Frequently Asked Questions
Who attends the UUGPGC?
What will help me to be a good candidate?
What are my chances of getting into the program?
Are AP courses acceptable for program requirements?
Can international students interview by video conference
call or phone?
Is TOEFL the only test of English as a foreign language
accepted by the University of Utah?
Do all international students need to take the TOEFL?
Are the GRE’s required?
What GRE scores are acceptable?
What are the GRE codes?
Can I apply to the UUGPGC online?
If I am accepted in the program, can I defer starting?
What financial aid is available?
Can students attend the program on a part-time basis?
What is it like to live in Utah?
Where have people done their out-of-state rotations?
What have students done for elective rotations?
What activities are required in addition to classes and clinical rotations?
What is the difference between an independent research project and thesis?
What are the prospects for employment after completing the program?
Who attends the UUGPGC?
About 1 in 5 students come from Utah. The rest come from 21 other states/countries ?
What will help me to be a good candidate?
The UUGPGC is looking for well-rounded applications that meet the requirements listed on the Admissions page of the program website. It is important to have good recommendations from individuals who understand the profession of genetic counseling, as well as to have experience shadowing genetic counselors. Advocacy activities are a critical part of the requirements.
What are my chances of getting into the program?
The current ratio of applicants to positions is about 8-9:1.
Are AP courses acceptable for program requirements?
Yes.
Can international students interview by video conference call or phone?
We prefer to have international students interview in person. If that is not possible, interviews can be set up by video conference call (preferred) or phone if the candidate is offered an interview.
Is TOEFL the only test of English as a foreign language accepted by the program?
Scores in the TOEFL must be above 79 (550 written/213 computer based in old test) and taken within the last 2 years. We also accept the IELTS. For questions regarding international admissions, please contact the University of Utah Admissions Office at 801-581-6247.
Do all international students need to take the TOEFL?
International students with an undergraduate or graduate degree from a U.S. university or college do not need to take the TOEFL. For questions regarding international admissions, please contact the University of Utah Admissions Office at 801-581-6247.
Are the GRE’s required?
Yes, the basic GRE tests are required (analytic, quantitative and verbal). Scores older than 5 years will not be accepted. We will take into account any subject tests that are submitted, but they are not required. Students with completed graduate degrees are not required to take the GRE's.
What GRE scores are acceptable?
We do not have a GRE score cutoff. The GRE scores are considered in the context of the whole application. If a candidate has both low GRE scores and low grades, especially in required courses, we are concerned that the student will not do well in graduate level coursework.
What are the GRE codes?
4853 Institution code
0210 Department code
Can I apply to the UUGPGC online?
Yes. Starting in 2012, you must submit an application through the University of Utah Online Admissions proccess (link).
If I am accepted in the program, can I defer starting?
No, if you do not come the year you are accepted, you must apply again.
What financial aid is available?
Federal loans are available for U.S. graduate students. To be eligible you must submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The priority filing deadline for need-based financial aid is March 15 of the calendar year prior to the academic year for which you want aid. (Example: For aid during 2013-2014 academic year, apply by March 15, 2013.) Filing after that date will limit the available loans.
In addition, the UUGPGC may have fellowship awards available. The application can be accessed from the UUGPGC Admissions webpage (click on Tuition and Fees). Students with UUGPGC fellowships will be eligible for the Tuition Benefit Program, which entitles students to pay resident tuition for the semesters in which they have a fellowship. It is also possible to qualify for resident tuition in your second year. All students pay tuition at the resident rate during the summer. We do not have TAs or RAs. All students are eligible for the fellowships, including international students.
Can students attend the program on a part-time basis?
The program is a full-time commitment. A few of our students work part-time (generally not more than about 10-12 hours per week). The URLEND program also carries a stipend. UUGPGC students can apply to URLEND (1-2 per year for the second year only), but it requires a considerable commitment in addition to the genetic counseling program (http://urlend.org/).
What is it like to live in Utah? (Contributed by Sara, Class of 2008)
Believe it or not, Utah offers many types of entertainment for a variety of people! Being a native east coaster, I was not sure what living in the west would be like. Now, only one month away from graduation, I am still in awe when driving around the city and being surrounded by mountains! Not only is this a beautiful place to live, it offers so many advantages for travel and outdoor fun. There are numerous national parks only hours away in Southern Utah where you can see some arches, walk along slot canyons, or climb red rocks. Yellowstone national park is a mere 6 hour drive north, so don't miss Old Faithful! Plus, some of the world's greatest snow falls on mountains only 30 minutes from your front door. It's amazing! If you're interested in the arts, there are several theaters at the University that host some great shows, and there are more theaters in downtown Salt Lake. There are plenty of restaurants here as well for all tastes: Mediterranean, Mexican, Indian, and authentic Italian to name a few. Let's not forget, there is a nightlife here for those who want it, plus Las Vegas is only 6 hours away! All in all, I have found that when I tell people I live in Utah, those that have never been here ask, "why?", and those that have visited say "Awesome!"
When do classes start?
The program follows the academic calendar for the University of Utah. This can be found at http://www.sa.utah.edu/regist/calendar/datesDeadlines/calendar.htm. There is a separate UUGPGC calendar (see Contact Us, Calendar of Events on our webpage). There will be an orientation for first-year students on the Friday before the first semester starts.
What is the schedule like?
Most classes are scheduled during the day, but some are scheduled into the early evening. In the first two semesters there are some open blocks of time during the day that are used for study and class preparation. Most graduate students spend more than 40 hours per week in program activities (including study and class preparation). There are currently six weeks of “block rotations” in the beginning of the summer semester that require full day activities. After that, the schedule is more variable depending on the clinical rotation.
Where have people done their out-of-state rotations?
Students have done rotations both nationally and internationally (click to see rotation map).
What have students done for elective rotations?
Students have done a wide array of self-designed elective rotations (click to see past elective rotations).
What activities are required in addition to classes and clinical rotations?
There are required supplemental activities (e.g., journal club, pediatric genetics case management conference, perinatal genetics conference, procedure observations, research seminar). Most of these activities are during the day, but some may go into early evening.
What is the difference between an independent research project and thesis?
Students can elect to do an independent research project or a master’s thesis. The projects are similar in scope, but a student doing a thesis must follow required university rules for student committee composition and thesis format (http://www.gradschool.utah.edu/thesis/).
Are their group activities?
The program sponsors annual social activities such as a fall hike and parties welcoming the new students, the new semester, and graduation.
What are the prospects for employment after completing the program?
Most program graduates have found employment in their preferred geographic areas/areas of interest. Our graduates have passed the ABGC certification exam in the same proportion as the national average. Our graduates are employed throughout the country (click to see map).