Summer Series: Back to school...Again Part 6

This summer the University of Pittsburgh Genetic Counseling Program introduced a summer blog series focusing on students who made the choice to come back to school after taking time off between their undergraduate or other graduate work prior to applying to the genetic counseling program. These students worked in a variety of jobs and each has brought a different perspective about coming back to school.

In our final blog of our summer series “Back to school…Again” we answer one final question:

What advice do you have for anyone who is considering going back to school? 

I would suggest having a very clear picture in your mind of what your ideal profession and lifestyle would be.  Make that ideal place your goal in your mind and work backwards from there. What do you need to make it a reality?  Another way to think about it would be to imagine yourself in your ideal position, looking back at yourself now.  Do you think you would be happy with the decisions you made along the way?  This always helps me when I have to make big decisions.

-- Sarah Brunker

Having held three very different jobs after college, I definitely am an advocate for taking some time off from school to explore your interests. It can be helpful to take a few steps in the wrong direction to confirm that it is not the right fit for you. However, I also think that at a certain point, you are “ready enough.” Brace yourself for some bumps in the first few months, and, invest in a good planner.-- Caitlin Russell

 

School supplies

Be confident in whatever you decide.  I was so sure there was one right answer when I was in undergrad.  I started teaching to give myself more time to find the perfect solution. But life happened and I realized that there are so many different paths to success and happiness.  You have to be sure you can see your life being truly fulfilled because of this next step.  I would also encourage you to be honest about what you don’t know.  Ask questions about program structure or things you think you should have “picked up already.”  Starting this process by being honest about gaps in knowledge will ensure you get all your questions answered and a great exercise in problem solving that you’ll be sure to draw on in grad school, no matter what program you decide!  --Kelsey Bohnert

A library might be the perfect place to do your school research!

Although it sounds simple, don’t forget to determine your own needs and wants in a graduate program. Genetic counseling programs share many similarities but they also have unique experiences to offer their students. It’s important to think about what you want out of your training and the things that are most important to you. This might be things like location, cost, clinical experiences, or program structure. Be sure to take the time to research the program and see how it compares to your wish list. --Alyssa Azevedo

 

Get Ready for Study Parties! 

It is really hard to say good-bye to a job, and a salary, and the ability to fly to Norway for a week just for fun. I had to uproot my life, and to move to take on graduate school.  My husband and I knew it was very likely that we would be changing cities (he would be changing jobs) so that's not a small thing, but I think the best advice is that there are always reasons to not do things, but there will never be a perfect time so embrace that this might be the right time. Also, invest in a nice backpack...computers are really heavy. 

– Natasha Robin Berman

If you have a break between graduating from a four-year program, and starting this one, take a class or two. It can never hurt, and will get you back into the swing of lectures and studying. Sitting in class all day, actively listening, is not passive; if you engage in a lecture (which I recommend), it is active: a conversation between you and the instructor. I underestimated the energy it takes to sustain that internal dialogue, so if you are in class all day and A.) feel totally exhausted, or B.) feel like you didn’t get much accomplished, remind yourself that good listening is hard work!-- Charlotte Skinner

Back to School...Again Part 5

We continue our summer series with our fifth installment. 

In the penultimate part of our series ”Going Back to School”… students continue to answer questions about what it is like to leave the working world to enter graduate school. We hope our experiences have helped others feel more confident about the prospect of going back to school. This weeks’ blog post asks: 

What recommendations do you have for surviving grad school?

I think the most important part is to know yourself and set yourself up for success.  Maybe take a class at night or online to practice being a student again.  Definitely know your study habits and find a steady spot (or two) ahead of time to get your work done.  A nice desk setup, coffee shop, or library spot is critically important.  Know what you need to succeed, be it a coffee maker, a nice pair of headphones, or a study buddy.  A set schedule or a gym membership may also come in super handy. – Sarah Brunker

Be patient with yourself. Appreciate that you are a different person than you were in undergrad and in any past work positions. This is a new experience with different constraints and goals. I initially tried to fall back on my old strategies for both studying and stress relief and realized that many were no longer a good fit. On the practical side, it is not a bad idea to take an in-person course over the summer before going back in order to get a refresher on how to take notes and manage assignments.-- Caitlin Russell

