From 1994-2017, genetic counseling program applicants were notified of their admissions status on a universal acceptance date (UAD). The purpose of the UAD, established by the Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors (AGCPD), was to allow applicants to weigh all their admission options to make a fully informed decision. On the UAD, every program contacted every applicant interviewed to notify them of an offer of admission, a position on the waitlist, or no offer. Those with offers had several days to make their decision. Those who were wait-listed waited to see if a position would become available.

Although the process worked, it was not without challenges. Therefore, the AGCPD began to investigate an alternative admissions process – an admissions match. After two years of careful evaluation and deliberation, AGCPD members voted to proceed with a Genetic Counseling Admissions Match (Match). AGCPD chose National Matching Services, Inc. (NMS) to administer the Match. NMS uses a Nobel-prize winning algorithm to conduct matches and provides its services for many organizations including the American Osteopathic Association and the Canadian Residency Matching Service.

How the Match Works

• Annually, programs register to participate in the Match in July. For the Match to work most effectively, all programs eligible to admit a class should participate. In the first two years of the Match, all accredited programs in the United States and Canada have participated.
• All applicants must register for the Match; applicant registration opens in September. Cost of registration is $100. After registering, applicants apply to programs through the individual program/institutional admission processes.
• Programs conduct admissions processes (review applications, offer and conduct interviews) as usual, but also verify that applicants have registered for the Match.
• Once interviews are complete:
  • Applicants submit a rank order list through the NMS Genetic Counseling Admissions Match website. This is a list of programs they would be willing to attend if admitted, in order of first through last choice. The number of programs ranked depends on how many interviews an applicant had and how many of those programs s/he would consider attending. Applicants are instructed to only rank programs they would and could attend because Match results are binding.
  • Programs also submit rank order lists. They rank applicants in order of preference (first through last choice). Programs also indicate how many positions they have to fill. They, too, are instructed to rank only those applicants they would consider admitting since results are binding.
  • All ranks must be submitted by a predetermined deadline. NMS reviews submissions, contacts individual applicants/programs if a problem is identified, rectifies any problems as instructed, and then runs the Match algorithm. This process takes 10-14 days. 
  • The Match prioritizes the ranks of the applicants. For instance, if an applicant ranks program A first and program B second on their rank order list, and both programs rank the applicant at the top of their rank lists, the applicant’s choice (program A) takes precedence.
  • Results are released on a specific day, usually the last Friday of April, by 12:00 p.m. ET. Applicants receive an email telling them if they matched and where; programs get a list of the applicants with whom they matched. Programs send letters confirming the offer of admission, and applicants must reply with their acceptance of admission.

Outcomes

• There have been two Match cycles. There were 1,328 Match participants (applicants) in 2018 and 1,569 in 2019 (18% increase).
• In both Match cycles, about 60% of applicants submitted ranks. Those who did not either withdrew from consideration for personal reasons or were not offered any interviews.
• Of those who submitted ranks, about 50% were admitted equating to about 30% of the total applicant pool.
• Programs filled 98% of their available positions through the Match. Remaining positions were filled post-match. A total of 404 positions were offered in 2018 (43 participating programs) and 468 in 2019 (48 programs).
• Anonymous surveys conducted by NMS show that both programs and applicants are satisfied overall with the Match program.

Pros and Cons

• The Match eliminates the extended waiting period of the UAD process and allows applicants to honestly and anonymously rank their choices.
• Since all applicants must apply for the Match, the AGCPD has a source of accurate data about the size and composition of the applicant pool.
• A downside of the Match is the cost to applicants. The AGCPD is investigating the utility and feasibility of a Match scholarship for applicants who cannot afford the cost.
• Since Match results are binding, applicants must determine which programs they could feasibly attend before submitting ranks. Program directors were concerned that this could be a challenge. However, in two years, only three applicants have not accepted their Matches, which is very similar to the NMS experience with other Match programs.

In summary, the Match has simplified and improved the process of offering applicants admission to genetic counseling programs. If you have questions or want more information, contact the AGCPD at info@agcpd.org.

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