Admission

Application Requirements

Note: In special circumstances, the GPA in the major for the last two years or the GPA for a graduate degree may be considered in lieu of the overall undergraduate GPA.

Match Registration. All applicants must register with the Genetic Counseling (GC) Admissions Match through National Matching Services (NMS).

Additional information about the NMS Match:

The GC Admissions Match has been established to enhance the process of placing applicants into positions in masters-level genetic counseling programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC). The Match uses a process that takes into account both applicants’ and programs’ preferences. All applicants must first register for the Match with NMS before applying to participating genetic counseling graduate programs. At the conclusion of all program interviews, both applicants and programs will submit ranked lists of preferred placements to NMS according to deadlines posted on the NMS website. The binding results of the Match will be released to both applicants and programs simultaneously in late April. Please visit the NMS website to register for the match, review detailed information about the matching process, and to view a demonstration of how the matching algorithm works.

Application Process

Please note: All applications are submitted through the UCLA GRADUATE DIVISION website.

All applicants will complete the program application and submit the following required materials:

• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test scores from the Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytic sections obtained within the last 5 years. Scores of 50%ile are generally considered competitive if other aspects of the application are strong.  GRE institution code for UCLA is 4837, GC major code is 0389.
• Resume (CV) –The CV should include your NMS number, information that documents your genetic counseling experience, other counseling experience, exposure to patients in clinical settings, research experience, exposure to individuals with disability, publications or abstracts, a list of your specific courses which meet our prerequisites, the institutions at which they were taken, and your grades in each relevant course.
• Essay describing why you are interested in a career in genetic counseling, the background and experiences that have prepared you for a career in genetic counseling, what you can contribute to the genetic counseling profession in terms of equity, diversity, and inclusion, and why you are interested in the UCLA genetic counseling training program. Limit: 2 double-spaced pages.
• Essay describing your contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion that addresses one or more of the questions below. The essay should articulate your potential contributions to diversity as broadly described in the 500.13 Guidelines for the Graduate Admissions Process & Codification of Policies Governing Admission. Limit: 300-500 words. This is the Personal Statement on the Graduate Division Application Submission Portal.
  • Ways in which your life experiences and educational background inform your understanding of the barriers facing groups that are underrepresented in higher education. How will your research, creative efforts, or scholarly discourse in your graduate program, contribute to the diversity and equal opportunity in higher education?
  • Your drive and motivation to persist and overcome barriers in higher education that may have disproportionately disadvantaged you. If appropriate, include evidence of your success in these efforts.
  • Your active engagement (e.g., through participation, employment, service, teaching or other activities) in programs focused on increasing the representation of groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education.
• Official transcripts of all university coursework.
  Mailing address for hard copy:
  Genetic Counseling Graduate Program at UCLA
  6506 Gonda Center
  Box 957088
  Los Angeles, CA 90095-7088
  Email address for electronic copy:
  gcprogram@mednet.ucla.edu
  
• 3 Letters of Recommendation from individuals competent to evaluate qualifications for pursuit of graduate study and a genetic counseling career.

If you have questions about your eligibility or strength as an applicant, please contact us here. 

The M.S. in Genetic Counseling degree is a terminal degree and does not lead to a doctoral degree.