How to Apply

The information below applies to the Fall 2024 admission cycle.

Before submitting your application, carefully read these instructions.  If you are reapplying, please review these again as some of the information has changed.

You must submit your online application and pay the $40.00 application fee by December 15, 2023 by 4:30 pm CST to be considered for admission.

To apply, you must provide the following:

  1. UAMS Online Admissions Application (OAA): An online application to the college is required and is available on the website.  On the first page of the application, be sure to make the following selections to choose this program:
    -Academic Career: Graduate
    -Campus: Main UAMS Campus
    -Term: Fall
    -Academic Program: College of Health Prof GRAD
    -Admit Type: Applicant
    -Academic Plan: Genetic Counseling MS
    -Academic Sub-Plan: N/A
    As you prepare to submit your application, please gather the documents and items listed below because they need to be included with your application submission. After an application is submitted, you cannot upload documents to OAA.

    • UAMS Genetic Counseling REDCap Form PDF (you will receive the pdf after completing the form).
    • NMS Genetic Counseling Admissions Match ID
    • Personal Statement
    • Resume/CV with NMS ID#
  2. REDCap Form: Completion of this form is required by the UAMS Genetic Counseling Admissions Committee and aids the committee in the holistic review of your application. Link: https://redcap.link/UAMSApplicantForm2024
    Note: The CHP Admissions Office makes final determination on whether or not each prerequisite has been met.
  3. Evidence of an Understanding of the Genetic Counseling Profession: You will be asked to document on the REDCap form your efforts to understand the roles and scope of practice of a genetic counselor. While applicants are strongly encouraged to job shadow with a genetic counselor on at least one occasion before applying, there are other ways to learn about the profession. If you job shadow, invite the genetic counselor you shadowed to complete this short form to document your observation hours: https://redcap.link/UAMSGCPapplicantjobshadow
  4. Genetic Counseling Admissions Match ID: The UAMS Genetic Counseling Graduate Program participates in the Genetic Counseling Admissions Match through National Matching Services (NMS).  All applicants must register for the Match with NMS before applying to participating genetic counseling graduate programs.  Please visit the NMS website (https://natmatch.com/gcadmissions) to register for the match, review detailed information about the matching process, and to view a demonstration of how the matching algorithm works.
    Scholarships to cover the cost of the match registration have been available through the Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors (AGCPD) in previous cycles and we anticipate they will be available for this coming application cycle. Applications for scholarship are typically due in October. We will post instructions on how to apply here when they are available.  
  5. Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation are required.  You will be required to enter each reference’s name and email address on the OAA.  After you submit and pay your application fee in the OAA, the system will automatically generate an email to each of your references with instructions for completing and submitting the letter by the December 15, 2023 deadline.
  6. Official Transcripts (deadline January 12, 2024): Arrange for each college or university you have attended to forward an official transcript of your course work.  Official transcripts should be sent to the CHP Admissions Office either electronically or via mail.
    Make sure that grades from all courses taken during the Fall 2023 Semester are included in the transcripts submitted. This means that if you are currently enrolled in classes during the Fall 2023 Semester, you will need to wait until those grades have been posted to submit the transcripts from that university. However, you are encouraged to submit transcripts from other universities that you attended as early as possible.
    If you have questions, please review the CHP Transcript FAQ page or contact chpadmissions@uams.edu.
  7. GPA Requirement and Required Prerequisite Courses:
    • Applicants must either have a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.85 on a 4.0 scale or request that their GPA for either the last two years of their major; last 60 credits; or graduate degree (in a related field) be considered in lieu of their cumulative GPA. Please send requests to chpadmissions@uams.edu .
    • See Prerequisite Courses for more detailed information of these requirements.
      • Applicants accepted to the program must earn a letter grade of “C” or better for all required prerequisite courses
      • Applicants with more than one missing required prerequisite may not be considered for admission.
      • Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete the Genetics required prerequisite by the end of the fall 2023 term.
      • No more than two required prerequisite courses can be from CLEP, AP, or IB credit and must be recognized on the granting college/university official transcript.
  8. Personal Statement: An 800-word statement written by you that addresses your readiness for graduate school, why you are suited for a career in genetic counseling, and your professional career goals and why you want attend UAMS. Upload your essay to the “Upload Documents” section of the OAA.
  9. Resume: A current resume or curriculum vitae. In addition to standard elements of a resume, your resume should also include the following:
    • your NMS match #
    • any relevant experiences in peer/crisis counseling, patient care, teaching, advocacy and/or research (see Prerequisite Courses for detailed information on experiences of competitive applicants).
  10. TOEFL Scores, as applicable.  See International Applicants in the Admissions/Academic Information section of the catalog.

Interview

After the December 15 deadline, the Genetic Counseling Admissions Committee will review all applications. Incomplete applications may not be considered for admission. Applicants selected for interview will be notified by February 1.  Interviews will be conducted in February and March via live interactive video using Zoom. Interviewees must have a webcam so they can be seen during the interviews at all times. Only applicants who complete the full interview process will be considered for inclusion on the rank-list during the GC Admissions Match.

State Authorization of Distance Education and Clinical Placement Policy

*Admission Requirements for Foreign, Non-permanent Resident Alien, and Non-native English Speakers:  All applicants who are not United States citizens or permanent resident aliens or for whom English is not their native language must meet additional admission requirements.  Please consult the Admission/Academic Information section of the CHP Catalog.

All accepted applicants must consent to a criminal background check and drug screen prior to matriculation. Background checks and drug screens are required by most clinical sites during the didactic and clinical phase of the program. Matriculation into the program is contingent upon acceptable background check and drug screen results. Adverse results of a background check will be considered on an individual basis and may result in an inability to matriculate into the program. Enrolled students may be randomly drug tested throughout the curriculum and clinical sites may require updated background checks. More information about the requirement will be provided to accepted applicants.