Frequently Asked Questions

Who makes a successful Genetic Counselor?  What types of students will do well in this program? 

Genetic Counselors are generally highly motivated individuals.  They want to advocate strongly for their patients/clients, become valuable members of the health care delivery team, remain on the forefront of the dissemination of genetic knowledge and advancements to the medical community, and participate in the education of the general public.  Counselors are intelligent, hard-working, compassionate, and reliable individuals. 

Our program is seeking potential genetic counselors who are qualified to take Master’s level science and counseling courses.  Ideal for candidates are mature, confident, organized, and have excellent interpersonal and communication skills.  As this program is largely based on distance education, good candidates will have experience with distance based course work and/or be very conversant with computer/internet technology. 

Candidates will have a strong understanding of genetic counseling, the need for genetic counselors in a variety of settings, and the directions/future of the profession.  These insights can be gained by spending time with a practicing genetic counselor in a variety of settings.

How many students generally will apply to this program?  How many will be accepted?

The number of students that apply will vary from year to year.  In general we receive between 30-40 applications each year.  We're able to admit 5-6 students per first year class to the UAMS - Little Rock campus. 

Students will only be accepted to begin the program in fall semesters.

What is the deadline for application for admission to the program?

February 15 - All admissions materials are due to the UAMS Graduate School (http://www.uams.edu/gradschool/).

February - March - Complete applications are reviewed by UAMS.

March - April - Competitive applicants are invited to interview with the program faculty.

AGCPD Universal Acceptance Date - Interviewed students are informed of their acceptance status:  Accepted, Wait-List, or Not Accepted.  This date changes from year to year, though typically occurs in late April.  The date is selected jointly by the program directors of the American and Canadian genetic counseling programs.

What are the most important criteria in considering my application for admission?

We seek students who are genuinely interested in the field of genetic counseling and are involved in activities that evidence this interest.  Successful applicants have the required academic scientific background that is vital to understanding of human genetics.  An applicant’s overall academic and GRE performance is important for acceptance to our program.  See "Admission Requirements" for details.

Does UAMS offer financial aid?

The Graduate School encourages interested applicants to apply for financial aid through the UAMS Financial Aid Office (www.uams.edu/studentfinancialaid/).

Can I visit the program?

We encourage interested applicants to visit with any of our faculty members and/or observe clinical activities.  We offer counseling to prospective students who want to tailor their undergraduate coursework for future application to our genetic counseling program.  Please contact the department to arrange a visit. 

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