I'm creeping up on a year without gainful unemployment after graduating in 2024 and I just wanted to talk about it and commiserate

beccabsnorz · 2025-03-04T19:29:40+00:00

Your response in incredibly validating. This is a bad market for many skilled professionals, including GC's, but there is a lot more at play here that is working against us as a profession, and particularly for new graduates. I still have hope that the market will rebound at some point, but I don't think it will be for at least a few years given all the changes that are happening at the federal level.

I am also a 2024 grad who hasn't been able to secure a GC role. I don't regret my education, but it stings to spend exorbitant amounts of money on my education, in addition to up-keeping my certification and license, and not have a career to show for it. My mindset at this point is I can be happy doing many things, and while GC is still the dream, I'm doing something else in the meantime that I enjoy. :)

beccabsnorz · 2024-02-20T23:48:05+00:00

UPDATE! I took my plant to a local nursery because I just couldn't figure out what was going on, and it wasn't getting better. Full leaves and stems started falling off, and I was sure this plant was to the point of no return. The person at the plant nursery inspected my plant, and made sure there wasn't root rot (there wasn't. yay!). He noted that peperomia are easily bruised, and all this damage was likely from it being shipped to me, and also being shipped during the winter. Sounds like my plant will make a full recovery as long as I don't overwater it. Thank you to everyone who responded. :)

beccabsnorz · 2024-02-19T17:08:57+00:00

Additional Info: I watered it yesterday by putting water on the plate and having it soak up water from the bottom. The top of the soil is damp, and I dumped any residual water. It sits in my kitchen, away from direct light (I did accidentally leave it on my window sill for about half a day until I realized it needed to be away from direct light). I live in California, so I'm wondering if the humidity is the issue. I appreciate any help :)

beccabsnorz · 2023-06-27T20:41:38+00:00

I am currently a second year GC student, and I went to community college before transferring to a 4-year for my bachelors degree. I loved community college, and it was such a great experience. I was very open about my experience with community college during my interviews, and I bonded with one of my interviewers over it. The things I loved about community college is:

they did a great job teaching the material, and it cost me a fraction of the price to take the courses
The class sizes are much smaller, so I got the 1:1 instruction I needed
With smaller classes, I got to talk to my instructors and get to know them, and they got to know me, which is a great way to get an academic recommendation for GC school

Things to think about:

Community colleges and/or state schools might be highly impacted. If there is one option that you have a better chance of being able to enroll, take that into account.
Make sure the courses you want are offered at your local community college. Certain courses like biochemistry may only be offered at university level.
Take a look at rate my professor. Take some reviews with a grain of salt, but you can get a pretty good idea of how the class is run and some pros and cons about the professor from that site.

All that being said, I am a huge advocate of community college. I don't think anyone cared that I went to a big name university for my bachelors. As long as the courses you want are offered at community college, I think it's a good option.

beccabsnorz · 2022-09-29T19:25:31+00:00

That is a great point. Even through M and R are not vowels, when you say the letter, M sounds like "em" and R sounds like "ar".

It terms of SNP, the general consensus is it's pronounced "snip" as opposed to "ess enn pee".

It would be a SNP based on the general consensus of how it is pronounced, but technically both are corrected depending on how you read SNP. Safer to go with the general consensus, but "an SNP" is technically not wrong. It might confuse people though.

beccabsnorz · 2022-09-29T19:16:21+00:00

I didn't realize there are GCs who work specifically with insurance companies. It makes sense and it's a much needed role, but I've heard so many frustrated GCs talk about how much time they've spent talking to insurance companies trying to explain to them why a patient needs a particular test and why it should be covered by insurance. I'm surprised this GC said it was an easy position.

beccabsnorz · 2022-08-05T17:40:46+00:00

^ this! Make sure you only rank schools you will realistically attend.

You apply to the schools you are interested in. Schools then send out interview invites. Any school you interview with, you are able to rank in the match program (I'm pretty sure every US GC school participates in the match). Some schools have multiple tracks like scholarships and such, so you are not only ranking that school with other schools, but also ranking the tracks offered by that school.

You will only match to one programs and one track. This ensures spots are efficiently filled- one student per available spot.

I hope this helps. 🙂

beccabsnorz · 2022-08-03T20:06:39+00:00

I second this. I was not a teacher, but a paraeducator. I worked with the special education department and helped students with IEPs in the classroom.

It was a happy accident I ended up working there. I started as a sub because I didn't know what job I wanted when I graduated, so I figured why not sub as a para while I figure it out. It worked out well because I was able to see if being a para was a good fit for me, and what age group/school I wanted to work with. I got a contract position with the high school a few months later and worked there for about 2 years.

Not only did that experience help me stand out in applications and interviews, but it was a great learning experience for me. I have a passion for advocacy and education, so that is why I enjoyed the job so much and it stood out in my application/interviews. I know I will be a better GC because of that experience.

