Student Support

Financial Aid

Information regarding financial aid options available from the Office of Student Financial Planning

To view Estimated Tuition and Fees, please see our Program Information page.

Representation, Inclusion, and Support for Equity in Genetic Counseling (RISE-GC) Scholarship

We offer up to two applicants the Representation, Inclusion, and Support for Equity in Genetic Counseling (RISE-GC) Scholarship. This scholarship is available to individuals who identify as coming from a disadvantaged background, defined as meeting two or more of the following criteria:

1. Were or currently are homeless, as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (Definition: https://nche.ed.gov/mckinney-vento/);
2. Were or currently are in the foster care system, as defined by the Administration for Children and Families (Definition: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/focus-areas/foster-care);
3. Were eligible for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program for two or more years (Definition: https://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/income-eligibility-guidelines);
4. Have/had no parents or legal guardians who completed a bachelor’s degree (see https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2018/2018009.pdf);
5. Were or currently are eligible for Federal Pell grants (Definition: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/fpg/eligibility.html);
6. Received support from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) as a parent or child (Definition: https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/wic-eligibility-requirements).
7. Grew up in one of the following areas:
   • a U.S. rural area, as designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer (https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/rural-health)
   • a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-designated Low-Income and Health Professional Shortage Areas (https://www.qhpcertification.cms.gov/s/LowIncomeandHPSAZipCodeListingPY2020.xlsx?v=1, qualifying zip codes are included in the file).

Only one of the two possibilities in #7 can be used as a criterion for the disadvantaged background definition.

This scholarship will provide $10,000/year for both years of enrollment of the program to total $20,000. Eligible and interested applicants who are offered an interview will be provided a brief writing prompt which will be used to help us identify to whom the scholarship will be awarded.

For more information, please contact us at geneticcounseling@wustl.edu.

Financial Support for All Students

NSGC Conference	Funding to attend NSGC Annual Conference during the 2nd year (covers most if not all student expenses associated with travel, lodging, and food)
Research Support	Up to $500 available to assist students in completing their research project (including but not limited to purchasing research participant incentives, statistics support, etc.)
NSGC Membership	Students receive free 18-month Student Memberships to NSGC starting in their 2nd year

Optional Funding Opportunities

• Optional Summer Rotation with Melanie Baxter, MS, CGC in the Cape Radiation Oncology clinic at Saint Francis Healthcare in Cape Girardeau, MO
  • Available for one student per year
  • Transportation or lodging for duration of rotation funded by program
  • Experience providing clinical genetics care to underserved, rural population
• Additional funding opportunities for students who identify ways to expand their clinical skills with the goal to better provide genetic counseling to underserved populations
  • Interested students will write proposals during their first year after identifying an opportunity of interest (number of students funded per year and amount funded dependent upon proposals received)
  • Example: immersive language course aimed at becoming proficient to provide services in a language other than English

University Support Available

• Disability Resources
• Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
• Writing support through the Writing Center
• Public speaking support through the Speaking Studio
• Training to become an effective educator through the Center for Teaching and Learning
• Student Affinity Groups (non-exhaustive list)
  • Black Graduate Student Association
  • Graduate Professional Council (GPC)
  • Health Professional Student Leadership Council (HPSLC)
  • Latin Graduate Student Association
  • OUTmed
  • LGBTQmed
  • Med School Musical
  • Science and Healthcare Abilities Coalition (SHAC)