Advice for the upcoming second years

Spring is a time of transitions and graduation. The University of Pittsburgh Genetic Counseling Program class of 2019 is getting ready to graduate and move onto exciting new roles. We don’t want to leave without sharing some of the things that we have learned. So without further ado here are some words of advice for our rising second years: 

Ask for what you need.  The people you will be working with have so much knowledge and mentorship to offer…and they have extremely busy schedules.  If you have scheduling

conflicts or want more concrete feedback, ask for it.  You’ll have a much better experience and they will be thankful for the efficiency and you taking the initiative.

Your schedule will look crazy and inconsistent.  I have found it to be helpful to have morning and evening routines that includes planning/debriefing and some sort of mindfulness. I also plan in hours (i.e. this week I will spend 3 hours prepping patients) rather than actual time slots.  This has allowed me to be flexible if patients change/cancel or I need to have a last-minute meeting.  I can then move that time to a different part in the day.  It has also helped me to be reasonable about the amount of time I am spending on a task and is more practical because working on one thing start to finish is nearly impossible in graduate school.

Congrats on being a second year! One year down, one to go. While starting clinical rotations can be intimidating, it is what you came here for – to walk the walk of a GC. Have faith in your skills - your coursework and your clinical supervisors have set you up for success! My three most important tips are: 1) Utilize your classmates – they are a huge support system and they will become your colleagues. 2) Work smarter not harder. 3) Set up healthy boundaries that include time just for you.

You know more than you think you do! You are well prepared and you have all the knowledge you’ll need. Just listen to the supervisors that are there to help you. And remember, everyone gets feedback! You’re not going to be perfect, and no one expects you to be. You’re going to do amazing. Your classmates and friends are there to help you. Be honest and upfront about what you expect from yourself and your supervisors. Overall, just enjoy the experience and remember that you’re there to learn, so if there’s anything you want to try, just ask! 

This is an incredibly exciting time as you transition into clinical rotations! Things can get overwhelming and busy, and that is okay—stay organized and practice self-care. Remember you have learned so much this first year, which will serve as a great foundation that you will build upon during each rotation. You will interact and meet so many counselors who are more than willing to help you learn and grow. As rotations can be quite busy, don’t forget about your other obligations, such as your thesis! Set goals for yourself and try to hold yourself accountable—perhaps set up regular meetings with your thesis advisor or a member of your committee, it will help in the long run, I promise! You will all be fantastic genetic counselors!

Congrats on being 2nd years - you’re halfway there! Transitioning into clinic and new rotations sites can be overwhelming. Remember to be patient and kind to yourselves and reflect on how far you’ve come. You’ll be amazed at how quick you learn and how much you already know from classes.

Mazel Tov! You’ve made it to the second year! You have all the skills, tools and knowledge to help you succeed in your second year, now is when you really get to shine! You get to apply all the knowledge you have and work with real patients. I got the advice from one of our supervisors that I lived by during clinical rotations which was “If you're not uncomfortable you aren’t doing it right.” Which is to say that what you get out of your clinical rotations is directly related to what you put into it. You probably won’t always be comfortable, but encouraging yourself to try new things in sessions and try new parts of sessions will help you learn how to deal with changes in sessions that often happen (since you’ll be working with people and they often react in ways we don’t expect). The best thing about this is that you have your trusty supervisor there to help you if you end up needing it - however, I wanted to get the most out of my rotations and by getting myself to participate in new ways especially early on helped me grow so much.

Clinic can be inconsistent in terms of your schedule, so carve out some time for you. That could be saying you won’t be in until noon on Tuesdays because there is a yoga class you’re making a priority or not using remote access because you plan on getting all your work done while you’re there, but do something so that you’re making time to take care of yourself. Clinical rotations are the perfect time to figure out how to engage in self-care. I recommend asking your supervisors if they have any recommendations. 

Make some time for self-care!

Congratulations guys! Second year can be pretty fantastic. I think flexibility is one of its keys. Not only will every week be different, but every week will be different from how you planned. Embracing this fact will help you enjoy all the amazing experiences that clinic, your work position, and even your thesis project have to offer...and not become too discouraged when an experience is not so great. To make this work, I echo my classmates’ wisdom on setting aside dedicated time that you can rely on to recharge. Setting thoughtful boundaries will help protect that balance that this program sometimes tests. Finally, your classmates, your supervisors, and everyone in the program are your greatest resources.

 

You have successfully completed your first year – hooray! It was wonderful getting to know all of you and watching you grow throughout this year. Take some time to relax and treat yourself after everything you have accomplished. Clinical rotations may seem intimidating, but they are extremely rewarding. Just remember to be flexible, take initiative, and do not be afraid to utilize all of the skills and knowledge that you learned this year. Also, feel free to still reach out to your buddy for any second-year insight! We might not be students anymore, but we will still be happy to help.

It may be hard to believe, but you WILL actually be ready to be a genetic counselor by the end of rotations! When the going gets tough, remember that excitement and curiosity you have about genetic counseling, and where you’ll be at the end of this. Have fun with your friends and colleagues as much as you can - your brain works better when it’s rested and happy!

Congrats!!