Neuroscience grad school prospects?

Graduate School
1

<p>Hey everyone, first post here after lurking for a while. I'm shocked at how level headed the advice appears to be around here and I'm hoping I can benefit from that. </p>

<p>This fall I'll be applying to Neuroscience PhD programs and I was hopeful posters here might be able to gauge my prospects. I plan to apply to 4-5 top tier schools, 4 mid-tier schools and 2-3 lower-tier schools. I am realistic about my chances, particularly at the top-tier schools, but I don't want to limit my options just in case.</p>

<p>Here are my meager "stats":
3.46 undergraduate GPA: Had a very poor first year, after that there were no issues.
3.6 major (Psychology) GPA
3.7 minor (Neuroscience) GPA</p>

<p>All from a small liberal arts college with a very good undergraduate neuroscience program.</p>

<p>1280 combined GRE (630V 660Q 5.0AW, though I suspect the AW will go up following a retake)</p>

<p>I'm a terrible standardized test taker, but I recognize that I have a math deficiency. Standard laboratory math and statistics have not been a problem but I am certainly not as proficient as I should be. I have no desire to take the GRE again, especially given that the test is changing in less than a month.</p>

<p>Now for the good/decent stuff:</p>

<p>At the time of applying I'll have spent roughly 1.5 years (2 years when/if I actually join a program) as a research assistant in a mood disorder-based mouse laboratory headed by a brilliant young PI. I've been able to carry on my own research project as well as head up several smaller projects in addition to overseeing the lab needs. I have several publications and possibly a first author publication, though it will definitely not be ready by the time applications roll around.</p>

<p>I also have a year of experience with rats during which I designed and carried out my own experiment for a culminating senior project. I am extremely comfortable in a lab setting and have a very good idea of the type of research I would like to do. I am certain that if adcoms can look past my sub-par stats at my statement they would see I would make a good candidate, though I am certain that will not happen everywhere I apply.</p>

<p>I can also count on at least 2 glowing recommendations from my current PI and another PI we work closely with.</p>

<p>I've also considered applying under psychology and going for a behavioral neuroscience PhD as another option, though I haven't thought that through entirely. </p>

<p>Finally, would it be a good idea to try to contact PIs whose lab I might be interested in? Surprisingly, the list isn't all that big. I know rotations are necessary, but would it hurt to put my name out there prior to applying?</p>

<p>Again, thanks so much for any insight.</p>

2

<p>hey dude, im in a similar boat as you,</p>

<p>i got higher gre and gpa but NO publications</p>

<p>from what i have read here, there appear to be few applicants with SOLID GRE,GPA AND research so perhaps we stand a good chance? </p>

<p>either that or all the strongest students dont post anything cuz they dont need to.</p>

<p>anyway check out my first post, you might find it interesting, it has gre and gpa averages from top schools.</p>

3

<p>If the programs fit you well, I’d recommend straight neuroscience programs over behavioral neuro/other programs in psych departments. Neuroscience programs tend to have better funding and fewer non-research requirements (less TAing, fewer required courses), while letting you work with the exact same psychology-based labs. </p>

<p>The one exception I can think of is if you really want to learn and work with social/clinical psych people, it may be beneficial to be based in a psychology department. But even then, neuroscience students can join psychology labs and still have all that interaction, with better pay, fewer extraneous requirements, etc.</p>

4

<p>I’ve been reading the posts and it’s wonderful to see how helpful you guys are. Here are my stats… Do you think I stand a good chance or should I wait another year and retake my GREs?
I am interested in a Phd program in Behavioral Neuroscience. I will be double majoring in CellBio-Neuroscience and Psych (honors thesis). My CBN GPA is 3.6, Psych GPA is 4.0 and cumulative is around 3.72. I have been doing research since my sophomore year. Had one poster presentation in June, another coming up at the Neuroscience conference in Nov. Got a couple of grants for 2 summers in succession. I can get very good recommendations from my professors. Problem is that my GRE isn’t that great (590V, 720Q, AW5). There is no time to retake the GRE this year. So I am confused about what to do! Please advice.</p>

5

<p>I wouldn’t sweat it if I were you guys. When I applied last year, I had similar stats (3.6 in neuro, 1370 GRE, 1.5 years research) and I got into several schools. Right now I’m attending an Ivy. </p>

<p>I would say be realistic in your applications and apply to several schools (a lot of times they’ll waive the fee if money’s an issue). The most important thing to consider is which schools fit your interests the best. I applied to 9 schools (which was a helluva lot of work) and was admitted to 6. The schools where I got in were the ones where I was genuinely interested in their research. I got rejected to the schools that I applied to solely for their prestige or because I thought it would be fun to live there. IMO, the admissions committees look at the whole picture and in general have a pretty decent BS detector.</p>

6

<p>Oh yeah, and I got a 4 on my AW and didn’t have any publications. But I can tell you that my personal statement was killer.</p>

7

<p>Hey Err</p>

<p>At what point would you consider a school to be a good fit? The research in a lot of neuro programs are really diverse. Would a school be a good fit if there’s 2 PIs doing research that matches your interest? Or 3 or 4?</p>

<p>Or does a good fit apply to more broad aspects, like matching in the approach (i.e. molecular/cellular vs cognitive, invertebrate models vs. mice/rats?)</p>

<p>Was highlighting your good fit for the program the thing that made your statement killer?</p>

8

<p>Yeah, there were usually at least 3 or 4 people that I could see myself working with. After browsing their websites, you should be able to get a feel for a general pattern with the department (whether it’s better for cell/mol or systems). </p>

<p>I was specifically interested in synaptic plasticity and in basic research that had applications to psychiatric disorders. I contacted people by email just to introduce myself and see if they might have the resources to take on a grad student. Then in my statement, I talked about my interests and mentioned the people I wanted to work with and why. Also, I think it’s important to stay focused on science in your statement, but to make it interesting so they want to read it.</p>

<p>Every once in a while, PIs will email you back. That can also tell you something about the general atmosphere of the dept sometimes. For example, I emailed several people at a UC school that I was interested in and a couple of them replied in a pretty rude way and basically said their admissions were really tough and I didn’t stand a chance. Needless to say, I didn’t apply to that school. But there were a couple schools where the PIs were really courteous (sent me papers and encouraged me to apply). I got into those schools.</p>