mtonji

Hey everyone! I'm currently a junior getting the process started for graduate school applications. I'm graduating a semester early mainly for financial reasons and I'm also applying to begin Fall of 2018 or Spring of 2017 (if the school allows it by chance). I posted my qualifications down below and I was hoping you could give me an idea of how realistic the schools I'm interested in are and also places where I could improve my application. I already realize my GPA is pretty low but some of that stems from a bad semester freshman year (including a C- in an Intro Econ course) and since then, my GPA has had an upward trend. Let me know what you guys think and also may some other schools I would be interested in. I want to primarily stay in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region and my big research interest really is anything involving molecular or genetic mechanism behind neurodegenerative disorders, so any schools that are particular strong in Alzheimer's research and the such would be a big interest to me. Thanks! Undergrad Institution: #12 ranked Liberal Arts School current junior, graduating a semester earlyMajor(s): NeuroscienceMinor(s): BiologyGPA in Major: 3.03Overall GPA: 3.06Position in Class: Slightly above AverageType of Student: Domestic, male, whiteGRE Scores (revised/old version): Officially taking them this Saturday (fingers crossed!) but these were my scores from the latest official practice test I took and I'm still hoping to bump them up another couple of points eachQ: 162V: 163W:4Research Experience: (copied and pasted from my CV minus any personal info) Behavioral Genetics Lab, Research Assistant, Department of Neuroscience, Colgate University August 2016-present · Responsible for ordering of laboratory supplies and lab maintenance · Created and maintained roster of zebra finches present within lab · Utilized Cryostat for the sectioning of avian brain tissue · Collaborated with lab PI to develop an independent research project studying the effects of various drug treatments for Huntington’s disease within a transgenic Zebra Finch model ** ***I've only been in this lab for a semester so far but I will have been a part of it consistently for 1.5 years by the time I graduate, the professor and I have a very good rapport and also wants to write a letter of rec for me Rutgers Behavioral Neuroscience Lab, Research Assistant, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University May 2016-August 2016 · Independently collected histological data from a Zebra Finch model for learning and memory · Utilized Vibratome to section brain tissue · Captured images of induced lesions within the NCM region of the brain using staining techniques involving Cresyl Violet and optical microscopy · Participated in weekly care of Zebra Finches and overall maintenance of the lab Colgate Behavioral Neuroscience Lab, Lab Assistant, Department of Neuroscience, Colgate University January 2016-May 2016 · Studied the effects of maternal care and early postnatal clomipramine treatment on offspring anxiety and miRNA-16 expression in the adult rat brain · Collected behavioral data from elevated plus and open field mazes · Responsible for performing daily injections of saline or drug into rat pups · Participated in weekly lab meetings to collaborate with fellow students and lab PI on the direction of the project and future directions for the lab Animal Psychology Lab, Research Assistant, Department of Psychology, Colgate University February 2015-May 2015 ● Conducted research about social dominance in specific settings among zebra finches through observation and qualitative metrics ● Performed a literature review using Pubmed, Google Scholar and PsycINFO in order to find metrics with which to study social hierarchy among zebra finches · Formulated a hypothesis and experiment based on past research in order to study this phenomenon Rutgers Behavioral Neuroscience Lab, Lab Assistant, Department of Psychology June 2014-August 2014 ● Trimmed raw data files of birds song samples and analyzed files to compare their similarities using Goldwave and Sound Analysis Pro Supported graduate students by helping set up experiments and observing qualitative metrics of studyAwards/Honors/Recognitions: Dean's Award (Spring 2016), Eagle Scout (may be a bit old but I've heard including it certainly doesn't hurt and depending on the person reading my CV it could help!)Pertinent Activities or Jobs: paid Tutor for ACT, volunteer SAT tutor through school to help impoverished high school students in area, Volunteer EMT-B (certified), was elected to serve on executive board for school's Model UN club the entirety of last year Special Bonus Points: already paid a visit to U of Rochester and talked with a number of professors and admission committee members, current PI says he knows people on Columbia admissions committee and a letter of rec from him can carry weightApplying to Where:University of Rochester- Biochemistry- Molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative disordersColumbia University-CMBS program- same research interest above (this would be my #1 pick, but is probably a bit of stretch) UPenn-Neuroscience- same as above Yale-BBS-same as above UMass Worchester- same as above Rutgers- Neuroscience- same as above (same program as the lab I worked over the summer participates in so I know a handful of professors there and have a good relationship with them as well) Rockefeller- Biosciences- same as above (also a big stretch but the professor I work with now recently moved from there and may have connections)