Hi there, currently starting the grad school application process and kind of freaking out a bit. I suppose I've kind of psyched myself out a bit (sorry, pun not really intended). Anyway, I want to apply to cognitive psychology/neuroscience PhD programs in order to do research. I just took the GRE on Monday, and raw scores were V 160 and Q 158 (my official scores are up, but the website is down till Monday...). I go to a highly regarded state school (considered a public ivy, if that even really means anything). I'm a Neuroscience major and Bioethics minor with a cumulative GPA of 3.84 and major GPA of 3.95. The major is considered an honors major, and I'm also doing the distinguished majors program, which means I'll be writing a thesis.
Research experience (involved since second semester of college): 1.5 years in Department of Anesthesiology (neuro-related), 1 year in Department of Psychology
Posters: Will be presenting at AChems this Spring and will do 2 school ones in the spring as well; unfortunately can't make it to Society for Neuroscience meeting this year because it conflicts with marching band schedule
Publications: 1 currently, 2 in press
Recommendations: shouldn't be a problem; will have 2 from lab mentors (one of whom is also a prof for a class) and one from a small, journal club style discussion class (question: can I have additional ones that aren't psych/neuro related? like from extracurriculars? or is that just an undergrad thing?)
Awards: Deans' List, Top 20% after 2nd year, Research Grant, big school scholarship, some of those random honor societies...
My main concern is that my background in research is too focused in biology and not to cognitive psychology/neuroscience. I have extensive experience with EM (electron microscopy) and staring at synapses, vesicles, dendrites, axons, etc. but what I really want to do is work with people and fMRIs. I'm trying to get some shadowing in this year ASAP.
I also don't know how many schools to apply to, so please help meee! Currently applying to Duke (reach), Vanderbilt (good fit I think?), UNC (also good fit I think?), Drexel (fit/safety), GMU (safety)
Also, do they even care about extracurriculars I did? I did a lot, but none really have anything to do with psychology except for the honor society Nu Rho Psi. Fun fact though, I was in Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade because of marching band