Genetic CounselingAccepted Gusties

Lily Leahy '25

First Name: Lily

Last Name: Leahy
Graduation Year: 2025
Major: Biology (Minor: Japanese)

Share your Story: My name is Lily Leahy, and I grew up in a small town named Hanover, MN. I picked
Gustavus because I felt connected with the Gustavus student body, faculty, and
campus while touring. Also, I wanted a smaller class size and campus to get to know
the people I would be living with for the next four years. In my sophomore year, I
met a friend who taught me more about the field of genetic counseling. I was
immediately interested in genetic counseling because it combined my love for
patient advocacy and genetics. As a Junior, I started the Pre-Genetic Counseling Club
and connected with other students interested in pursuing genetic counseling. While
trying to learn more about genetic counseling, the Office of Health Professions
provided contact information for alumni and other genetic counselors in the area,
whom I could connect with. While going through the lengthy application process for
a genetic counseling master's program during my senior year, I received assistance
from the Office of Health Professions and the Center for Career Development with my 
my CV, personal statement, and interview skills. I felt supported the whole way and feel 
feel grateful to have access to such a dedicated staff.

Top Five Activities/Experiences: 
1. Pre-GC Club
2. Reach For Resources (Summer Inclusion-Recreational work in the Twin
Cities)
3. Genetic Counseling Career Research Workshop
4. MNGCA Spring Educational Conference
5. Hospice Companion Volunteer

Advice:
1. You can make your own club!
2. A handful of great volunteer opportunities exist in the St.Peter/Mankato
area.
3. There are a lot of different types of health professions out there. Do some
research!

Future:
Attending, University of Minnesota - MS Genetic Counseling, starting Fall 2025.

Name: Nadia English
Graduation Year: 2023
Major(s): Biology and Spanish

Story: I graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in the May of 2023 with
majors in Biology and Spanish and a concentration in psychology. I quickly learned
to prioritize my goals as a student and an athlete in cross country and track and
field, where I was named captain my senior season. I have always been passionate
about the field of genetic counseling, which led me to take classes like biochemistry and genetics.

During the school year, I worked as a Teaching Assistant for the
Biology Department and as a Student Receptionist for the Gustavus Counseling Center.
 I completed two internships in genetic counseling, one was
remote working for the Medical College of Wisconsin and the other was in person interning for the Mayo
Clinic Health System. In combination, my experiences and learned skills allowed me
to be a competitive applicant and resulted in me matching to the University of Texas
Health’s Genetic Counseling Program (UTGCP)!

Top Five Activities/Experiences: (in no particular order)
1. My Undergraduate Internship in Genetic Counseling at Mayo Clinic Health System
in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
2. Taking Genetics and Cancer Biology at Gustavus.
3. Working for the Gustavus Counseling Center as a Student Receptionist.
4. Running cross country and track and field for Gustavus.
5. Completing an online workshop through Medical College of Wisconsin called GC-
CREW (Genetic Counseling Career Research & Exploration Workshop).

Advice:
1. Use your resources, and practice using them early in your undergraduate
experience to determine what best supports your personal goals.
2. Find time away from academics, athletics, etcetera! You will hear it again and
again, but time will absolutely fly by during your undergraduate experience, and you
never know when the next global pandemic will hit! Take the moments to truly
enjoy yourself.
3. Prioritize your health and wellbeing throughout college as this will translate to
your life outside from it. You cannot be yourself or perform your best when you are
unwell – as we always said in cross country and track and field; “do what you need
to do!”
Future Plans:
Attending University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston’s Graduate School of
Biomedical Sciences Genetic Counseling Program starting in the Fall of 2023. I plan
to become a certified and bilingual genetic counselor, possibly concentrating in the
cancer or prenatal specialties and offering services in English and Spanish!