College Lists. Neuroscience. Advice?

<p>I'm having too many school on my college list. Please give advice as what schools should I omit.</p>

<p>I'm an international student (Asian) and my main interest is in neuroscience. I'll need financial aid definitely, and the most my parents can contribute is about 15k a year. Though I do not want them to do so as all my grandparents are kinda old and will need more and more money for medical care each year... Weather does not matter much for me, nor does the size of the school. But I do value school spirit and a sense of community. </p>

<p>Here is my list of schools. </p>

<p>Research Universities:
Yale or Princeton (I know they do not have neuroscience major yet, but they have neurosciece course under some other courses)
Dartmouth - possible ED
WashU in St Louis - possible ED
Rice or Vandy
Brandeis
U Rochester (???)</p>

<p>LACs
Middlebury, Pomona, or Wesleyan (thinking of choosing two out of the three. my only concern for pomona is it does not have a tradition of admitting students from my region)
Oberlin</p>

<p>Any thoughts?</p>

<p>I believe RD31 could elaborate more on this but I believe that Yale offers Molecular Cell and Development Biology major with a neuroscience sub emphasis or a Psychology degree with a neuroscience emphasis but Yale does not offer a "neuroscience major" AFAIK based on the coures listings.</p>

<p>"Princeton is currently in the process of a major initiative in neuroscience and the school is planning a new neuroscience building, the Lewis Siegler Institute for Institutive Genomics is doing groundbreaking research at the intersection of biology and the quantitive sciences and there are numerous research opportunities available."
- poster midatlmom @ 04-08-2008, 04:41 PM </p>

<p>As for Dartmouth, Contact this user named Strawboy. He is an international student from Dubai that is a Neuroscience and History double major, along with pre-med at Dartmouth. I personally would not recommend Dartmouth to you for a neuroscience major, but its whatever.</p>

<p>Schools that I recommend for Neuroscience: JHU (top ranked program, 3rd in the nation for neuroscience), Yale, Vanderbilt, U Rochester, Brown, UPenn, Duke, Princeton.</p>

<p>I don't know why you would consider Brandeis for neuroscience. :-p</p>

<p>Thanks alot Phead128! Your info is really helpful!</p>

<p>I did consider JHU and it was once top on my list... But I've heard from alot people and my school teachers that JHU does not really offer FA to international students. It was a painful decision to take it off. The same goes for UPenn, money was a big issue for me. I put question marks on U Rochester for the same reason. It does not offer need-based FA, but merit-based. I'm not sure if I'm strong enough to get it. </p>

<p>I chose Brandeis because it was recommended in some neuroscience threads on CC.</p>

<p>Yes, in the Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology major at Yale, you can do a concentration in Neurobiology (as well as Biotechnology). In the Psych major, you can do a concentration in Behavioral Neuroscience. All concentrations, I believe, appear on your degree.</p>

<p>And PH128, can you tell me the reasons for recommending those schools?</p>

<p>And it seems that Strawboy has refused to receive any PM. Do you know of any other way I may contact him?</p>

<p>Hi, I'm in the JHU class of 2012, and with ALL THE BIAS in the world, I think you should at least apply to JHU.</p>

<p>Hopkins is an EXCELLENT school for what you want to do, and you can always choose not to come if they don't offer FA, but in the event they do, you're set ;)</p>

<p>With all due respect you're "counting your chickens before they have hatched" you never know how these things play out. </p>

<p>If you have any questions just ask :)</p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>

<p>
[quote]
I don't know why you would consider Brandeis for neuroscience. :-p

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Is this statement a joke? I hope it's a joke. If you want to do systems or comp neuro, Brandeis is fantastic.</p>

<p>OP: What does school spirit mean to you?</p>

<p>You might consider Duke. If your definition of school spirit allows it, consider MIT - it would be very difficult to get in, but it gives need-based finaid to international students, and it is a fantastic program.</p>

<p>UCSD is the way to go for Neuroscience.</p>

<p>I wouldn't take Phead's comments seriously given that Brandeis has some of the most recognized neuroscience programs in the country. For Behavioural/Cognitive you might want to look into UMich, MIT, UCLA, UCB, yes UCSD, UCI, Wisconsin - Madison (I realize $ might be a problem) and Columbia (for other areas too). Cornell has a very good program in Systems Neuroscience. And why are we ruling out Caltech, Stanford and Harvard and not MIT, Yale, Princeton? Is their financial aid really all that better?</p>

<p>I know Duke has a lot of stuff going on in neuroscience, although the other schools you mentioned are very prestigious and likely strong in neuro as well.</p>

<p>For your LAC choices, I strongly encourage you to think about Haverford College for neuroscience. It was the first LAC to begin teaching cell biology back in the 1960s! They still have an amazing (many informed sources would call it the best) science program at any LAC. HHMI has singled out Haverford for its excellence. Check it out. Even the President at Haverford is a prominent stem cell/neuroscience/award-winning cancer research doctor/professor from UPENN Medical. I think it makes more sense than some of your other choices.</p>

<p>Hi thanks to everybody!</p>

<p>Vader 1990: Can you elaborate more on the neuroscience in JHU? What's so special about it as compared to other schools?</p>

<p>Jessiehl: School spirit means the students there indeed love the school and are proud of being students there. They would befriend everybody and love to share information and knowledge with each other. They would support their sports teams in competitions and be the loudest cheerleaders. That's the main difference I see between Rice and Emory. </p>

<p>88888888 and flyzeggs: I think UCSD is great too! But it's a public school and there's no wan I can pay my way through it :( As far as I know, Caltech focuses more on physicsc-related majors. </p>

<p>pointoforder: I'll definitely take a look at Haverford College! Can you elaborate more on the neuroscience programme in particular? How's the facility, research opportunity, faculty as compared to Oberlin?</p>

<p>Smith College is definitely worth considering. Smith has wonderful neuroscience. Smith</a> College Neuroscience Program</p>

<p>In addition, Smith is part of a 5-college consortium (with Amherst, Hampshire, Mt. Holyoke and Univ Mass). You can take classes at any, and there is a free shuttle bus to get to classes at the other campuses. They offer a Five College Certificate in Cognitive Neuroscience: Five</a> College Certificate in Cognitive Neuroscience : Welcome

[quote]
This certificate is designed to offer a unique opportunity for undergraduate students in the Five Colleges to deepen their understanding of cognitive neuroscience, through both theoretical and empirical training. . . .

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Smith has an open curriculum, and is known for academic excellence and small classes. Students are provided with terrific advising and mentoring, and available, committed professors.</p>

<p>My friend is a neuroscience major at pomona. All i can say is, highly recommended. Keep this school on your list, even if it's a reach</p>

<p>Bump.........</p>

<p>anymore thoughts?</p>

<p>any more thoughts?</p>

<p>Here's a possibility: The College of Wooster, in Ohio, has just launched a neuroscience major. They don't have any full rides for internationals, but they do have some large merit scholarships. Wooster is a solid LAC, which requires all seniors to complete a thesis/research project. Wooster might be worth a look as a safer bet, depending on your stats.</p>

<p>Neuroscience</a> Added as a Major at The College of Wooster</p>

<p>Denison, Kenyon and Ohio Wesleyan have also recently added neuroscience majors, so you might check their availability of money for international students as well.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>bump. haha I know this is old but anymore schools anyone?</p>