I've been lucky in many different aspects of life. Well not just lucky, coz at most times luck is a combination of a couple of different things. I think in luck a lot depends on recognizing an opportunity before anyone else does and then act on it, much like strikers do in football (soccer for the Americans). In my case when I got accepted to graduate school in Genetic Counseling, there was a bit of luck involved in it for sure. I mean I had a lot of things going for me, the fact that more than 90% of genetic counselors are white and there is a need for diversity, add to that me being male...so an Indian male genetic counselor is like a different species in the world of genetic counseling. Also the fact that the person who had been offered the position before me, declined it making way for me (and now has become a very close friend, not just for declining that position though). To give myself some credit though I had also done some basic important groundwork to boost my application and had recognized the importance of genetic counseling. Probably 20 years down the line I can talk about this and praise myself for being a visionary!!
But this is not about my application. This is about the applications of other students who have contacted me to get some help/advice/guidance whatever you want to call it. I've had the chance to help out a few students over the past three years in their application for a genetic counseling program and despite these people being as different as chalk and cheese there are some striking similarities in their applications.
1) All of the students who have contacted me are MAJOR procrastinators. And being one myself, I don't have too much of an issue with this. I must admit though that there are situations where you need to know your priorities and act on them. The first question always is so what is genetic counseling? And though I have never said it in so many words for the fear of coming across as overtly aggressive, I am very tempted to say, "If you dont know what genetic counseling is how can you consider it to be a career option for you?". I mean if you are applying for this as a career choice one would imagine you have thought about this long and hard and it's not as if you woke up one morning," I want to be a genetic counselor." I dont expect you to know everything about the field obviously, coz you haven't been there and done that, but if you are really serious about this then get off your ass and google it.
2) The second question most of them have usually is, "I've heard it's really tough to get into the program especially for an international student." Ok again, it's good that you know that the program is not the easiest one, but then grad school is not meant to be very easy right. I mean forget a genetic counseling program, for any other field as well there are going to be occassions when you are going to really have to step it up and accept the fact that you have to work you butt off. But if you are going to start of with a negative attitude that this is tough and I dont think I will get it, how will you? Ok now for a few facts. Like I said earlier more than 90% of genetic counselors are white females. The US is a multicultural society and there are people from all nationalities living here. There is a need for people of diverse ethnic backgrounds to work in this field, get thri own set of ideas, get their own culture with them. So if you have the required qualifications as an international student, at least in this field you are wanted. Financially an international student gets more money than a local one, so another reason why you are wanted. Now can be we a little more positive about this application. Thank You.
3) What schools offer this program? This is to a certain extent an understandable question. Again, the internet is a great resource and if you know what you are looking for, believe it or not, you really get the answers. Use the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) website,(which is the first hit you get in google when you search for genetic counseling) to an answer to this question. But I think most Indian students (at the risk of generalization) want to be spoon-fed and want all answers without looking for them.
4) Which of these schools are good? Ok not a problem, it's a great question. I appreciate the fact that you want to be in the best possible school for the program. Now if you've looked properly on the NSGC website, it will tell you that there are 32 schools in the US offering this program. Hint: Look for MS in most other fields and you will probably get 100s of schools. So if there are only 32 schools offering the program then it would be a reasonable assumption that these are good schools (esp knowing how fastidious genetic counselors are!!!). Sure there are always a few programs which will be better than others, and if you take the pains to look through all these you will know which ones are best suited for you. But no the question always is, which ones do you think I should apply for? At this point I am extremely tempted to say, "It is not me who is applying, but you, so do the hard work yourself and dont expect me to sit here and give you all answers. I did all this for myself, so there is no reason why you cant."
5) Now comes the interesting part. "Can you please send me a copy of your SOP so that I will have some reference to start with?". Two weeks later you get a SOP to read, which is 90% similar to your own SOP, the other 10% that is different is probably the academics. This is where I get really pissed. You have enough time to write your SOP. Why do you want to wait till the last week of November to start your SOP when you know that application deadlines begin in December? But no there is some uncle's son who is getting married and obviously that is more important that the SOP. Parties with friends will always take precedence over applications. Only at the last minute will it come to mind that the application is due and the SOP hasn't been written. So now the obvious thing to do is just write something that someone else has written and pass it as one's own.
I have no problems in helping students in their applications. I always tell them in my first correspondance, use me as a resource. That does not mean I will do everything for your application. Obviously since I find it hard to say no, I usually end up making several corrections in the SOP's, the CV's the introductory letters and at times even the letters of recommendation!!!
Now that I have accepted that this is how it is going to be, I think I should start charging money for my consultations. Afterall there are 'counselors' in Mumbai who do this regularly for students and having had the experience of going through one myself, I am sure I do a job much much better than all of them put together. Heck I can even provide bonus services, like accent training, dining etiquttes. formal clothing for genetic counselors (depending on climate and location), what to carry to the US, basics about what to do when you reach the US, getting a SS#, opening a bank account, getting a cell phone provider....you name it. All these value added services will also be provided....provided you show me the money :) Afterall it's all about the money, honey!
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