Senior genetics major Maggie Andrews dreams of becoming a genetics counselor, someone who helps people and families understand and adapt to the medical, psychological and familial impacts of genetic conditions – and she knows she is in the right place to meet her goals.
Like for many, the moment Maggie stepped on to Clemson’s campus it felt like home. She loved it for the small town feel and the love the alumni showed for the university.
“It was really evident from the beginning that Clemson is not a school that you go to for four years, it is a home you can return to for the rest of your life.”
Choosing her genetics major was an easy choice, knowing a genetics degree would prepare her for graduate school and her end goal of a career in genetic counseling.
“My course of study in Clemson’s genetics program has given me a thorough understanding of molecular genetics, which will prepare me for the next step in my educational and professional journey.”
In being part of the Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Maggie has some of her best friends in classes – study partners turning into close confidants and classmates becoming a built-in support system. Even more so, Maggie notes the faculty have become incredible mentors and role models for her during her academic career.
“Whether it be a professor or academic advisor I have never felt alone on my educational journey. There is always a helping hand if you need it! That is super rare at a large university, and I feel it makes our department special!”
On campus, Maggie is a tutor for calculus and tutor mentor at Clemson’s Academic Success Center, where she assists in training tutors that support over 70 courses on Clemson’s campus. Additionally, she plays on the women’s club basketball team.
“Our women’s club basketball team travels and plays other colleges in the US. We even qualified and competed in Nationals last year in Madison, Wisconsin.”
Another large role that Maggie holds on campus is serving as the vice president of the IPTAY student Advisory Board, where she serves IPTAY and Clemson Athletics as a liaison for the Student body. As the vice president, Maggie promotes the Solid Orange Friday message and helps plan and execute exclusive events for the IPTAY Collegiate Club, which is an organization on campus with more than 9,000 members.
“Last year I helped organize a conference with three schools within the ACC to help facilitate conversations about student athletic donorships involvement across the Southeast region!”
Maggie keeps her academic breaks busy too by acting as a genetic counselor assistant as Levine Children’s Hospital Pediatric Genetics Department during her summer and winter breaks. Here she assists both genetic counselors and medical geneticists in both the inpatient and outpatient setting.
“I help collect DNA samples from patients, order and track genetic testing, consent patients and families for genetic testing, write letters of medical necessity to advocate for patients and write letters to school systems explaining genetic conditions!”
This job aligns perfectly with Maggie’s future plans to become a genetic counselor herself. After graduation, she plans to attend a genetic counseling master’s program to become a pediatric genetic counselor.
