Prospective Students

Want to learn more about genetic counseling and the Columbia University Genetic Counseling Graduate Program? Join us for one or more of the following opportunities. Events in our 2023 series are listed below, all times are Eastern. Contact us at gc-program@cumc.columbia.edu with any questions.

Want to learn more about the profession of genetic counseling?

WEBINARS

Genetic Counselors, the Future of Genomic Medicine: join our Student Fieldwork Director, Nina Harkavy, to discover who genetic counselors are and what they do. This webinar provides an overview of the profession of genetic counseling, including example clinical cases, various career paths, and next steps to prepare for graduate school.

  • Monday, May 22 at 7pm     
  • Wednesday, August 30 at 7pm     

Financing a Genetic Counseling Graduate Degree: join our Program Director, Amanda Bergner, and learn more about resources to assist you in successfully financing a graduate education in genetic counseling. This webinar provides an overview of anticipated financial costs of completing a graduate degree, including opportunities for scholarships and work-study, and planning ahead for loan repayment.

  • Monday, July 24 at 7pm
  • Wednesday, September 13 at 7pm

EXPERIENTIAL PRACTICUM

Gain hands-on experience of the clinical work done by genetic counselors. This in-depth exploration of the profession is essential prior to applying to graduate school. We realize that access to shadowing and genetic counseling internships may be limited and have developed the practicum to assist prospective students in gaining meaningful exposure to the practice and art of genetic counseling. Those accepted into the practicum will engage online/remotely with our genetic counselor faculty, observing and debriefing about client sessions in various specialty clinics, including reproductive genetics, general genetics, cancer genetics, and neurogenetics. Practicum participants will also have the opportunity to attend an interdisciplinary genetics meeting on our campus (remotely) and participate in a journal club focused on the clinical specifics of genetic counseling and work with clients.

Applications for Summer 2023 are now closed, please check back for future dates in the fall of 2023.

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Want to learn more about the Columbia GC Graduate Program?

WEBINARS

**NEW THIS YEAR - Student Research: Developing Skills to Affect Change: join our Student Research Director, Priyanka Ahimaz, to learn more about student research at the Columbia GC Program. Student research topics, courses, mentoring, grant writing, and dissemination/publication are included.

  • Thurday, June 22 at 7pm
  • Tuesday, September 19 at 7pm
Register for September 19

 

**NEW THIS YEAR - Social Justice: A Responsibility of Genetic Counselors: join our Diversity Director, Sriya Bhattacharyya, to learn more about how the Columbia GC Program is grounded in social justice and explore how this permeates so much of what we learn and do here.

  • Tuesday, July 18 at 7pm
  • Tuesday, October 10 at 7pm
Register for October 10

 

Meet the Columbia GC Program Students: join representatives from the Class of 2024 and 2025 to hear from them about what drew them to Columbia, their experiences in the program so far, and life as a student in NYC.

  • ​Wednesday, December 6 at 8pm
Register for December 6

 

OPEN HOUSES

We invite you to join us virtually to learn more about the Columbia University Irving Medical Center campus and discover the unique strengths of our graduate program. Meet faculty and students, explore our curriculum, and learn more about applying. You are encouraged to attend one or more of the program webinars in advance of attending an open house. This year, we are offering open houses at the following dates and times:

  • Wednesday, September 27 from 6-8pm
Register for September 27
  • Monday, October 30 from 6-8pm
Register for October 30

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Want to apply to the Columbia GC Graduate Program?

WEBINARS

A "How-To" Guide for Applying to Columbia University Genetic Counseling Graduate Program: join our Assistant Program Director, Michelle Florido, to learn more about the application process at Columbia. This webinar provides an overview of admission, including information about program prerequisites and other recommended pre-graduate experiences.​

  • Tuesday, August 8 at 7pm
  • Thursday, November 9 at 7pm
Register for November 9

 

APPLICATION WORKSHOPS

Join us for "office hours" as you work on your Columbia application. Our workshops are a time for you to ask questions and receive support for submitting an organized and complete admission application. Each workshop will address different aspects of our application. Check back in Fall 2023 for more information about dates and times for these workshops.