ucdguy88

I had an interview where I've been forging a relationship with the faculty- and one in particular since September. Not only was said faculty member not at my interview, the other PI who told me point blank they were going to bat for me took another student...seriously? you tell me you're pretty much set on me but take someone else? I don't get it. Its like going on several dates with a hot guy, then you finally do the deed and they say they cant wait for next time. Now I'm in limbo hell because of my fit. I'm tempted to say F all of that nonsense and just go with my backup plan. At least they didn't dicktease me.

Woot! My first interview at my top pick! UMass Boston Developmental and Brain Sciences on Feb 19th 

Phone acceptance to ASU!

I totally disagree. Do you stand a chance? Of course. Does that mean you'll get in? No.
 
Lets focus on the positive things first. You say you have NIH funding and the grant was awarded to you...I'm not from the clinical world, but in neuroscience, if you received a grant from the NIH of any kind thats application gold. You've also mentioned your presentations, which I assume are abstracts. Abstracts of any kind show original research work and your personal ability to do research. If you have your name on a paper at all that outweighs a lot of things.
 
Be specific with what your actual goals are. As far as your GPA goes, if this were an social/developmental/bio psych app you would be just fine. I tried to click on the link the other poster provided but no avail. So you had a weak first two years and a strong last two, thats normal. However be prepared to get rejected from schools because there are those with shiny 3.8 GPAs. You also have to ask yourself if thats the program that fits you best. I couldn't imagine myself at a school where the average was a 3.8 personally. 
 
If you decide to mention your first two years, just say your path changed and thats not what it was meant to be. Life happens, and you don't want to bash yourself over the head for "life being life".  Keep it VERY minimal like two sentences max.
 
I wish you the best sir and as far as  being a minority goes, I'll let you know if being Palestinian helps me

I totally disagree. Do you stand a chance? Of course. Does that mean you'll get in? No.
 
Lets focus on the positive things first. You say you have NIH funding and the grant was awarded to you...I'm not from the clinical world, but in neuroscience, if you received a grant from the NIH of any kind thats application gold. You've also mentioned your presentations, which I assume are abstracts. Abstracts of any kind show original research work and your personal ability to do research. If you have your name on a paper at all that outweighs a lot of things.
 
Be specific with what your actual goals are. As far as your GPA goes, if this were an social/developmental/bio psych app you would be just fine. I tried to click on the link the other poster provided but no avail. So you had a weak first two years and a strong last two, thats normal. However be prepared to get rejected from schools because there are those with shiny 3.8 GPAs. You also have to ask yourself if thats the program that fits you best. I couldn't imagine myself at a school where the average was a 3.8 personally. 
 
If you decide to mention your first two years, just say your path changed and thats not what it was meant to be. Life happens, and you don't want to bash yourself over the head for "life being life".  Keep it VERY minimal like two sentences max.
 
I wish you the best sir and as far as  being a minority goes, I'll let you know if being Palestinian helps me