somino42

Accepted to Emory Neuroscience! So happy, as it was a great fit for me as a systems/circuits person, especially with the GA Tech BME collaboration. They were so nice on the phone and ridiculously flattering.

One of the program coordinators emailed me saying very nice things, and that there is still another interview weekend upcoming so they cannot formally send acceptances until after that, but to anticipate an acceptance.

I've been informally accepted to a program! I won't say which one just to spare anyone anxiety since this program advertised that formal acceptances will not come out until later. Just wanted to participate in the acceptance party, and... YAY I am PhD bound!

Ah I see. Thanks for the realistic advice all! Definitely not looking for people to be nice in assessing my chances, so this makes me feel a bit more positive.

After reading around, I think I may end up having to do a masters. Since posting this, I have become a TA for a grad level course in neuroscience. I also published a paper in JNeuro this month as second author. Still not thinking these things will push me over the edge on any front, but I *really* don't want to do a masters and waste my time. However, the GPA is a huge problem for any of the schools on my list, and it's just impossible to overcome (last 2 years GPA was a 3.7, with my final year being a 4.0, which just speaks volumes about my first 2 years), regardless of my research which is my strongest suit. My letters are going to certainly say that I am among the top 1% of students my PIs have mentored, as they have told me this. I work really hard on my research and I independently run the entire elecrophysiology team in a very famous lab. Just not sure that's quite enough for my poooooor GPA. I graduated in 2015 so there isn't that much time between me graduating and now to make my GPA irrelevant. Thoughts?

I am quite nervous for applying this year! First time, ahh! I need some help deciding whether the schools I am applying to are too much of a reach. My GPA is my only low point but I have attempted to mitigate it with my GRE and post-bacc classes I took at the graduate level with incoming first years at my uni. Undergrad Institution: Big 10 School Major(s): Bio with Neuro emphasis Overall GPA: 3.22 (last 2 semesters 4.0, struggled first 2 years with straight 3.0-3.2 f-jr) Type of Student: domestic, white woman GRE Scores: V: 164 Q: 162 W: 6 Research Experience: 3 years undergrad + 3 years as an RA Main labs: 1) In vivo ephys - worked for 1y during undergrad and 3y after getting experience. Have 2 papers and 2 poster presentations from work in this lab. Ephys is slow going but I have 3 projects I'm working on right now. Presenting at SfN this year and also did last year. Basically operate as a graduate student independently running the lab (I have no postdocs or grad students to help me, but I have trained previous postdocs in ephys so I am confident in my abilities). Also my PIs are ridiculously famous in their field. 2) Human cog neuro lab doing TMS/EEG. One paper from this lab, middle author, just volunteered my time to this lab because I loved the mentorship from this PI. 3) also worked in an epigenetics lab for 2 years where I learned a ton of molecular skills, but no papers came out of this, as it was my first gig! Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Deans List 2 semesters? No other awards, my PI told me not to focus on getting money which I really regret. I may go to a Gordon Conference next year but that is still up in the air. Special Bonus Points: - Already took intro Neuro courses at the grad level and got As in all courses. - 3 papers total, 2 posters total at SfN (national conference) - Working on 3 projects that are 'in prep' and will be wrapping up by the time I am finished applying Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: 3 glowing LORs, 2 from very famous PIs who love to network, 1 from someone who can comment extensively on my ability to design experiments, read papers, discuss science, and troubleshoot electrophysiology. Applying to Where: (All Neuroscience): UCSD Stanford UCSF UC Davis UC Berkeley U Penn UNC Emory Columbia NYU 0 Quote

I'm applying to neuro programs this year and I am so nervous! My GPA is certainly my weak spot (3.2). I've tried to make up for my less than stellar first two years with six years of research experience, posters, publications, getting As in grad level classes, and befriending influential PIs at my institution. I want to go to a top program, but based on my GPA that may unfortunately be a long shot From now until February is going to be so stressful!!

So I have decided not to apply this year, but instead wait another year. I am so nervous about my GPA preventing me from getting interviews anywhere. Is there anything else I should work on for this year that could help me out besides continuing to work in my lab? I am am also considering adding NYU to my list, as there is a PI I am very interested in who had great contacts with my current lab.

Thanks so much for the replies! UCSF is one of my dreams, but I figured I wouldn't be a competitive enough applicant there. I'll definitely be adding it to my list based on the suggestion. I'll be there in a couple of weeks, and I'm considering emailing a professor or two who lead labs that I'm absolutely in love with. Who knows, maybe I could meet with them during my visit! Also @Bioenchilada maybe, maybe not re: UM Thanks for your response!

Undergrad Institution: Big 10 Public School - great reputation in research and bioMajor(s): Biology - Emphasis in NeuroscienceMinor(s): -GPA in Major: Overall GPA:3.21Position in Class: -Type of Student: Domestic White FemaleGRE Scores (revised/old version):Q: 165V: 168W: 5B: Above 85th percentile, should be fine?Research Experience: 2 years in undergrad working in an epigenetics lab. Lab wasn't very productive, but learned a lot of wet lab skills. (Main lab)1.5 years in undergrad + 3 years post-bacc working in a lab doing electrophysiology (tons of optogenetics) in mice. 3 papers, 2 second author (one at a very high impact journal), 1 first author, 2 posters at conferences 1.5 years in undergrad + 2 years post-bacc working part time in another lab doing TMS/EEG on human subjects. 1 paper, middle author In sum, around 6 years of consistent research (3 years undergrad, 3 years post-grad)Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Made Dean's List final two semesters, although this probably doesn't amount to muchPertinent Activities or Jobs: Neuroscience outreach through graduate program on campusAny Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Huge turnover after a year being an RA in my big lab of all postdocs. Ended up training most of the new postdocs in mouse surgeries and experimental procedures. Basically functioned as a graduate student for my three years of being in the lab after graduating. I won't mention this on my app, but I think it will give me an edge of confidence (without being cocky of course!) Special Bonus Points: Took grad level neuroscience courses through undergrad, and took two semesters of grad level intro neuroscience courses after graduating (got an A in both). 3 very strong LORs with extremely well connected PIs, one is an absolute top dog in the field I am in currently. Very strong connections with 2/3 letter writers at UCSD especially, and at Harvard, and one LOR has a connection at UPenn. We have met/discussed a potential role for me in his lab. Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: GPA is a hurdle that I attempted to get over by performing good research and getting some publications under my belt. My GPA my first three years was terribly average (3.0 consistently every semester, yikes) but my senior year I achieved a 4.0 both semesters, and got As in my graduate level classes post-bacc that were relevant to my field. I did so-so on my intro neuroscience courses in undergrad, so I thought that this would bolster my app. I also did poorly in my intro bio classes, so I took the bio GRE to show that I am capable of mastering intro bio material. I know this is the biggest knife in my application, but hopefully by achieving higher scores once I got my act together, I can show adcoms that I am a capable scientist who will have no problems balancing coursework and research. If anyone has any suggestions of things I could work on before applying, they would be appreciated!Applying to Where: Still considering waiting another year. My boyfriend is finishing up medical school and I'd like to wait to see where he matches next year. List goes from HUGE REACH to potentially attainable. I have a large amount of reaches on my list, but let's assume I have enough free time to apply and money to spend on each application. Any suggestions on places *not* in the Midwest are greatly appreciated, as I am still doing research on places to apply: (All neuro programs) Harvard Stanford UCSD UPenn UC Berkeley Duke UNC-CH UC Davis UMass - Amherst UC Boulder