How to Apply

The information below applies to the Fall 2025 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, 2024 by 4:30 pm CST to be considered for admission.

To apply, you must provide the following:

  1. UAMS Application: Complete and submit the online admissions application through Workday. You will find this application under “UAMS CHP Applicant Home (Graduate and Professional)”. A non-refundable fee of $40 is required and must accompany the Workday Admissions Application submission. Applications can be saved and returned to at a later date but will not be considered for review until the application is submitted and the application fee is paid. Once your application is submitted, you will return to the application site to complete action items related to your application, such as providing transcripts.
  2. Evidence of an Understanding of the Genetic Counseling Profession: Applicants are encouraged to job shadow genetic counselors when possible or seek other experiences to understand the genetic counselor’s scope of practice. Applicants should highlight their experiences on their resume.
  3. 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.
    GCEA has established a waiver for the $100 fee associated with the NMS Match. Prospective students who demonstrate financial need AND have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater can apply for a match fee waiver. Prospective students should apply for a fee waiver BEFORE registering for an NMS number. Match fee waivers cannot be awarded to applicants who have already registered for the Match and paid the registration fee.Applications for the match fee waiver are due by October 4, 2024. Applicants will be notified by October 30, 2024 as to whether they have received a waiver. There are a limited number of waivers, so not all applicants will receive a waiver. Instructions for how to register for the NMS match will be provided to those who receive a waiver.

    Waivers are non-transferable to future match cycles or other prospective students. Prospective students who are applying for a match fee waiver will be required to write a short essay and to upload at least one of the following documents demonstrating financial need:

    1. A copy of a letter verifying unemployment benefits received within the past two years.
    2. A copy of a letter on official letterhead from a government agency verifying that you or your family have qualified for public assistance based on low income criteria anytime within the past 5 years
    3. A copy of your financial aid award letter from another / previous institution dated within 5 the past years
    4. A copy of your approved GRE fee waiver (for tests taken within 5 years of the application deadline)
    5. A copy of your federal Student Aid Report (SAR) that verifies you qualified for financial aid within the past 5 years based on a family contribution of:
      • Not more than $1,500 if the student is a dependent student
      • Not more than $1,900 if the student is an independent student

    To apply, click here: https://natmatch.com/gcadmissions/applicants/register.html

    Please direct any questions about the Match Fee Waiver process or requirements to gcmatchwaivers@gcea.onmicrosoft.com

  4. Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation are required.  You will be required to enter each reference’s name and email address on the application.  After you submit and pay your application fee, the system will automatically generate an email to each of your references with instructions for completing and submitting the letter by the second Friday in January.
  5. Official Transcripts (deadline: second Friday in January): 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.
    Applicants who are enrolled in courses during the fall 2024 term may upload an unofficial transcript with their application and have official transcripts sent by the deadline in January.If you have questions, please review the CHP Transcript FAQ page or contact chpadmissions@uams.edu.
  6. GPA Requirement and Required Prerequisite Courses:
    • Applicants must either have a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.85 on a 4.0 scale (for all undergraduate and graduate coursework) 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 2024 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.
  7. Personal Statement: An 850-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. Statements exceed the word limit will not be considered. Upload your essay as a PDF to the application.
  8. Resume: A current resume or curriculum vitae uploaded to the application as a PDF. In addition to standard elements of a resume, your resume should also include the following:
    • Your NMS Genetic Counseling Admissions Match #.
    • Courses and grades for the required and recommended prerequisite courses (please not any courses that are “in progress”, “scheduled but not started”, or “plan to enroll”).
    • Any of the following applicable experiences (Note: We would not expect an applicant to have all of these. For examples, see “How to make your application stand out in a positive way”):
      • Exposure to the genetic counseling profession and scope of practice;
      • Direct peer/crisis counseling;
      • Healthcare / patient care;
      • Training or educating others;
      • Advocacy;
      • Leadership; and/or
      • Research
  9. GRE Optional: Applicants may submit general GRE scores, but they are not required.
  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. Applications that are incomplete after the second Friday in January may not be considered for admission. Applicants selected for interview will be notified by email.  Virtual interviews will be conducted in late February to late 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 program’s rank-list during the Genetic Counseling 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.