<p>Hi everyone! I'm a 2nd year cognitive science/neuroscience major at UCSD, and I'm interested in MIT'S BCS department for graduate studies. Can anyone here please give me insight on what I should do in terms of admissions? For instance, what extra steps should I be particularly doing for coursework, considering the website states "applicants are expected to have outstanding records, particularly in mathematics and the sciences"? My main focus is to study disorders in the brain (especially Alzheimer's). Should I be investing in more "hard science" classes to enforce my neuroscience specialization? What does MIT look for in experience outside the class (research, fellowships)?</p>
<p>I’d suggest talking to the department directly, since not many people I see around here know much about grad school (Mollie is the one exception I can think of). I would expect them to want to see harder classes as well as research.</p>
<p>It’s fine to have a basic background in science in general – as long as you’ve taken calc-based physics, calc, general chemistry, organic chem, and the like, you’d be fine for admission. Having a strong neuroscience background is a good thing, for sure.</p>
<p>Research and letters of recommendation are by far the most important parts of your profile, so you will be best-served by getting into a good lab and doing intense undergraduate research, and by getting to know a few of your professors well enough that they can speak knowledgeably about your potential for a career in science.</p>
<p>Don’t get too hung up on MIT’s program in particular. Find specific professors at programs around the country/world with whom you would be interested in completing your PhD, then apply to those programs. Your professors will be able to give you good advice about which programs are likely to admit you, and which are reaches.</p>
<p>By way of qualification, I’m an nth year PhD student at Harvard, doing my thesis work in a neurobiology lab. I didn’t happen to apply to the BCS program in particular, because it was my undergrad program, but I applied and was accepted to other top biology/neuroscience programs.</p>