Admissions
To be eligible for admission to any graduate program at Stanford, applicants must meet one of the following conditions:
- completion of a bachelor's degree from a U.S. college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association; or
- completion of an international degree that is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree from a college or university of recognized standing. See "Academic Credentials" in the graduate admissions guide for more information.
Specific course pre-requisites for the MS in Human Genetics/Genetic Counseling include:
- 1 semester or quarter of biochemistry
- 1 semester or quarter of psychology (preferrably counseling psych or developmental psych)
- 1 semester or quarter of genetics (including molecular biology)
- 1 semester or quarter of statistics
You are not required to take organic chemistry or physics to apply to this program.
Competitive applicants will also have a strong sense of what the profession of genetic counseling is all about, and ideally will have job shadowed or completed a genetic counseling internship before applying. Other application strengths include having worked in a counseling setting where one receives training and supervision in providing counseling to peers or other individuals; example settings including a peer counseling setting, a crisis or suicide hotline, a domestic violence shelter or hotline, or a pregnancy counseling center such as Planned Parenthood. Experience working with individuals with disabilities and/or teaching are also helpful to applicants.
All applicants will be required to submit an online application and application fee, official transcripts, GRE scores (general exam only, must be official scores from past 5 years) and 3 references as required by the university. A personal statement should explain why the candidate is interested in genetic counseling as a profession, and why they will be a strong addition to the field.
Application Preparation
The graduate school website : http://www.stanford.edu/dept/gradadmissions/
Detailed instructions for applying to Stanford may be found at http://www.stanford.edu/dept/registrar/pdf/gradadmisguide.pdf .
Your application should be mailed to the following address and received no later than December 15, 2009. Do NOT mail your application materials to the Graduate Admissions office.
MS in Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling Program
Stanford University
300 Pasteur Drive, H315 - Boswell Clinic, Room A097 - Stanford CA, 94305-5208
Your application should include the following, ideally sent in a single package.
- Two official transcripts from every postsecondary institution you have attended for at least one year as a full-time student. Transcripts must bear the official seal of the institution and the signature of the Registrar. All records should clearly indicate the name under which you are applying to Stanford. Request that your transcripts be sent directly to the department to which you are applying, or obtain them in sealed and stamped envelopes for inclusion in your application packet.
- Three recommendations (online or in packet are both acceptable).
- Your statement of purpose (optional to include copy, since included in online application).
Separately, there are two electronic application components that must be submitted by the application deadline
- Online application and fee: Submit your application via Stanford's application web site at http://gradadmissions.stanford.edu. Apply to "Human Genetics" Program. The application fee is $125.00 for all applicants. Applicants who are citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. are eligible for a waiver of the $125 application fee if they can obtain a GRE fee waiver for the current academic year.
- GRE scores, and any additional TOEFL and/or TSE scores as required. Please submit your GRE general (required) and subject (optional) examination scores, and if applicable TOEFL and TSE scores to Stanford University using the score recipient number 4704. Individual department code numbers are not used. GRE scores must be from the last 5 years.
Minimum TOEFL scores are 250 (computer based), 600 (paper based) or 100 (internet based). Scores are required of all applicants whose first language is not English. Exceptions are granted for applicants who have earned a U.S. bachelor's or master's degree by a regional accrediting association in the United States, or the equivalent of either degree from a non-U.S. college or university of recognized standing where all instruction is provided in English. Being a U.S. citizen does not automatically exempt an applicant from taking the TOEFL.
Stanford will communicate with you primarily via email; it is therefore essential that you have a reliable email account that you check on a regular basis. Application materials, once submitted as part of your application, become the property of Stanford University. Materials will not be returned, and copies will not be provided for applicants nor released to other institutions. Please keep a copy for your records.
Frequently asked questions about the program and the admissions process:
Statement regarding diversity in graduate education
The University believes that a graduate student body that is both highly qualified and diverse is essential to the educational process. Because of its strong belief in the value of diversity, Stanford especially encourages applicants whose culture, socioeconomic status, gender, ethnicity, skills, and interests provide additional dimensions to the University's programs. Each of the University's seven schools has faculty and staff specifically charged with addressing the concerns and needs of the school's diverse populations. The University works to provide an environment of support responsive to the needs of its diverse graduate students as they pursue advanced degrees. Programs including symposia, interdisciplinary research opportunities, career preparation, and social and cultural events are offered by individual campus units or offices working collaboratively. Even though the University is large and decentralized, students have access to relevant members of the campus community who are resourceful, helpful, and work together to provide a network of support. Additional information may be obtained from the Graduate Student Services offices in the respective schools.
We encourage any applicants from diverse backgrounds, especially those from under-represented backgrounds, to call us and discuss the specifics of their application.
Diversity and Outreach Programs
