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FastBallooningHead

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  1. Hey everyone, I'm a second year grad student in neuroscience. I applied for the NSF GRFP last year and didn't get it and I plan to apply again this year. My question is as follows: I really like my essays from last year, and ideally I wouldn't want to change them very much, other than modifying them slightly to reflect how my graduate work has progressed over the first year (including achievements, etc.). For the research proposal essay I would still like to use the same proposal, and add a tiny bit about how I have already been working in the direction of that proposal. For last year's application, I got all good to excellent marks from whoever reviewed my application, so based on that feedback it seems like I just need to make it a bit better in order to serve a good chance at getting the fellowship (and I think adding my 1st year achievements and research might do the job). So, my question is: will reusing the majority of my essays from last year hurt my chances in any way? Tied into this question: I imagine a new set of reviewers will be assigned to read my essay; will they have any access to my essays from last year? I imagine that if they don't have any access to my last year's application, then my plan above would work just fine.... What do you guys think? Thanks in advance!
  2. Hey everyone, I'm a second year grad student in neuroscience. I applied for the NSF GRFP last year and didn't get it and I plan to apply again this year. My question is as follows: I really like my essays from last year, and ideally I wouldn't want to change them very much, other than modifying them slightly to reflect how my graduate work has progressed over the first year (including achievements, etc.). For the research proposal essay I would still like to use the same proposal, and add a tiny bit about how I have already been working in the direction of that proposal. For last year's application, I got all good to excellent marks from whoever reviewed my application, so based on that feedback it seems like I just need to make it a bit better in order to serve a good chance at getting the fellowship (and I think adding my 1st year achievements and research might do the job). So, my question is: will reusing the majority of my essays from last year hurt my chances in any way? Tied into this question: I imagine a new set of reviewers will be assigned to read my essay; will they have any access to my essays from last year? I imagine that if they don't have any access to my last year's application, then my plan above would work just fine.... What do you guys think? Thanks in advance!
  3. Hi everyone, I'm in the middle of filling out applications for PhD programs in the neurosciences. I'm curious what you guys and girls think the differences are between applying to neuroscience programs that are part of a biomedical sciences department/medical school vs. applying to neuroscience programs that are part of the psychology department (most of these programs are called behavioral neuroscience or some variation of it). The core courses don't seem to be all that different and the researchers from both programs tend to work with each other (which seems to hint that you'll be able to make a professor from either your advisor), so I'm confused as to what the real difference between the two are. What do you think? This is an important question for me because I have a BA in psychology and have no classroom experience in the relevant biological and physical sciences (bio, chem, phsyics, etc), which most of the neuroscience programs in the biomedical sciences departments recommend that you have..... so I imagine I'll have a much better shot at the neuroscience programs in the psychology departments. Thanks!
  4. Many thanks for the responses! I'm applying to a few neuro programs that are part of the psych departments, but there are very few of these....wish there were more! Bsharpe, that's probably what I'll do if I don't get in anywhere this year.... I've also been told that it may work to simply take the subject GREs in those areas, which I'm also considering.
  5. Hey everyone, So, I'm in the process of applying for a PhD in neuroscience. Most of the programs say that students should have a strong background in one or more of the areas involved in neuroscience, including bio, chem, psychology, physics, math, etc. I do have a BA in psychology (I double majored in psychology and an unrelated subject), However, I'm extremely worried because I have very little classroom experience in the relevant biological and physical sciences and mathematics. The extent of my classroom experience relevant to these fields as a psych major are classes in sensation and perception and developmental psych..... never took any classes strictly in the physical/biological sciences and the extent of my math is precalc. I do have some experience that I've gained since undergrad that might help my application in this respect: --I have a few yrs of research experience and 2 first author publications (literature reviews in lesser known foreign journals).... both papers focused heavily on translational neuroscience --I took a grad level course in behavioral neuroscience and did very well Other stats: --3.5 GPA (honors); 3.9 psych GPA --GRE: 319: 162 verb, 157 math, 5 writing --3 yrs experience teaching psych course review sessions, working under a prof. @ my undergrad institution Do you think my lack of the above mentioned courses will significantly hurt my chances of getting in (I'm applying mostly to mid-upper tier phd programs)?? Has anyone here gotten into neuro phd programs with a BA in psych?? Any suggestions of things I can do to help my chances? Thanks in advance for any feedback!
  6. Absolutely positively do not use Kaplan; particularly for the verbal. The reading comp sections are much shorter than those on the actual exam and the text completions are much easier. I took 3 kaplan tests and had an average of 168 on verbal and 159 on math... then on the actual test, I got 162 verbal, 157 math. Use Magoosh, Powerprep, and Manhattan Prep; they are must better predictors of how you'll do on the actual test.
  7. ...because I just won't do well unless I review the material for a few weeks... I haven't looked at half of the material in at least a few years....I'd rather reschedule the test for sometime next year in the case that I don't get in anywhere this year... that will save me some money...
  8. Thanks, kind of what I figured...I also had a high psych GPA: 3.9.... so I figure that should prove my worth in the subject.... but I'm still a little worried because none of these programs take more than 10 students and so maybe it will come down the psych GRE......
  9. So, I'm applying to neuroscience PhD programs. 3 of the 10-15 schools I'm applying to state that the subject test is not required, but it's recommended. The neuroscience program at one of these 3 schools is under the psychology department, so they are referring to the psychology GRE... the other 2 are under Biomedical Science departments, and it appears any related subject test will do. I'm currently registered for the October 25th GRE psychology test. However, I sorely underestimated the amount of time it would take to fill out applications, read about and email professors showing my interest in their research, write personal statements, etc. Thus, spending 10-15 days preparing for the psych GRE would really disable me from doing the applications to the best of my ability......... So, I'm curious how important it is to take this test given that the 3 schools simply "recommend" it. Does anyone know how heavily this test is weighed in programs like the ones I'm applying to? Briefly, here are some of my stats that might help you to respond: --3.5 GPA (with honors) double major in psychology and an unrelated subject --GRE: 319: verbal: 162, math 157, writing 5 --2 first author publications (literature reviews) in the neurosciences in lesser known foreign journals and a couple years of research experience --I should mention that I have very little classroom experience in the related physical sciences and math (bio, chem, phsyics, calc) because I was a psych major ......though I took a grad level class in behavioral neuroscience as a non matric at a local college with a good neuroscience masters program and did very well. What do you guys think? Also, I'm curious what everyone thinks my chances are of getting into mid-upper tier programs... I know people hate this question and there is no way to give any concrete answer, so feel free not to answer if you don't want to....My main question is the about the psych GRE.... but I figured I'd ask this as well... Thanks in advance for any feedback!
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