<p>Hi everyone, so in about a year I'll be graduating from my undergraduate school with a major in psychology and a minor in cognitive neuroscience. My current GPA is a 3.7 and I expect about the same when I graduate. I'll have about 1 and half years of research experience in a cognitive neuroscience lab at my university and I'll graduate with honors in psychology (assuming all goes as planned). I plan to pursue a Phd at a top 10 school in neuroscience. In terms of neuroscience related coursework before I graduate I'll have my senior thesis, research in psychology (cognitive neuroscience), intro to cognitive neuroscience, principles of neurobiology, and introduction to neurophysiology completed. I'm not too concerned about SOP,LOR, and GRE scores in regards to my application. I'm more so concerned about my research experience. I want to work with professors studying neuropsychiatric disorders, specifically I want to study schizophrenia. </p>
<p>Anyways, I'm wondering if it's a good idea to complete a graduate program(masters) in biology before applying to a top 10 graduate program leading to a PhD in neuroscience? </p>
<p>As far as expenses, I'm fairly certain the cost for the masters will either be entirely covered or mostly covered so I'll either get into minimal debt or none at all ( currently have no college debt). </p>
<p>Advice please? </p>
<p>I don’t understand why you don’t
- apply directly to NS program with PIs doing research in Sz, or
- take a gap year, work in the field, and spend fall/early winter applying.</p>
<p>All the top NS schools will require interviews. If you get a MS, that will probably be non-funded. A PhD program will be funded.</p>
<p>Well, my research experience is more cognitive-psychology based than neuroscience and has very little to do with neuropsychiatric disorders. So, in terms of program “fit” I’m concerned that will work against me & why I’m unsure if I should apply directly or not. I thought a masters in biology with thesis work on neuropsychiatric disorders would be a good idea? </p>
<p>I also considered working in a lab as a research assistant at a university but this will depend on available positions so, if I can’t find a lab to work in then maybe a masters is more reasonable? </p>
<p>What you do as an undergraduate in research is not terribly relevant. no one expects you to come into a graduate program already experienced in the specific field of research. It is much more important that you have a strong research experience. Your GPA is good enough to get into a good program already if you have solid research and GREs. A Masters in a different field won’t do a lot for your application. Working in the field might be more useful but you should try right away and have work as a backup. This way you can choose if you are not satisfied with the programs which you have been admitted to.</p>
<p>in addition, you need to apply to more than just to 10 programs. Those are highly selective and you might not get in even with work experience or a M.S. in Biology under your belt. Look into the literature of the field you are intending to pursue and find strong researchers in other programs (there are plenty out there). This will guie to to aplying to a range of programs so you have a better choice.</p>
<p>Yea, I haven’t neglected the very real possibility of not getting into any top 10 NS program. Although, I have been contacted by a few universities(Stanford, UC Berkeley,USC, Columbia, Wisconsin, UCLA, and yea not all of those are top 10) already since my school participates in the national exchange program and, schools like to fill their diversity quotas. ( I am Hispanic, born outside the U.S ) But thanks! I’ve definitely kept that in mind and will continue to. </p>
<p>Also, do you think that holds any significance? The fact that those schools have contacted me, in the sense that, if I were to apply it might work in my favor? </p>
<p>If you are mostly concerned with research experience, you don’t need an MS to raise that. What you need is research experience. So it would be far less costly* for you to get a job in the field and work for 2-3 years to build that research experience. There are many positions at universities and non-university labs that will take someone with a BA and prior research experience - research assistant, lab manager, research coordinator, etc.</p>
<p>Also, given that you have an undergrad in psychology without significant biology coursework, I don’t think you would be competitive for a top MS in biology. (You DO have neuroscience coursework, though, so were I you I’d apply to your favored PhD programs this year and if you don’t get in, then take 2-3 years “off” to do that research.)</p>
<p>*I’m not sure why you assume that the MS would be covered - some MS programs in biology are funded, but many are not. And some programs fund some students but not all.</p>
<p>The assumption is based on information I have received from the MS biology program I had in mind. Thanks for the input, everyone. Soooo I think I’ll do as suggested and apply. If I don’t get in I’ll just look for work in the field. </p>
<p>You need to be talking to neuro depts and asking them if you have enough research experience and coursework. I wouldn’t plan to do a bio masters separately just for that. Big potential waste of time and money. </p>