GC Application Cheat Sheet: Shadowing Alternatives

One of the "encouraged" experiences many genetic counseling programs list on their website is shadowing a genetic counselor. While there are approximately 4,900 genetic counselors in the country, shadowing opportunities remain limited. With a large amount of genetic counselors (especially new graduates) being sequestered into the industry setting, in reality very few counselors operate in hospital or clinical systems that allow shadowing due to time or legal constraints (HIPAA). In reality, the amount of genetic counselors that have the capacity to allow student shadowing is far less, and with 1500+ applicants in the last application cycle, a number that grows every year as genetic counseling grows in popularity and public awareness, finding shadowing opportunities is probably one of the most challenging aspects of the applying to genetic counseling programs.

The reason why shadowing is so important to programs is because there is a limited number of spots available every application cycle. Of the 936 people who participated in The Match (that is, individuals who interviewed and submitted rankings to be matched with a program), only 468 spots were available. Programs want to make sure that the people who are applying to their program know exactly what genetic counseling is and what is required of someone to be an effective genetic counselor. Shadowing provides the perfect opportunity for students to observe the responsibilities that are involved in a genetic counselor's day to day, and can give students a glimpse into the kinds of patients they would be seeing should they become a genetic counselor. All in all, shadowing is about knowing what you're getting into.

Another reason programs like to see shadowing is because it shows that students are committed to learning about genetic counseling. As many applicants will attest, finding shadowing opportunities can be difficult, so to go through the effort of finding a shadowing opportunity reflects that a student really wants to learn more about what goes into being a genetic counselor. It also gives students an opportunity to observe cases that can reflect upon in their personal statements or help them to prepare for the interview process.

But what can you do if you can't find a shadowing opportunity?

1. Informational Interviews

If you think about the two main reasons why programs like to see shadowing, both of these can be fulfilled by interviewing and talking with genetic counselors. Additionally, I think that many genetic counselors wish they were more available to students for shadowing, so I have found that many of them are incredibly generous with their time when it comes to asking questions and setting up informational interviews. I also think that informational interviews are a great supplement to doing your own research about the field. It gives you the opportunity to ask questions that you might not think of in the middle of a shadowing session, and it allows you to hear from more than one genetic counselor, giving you a diversity of experiences and wisdom. And because informational interviews can happen over the phone, you shouldn't feel limited by your geographical location! When I was setting up informational interviews, I also made sure to try to contact genetic counselors in specialties that I had not had exposure to. 

These don't have to be limited to just current genetic counselors! Meeting with and talking to current students, especially those who are currently in a program that you might be interested in applying to, is a really great chance for you to learn about that specific program, what the academic requirements are, and what they have learned through their clinical rotations. I've also found that many current students are very eager to help aspiring genetic counselors, and when they can find the time between course work, they are helpful in answering questions and providing advice. After all, they were in your position not too long ago!

When it comes time to apply for school, be sure to list all of your informational interviews on your CV where you might otherwise list your shadowing experience. I included my total amount of time spent talking with genetic counselors and genetic counseling students! If anything, as a measurable unit for program directors reviewing my application. 

Here's an example of how I listed my informational interviews on my CV: 

2. Genetic Counseling Mentor

This one may be more difficult than finding a shadowing opportunity. But having a genetic counseling mentor can be a great way of learning more about the field and responsibilities of a genetic counselor. They can often reflect upon notable cases or provide advice when it comes to the application process. 

If you identify as a racial or ethnic minority, the Minority Genetics Professionals Network has a mentorship program in place for it's members, and it's free to join! The project was announced at the NSGC conference in 2018 and was spearheaded by the same leadership behind the Western States Regional Genetics Network. I was matched with a mentor in the initial launch of the mentorship program, and have found that this relationship was exactly what I needed for this stage in my life. I've also had the opportunity to ask my mentor about her experiences in both the clinical and non-clinical aspects of her genetic counseling journey. It was also incredibly refreshing, especially as a woman of color, to feel more represented and "seen" in this particular mentor-mentee relationship. 

The new mentor-mentee cycle starts in November (2019), so make sure to join beforehand!

3. Webinars

Fortunately, the genetic counseling community recognizes that shadowing opportunities are difficult to find, so many companies and clinics will host webinars to provide an opportunity for students to learn about the field and hear from genetic counselors or genetic counseling students. These webinars can ranges from general aspects about genetic counseling, to specific program application webinars, to webinars for specific topics in various specialties. While the content can vary in difficulty, webinars are a great opportunity to hear from genetic counselors. Additionally, webinars are often recorded and can be accessed at a later date or on your own time, which can be great for individuals who work full time!

Grey Genetics is hosting a webinar for aspiring genetic counseling students on September 10th, 2019! This is a completely free webinar (accepting donations to support the Patient Stories Podcast) that will have two genetic counselors, Emily Fassi and Eleanor Griffith, basically doing a Q&A and answering any of the questions you might have about the field! 

Space is limited! So you can register for the webinar here.

Other webinar opportunities:

The NSGC hosts an entire webinar series geared toward patients about genetic counseling. This is a great resource if you are just starting to figure out if genetic counseling is right for you! While the NSGC also hosts more genetics-content based webinars, many of those have a registration fee as they also offer continuing education units for current counselors or other healthcare providers. 

View the (free) Genetic Counselors and You series here. 

Ambry Genetics hosts regular webinars on their site. You can register for upcoming webinars or view some of their old webinar recordings available for free. 

View all of their webinars here. 

Quest Diagnostics also hosts regular webinars for a variety of topics, as their company goes beyond just genetic testing. All of their recorded webinars are also available for free!

View all of their webinars here. 

4. Podcasts

Podcasts are incredible and there are so many amazing genetics and genetic counseling focused podcasts available! They all vary in their mission and focus, but are all really great resources if you want to hear from patients, genetics professionals, genetic counselors, and even current students.

Unfortunately, the down side to podcasts is that there is no measurable way to list this exposure on a CV. However, you can make it abundantly clear through your personal statements and interviews that you have done the research and that you understand what a genetic counselor is, what is required of them, and what you might encounter when you become one. 

Some great genetics podcasts that I listen to:

Patient Stories by Grey Genetics

DNA Today

NSGC Podcast

The Beagle Has Landed

There are so many more resources out there that can substitute shadowing opportunities that I definitely missed. So, if you know of one please feel free to share in the comments!