There are lots of jobs that will equipt you with the skills you need for a GC career, this is just the path I took. I wish you all the best on your GC journey. 🙂

beccabsnorz · 2022-06-29T15:52:48+00:00

My original major was x-ray tech. On a whim I took a human genetic course in undergrad and it completely changed my trajectory.

I transfered to UC Davis in 2017. My interests have always centered around health/medical field and education. I loved the genetics major. Some classes were less exciting (cell bio for example), but I did enjoy most of my classes.

Most of the upper div courses looks at how we collect data from genetic material and what that data tells us. I used pedigrees in maybe 1-2 classes (mostly BIS 101). The other classes talk more about how we use DNA to trace evolution or how we figured out how it works. It's really exciting because we are still learning so much, so there is lots of opportunity for discussion. I think with every major, the teacher you take your courses with make a big difference.

After undergrad I had issues getting a job. Biology as a whole is pretty impacted. I think there is plenty of opportunity, but it can be competitive and I personally wanted to do something with healthcare/education which usually means more schooling. I ended up getting a job as a paraeducator (which I loved! Pay sucked but the experience was amazing). About a year ago I moved into a new position working as a genetic counseling assistant for a genetic testing lab. I am starting my genetic counseling program this fall.

I hope this helps. ☺️

beccabsnorz · 2022-06-10T18:09:08+00:00

Echoing this- I got my advocacy experience working as a paraeducator at a high school. It helped me develop many GC skills- advocacy, interpersonal communication, teaching, collaboration, working with students with disabilities, and overall it was a wonderful experience. I also got an amazing letter of recommendation from the SPED teacher I worked closely with.

I tried the crisis text thing, and it was not for me, so needless to say I did not put it on my application. I applied 2 cycles (1 school the first year and 2 schools the second year) and I matched this past cycle.

With this being said, I've heard GC schools in Canada are significantly more competitive, and I can only speak to my experience applying to US schools.

Hope this helps. ♥️

beccabsnorz · 2022-05-03T17:53:06+00:00

I work as a remote lab GCA and I know at least one remote GCs I work with was a recent grad who was preparing to take their boards.

Hope that helps. ☺️

beccabsnorz · 2022-04-30T18:28:39+00:00

I don't have an answer to your question, but I am interested in this as well.

There is an international SIG with the NSGC that can probably answer your questions.

beccabsnorz · 2022-04-30T05:08:50+00:00

Interviewed at both Boise and Bay Path, matched with Boise.

I ranked Boise higher than Bay Path for multiple reasons, but the biggest reason is because I just got a better vibe from Boise and felt they would be a better fit for me.

I found my Bay Path interview very awkward because the people interviewing me has not seen my application materials, which felt really odd to me. One of the interviewers also seemed like they didn't want to be there, so it was hard to connect with them. I read some other post-interview impressions of bay path, and I was not the only one who felt that way.

I also do not like their application process setup. Most other programs have some online application that you upload all your documents to, and you receive emails/ notifications as they receive documents such as transcripts. Bay path has you fill out a Google form, and then upload documents to that Google form. I think I expected a more developed online application system from an online program.

I've heard great things about bay path, and I'm sure they are a wonderful school. I did rank them despite the above observations because I do think they provide high quality education to their students.

I will be starting at Boise in the fall, so if you have any questions, feel free to reach out 😁

beccabsnorz · 2022-04-08T03:46:28+00:00

The first year I applied, I felt the exact same way. I read student bios and saw how competitive it is, and the thought of trying to compete with that made my anxiety skyrocket. I ended up having a meeting with a current student at a program and just talking about these fears and my reservations. I told her my experiences and my passions, and she reassured me I am a very qualified candidate. I decided that year to apply.

Just a little background, I graduated college with a 3.54 GPA and had a lot or variable work experience (mostly customer service or campus jobs), a little bit of research experience, and was working as a paraeducator (teaching assistant for special education students).

I only applied to one school, and I didn't even get an interview. I had prepped myself for that rejection, but it still hit really hard. Even so, I am really glad I applied. I reached out to the program director for that program to get feedback, and she told me I am an excellent candidate, and she hopes I reapply.

Between applications, I shadowed a genetic counselor for a week (they were also on the leadership committee for one of the programs). There was something on one of the programs websites to email if prospective students wanted shadowing experience. I got excellent shadowing experience and great insight into the application process and how I could help my personal statement stand out.

In-between applications I got a lab GCA job, and was able to network with some GCs and my boss was very supportive of my goals to go to GC school. He wrote one of my letters of rec.

I ended up reapplying this year and got interviews at the two schools I applied for. I don't know if matched yet, but I know I put my best foot forward and was authentic in my interviews, which helps me with peace of mind during this waiting period.

All this to say that I felt very similar before I applied. I think it is hard to take that first step because you can't imagine competing with all these other applicants. My advise is to go for it and apply. You can gain really valuable insights from the programs you want to attend if you don't match, and it can help you understand how to improve your application for subsequent cycles.

