To start, I'm going to give you a timeline of the genetic counseling application process, using this year's dates as examples. Individual dates will vary year to year, but the general timeline will remain the same.
Applying to GC Programs for Fall 2019:
- Applications for individual programs open around September 2018
- Registration for GC Admissions Match opens, Sep 5, 2018
- It is recommended that you are registered for Match by Dec 14, 2018
- Applications due in Dec 2018 and Jan 2019
- Interview invitations are sent out, mid-January-early March 2019
- Interviews are held February-early April 2019
- Rank order list instructions are posted on Mar 21, 2019
- Rank order list submission opens on April 2, 2019
- Rank order list submission closes on April 16, 2019
- Results of the Match are released, April 26, 2019
By now, you're probably wondering, "What is 'Match'?"
The Genetic Counseling Admissions Match is administered by National Matching Services Inc (NMS.) NMS's matching services are also used by several other graduate and postgraduate programs, including dentistry and pharmacy. If you are applying to a genetic counseling program, you are required to register and participate in the Genetic Counseling Admissions Match in order to gain admittance to a program. FYI there is a $100 fee you must pay in order to register, so factor that into your application budget!
How does Match work?
You are assigned a unique number that programs use for ranking. Match uses an algorithm to "match" applicants with programs based on applicant and program preferences. Both the applicant (you) and programs submit ranked lists. That means that you rank your programs by preference (i.e. the first program you list is your top choice) and the programs rank applicants whom they have interviewed by preference. You can only rank a program if you interviewed there and vice versa.
For more information about how the algorithm works, visit the NMS Match website. They have a great video! https://natmatch.com/gcadmissions/
Why do some programs have "different tracks?" What does that mean?
Some schools have different "tracks" listed. For example, School X may have 3 options: A. Full scholarship, B. Partial Scholarship, C. Pay Full Tuition. School Y may have 2 options, one where you remain in the same city for your 2nd year or an option for doing clinical rotations in a different city your 2nd year. It is to your benefit that you rank all tracks!
How does Match work?
You are assigned a unique number that programs use for ranking. Match uses an algorithm to "match" applicants with programs based on applicant and program preferences. Both the applicant (you) and programs submit ranked lists. That means that you rank your programs by preference (i.e. the first program you list is your top choice) and the programs rank applicants whom they have interviewed by preference. You can only rank a program if you interviewed there and vice versa.
For more information about how the algorithm works, visit the NMS Match website. They have a great video! https://natmatch.com/gcadmissions/
Why do some programs have "different tracks?" What does that mean?
Some schools have different "tracks" listed. For example, School X may have 3 options: A. Full scholarship, B. Partial Scholarship, C. Pay Full Tuition. School Y may have 2 options, one where you remain in the same city for your 2nd year or an option for doing clinical rotations in a different city your 2nd year. It is to your benefit that you rank all tracks!
How should you decide your rank order list?
That's really up to you! You do not have to rank all tracks for a program together. You could rank the scholarship options for School X, School Y, and School Z first before ranking the non-scholarship options. Or if you really have your heart set on School Y, you could rank all the tracks for School Y first. You should decide your rank list based on your preferences. There is no benefit to ranking a program higher than your preferred program because you think they are more likely to accept you. Conversely, you shouldn't leave off a track/program, because you think you don't have a good chance. You never know! The algorithm works in your favor and tries to match you to your top choice. If you are not on that school's rank list, it will move on to your 2nd choice and try to match you with that and so on. That said, you should not submit ranks for any programs (or tracks) you would not want to attend. There is a chance you could match with that track.
Sample Rank List:
School X, Scholarship
School X, Partial Scholarship
School Y, Scholarship
School Z, City A
School Z, City B
School Y, Full Tuition
School Z, City C
As you can see, within each school, there may be multiple tracks to rank! Even if you only interviewed at a few schools, it may take you a while to decide how to order your rankings, so this is not something to do the night before!
What happens on Match Day?
On Match Day, you will (hopefully!) "match" with a genetic counseling program. If you do not "match", there may be an opportunity to participate in a post-match process. If you did not match and there are any open spots that went unfilled, you have the opportunity to apply to those programs post-match. This happens rarely and there may only be 1 or 2 spots, if at all. Also, there may be dozens of people applying for the 1 leftover spot, or it may be at a program you have no interest in attending.
I hope this was helpful and clears up some confusion about the Match process! Please, feel free to get in touch if you have any further questions!
Comments
Post a Comment