Genetic Counselor Career Essay

The perfect combination of research, personal connection, and health care. Genetic Counseling is the practice of informing and advising patients who may have a potential risk of genetic disorders concerning appropriate testing methods, medical treatment, and many other critical decisions concerning their health. I have chosen to pursue the career of genetic counseling because it fulfills the dream I have had that I will one day be able to do research concerning genetics and interact with the patients that the research would affect. My decision to become a genetic counselor has been influenced by many factors; including my high school biology class, which played a part in introducing me to the profession, and my personal discovery of the unique

The choices we make early in life have an enormous impact on our future. I have always known that I wanted to directly impact people’s lives and my personal experiences have set me on the school-counseling path. In the future, I would love to influence another generation of students to soar for their dreams.

Counseling is a tool that is widely used by many people. Merriam Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary defines counseling as advice and support that is given to people to help them deal with problems, and make important decisions. This paper examines the career of a Licensed Professional Counselor, the education requirements, certification and licensure levels or requirements, salary, and the future of this profession.

I believe that I have many skills and experiences that will allow for me to be a great counselor. I have seen first hand, experienced first hand, and learned to deal with things first hand. I experience anxiety, but have learned how to cope and deal with it. It is not always easy when there are so many things that can be thrown at you through life. I have a lot of motivation, qualities, experiences, and goals that I can bring to counseling.

The benefit of genetic science for individuals is that it can determine if the person has a possible genetic disorder and give them

When an individual chooses to pursue a life in the role of a counselor, there are a few items that must be established before one can move forward. These items include the field of counseling to practice, the location to practice in, and a college that offers the desired degree. Once this process has been completed, the next step would be for the individual to adhere to the states' requirements and began the application process to become certified or a licensed counselor. The process to become a counselor is technical as it requires practice and scope, a formal credentialing process, and training to ensure it is effective for clients, counselors, and service providers which will be outlined in these paragraphs.

This equates to four years at the undergraduate level and two years at the graduate level. Genetic counselors must have a Master’s degree to become licensed to practice. It does not matter which major is chosen at the undergraduate level as long as it is in the field of medical science. All genetics counselors must earn a Master’s degree in genetics or genetic counseling to become eligible for their board-certified genetic counseling exam.

Counselors face many different obstacles on a day to day basis. There are so many rules and regulations that apply to them. As counselors we must be aware of these rules and regulations. This paper will take a closer look at what is required in the state of Michigan to be a counselor.

Genetic counseling is a newfound passion of mine fostered by my NIH research postbac position in Dr. Karen Usdin’s lab and volunteering as a crisis prevention & intervention hotline counselor. These are the experiences I have been able to procure on my path to graduate school to explore my interest in the scientific and psychological relationship needed to counsel individuals about genetic disease. It was after I was able to sit in and observe one of the Johns Hopkins/NHGRI genetic counseling seminar classes that I knew genetic counseling was the profession for me. The class that I observed was about deafness and loss of hearing.

Throughout my college career, I have been fortunate to experience many opportunities to immerse myself in the field of genetic counseling through phone interviews, job shadows and internships with a variety of genetic counselors. As a sophomore still seeking to learn more about genetic counseling, I arranged a telephone interview with Patricia Arscott, a cardiovascular counselor from the University of Michigan. Patricia answered all of my questions involving the average job duties, responsibilities and aspects of being a genetic counselor and gave me advice about suggested college courses to take and resources for more information about the genetic counseling profession. By the end of the phone call, the zeal with which Patricia described her career firmly cemented my belief that I wanted to become a genetic counselor and feel just as passionate about my career too.

A Genetic Counselor is someone who provides information and support to those who have birth defects, genetic disorders or at risk of such conditions. They may also look for treatment of disorders, or conduct research on the cause or they may work to help the families and individuals understand the condition they or others may have. To be a genetic counselor you have to have completed master's degree program in genetic counseling. Students should prepare with undergraduate courses in biology, chemistry, genetics, and psychology. Some the top schools to go to outside of Virginia for genetic counseling majors is Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University, or Boston University School of Medicine. Though schools that are in state and are

I am attracted to this specific college and program because it is focused enough on what I need to be a Genetic Counselor. This major is not too focused where I would be forced to stay with genetics as a career if I decide to change my mind. Majoring in Cell and Molecular Biology would allow me to be exposed to other biological sciences besides Biology if I do decide to change my career choice.

My top two career choices are corporate financial analysis in investment banking and actuary. I will be discussing the legal environment of my career choices, taxing authorities, entity structure, graduate school in order to obtain certain license, self-assessment of my chosen careers. First, I will discuss how I can work as a corporate financial analysis in investment banking. After that, I will talk about what I need prepare to be an actuary.

What if you could design your child before it was even born? What if you could cut out any life threatening diseases, make sure that your child is not susceptible to smoking addictions or alcoholism, and then make your child genius? Would you? Are you asking yourself how this could be done? Have you ever considered human genetic engineering?

Lillian Gish once said “A happy life is one spent in learning, earning, and yearning”. I hold this quote to hold a modern truth. Today college graduation rates are at an all time high as well as the demand for post high school degrees from employers. According to US new, those holding a bachelor's degree earn $1 million dollars more in their lifetime than their counterparts who lack a college degree. As a result, we often highly recommend pursuing a post high school education. I personally am pursuing a degree in Business Management and Organizational Behavior. My preferred career field is marketing management.