A sense of humor and humility are key here.  Being able to understand what you don’t understand and then reach out to the appropriate channels is just a grad school requirement.  The faster you can accept that this is a new day and a new challenge, the faster you’ll be able to embrace the process.  Keeping perspective has also really helped to alleviate some of the stress as well.  Unlike undergrad, I am more motivated by knowledge than points this time around. This has really given me the freedom to look further into topics presented in class and forgive myself for test scores that were a little disappointing.  In the end, grad school is about preparing you for your career, so being able to appreciate all the learning opportunities will make you a better professional. -- Kelsey Bohnert

Remind yourself that going back to school isn’t easy. It takes time to transition back and adjust to academic challenges such as sitting in lectures each day, studying, and taking exams. It’s important to be patient and reward yourself for your achievements (no matter how small).– Alyssa Azevedo

This is a really good time to readjust and try to integrate good practice into your everyday life, for me it is doing things like yoga or other important self-care - by making myself a priority now I know I’m creating good habits that I can use when I’m in the ‘real world’. I also think it is important to remember that while it is easy to get swept up in the small stuff, the larger picture is that I’ll get to be a genetic counselor at the end of this, and trying to get everything out of my time in school so I’m the most prepared I can be is the more important thing. I think really trying to challenge yourself in the safe space that is school and your training is really helpful, it is hard but at the end you’ll know you really gave it everything and with grad school (like so many things in life) you get out of it what you put in. 
– Natasha Robin Berman

Buy a giant desk calendar. In a rather frantic trip to Staples one night, after fumbling through my first couple of weeks, I found myself in line with a gigantic desk calendar. It proved pivotal in improving my time-management skills the first semester. Having the month out in front of me was instantly relieving. In a glance, I could budget my time week to week, knowing when I needed to buckle down, and when I could afford a day for self-care. Now, filling it out it is a monthly ritual. Secondly, carve out enough time for some exercise (even just a walk!), healthy food, and sleep- no matter how hard it may get (you’re not you when you’re hungry, or sleepy, right!?). Lastly, be kind, be curious, be bold, and be courteous. -- Charlotte Skinner

Summer Series: Back to School (again)

We are excited to kick off our summer series of blogs about going back to school (again), which will focus on students who have taken some time off prior to returning for graduate school. These students worked in a variety of fields and jobs and bring an interesting perspective for those who are considering making the plunge of going back to school. 

For this series we will cover the following topics:

How did you decide to go back?

How did you prepare to apply to graduate school?

How has it felt to be a student again?

What recommendations do you have for surviving graduate school?

Would you do it all over again? 

And finally, what advice do you have for those considering going back to school?

We hope you will find our experience to be helpful! So without further ado the first part of our series will cover how students made the decision to go back to school…

How did you decide to go back?

I think there were several opportunities that came together and brought me to the decision to go back.  I had been volunteering at a hospital and found it was incredibly professionally satisfying.  A group of cancer genetic counselors in the hospital system was very welcoming and gave me the chance to shadow them in action.  The more I read about the genetic counseling profession, and the University of Pittsburgh genetic counseling program and the Medical Center specifically, the more enthusiastic I became about applying.  I had a very specific end goal in mind and Robin and Andrea and Candy gave me the opportunity make it a reality.  When I spoke with Andrea over the phone about accepting the offer to study here I found that I didn’t need to think about my decision.  A “Yes, thank you!” burst out and I felt as if the decision was so perfect it made itself. – Sarah Brunker

After college, I planned on working a few years and then going back to school for something specific that was not genetic counseling. But I learned quickly that while I had a good idea of what was interested in, I had no ideahow I wanted that interest to manifest itself in a career. At least, it was not what I had originally thought. I tried out quite a few things and honed in on what qualities I prioritize most in a career, as well as my life in general. When I learned about genetic counseling, it was kind of “ah hah” moment. I shadowed a few genetic counselors. From there, I really had no second thoughts as I prepared to apply to programs, because I knew it was the next step to get there.

