Need help on where to apply + Chances

Graduate School
1

<p>Hello, I am a 4th year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, Canada. I am looking towards a graduate program in Neurosciences but am really unsure of where to apply, and what schools would give me the best chances. </p>

<p>GPA:</p>

<p>1st year = 3.54
2nd = 3.94
3rd = 4.0
4th = 3.77</p>

<p>For a cGPA of 3.8ish, and senior year GPA of 3.88. </p>

<p>My background of study is biochemistry and physiology. I have gained experience in an endocrinology lab, and plan on working in a neuroscience lab this coming fall (hence my staying an extra year past 4th year). In addition, I worked in clinical neuroscience research for 3 years (not sure if clinical is relevant though, as it was only pharmaceutical drug trial based studies). Also, I performed at the top of my class in my laboratory courses, and won the award for top student in the Advanced Physiology Laboratory. References shouldn't be a problem to get, and I am yet to write the GRE but am not worried (I generally score pretty well on standardized tests).</p>

<p>With these facts in mind, am I out of my mind thinking about places like Oxford, MIT, etc? </p>

<p>What would you recommend? </p>

<p>Thanks, it is really appreciated</p>

2

<p>GRE is pretty important, so it would be difficult to answer. Your other creds are good though…</p>

3

<p>it might be a better move to go ahead and graduate and then spend a year or two doing full-time research in a lab. going on for a fifth year is not really worth it- plus you will get paid if you work as a tech.
one of the most important aspects of an application anymore is having a lot of experience and many people are spending two years as techs before applying to grad school.</p>

4

<p>Are you published?</p>

5

<p>I am indeed graduating. But, my school offers project courses, so I figured if I cannot get hired as a tech then I may be able to just do a project course during the year. </p>

<p>Sadly I am not published - my project was brutal when I was in my lab and was leading nowhere.</p>

6

<p>If your research interests are closely matched by those schools you might as well apply. If you get rejected you can just work and apply again later. Being accepted without a publication would not be a miracle, but do you at least have some poster talks or something?</p>