Interview Advice from First Years

Interview season for genetic counseling master’s programs is rapidly approaching. We know the interview process can be stressful, so we asked some of our first years to share advice for this year’s applicants. Good luck!

Let me address the interview and interview visit:

The interview: Take some time to think about why you applied to the program(s) at which you're interviewing. What is it about that particular program that made you put in the time and effort to apply? Ask questions about the program and remember that there is no such thing as a perfect program. It's ok to ask about strengths AND weaknesses, as long as you're professional and respectful in how you ask.

Another note about the interview: When I went to interviews, I was, honestly, pretty intimidated by the other interviewees. They all seemed so smart and accomplished, surely my interview invitation was a mistake! Try not to do this to yourself. You've made it this far and that is awesome! Getting an interview is something to be proud of, now programs are just looking for who they think is a good fit. It took me a couple of tries to get into the Pitt GC program and it was worth it.

The interview visit: I think how you feel about the location is really important. Obviously, where you go to school doesn't have to be where you spend the rest of your life and it doesn't have to be your dream city. But you also don't want to hate where you live. If you can, take some time to explore the area around the programs. Are there things you absolutely have to have close by? For instance, being outside is a huge stress relief for me, so when I came to Pitt to interview, I also went and wandered Frick Park. Ask yourself if you can picture living there for a couple of years.

-Vickie Bacon

The program already likes you. That’s why you’ve been selected for an interview. If you feel stressed or anxious from being surrounded by fellow applicants, take some time for yourself. Use the restroom, get some fresh air, listen to some music. Breathe. It’ll be okay.

Measure out your words and be confident with your answers to the questions that the interviewers ask you. Talk slowly. Don’t be unnerved if the interviewer is silent after you’ve finished speaking. Ask every interviewer at least one question. Even if it’s the end of a long day and it’s the last interview. Ask! Ask! Ask!

Be prepared for scenario-based, genetic counseling-specific questions. Should it be helpful, draw upon your shadowing and work experience.

Some interviewers are more casual than others. It’s okay to banter and engage in small talk, but make sure to maintain a professional atmosphere at all times. This also applies when interacting with current students in the program.

-Andrew Fazenbaker

Congratulations on your interview! While it sounds cliché, the best interview advice is to be yourself. At this stage, you need to remember that you deserve to be here. The program leadership has already decided that you’re a competitive applicant based on what you put down on paper, and now is your time to truly shine and let them get to know you better. The individuals who interview you aren’t looking for the “right” answers to their questions, but rather, they’re looking for you to give genuine and thoughtful responses. Bring up that amazing experience that didn’t quite fit into your personal statement. Be prepared to discuss that moment when you decided you wanted to be a genetic counselor. Don’t be afraid to have a little self-confidence. It’s also important to remember that a key aspect of your interview is that while the program wants to learn about you, this is your chance to also learn about the program. Explore the campus and/or city, chat with current students, and don’t forget to ask questions! Don’t let the stress of interview season get the best of you- you’ve got this. Good luck!

-Alyson Evans

My biggest piece of advice is to come prepared with questions to ask and topics to discuss. Interviewers always leave plenty of time for you to ask questions, and you are expected to show an interest by continuing the conversation. It can feel exhausting to keep thinking of new questions, so I liked to ask GCs about their own experiences. How long have they been in the field and how has it changed since they were in training? Ask what their work life is like on a daily basis, especially if they have a “non-traditional” role such as a lab counselor. What do they think makes this training program unique? You can even ask what they like about living wherever the program is located. Every interviewer will have different answers to these questions. You can learn a lot about the field and continue the conversation without having to come up with new questions for each interview.

-Claire McDonald

It’s so easy to be nervous about interviews, but try not to let it get to you (there’ll be a lot more where that came from!!). Find a way to manage your nerves - take a deep breath, stay in the moment, drink less coffee that morning - whatever you need to do to keep your cool. On that note, give yourself lots of time to get where you’re going: find the building, scope out parking or make sure you order an Uber early. Have the contact info of the interview coordinator on hand just in case.

Remember that your experiences make you unique. There’s no need to compare answers with other interviewees. In fact, try talking about things other than genetic counseling to take some of the pressure off during the down time.

When you’re prepping, try to think of lots of different examples. It’s really easy to get stuck on one answer that applies to multiple different things - but that gets stale quickly.

Good luck!!

-Rose Venier

Since you’ve gotten an interview, it means that you are already qualified to be there. Don’t worry about whether you are good enough; you are! The interview is your chance to see if the school is a good fit for you and if you think you could be successful in that particular environment. Show the school who you are as an individual and that you did your research. What makes that school unique and why do you think you would thrive there?

The best piece of advice I got before my interviews was to have 20 questions prepared beforehand. I know this seems like a lot, but some of them will get answered in the information session or by the current students. It comes in handy to have lots of backup questions, because every person you come across during your visit will ask you if you have any questions. Don’t be afraid to refer back to your notes or ask if you can write things down. The interviewer won’t mind.

Remember that most of the people who will be interviewing you are counselors. They want to see how you behave and react in a stressful or atypical situation, but they are not out to get you. As intimidating as interviews can be, the person sitting across the table from you is just a person. Try to make a genuine connection with them, be confident and show how interested you are in learning from that institution. Thank each person after you speak with them. If they have a business card, take it and send them an email within 24 hours of your visit, making sure to include something personal from your conversation.

Interviews can be very long days. Keep your energy up, drink lots of water, and always have a smile on your face. Remember that this day could be the key that leads you to your dream job. You’ve worked so hard to get here and you deserve it!

-Christine Drogan

My best pieces of advice for interviews are to be confident and try your hardest to resist the temptation to compare yourself to the other interviewees or to current students. With so many accomplished people with unique experiences applying to programs, it is quite easy to do! However, it is much more beneficial to remember that you’ve been invited to interview for a reason and now you have the opportunity to meet all of these amazing and accomplished people from around the world! Confidence will make you feel better about your interview experience and will allow you to show the programs who you really are.

I also would recommend trying to find the balance of thoroughly preparing for interviews, while being careful not to over prepare. This varies a lot from person to person, but I was concerned that the more I prepared, the more nervous I would be and the less myself I would be. I found that spending time researching the program and preparing some questions, but not getting mired in everything I wanted to say was a good way to ensure that I felt ready, but that answers I gave during interviews were genuine and authentic.

-Stephanie Betts