The Wake Forest Genetic Counseling Training Program participates in the Genetic Counseling Admissions Match process through National Matching Services (NMS). The Genetic Counseling Admissions Match has been established to place applicants into positions in masters-level genetic counseling programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC).
All applicants must first register for the Match with NMS before applying to participating genetic counseling graduate programs.
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.
Applications for the GENC program typically open on August 1 and will close on December 15. Early submission is strongly encouraged as the Admissions Committee will begin to review any completed applications on November 15.
Applicants who are selected for an interview will receive a notification via the application portal or by email in early February. Interviews take place virtually over the course of a full day.
Students admitted to the GENC program will receive a tuition scholarship of approximately 38% off the full tuition for the entirety of their enrollment in the program.
Program Pre-requisites
Applicants to the program should have completed the following pre-requisites from an accredited institution:
- A 4-year baccalaureate degree
- A semester (or equivalent) of the following coursework:
- Introductory biology
- An upper-level biology elective (Two upper-level Biology courses are acceptable in place of Introductory Biology)
- Biochemistry
- Genetics
- Statistics
- Psychology
- Please note: Applicants must receive a letter grade for all pre-requisite courses; advanced placement (AP) course grades or courses graded as pass/fail, satisfactory/unsatisfactory, or as a certificate of completion are not acceptable.
- GRE scores are not a required component of our application however, if you have taken the GRE and feel your score will strengthen your application please feel free to submit an unofficial report.
In addition to these pre-requisites, applicants must:
- Register with the NMS match system as outlined above
- Submit
- 3 Letters of recommendation
- A written personal statement limited to 750 words or less
- A video or audio statement, 5 minutes or less in length and with a maximum file upload size of 100 MB.
- Scores for the TOEFL Exam (International applicants only)
- Unofficial transcripts from institutions where a degree and/or prerequisite requirement was earned
We invite applicants from diverse backgrounds who are interested in this dynamic career in healthcare. Competitive applicants will have:
- A 3.0 or higher GPA from undergraduate or graduate coursework
- Exposure to the genetic counseling field through shadowing, volunteering in a genetic counseling practice, or working among genetic counselors in some capacity
- Experience with individuals with genetic conditions or disabilities and/or in crisis situations (e.g. through crisis counseling)