What is the application process?
Our application process occurs annually and online. To begin an application, please visit our online application portal. You will need to open an account; once created, you will complete your application, indicate references, and upload supporting documents. You can return to your application and make changes any time before the application deadline. If you are having difficulty with the online platform, please contact our Graduate Admission Office at 914.395.2371. Please note that your application will not be considered complete and will not be reviewed until all required documentation is received.
A nonrefundable application fee of $60 must be submitted upon completion and submission of your online application. After you review and submit your application, you will receive information about submitting an online payment. Payments may also be made by check or money order to Sarah Lawrence College, and submitted via mail. An official transcript from each undergraduate and graduate institution you have attended is required prior to enrollment in the graduate program.
What is the application process timeline?
Applications and all supporting documents are due December 14 for enrollment in the fall of that following calendar year. In your online portal review page, incomplete/pending application materials are listed. If there are further questions about the status of submitted materials, please call our Graduate Admission Office at 914.395.2371.
Applicants who are selected for an interview will be contacted through e-mail in January or February to schedule a program interview for February or March. All genetic counseling programs in North America, including Sarah Lawrence College, release final admissions decisions on the same date, called Match Day. This typically occurs in mid April, but the exact date changes year to year.
Do you require GREs?
No, GRE scores are not required.
Do you accept international students and how does immigration work?
Yes, we do. For immigration questions, please contact Todd Pettiford, Assistant Dean of Graduate Students at tpettiford@sarahlawrence.edu.
Are there additional documents for international students?
Yes. Individuals whose native language is not English and who have not been educated in an English speaking environment for the past four years must submit official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Duolingo English Test with their application. Students for whom time or distance creates a hardship in supplying these results may request an extension. Please feel free to reach out to us (grad@sarahlawrence.edu) if you have questions or concerns about providing the English proficiency requirements.
An English translation of your transcript, and a conversion of your grades to GPA is required.
Can I enroll in the program on a part-time basis?
The program is intended to be completed on a 21-month full time basis.
If I applied to the program in the past, but was not accepted, how do I reapply?
If you applied during the past cycle, you can login to your online application portal using the same email address. If your email address has changed please contact the Office of Graduate Admission at 914.395.2371 so your profile can be updated. After you create a new application, some fields and supporting documents will pre-populate. These represent data we think is less likely to change year-to-year, although you are encouraged to update any information necessary. We require a new personal statement, new CV, and updated letters of recommendation. In addition, you will be asked to update us about what you have done since you last applied to strengthen your application. If you previously applied before 2014, you will need to create an account and complete the application online. Please contact the Office of Graduate Admission if previous supporting documentation (such as transcripts) have not changed so they can transfer them to your online application.
How many applicants are interviewed and accepted each year?
The Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics is the largest genetic counseling program in North America. We typically accept between 25-30 students but the exact number may change year to year. Likewise, the number of applications, number of interviews, and the number who match change year to year. On average we tend to interview just over 1/3 of our applicants.
What are the prerequisites?
Please click here for a list of our prerequisites.
How do I know if a course I have taken fulfills one of the prerequisite courses?
This is a very common question but unfortunately it is difficult for us to assess courses based on title or syllabus. As such, if you have questions about any of the courses you have taken, we highly recommend you speak with that professor or your faculty advisor to see if he/she feels the course will prepare you for graduate level work in that area.
Does it matter where I take prerequisite courses?
No. However, these courses need to be at least an undergraduate level and from an accredited school. Online courses are acceptable.
Do I need to take the laboratory component of the prerequisite courses?
No.
Can I submit an application if I do not have all the requirements complete?
All of the prerequisites must be complete before enrollment. You are allowed to have one prerequisite course pending at the time you submit your application and that one course cannot be genetics.. However, the more complete the application, the more information we have to evaluate your candidacy. If you have two or more prerequisites pending we will not review your application.
I have not been able to shadow. What should I do?
We recommend trying to arrange shadowing in various genetic counseling specialties, as it provides exposure and insight into the field. If you live in the area of a genetic counseling training program, they may have suggestions of genetic counselors that can take prospective students. However, we recognize shadowing is not always possible due to geographic region, HIPAA, COVID-19, and other factors. If you are not able to shadow, we recommend gaining exposure in other ways. These can include, but are not limited to, informational interviews with genetic counselors in different specialties, attending genetics grand rounds at a local hospital, and researching the field through websites such as www.nsgc.org.
Do I need to have worked on a crisis hotline?
No. While working on a crisis hotline is great preparation for genetic counseling, it is not the only way to obtain counseling/advocacy experience.The setting and your role within the setting both contribute to gaining interpersonal and counseling skills. For example, if you volunteer with Planned Parenthood, a role in which you take histories or provide support to patients would better prepare you than a role answering phones. Other options include hospice work, working with families affected by disability, or being a patient liaison. In addition to gaining counseling experience, working one-on-one with individuals dealing with a medical situation or other difficultly provides applicants with important insight and exposure to working in a helping profession such as genetic counseling.
What should I expect during the interview process?
If you are invited for an interview, we will email you the directions and details of what to expect for that day. We interview multiple candidates on the same day. You can expect to learn about the program, have 2-3 interviews with members of our Admissions Committee, speak with current students, learn about logistics, such as housing and financial aid, and ask any questions you may have.
What if I want to request an in-person/on-campus interview?
All of our interviews are conducted remotely. After you have been interviewed you can make a request for an in-person/on-campus tour. We will have limited availability and each request will be granted on a case-by-case basis. See a video of a campus tour here.
Why do you ask for demographic information during the application process?
Colleges and universities are asked by many groups, including accrediting associations, to describe our students and employees. In order to fulfill these requests, we ask you to answer some demographic questions. This information is confidential and completely voluntary , and will be concealed from the admissions committee evaluating your application.
