Barriers in applying to genetic counseling Master's degree programs: Perceptions of prospective applicants when compared with Canadian admissions committee members

Abstract

The goal of this study was to identify potential barriers in applying to a genetic counseling (GC) Master's degree program to inform strategies for increasing diversity and inclusiveness in the GC student recruitment process. Participants included prospective GC program applicants and admissions committee members from the four Canadian accredited programs. The study was conducted using a quantitative survey-based approach. Twenty-five prospective applicants who previously applied to a GC Master's degree program, 26 who had not applied, and 48 admissions committee members completed the survey. The small number of positions in GC programs was perceived by all groups as highly likely to impact an applicant's ability to gain acceptance to a program as was the limited number of GC training programs. Prospective applicants perceived additional barriers as significantly more likely to impact an individual's ability to apply to/attend a program when compared with admissions committee members including: cost of the application process, the applicant being a visible minority and the applicant having a physical disability. These findings highlight a number of perceived barriers related to applying to a GC Master's degree program. To our knowledge, this is the first study surveying prospective applicants and admissions committee members on barriers faced during the application process. The data from this study can also be used to inform the application process for other health professions.