—Caitlin Russell 

During my undergraduate program, I was able to secure an internship at a biotech company. This opportunity turned into a full-time work position, which allowed me to gain invaluable professional experience. It was during this time, I realized I wanted more from my career than just science. I was missing the connection with people and I knew genetic counseling would offer both of these things. I decided to take a leap of faith and began strengthening my resume in order to apply to programs. It was a year long process for me but I knew the sacrifice would be well worth it! —Alyssa Azevedo

I knew I wanted to go back to school, because I knew I didn’t love what I was doing at the time. I also knew I didn’t want to come back to school unless it was for something I knew I could see myself being involved in for the rest of my life. I already had a graduate degree and realized that it wasn’t the career path for me so I knew I didn’t want a degree just to get one, but one that would take me where I wanted to go. Once I found genetic counseling I felt like it might be a good choice, but I wasn’t sure I would be able to ‘hack it’.  Luckily, I had a very supportive environment to do my prerequisite classes, which really helped me know that going back to school was the right choice for me. I also spent a lot of time discussing going back to school with my husband, who agreed that life is better when you love your job. He encouraged me to read a textbook about genetic counseling (thinking if I could make it through the textbook and still be interested that is a pretty good sign) and I made it through the green book and loved it. --Natasha Robin Berman

I had always planned to pursue education beyond a four-year degree, but didn’t feel ready to commit to more schooling after finishing up a B.S. degree in Biology, and a Chemistry minor. A few years after graduation, while working as a cytogenetic tech in a clinical genetics lab, I discovered genetic counseling. I loved my job, so it was hard to leave, but when I had mastered my position as a cyto tech, and begun to feel like it was no longer helping me grow, I knew it was time to go back to school- and genetic counseling was calling my name. –Charlotte Skinner

 

Honestly this was more of an ease back into being a student.  After undergrad, I joined Teach for America to become a middle school science teacher.  After several years in the classroom, I had to decide whether to continue teaching or return to research.  As a sort of middle ground, I took a leave of absence from my position and pursued a research Masters program in the UK. The accelerated program allowed me to really “try on” being a researcher. – Kelsey Bohnert

Choose Your Own Adventure: A Certificate Story

The University and the Genetic Counseling Program offer many valuable experiences, and Pittsburgh is never at a shortage of events or neighborhoods to explore, but prioritizing is paramount for a successful learning experience.  When I considered adding a certificate to my educational experience, I knew I needed to feel confident it was the right fit before I would be willing to make the commitment.  The main issues I considered were my personal connection with the certificate topics, how they would impact my practice, time obligations, and, to a lesser extent, logistics. What follows is an abridged version of my decision-making process before adding the LGBT Health Certificate to my graduate experience.   Full disclosure: I’m a huge fan of Excel sheets, so this was originally done in more of a weighted calculation rubric set-up, but a narrative of my decision-making seemed more reader friendly. 

I insisted on taking summer classes throughout college, taught for four years, and still consider nonfiction a pleasure to read.  In short, I enjoy learning.  In undergrad, I ended up adding a minor and a certificate because I just couldn’t quit reading course descriptions and signing up.  It may be a problem, but it’s also led to some of my most enriching educational experiences.  A Global Politics of HIV/AIDS course changed the way I view access to healthcare and the stigmas that surround certain diseases.  A community engagement course led to a position as a volunteer coordinator in a fair-trade store where I was stunned by the impact that micro loans and artisan ownership can have on the global economy.  The certificate program would once again allow an opportunity to step outside of the prescribed curriculum and explore how other public health concerns could impact our practice as genetic counselors.  While some seemed to be close to classes I was already taking, classes that would allow the greatest chance to meet other students and step outside of the expected were of the most interest.  Everyone identifies with different aspects of our healthcare system and it was exciting to see that Pitt Public Health takes this into account.  There was Health Systems Leadership and Management or Health Care Systems Engineering for those most interested in management and infrastructure.  Other courses seemed to offer a more in-depth look at topics touched on in our required classes, like Global Health and Public Health Genetics.  Because of my interest and passion in health equity, I was interested in certificates that focused on how minority groups navigate their healthcare and how I could facilitate access for these groups.  Several certificates allowed the opportunity to work with different communities, so I knew it was not a matter of whether or not to pursue a certificate, but which one to choose

