentraCare Fieldwork Track will also have an interview with representatives from those institutions. We will also provide opportunities to interact with current students and include virtual tours of our program spaces.
Stage 3: OPTIONAL Campus Visit. We understand that having the opportunity to see the campus and Twin Cities area may play an important role in the decision-making process for some applicants, so all candidates are welcome to visit in person if they wish. Choosing to visit the UMN campus will also not factor into our ranking of candidates. You are, of course, welcome to visit the Twin Cities or the University of Minnesota on your own, but we will not conduct office or program visits during the application process.
Stage 4: The Match. The University of Minnesota Genetic Counseling Program is participating in the Genetic Counseling Admissions Match through National Matching Services (NMS). The GC Admissions Match has been established to enhance the process of placing applicants into positions in masters-level genetic counseling programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC). The Match uses a process that takes into account both applicants’ and programs’ preferences. All applicants must first register for the Match with NMS before applying to participating genetic counseling graduate programs. At the conclusion of all program interviews, both applicants and programs will submit ranked lists of preferred placements to NMS according to deadlines posted on the NMS website. The binding results of the Match will be released to both applicants and programs simultaneously in late April.
Please visit the NMS website to register for the Match, review detailed information about the matching process, and to view a demonstration of how the matching algorithm works.
GCEA has established a waiver for the $100 fee associated with the NMS Match. Prospective students who demonstrate financial need AND have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater can apply for a match fee waiver. Prospective students should apply for a fee waiver BEFORE registering for an NMS number. Match fee waivers cannot be awarded to applicants who have already registered for the Match and paid the registration fee.
Applications for the match fee waiver are due by October 4, 2024. Applicants will be notified by October 30, 2024 as to whether they have received a waiver. There are a limited number of waivers, so not all applicants will receive a waiver. Instructions for how to register for the NMS match will be provided to those who receive a waiver.
Waivers are non-transferable to future match cycles or other prospective students. Prospective students who are applying for a match fee waiver will be required to write a short essay and to upload at least one of the following documents demonstrating financial need:
- A copy of a letter verifying unemployment benefits received within the past two years.
- A copy of a letter on official letterhead from a government agency verifying that you or your family have qualified for public assistance based on low income criteria anytime within the past 5 years
- A copy of your financial aid award letter from another / previous institution dated within 5 the past years
- A copy of your approved GRE fee waiver (for tests taken within 5 years of the application deadline)
- A copy of your federal Student Aid Report (SAR) that verifies you qualified for financial aid within the past 5 years based on a family contribution of:
- Not more than $1,500 if the student is a dependent student
- Not more than $1,900 if the student is an independent student
To apply, click here.
Fieldwork tracks
Most students will complete their fieldwork at a variety of sites in the Twin Cities. We do have two alternative fieldwork tracks available, each of which provide the opportunity to spend their second year in a single location. The first of these tracks is at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and the second is CentraCare in St. Cloud, MN. To be considered for the Mayo track, you must indicate your interest using the question in the application. Because the CentraCare opportunity was finalized after the application was released, you will not find a question about that track in the application. We will instead send a separate email to all applicants on 12/2/24 where you will be able to indicate your interest in the CentraCare track. More information about these tracks can be found on our Fieldwork Training page. If you advance to the interview stage, we will discuss how to indicate your preferences for the Twin Cities vs. Mayo vs. CentraCare tracks.
Admissions information sessions
We offer monthly information meetings via Zoom leading up to the December 1 application deadline. These meetings are led by a member of our senior leadership team and provide an opportunity to learn about our program, the admissions process, and the genetic counseling field. They typically take the form of a presentation followed by time for questions. We often have a current student join us to answer questions from their perspective and have space for individual consultations with a faculty member. Below are the links to register for upcoming info sessions. All sessions are listed in Central time.
Applying to the Genetic Counseling Graduate Program
Below are important instructions to follow for applying to the genetic counseling program. These ensure that your application is directed to us in time to be considered for admission. Please e-mail with any questions: gcgrad@umn.edu.
- December 1 is the application deadline—we admit for fall semester only. ALL materials must be submitted by this date to be considered for admission (the one exception is fall semester grades if you are still in school; see “Required Criteria” above).
- Applications open in mid-September
How to apply
Submit all application materials electronically through the online application system. See the chart below for specific instructions.
| Required Materials | How to Submit |
|---|---|
| Application | Major: Select "Molecular Cellular Developmental Biology and Genetics-Genetic Counseling-MS." Please note that you MUST have your Match ID before completing and submitting your application.
|
| Application Fee | Click here for more information about fees. |
| Transcripts | Unofficial transcripts or academic records should be uploaded directly to the online application. International students should also upload an English translation if the transcript is not in English. Please do not mail in paper copies of your transcripts, there is no need for official transcripts or academic records for initial review. If you are admitted, the University will then request official copies of this material. Click here for important information about uploading your transcripts and credentials. Transcripts from institutions outside the US do NOT need to go through foreign transcript evaluation (e.g., WES). |
| Letters of Recommendation | Acceptable recommendations will come from current or former professors who can assess your potential for graduate work. Other recommenders, such as employers, are also acceptable and encouraged. We require 3 letters. We will only review 3 letters so do not send more. If more than 3 are submitted we will only read the first 3 letters listed in the application. |
| English Language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, etc.) |
Click here for more information about English language test scores. |
| Resume or CV | Please attach your resume to the "Resume/CV" area of the Materials section. |
| Diversity Statement | Please attach your diversity statement to the “Diversity Statement” area of the Materials section. Please limit your statement to no more than 1 double-spaced page that addresses the following prompt: How have you engaged with the issues of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion? How have your experiences prepared you to engage with these issues in training and as a genetic counselor? |
| Personal statement | Attach this statement to Personal Statement under Materials. The other Statements/Other Materials sections can be left blank (except for Resume and Diversity Statement). Please limit your statement to no more than 3 double-spaced pages. In your personal statement, we want to see your ability to critically reflect on your experiences and apply what you’ve learned to your future as a genetic counselor. We ask you to answer the following questions in your statement: ·How did you become interested in pursuing a career in genetic counseling? ·What have your previous experiences taught you about your interest in genetic counseling? How have these experiences prepared you to be a genetic counselor? ·Why is the University of Minnesota a good fit for your training goals? Be specific about aspects of our program. |
Mailing address
Graduate Program of Study in Genetic Counseling
Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development
University of Minnesota
321 Church Street
6-160 Jackson Hall
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Admissions questions?
We have an FAQ page with common questions. Please direct additional questions to gcgrad@umn.edu or our Director of Admissions, Dr. Ian MacFarlane, at macf0010@umn.edu.