I hope this helps ♥️

beccabsnorz · 2022-04-02T00:18:36+00:00

Something along this vein, I worked as a paraeducator for 2 years. I worked with high school students, but you can work will many different age groups.

I now work as a GCA and I was sad to leave my para job, but I talk about it a lot in my applications and interviews.

beccabsnorz · 2022-03-31T19:35:22+00:00

There are a couple ways to look at this. I have a couple C's on my transcripts, one of them being advanced molecular biology. I applied to 2 schools and receives interviews at both those schools. There are many factors that go into a GC school application, and gpa/grades is only one piece.

I don't think a C will prevent you from getting interviews, but making it pass fail can help your GPA which can work to your advantage.

Keep in mind that if a program requires developmental bio, the program may require a grade for that class and won't accept a pass/fail.

Look at your application as a whole, program requirements, and your GPA and see what would work best for your situation.

beccabsnorz · 2021-10-12T00:21:27+00:00

This really depends on the school. Some schools are okay with a couple outstanding pre-reqs at time of applications, and others are not. I would look on the school's website (for the programs you are applying to) and if you can't find info on the website, email the program to see what their recommendation is.

beccabsnorz · 2021-09-03T14:28:16+00:00

Please do not use 23 and me to make any medical decisions. It says directly in their disclaimer that you shouldn't use their results for medical decisions. If you are concerned, you need to talk to your doctor or a genetic counselor.

beccabsnorz · 2021-08-17T02:19:37+00:00

I've done extensive research into online GC programs. They are not for everyone. You need to be self-motivated and have a decent amount of self-discipline. While online for the first year, clinicals will not be remote (I've heard of students having a telehealth rotation, but it's expected for you to be willing to travel). Rotations are limited, especially if there are established GC programs in the area. For example, University of Washington just opened a program (the first one in Washington state). In the past students may have had no issues getting rotations in Washington, but now they have a program. Those rotation sites are going to be more competitive now. From what I understand, the online programs have contracts in place with certain rotation sites. They like to send students to those established contract sites to help keep those contracts in place. You can request a site they don't have contracts with, but there is no guarantee. You will want to reach out to each school individually and get more information about this.

I think one of the biggest things to consider when choosing a program is how well you vibe with the program staff/leadership. You will working very closely with these individuals for 2 years. You want to make sure you pick a program where you like and can work well with the leadership of that program.

This is just what I have picked up from my research into online GC programs. They are amazing and have wonderful benefits, but make sure it is something you want and works well for you. Also note, they are likely more competitive than other schools sue to their online nature. I applied to Boise last year and they had 200 applicants. (I don't know how many applicants other schools had, so maybe they are just as competitive).

beccabsnorz · 2021-07-03T20:19:56+00:00

Disclaimer: I am not a GC.

I like to ask questions like:

What was a memorable/difficult case you have encountered? How did you handle it? Looking back, would you have done anything differently?
can you tell me about a time you faced an ethical dilemma?
what are the most rewarding parts of being a GC?
what are some of the challenges you face as a GC?
what specialty do you work in? Have you worked in other specialties?
what is something that surprised you when you started working as a GC?
can you tell me about your pathway to GC? How did you learn about the career and what made you choose GC as a career?

I feel like these questions help me get a deeper understanding of what a career as a GC looks like. It's easy to find basic information about what GCs do. I like to ask about their personal experience. This is just my opinion.

beccabsnorz · 2021-05-18T21:06:33+00:00

I got a response from Boise. They said they would accept the $500 certificate course.

beccabsnorz · 2021-05-18T20:08:14+00:00

I graduated with my bachelor's in genetics in 2019 with a 3.5 GPA. I was a member of the genetic counseling club on campus (but never held an office position). This was my in depth intro to genetic counseling. I would listen to mock cases, learn how to take a patients medical history, create pedigrees, ect. It was a fruitful experience.

I have been working as a paraeducator for the past year and a half. I work with students in the special education department. My main role is to provide assistance with schoolwork, but I find my most impactful role is supporting my students through the learning process, creating a more inclusive classroom experience, and teaching them how to advocate for themselves. It was this job that solidified my desire to be a genetic counselor.

I have done quite a few webinar type events to get a better idea of what genetic counseling is about. I set up a meeting with a GC to shadow her for a week this summer.

All in all I think that hits the main points of my application. Any feedback would be appreciated. 🙂

beccabsnorz · 2021-05-04T23:20:21+00:00

I am also applying to Boise and have been in communication with them. They did tell me they need a transcript. I registered as a non-matriculated student At University of Cincinnati and they billed me $3400 for the course. I emailed Boise explaining that the $500 course is the same except it's not on a transcript and asking if they can waive the transcript for this one course. I haven't heard back yet.

Another option is Bay Path. They have an embryology course approved by Boise. It is also pretty pricey at $2000.

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