Admission Requirements

1. Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university or college.

2. Genetic Counseling Graduate Program Application*:

• Unofficial transcripts attached to the online application
• A hard copy of official transcripts from previous schools attended sent to the Graduate Admissions Office by mail to 201 S. 1460 E. Room 250 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84112 or by e-mail to admisstranscripts@utah.edu will be required upon admission to the program (If you graduated from the University of Utah, you do not have to request official transcripts.)
• Current resume or CV, which must include your Match Code Number (or your application will not be reviewed)
• Personal Statement 2-3 pages long (3 pages maximum) and double-spaced. The applicant should answer the following questions in a cohesive essay:
  • What is your perception of the role of a genetic counselor?
  • What are your personal reasons for selecting this career?
  • How did your advocacy experiences prepare you for the profession?
  • Why would you be a good addition to the field of genetic counseling?
• Three letters of recommendation*
  • The letters of recommendation must be submitted according to the directions in the online application. The letters of recommendation must be submitted through the Slate website after your application has been initiated. The letters should be from individuals who are intimately familiar with your academic accomplishments, and/or counseling-related activities, and should include your strengths, weaknesses, personal character, and potential for success in the Genetic Counseling Graduate program.
  • *We strongly encourage you to submit at least one letter of recommendation from an individual who can comment on your academic abilities (e.g. professors). Do not submit letters from family members or close friends.
• For those applicants whose undergraduate institution does not grade on a 4.0 scale, you must provide official, institutional documentation explaining the grading system.
• If GPA is below 3.0, the applicant may not be reviewed. Applicants in this situation are strongly encouraged to obtain a letter of recommendation from an academic source.
• The GRE is no longer an admissions requirement, and scores will not be considered or reviewed.
• $55 application fee (international application fee is $65)

* Please do not submit additional materials with your application; they will not be reviewed.

3. Coursework

• All of the following introductory courses are required at least at the college level (AP classes are accepted if a grade is provided): Biochemistry*, Biology, General Chemistry, Genetics**, Psychology (Introductory, Abnormal, and/or Developmental), and Statistics
  • *The biochemistry prerequisite course must be an individual course (not combined with another chemistry or biology course) and should cover structure, conformation, and properties of proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and membranes; enzyme mechanisms, kinetics, and regulation; intermediary metabolism; energetics and metabolic control; electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation.
  • Biochemistry Courses List
  • **The genetics prerequisite course must be completed within the last eight (8) years
  • Please upload a list of your courses that meet the required prerequisites (department and course code are required) separately as supplemental application material or an additional page of your CV/resume
    • Failure to include this course list may lead to delays in reviewing or a failure to review your application
  • The following introductory courses are strongly recommended (not required): Embryology and Anatomy
  • CLEP courses are not acceptable prerequisites
  • All prerequisites must be completed or in progress at the time of submission of your application. If in progress, please send documentation of course progress to date
    • Documentation may include but is not limited to, a letter from the instructor that the applicant is in good standing in the course, evidence of enrollment from a transcript, etc.

4. Exposure to the Genetic Counseling Profession

• Exposure to the genetic counseling profession is required. These exposures may be obtained in a number of ways, and a variety of different types of encounters is encouraged.
  • Examples include but are not limited to: shadowing a genetic counselor in multiple specialties and settings (highly recommended); working as a genetic counseling assistant; interviewing and/or meeting with genetic counselors in multiple settings or specialties; volunteering in a genetic counselor office or clinic; reading the genetic counseling literature and publications, viewing the Master Genetic Counselor videos; attending genetic counselor conferences or career camps, attending virtual presentations in regards to the genetic counseling profession; etc.
• Please document genetic counseling exposures in detail on your resume/CV. We strongly encourage you to include the number of hours shadowing, volunteering in a clinical setting, working with genetic counselors, etc.

5. Advocacy

• Demonstration of a strong commitment to advocacy is required. The advocacy experience(s) should demonstrate that the applicant was provided sufficient opportunity to work in a responsible, one-on-one relationship with a wide range populations of individuals seeking information, resources, guidance, counseling, or other support services made available through the sponsoring agency.
• The applicant should receive ongoing supervision and training through this experience, which may be achieved through a volunteer or paid position.
• Advocacy may include counseling experiences such as work on a pregnancy/reproductive counseling services, crisis hot-line, disabilities agency, domestic violence program, etc.
• We strongly encourage you to include the number of hours you have spent volunteering/training for each advocacy experience in your resume/CV

6. Interview

• Once your completed application is received, you may be invited to interview with members of our faculty and staff. The interview helps assess your skills and motivation and allows for additional character insight as part of the admissions process. Updated information for Interviews in 2025 will be available in February 2025.

UUGPGC Repeat Applicants

• Applicants will need to go into Slate and create a new application. They would need to complete all required questions and required uploads when working on the new application.