The U-M Medical School Department of Human Genetics Genetic Counseling Program applications open in September of each year. All materials and fees for admission are due by January 5, 2025.

September 4, 2024: Genetic Counseling Admissions Match Registration Opens for applicants

December 11, 2024: Deadline to Register for the Genetic Counseling Admissions Match through NMS: Program: University of Michigan (129)

January 5, 2025: Deadline for submission of UM Genetic Counseling application

February 2025: Invitations for interviews extended

February, March, April 2025: Interviews conducted

March 1, 2025: Submit FAFSA to the UM Office of Financial Aid for all documents arrive by the March 31st deadline.

April 8, 2025: Rank Order List due to NMS

April 16, 2025: Match Results Release

1. Undergraduate Degree (Bachelor's degree). Most students major in the biological sciences, but this is not required.
2. Coursework required (as documented through transcripts):
   • Science courses up to and including biochemistry
   • Upper-level genetics class (300 or 400 level if this is available at your institution). We do not require a laboratory genetics course.
   • General statistics class
3. Advocacy Experience: This may be accomplished through a volunteer or paid position such as a crisis hotline volunteer, resident assistant, student advisor, or other similar position that provides sufficient opportunity to work in a responsible, one-on-one relationship with a variety of individuals seeking information, resources, guidance, counseling, or other support services. Experiences should include training in interpersonal and related skills, ongoing supervision, and opportunities for feedback and continued growth. Advocacy experience helps candidates develop skills and comfort in taking on some of the responsibilities of a counseling or supportive role. Examples of relevant organizations include crisis intervention programs, Planned Parenthood affiliates, domestic violence programs, hospice programs, etc.
4. Three letters of recommendation are required. Recommendation letters may be from anyone who can comment on your academic, employment, or advocacy experience. Individuals writing letters will receive an email notification and have the option to complete a standardized form or upload a personalized letter. We strongly encourage personalized letters to be submitted on your behalf.
5. GRE scores are not required and will not be reviewed as part of an application.
6. International Applicants: Submit English Proficiency Test scores: See minimum scores for accepted tests at: https://rackham.umich.edu/admissions/applying/tests/.
7. Registration with the Genetic Counseling Admissions Match. The purpose of the Match is to provide a fair and efficient mechanism to place applicants into positions in masters-level genetic counseling programs. For detailed information related to fees, match fee waivers, policies, and relevant dates, please visit National Matching Services, Inc. (NMS). https://www.natmatch.com/gcadmissions

Match Fee Waivers

The Genetic Counselor Educators Association has established a $100 registration fee waiver for prospective students who demonstrate financial need AND have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater. These waivers are limited and students should apply for this fee waiver BEFORE registering for an NMS number.

You will be asked to respond to the following prompts: (limited to 500 words each).

1. Personal Statement. Please specifically address how your background and personal experiences motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree in genetic counseling with non-redundant material in less than 500 words.
2. Considering the profession of genetic counseling, reflect on any misconceptions you or others may have had and how your understanding of the profession has evolved. In this reflection, you can share what experiences or encounters led to your current understanding.
3. Advocacy experiences are important in preparing individuals for GC training. Describe the impact your advocacy experience has had on your personal development. Discuss how these experiences influence your decision to pursue a genetic counseling career. Include a brief description of your time and effort, as well as any training components.
4. Reapplicants only: We applaud your dedication to pursuing a career in genetic counseling and are excited to learn more about your journey. If you applied to any genetic counseling graduate programs in previous cycles, please describe your growth and activities since your last application.

If you are applying for the Dual Degree Program with Genetic Counseling and Public Health, please include this in page 3 of the application by selecting "Public Health" from the drop-down menu. Please note, that you will also need to submit a separate application to the U-M School of Public Health. 

Please visit the following website for more information on the Match process: Genetic Counseling Admissions Match system

We employ a holistic review process in which we give careful consideration to multiple facets of applications such that no single factor leads to either accepting or excluding an applicant from admission. Through this process, we recognize that an applicant’s strength in one area might offset a weakness in another. A holistic review also fosters diversity in our student body, with students joining us with unique experiences and perspectives.

We might be looking for you! We are looking for applicants who are informed and passionate about the profession of genetic counseling, are academically prepared, have had an appropriate advocacy experience, and who can share some of themselves and their life experiences in responding to the essay questions. An applicant who is exceptionally strong in one area is not at any advantage, and a non-traditional academic experience is not a disadvantage. Returning and foreign students are welcomed. We do not require a minimum GPA. However, in the past successful applicants have generally had a GPA of 3.0 or higher. If you have questions about our admissions standards, please contact us.

