<p>Hi All!
Receive warm greetings from this Caribbean Island!
I am a young Dominican Medical Doctor, deeply concerned about starting a Graduate program in Neurosciences. I would like to listen to your opinion concerning my case... I need to decide as soon as possible about my application to the admission process. I am strongly concerned about a Doctoral Program, nevertheless I know I must be realistic, PhD's Programs are very competitive, and maybe a Master could be a good starting point. </p>
<p>I have always been an outstanding student. my academic career is impeccable. I got my MD Degree at the age of 21 (Now I am 23 y-o). Since I am a MD I have a strong background in all the life science, and laboratory experience. I have a lot of academic achievements and recognitions, and a very diverse background. My TOEFL score is 90. and my GRE raw score is 300 (150 V and 150 Q. I was expecting a better score, but I think it was that low because of the "English Barrier"). My GPA is 91, Magna Cum Laude (in a 99 scale.. like 3.8). My LORs are excellent, and I have experience as Teacher Assistant in the chairs of histology, Physiology and Pharmacology.</p>
<p>What really worry me is that In developing countries, such as Dominican Republic our opportunities to conduct research projects are limited, especially in fields like Neurosciences, not only because of the economical and technological resources, but because of the lack of trained human resources. Thus, my research experience is limited. </p>
<p>I applied to a Fulbright Scholarship, and after a one year-long rigorous process of selection, I was elected as an International Grantee of this prestigious Scholarship sponsored by the US State Department.</p>
<p>I would like to listen to your opinions in order to geat clarified concerning this issues...
1) Should I applied to a MS or a PhD
2)What Graduate School do you recommend
3) Do they have special considerations to international Students and the GRE scores (the language barrier is a remarkable obstacle and I cant retake it because of time)
4)Since I wan the Fulbright Scholarship it means I am one of the best in my Country... do they take that into consideration...
Thanks a lot</p>
<p>First of all, congratulations on winning such a prestigious award. I amended your title to show you won this award and moved it to medical forum.</p>
<p>What kind of monetary benefit do you receive as part of the award?</p>
<p>Yes, most Universities in US take the award into account. </p>
<p>Since you are an MD, you should apply directly to the top medical schools asking to do a PhD. I say this because MS programs are not usually funded unless your scholarship covers the tuition.</p>
<p>I recommend medical schools at Harvard, Stanford, Yale, UPenn, Princeton (no med school), Columbia, Johns Hopkins, Baylor.</p>
<p>1) Do you have any research experience? I wouldn’t assume that you can go straight to the PhD because you already have an MD; you need research experience to get into a PhD program. However, your Fulbright status (aka money) may change circumstances for you. In your case I really think you should contact some professors at desirable departments and explain your special circumstances. They will tell you whether or not you are competitive for their PhD program.</p>
<p>2) This depends completely on your research interests. You will select a neuroscience program based on what you want to do research in and who is doing that research. Basically, you look at programs where 2-3 professors are doing research in your interest area and can supervise your work. The schools suggested above are prestigious institutions, but not all of them may even have research in your interest area or strengths in your subfield. Start by looking up the authors of papers that you really like (scientific papers) and finding out where they are.</p>
<p>3) Not necessarily. Typically international students are expected to get GRE scores at or around what American students take.</p>
<p>4) Yes, scholarship support is taken into account - mostly because you bring your own funding with you for at least a period of time. But you have to remember that top American institutions like Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Penn, etc., can have their pick of Fulbright scholars - there are hundreds or more of them, as well as accomplished international students who don’t have Fulbrights (either they have other scholarship support or they don’t at all, but they’re still outstanding).</p>