As professionals, we adopt the tenets of our chosen careers.  Genetic counseling focuses on empowerment of our clients and a holistic, non-directive, egalitarian approach to healthcare.  It was this focus on access to services and the client-centered care that initially drew me to genetic counseling, and Pitt specifically.  My personal tenets aligned with ensuring that despite barriers, a patient was able to understand their options and select next steps that aligned best with their values and beliefs.  Being in the Human Genetics Department in the School of Public Health, we have the unique experience of gaining a deep understanding of the biology while looking more globally at how individuals fit into the population approach to medicine.  I knew this inclusive perspective would provide an excellent basis for my future career, but the certificate allowed me to further inform my future practice.  I had already identified a few options that I was passionate about, and wanted to see what links could be made specifically to genetic counseling.  I met with Robin and Andrea to discuss certificate options and, as always, they were extremely supportive.  We talked through the various options, and although I felt that the Health Equity certificate may have the easiest translation, they could tell I was most interested in LGBT Individuals’ Health and Wellness.  I was passionate about the queer community’s rights to family planning and how they might use genetic counseling services in a unique way.  The final step was to contact the Director of the certificate, Dr. Ron Stall, to see how I might fit into the program. Within one conversation, he had given me no less than three thesis ideas connecting LGBT health and genetic counseling.  His excitement assured me that taking on these extra classes could have an impact on my learning and hopefully the field. 

Each certificate has unique classwork and practicum requirements.  The LGBT certificate involves three required courses, seven elective credits, a thesis project, and a practicum.  I wanted to make sure the schedule would still allow me to finish by the spring semester of my second year.  I work 20 hours a week remotely as a data entry clerk for a cancer genetics company.  Having the flexibility to work from home allowed me to work in a class this semester.  Moving forward I will have to find space for at least two classes and ensure that my thesis is focused on an LGBT health topic.  Dr. Stall worked with my schedule to make sure I could start on the coursework right away and the required classes are helping me to begin work on my thesis in a timely fashion.  As I’ve found with Pitt in general, the faculty is willing to go above and beyond to make sure your educational opportunities align with your future goals.  So as far as time commitment, I have had to add a few classes, but the faculty has been extremely accommodating about what classes qualify and how they would work in my schedule. 

The last consideration was the logistics.  No discussion about higher education is complete without some consideration for expense.  The Pitt program is very aware of the financial burden graduate students take on and is always willing to work with you.  While taking extra classes will inevitably mean more money, they have been very helpful about planning the timing of courses and ensuring the financial aid has been lined up.  Because so many of the human genetics students are genetic counseling students, classes in these programs often don’t conflict, but the same is not true when you step outside of the department.  Andrea and Robin were able to help me look at the schedule and move it around so I could meet all the requirement.  Honestly, I cannot stress how reassuring it’s been to have the faculty rooting for me and removing the road blocks along the way.  For me, the extra money and added hours were well worth the promise of this unique addition to my degree. 

In my case, all roads pointed to the certificate program.  After taking my first class this semester, my choice has been validated.  Advanced Topics in LGBT Research  required us to choose a LGBT health disparity and write a grant proposal for a future research endeavor.  The opportunity to work with students in other departments in an intimate, discussion-based atmosphere is one of the highlights of my week.  I would encourage anyone to just take a quick scroll through the website to see if you can spot a possible creative connection between genetic counseling and one of the other certificate topics.

Just a final note on a certificate versus dual degree:  Pitt also offers a dual MPH option.  As I divulged earlier, I find it nearly impossible to say no to an extra class, and so I also considered this option.  It required a lot of soul searching to decline that opportunity.  Because of my interests in research, my timeline for finishing the course, and outside obligations, the certificate was a better fit for me.  I had completed a Masters in Research last year and knew that the MPH focus was not where I pictured my career going.  Both the dual degree and certificate programs are wonderful options and warrant consideration before making your final decision for genetic counseling training. 

Kelsey Bohnert - Class of 2019