MSGC Application Procedures & Requirements

Admissions Process

Applications will be accepted through the application deadline. After the application deadline, those selected for an interview will be contacted. KGI is participating in the Genetic Counseling Admissions Match. All applicants should register online to participate in the 2021 Match via the GC Admissions Match website.

Apply Now

The Master of Science in Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling (MSGC) program accepts all applications via PharmGrad.

• Application opens: August 18, 2020
• Application deadline: January 15, 2021
• Class of 2023 Interviews: March 2021
• Pertinent 2021 Match Dates:
  • March 19, 2021: information about completing Rank Order Lists becomes available on the NMS website
  • March 31, 2021: Rank Order List submission opens
  • April 14, 2021: Rank Order Lists submissions ends (no changes can be made after this point)
  • April 23, 2021: Match day! Results will be released by 12 noon ET. 
  • May 7, 2021: Programs provide verification letters of admission to applicants with whom they were matched
  • May 18, 2021: Deadline for matched applicants to formally accept their admission slot

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
• Grade of “B” or better in each prerequisite course*
  • *See list of prerequisite courses below
  • If an applicant scores less than a B in a required prerequisite, the applicant must address this in their application. Further instructions on how to do this can be found in the application.
• Minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate grade point average (on a 4.0 scale)
  • If a GPA is below 3.0, applicants must address their low GPA in their application. Further instructions on how to do this can be found in the application.
• Applicants should submit sealed official transcripts from all Colleges attended directly to PharmGrad. For assistance, please see the visit the PharmGrad site.
  • If the transcript is from a school outside the U.S., official course-by-course evaluations should be submitted. See the PharmGrad Foreign Transcripts website for a list of acceptable evaluation agencies. 
• Current curriculum vitae (CV)
• Personal Statement:
  • Every person brings unique life experiences with them wherever they go. Yours brought you to this moment and the decision to pursue a career in genetic counseling.
  • If you were writing the story of your life, how would you divide it into chapters?
    • Under each chapter heading/title, please write a brief summary (1-2 paragraphs) highlighting and reflecting upon some of the following: key experiences, personality traits, skills developed, problem solving, original and innovative thinking and/or lessons learned.
    • For your final chapter, please illustrate how the culmination of the proceeding chapters affect the ways you can uniquely contribute to the work and community of KGI and genetic counseling, at large. Please limit response to 2-3 pages.
    • Vulnerability and creative risk-taking are encouraged for your personal statement. The CV tells us what you’ve done, your personal statement communicates who you are and where you are going.
• Three recommendations
  • Recommendations should be from individuals who are familiar with your accomplishments, strengths, areas of improvement/growth, personal character, and potential for success in the Genetic Counseling program
  • At least one recommendation should come from an academic who evaluated your work in full or an academic requirement (lecture or lab course)
  • Recommendations from employers and volunteer experience supervisors are also acceptable. It is not advisable to submit recommendations from personal or family friends. A recommendation from a Genetic Counselor is highly encouraged.
  • In lieu of letters of recommendation, the KGI MSGC program prompts recommenders to answer a series of questions to assess an applicant’s potential for success as a student and future genetic counselor. Letters of recommendation will not be reviewed.
  • All recommendations will be collected outside of the PharmGrad application. To complete the recommendations requirements, please follow the below steps:
    1. In the Recommendations section within the PharmGrad application, select “I am not adding any recommendations.”
    2. Applicants will be provided the link to the recommendation form within the Program Materials section of the application. Applicants should send the provided link to three recommenders.
• Recommended experience:
  • Exposure to genetic counseling, shadowing or interviewing of a clinical, laboratory and/or industry genetic counselor.
  • Advocacy, counseling and/or health care experience (volunteer or paid)
  • Genetic Counseling Standardized Patient volunteer experience
  • Research experience
  • Laboratory experience
• Must be U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident.
• Admission offers are also contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal background check and drug screening.
• The MSGC program does not require the GRE.

Technical Standards

The Master of Science in Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling program maintains technical standards required of all students for admission, progression, and graduation. Download the document.

Required Prerequisite Courses

The following prerequisites must be completed by July 15, 2021. They can be completed at any university or two-year community college. If you have questions about locating a specific prerequisite, please send the following information to sphs.admissions@kgi.edu for review:

• Name of school
• Course number & course name
• Course description
• Number of credits (semester or quarter)
• Grade you received in the course (if applicable)

Courses in embryology, bioethics, anatomy, physiology, epidemiology, organic chemistry, and communication are highly recommended.

Scholarship and Loan Info

We also encourage you to review the Funding Your Degree page for valuable scholarship and loan information and relevant deadlines for both domestic and international students.