This Discord is a space mostly made up of prospective applicants. There are also genetic counselors and current students on this platform. This can be a great place to connect with others in the genetic counseling community. While this Discord has a lot to offer prospective applicants, it can be overwhelming at times, especially around interviews and match results. Be aware of your mental health and step away from the Discord if you need to. You have the ability to mute the entire server if needed.
These resources are specifically tailored for international prospective applicants. The NSGC International Special Interest Group (ISIG) as put together some resources to support international applicants looking to attend an ABGC accredited genetic counseling program. The International Genetic Counseling Spotlight was created by the International SIG to promote cultural competency and connect health professionals from around the world. They also developed a mentorship program for international prospective students. The ISIG has also curated a FAQ document tailored for International applicants.
The Minority Genetic Professionals Network was created by the Western States Regional Genetics Network to address the limited racial and ethnic diversity among medical genetic professionals. Few high school and undergraduate students are aware of opportunities in these professions, and that is even more true among students from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds. This lack of diversity impacts patient access in North American communities of color, with less availability of genetic services, less awareness of these services, and few providers from these communities who patients feel comfortable with. The MGPN serves as an organized way for genetic professionals of racial and ethnic minority backgrounds to connect with one another to address these issues together. (https://www.westernstatesgenetics.org/mgpn-resources/)
The Genetics Opportunities, Learning, Development, and Empowerment Network (GOLDEN) is dedicated to increasing the awareness of genetic counseling among Black students, primarily at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). For prospective genetic counselors, GOLDEN also provides mentorship throughout the graduate school application process. (https://nymacgenetics.org/golden/)
"The Disability GC Network is a community of 60+ genetic counselors and current genetic counseling students who have a disability, chronic illness, mental illness, or other major medical condition. We elevate the voices of disabled GCs by advocating for accommodations, acceptance, and support within NSGC and workplaces. We are happy to mentor prospective genetic counseling students with disabilities and answer questions about graduate school, employment, and accommodations." (https://www.westernstatesgenetics.org/disabilitygc-network/)
Discord: Genetic Counseling Disabled Community
A Discord server reserved for genetic counselors, current students, and prospective students with a disability or chronic illness. This is a space to seek or provide support to others in the community, discuss various accommodations available in various GC programs, boards exams, and in the workplace, and to network with other genetics professionals.