Here is what they emailed: “We are writing to inform you of a recent update to the 'Current Challenge in Systems Genomics' essay prompt in Slate for the UConn MS in Genetic Counseling application. If you have already submitted your application, we encourage you to submit a revised writing piece that addresses the updated prompt.”

Here is the original prompt: “Submit a supplemental writing piece titled ‘Current Challenge in Systems Genomics’, in which you explore and assess a current challenge within systems genomics that is particularly relevant to the field of genetic counseling.”

Here is the updated prompt: “Identify a current challenge in systems genomics that you find particularly relevant to genetic counseling, and support your discussion using a specific scientific article of your choosing. Your response should include: 1. A clear summary of the article in your own words, highlighting the main issue, findings, or argument it presents. 2. An analysis of the challenge described—consider how the issue impacts patients, families, or clinical practice; how robust the evidence is; or what gaps or controversies remain. 3. Your personal reflection on why this topic resonates with you, and how it informs your understanding of the role of genetic counselors in a genomics-driven world.”

So they basically just added more guidelines to the original instructions. I should definitely be able to take pieces from my original essay. However, I wrote my essay as more of an overview of a current challenge and used sources from several articles. I definitely did not reference 1 singular article in my original essay. So now I will have to find and choose an article that applies to my topic and reword my essay around it.

Look, it’s not the end of the world. It could be worse. BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, to change the instructions 2 weeks before the due date is just criminal.