UNC Greensboro

Before graduate school I had the opportunity to work as a genetic counseling assistant in a diagnostic testing lab in Maryland. It was an incredible experience, and it helped me to develop a sense of the field before graduate school. I came out of Virginia Tech knowing that I wanted to be a genetic counselor, but I did not really know what I needed to do to prepare to get to graduate school to be one. The application deadlines had all passed for that current year, so I began scrounging around for jobs I thought might be applicable. I knew two things at that point in my life:

Mercedes: Woohoo, first semester is off the list! Margaret: I cannot believe it is already the spring semester. Where has the time gone?!

I am telling you something you already know, but interviews are stressful. However, I urge you to try and enjoy that time in your life. You get to travel (hopefully) to different states and schools and take in all it has to offer

I am sure that interview preparation is different for everyone, but here is some insight into my own preparation techniques. I hope this is helpful and Good luck!  

While a lot of these posts have dealt with interview preparations and whatnot, I figured it might be time to talk a little bit more about the UNCG Genetic Counseling Program specifically and some of the unique opportunities available to us.

LEND stands for Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities. It is an interdisciplinary graduate-level training program funded through the Maternal and Child Health Bureau. The purpose of LEND is “to prepare professionals for leadership roles that enable them to direct and facilitate culturally/linguistically competent and family-centered interdisciplinary care including systems change, to improve the health of infants, children, and adolescents who have, or are at risk for developing Autism Spectrum Disorders or other Developmental Disabilities.”

With the new MATCH system in place, I’m sure that brings in a lot of uncertainty and anxiety, especially because this is the first year it is rolled out for genetic counseling. While you’ve had your interview, and now you are ranking the programs you interviewed with, I figured it might be helpful to think about what factors may be important when making this decision.

Coming from Canada to Greensboro, holy moly has it been an adjustment. Going from the land of “I’m sorry” to the state of Cheerwine and y’all(s) has been a fun one. But here are some of the observations that I have made thus far.