If you’ve performed poorly in a particular academic area, tell us about it. If you’ve had an interesting, challenging, or significant personal experience that is not brought out in your application, please include this information in the additional information section of the Rackham application. Please contact us if you would like to discuss your particular circumstance.

Your letters of recommendation should provide input from people in responsible positions who can comment on your academic, employment, or volunteer performance, character, and interests. For undergraduates this often means professors, academic advisors, employers, or supervisors from advocacy work. Letters from people who really know you, rather than from people who have impressive titles, are the most valuable. If you have been out of school for several years, it may be more appropriate for your letters to come from individuals who know you now, rather than from college professors who will be less acquainted with your work and activities since graduation. As you decide who you want to ask to write a letter, think about your application in total and ask individuals who can really add depth to the story your application tells about you. If you are reapplying, you should consider asking for updated letters that include commentary on any additional growth, activities, or experiences.

This experience can cover a broad range of undertakings, since different communities provide access to different advocacy opportunities. Overall, the experience should provide you with 

1. Training in interviewing, crisis intervention, or other interpersonal communication skills.
2. An opportunity to work one-on-one, in person, by phone, or electronically (text) with clients from a variety of backgrounds.
3. Supervision in some form. The advocacy experience should give you an opportunity to gauge your level of comfort and interest in pursuing a career working with individuals facing issues that do not have a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ outcome but are measured by the client’s sense that they have made their own choice and/or are feeling supported through a difficult situation. Community programs that can typically provide this type of experience include, but are not limited to: crisis intervention, unplanned pregnancy, domestic violence, teen runaway, hospice programs, and various support groups. Programs with the appropriate level of responsibility will require that volunteers are supervised and undergo a training program before taking on responsibility.

Simply put, we want to hear more about you. The application itself provides a guide to your academic and employment timeline. The essays are an opportunity for you to tell us about your experiences and your thinking. This is your chance to let the admissions committee really learn more about who you are. It is a good idea to have someone with professional experience, of any type, read and critique your essay responses before you submit your application. If you are reapplying, you should include commentary on any additional growth, activities, or experiences.

No. All applications received by January 5th are given equal consideration and are considered only for enrollment in the following fall.

No. We make no distinction in our admissions process between in-state, out-of-state, or international applicants.

We typically receive 250-300 applications. The admission committee selects applicants for interviews and up to ten will then be accepted into the program.

No, GRE scores are not required and will not be reviewed.

If you are interested in visiting, please contact us at [email protected] for the most recent information. The Genetic Counseling Program is on the Medical Campus. Central Campus is only a few blocks away and is the site of undergraduate classes as well as many student services. Walking tours of the Central Campus are available through the University. Call the Huetwell Visitors Center at (734) 647-5692 for information or visit the Undergraduate Admissions website.

Transcripts will be examined for confirmation that the prerequisite courses have been successfully completed. Specifically, this will include:

1. An upper-level human genetics course (generally this means a 300-400 level course, even though the title may include the word ‘introduction’).
2. Biochemistry (one semester is sufficient and each university will have different science prerequisites for enrollment in biochemistry).
3. A general, introductory statistics course. In addition, we will be interested in the courses taken within your major and electives taken in other areas. If you are presently enrolled in a course that would qualify as a prerequisite and won’t therefore appear on your official transcript, be sure that this is brought to our attention. In short, we look at all years and all courses during your undergraduate experience.

Interviews are held in February, March and April. In 2025, all interviews will be virtual. Interviews are an opportunity for applicants to meet both faculty and students and to learn more about the program, the University, and Ann Arbor community.

Many of our successful applicants have taken the time to meet with practicing genetic counselors. This experience allows them to gather first-hand knowledge about the profession. If you live in a community that has genetic counselors, we encourage you to meet with them to talk about their professional experiences and, if possible, to job shadow. If this is not possible, then you might arrange to talk with a counselor via e-mail or over the phone. The information gathered can give you very helpful insights. You can find genetic counselors willing to talk with prospective students by going to the web site for the National Society of Genetic Counselors and clicking on “Find a Genetic Counselor.” If you have experience with the genetic counseling profession, please make sure to highlight this in your application. This includes detailing the specific experiences in your resume and reflecting on these experiences in your essay. If you do not have this experience, we encourage you to work to gain as much knowledge as you can about genetic counseling so that you have a good basis when responding to the essay questions.