Admissions

Updated: 10/20/25: Please note that there are now new requirements for materials to submit as part of your application. Please review carefully before submitting your application. If you have already submitted, please contact [email protected].

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). 

In addition to the accreditation standards and practice-based competencies all genetic counseling programs provide, our program emphasizes four “pillars” in our graduates: 

1. Innovation: Creativity in problem-solving or critical thinking that improves processes or systems.
2. Cultural engagement: Actions taken that promote equitable access, treatment, respect, and belonging
3. Self-awareness: The ability to accurately appraise one’s own strengths and weaknesses, reflect on experiences for future growth, and/or understand one’s identities.
4. Leadership: Being proactive to provide organization, motivation, resources, or advocacy. 

Demonstrating your skills and experiences in these areas will help us to best assess how you exemplify these pillars as we review applications.

University of Minnesota admissions criteria

Required criteria

• A 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.
• Prerequisites can be taken at any accredited higher education institution (e.g., community college, four-year university, online, in-person), but you must receive college credits for them to meet our requirements. Courses that lead to certificates of completion rather than college credits will not count toward your prerequisites.
• Any course in the psychology department covering psychological theories and principles will meet the requirement, though most applicants use an Introductory/General Psychology course.
• The biochemistry course does NOT have to include a lab, but must be a full class focused on biochemistry only. Courses such as Intro to Organic & Biochemistry will not meet our requirements.
• Classes may currently be in progress — for grades received in December after the application deadline, forward a copy of your transcript on to [email protected] as soon as grades are available. Missing fall grades may impact your chances of being selected for an interview.
• One remaining prerequisite may be completed in the spring semester if needed (the same year you intend to begin school in the fall). This course must be completed by the end of the spring semester for you to be eligible for enrollment.

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 in our program pillars: leadership, innovation, self-awareness, and cultural engagement.
• 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.
• Research experience is beneficial but not required. 

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 45-50 to interview.

Stage 2: Interviews. Interviews 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. The interview process will include one-on-one meetings with three members of our admissions team (including at least one member of our program leadership team), a writing activity, and a small group problem-solving activity. Applicants interested in the Mayo Clinic and/or the CentraCare Fieldwork Track will have time to ask questions of 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 3, 2025. Applicants will be notified by October 31, 2025 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:

1. A copy of a letter verifying unemployment benefits received within the past two years.
2. 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
3. A copy of your financial aid award letter from another / previous institution dated within the past 5 years
4. A copy of your approved GRE fee waiver (for tests taken within 5 years of the application deadline)
5. 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

Apply for the GC Admissions Match.

Please direct any questions about the Match Fee Waiver process or requirements to [email protected].

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 either or both tracks, you must indicate your interest using the question in the application and submit an additional essay (see required materials below). 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 from May to November. 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 space for individual consultations with a faculty member.

Upcoming sessions:

Thursday, November 20, 2025 I 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. CST

Please register for the session.

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: [email protected].

Application deadline:

• December 1 is the application deadline. 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.

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 [email protected] or our Director of Admissions, Dr. Ian MacFarlane, at [email protected].