Vene

Look up their required courses for the degree. If it is heavy on the biology side of things you're going to have a very hard time. Not just a hard time getting in, but a hard time succeeding (check out ).

Treasury bonds are also good for that, but interest rates are very low at the moment. The advantage over CDs being you can withdraw the money from the bond early if you need it.

The only federal aid you can get as a graduate student are loans. Would not recommend.

I went to a small university and worked as a lab tech. You are right that it's hard to get a technician job at a university, but there's a lot more out there than academia. Industrial experience is not a negative and can actually make you look more interesting compared to the number of people who have only worked in academic labs. It can also show other career options outside of the academy, which I personally think is extremely valuable considering how hard it is to get a tenure-track position.

I'd at least include them in your CV. It's not as valuable as research experience, but it at least says you have been working and using your engineering skills instead of bumming around. If there's something particularly valuable you did at either job or if you have a way to relate them to research interests or why you're applying to graduate school by all means bring it up in your SOP.

Your credentials are great, I don't think you need to bother looking for less selective programs.

All said and done, it's probably the least important aspect of your application.

I'm confused, are you already in a PhD program? If so, then why are you applying for a different PhD?

You may want to look outside of chemistry departments as I imagine a lot of neuroscience programs have professors doing work on neurochemistry.

I don't think I am, even though I realize the way they are done is very different, the perception is that graduate school is just an extension of an undergraduate education. For example, people are routinely shocked when I tell them that I'm being paid to go to school. The idea that you have to pay to get an advanced degree is enough to ensure that people of low means won't even look into graduate school as they believe the financial burden is too high. I think that this is very helpful and the way that it should be done. I think it would also be nice if graduate schools did more to make it clear that they provide financial support so that stellar students from less privileged backgrounds will realize graduate education is an option. Ultimately, I think that seeking out those from lower status helps everyone. The benefits for the students are obvious and it means that the scholars being trained really are the best instead of those with the best connections.

Your GRE scores are a little concerning, especially since you're coming in with a psychology degree and your quant is a bit low. The lab experience is great and thankfully you did seek out coursework in biology and chemistry. All in all, as long as the program doesn't place high emphasis on the GRE you've got a good chance.

I can say that I went to a regional state university and there were actually few opportunities for research and most people didn't do any. Now that I'm at a large research university I see the majority of science undergrads are active in research in some manner. But, I'm willing to bet most people don't do to the research universities as there are far more liberal arts colleges and regional state universities than research oriented schools. Also, I come from a rural community where there were no opportunities for research; there was a hospital and a community college. People there did not know that professors were researchers, professors were thought of as being teachers. I think it is unfair to assume that people come from backgrounds where they are familiar with academia and higher education and expected potential grad students to know how the system works from the beginning of college will prevent those with certain socioeconomic backgrounds from obtaining advanced education. This is already seen at the bachelors level where people from poorer communities will avoid applying to college due to not knowing about the financial aid available and when they do apply will seek out universities with weaker reputations thinking that they aren't good enough for big name institutions.

I had a 3.5 AW, it meant nothing.

I think that's a nice thing to have, but it won't make or break your application. My advice is to get into another lab if you not currently in one so you can say you'll have additional experience by the time you start graduate school and to make sure your LORs are solid. Personally, I think you have a pretty solid application. You may not get into a top 10 school, but I think you can get into a good one and can certainly get into a PhD program.

Are you serious? As a college freshman you expect them to know the ins and out of a highly esoteric aspect of life? 18 year olds are totally known for their worldliness and wisdom. Just how many freshman do you think realize that their professors do research instead of just teaching? For that matter, how many adults realize that professors do research and do a lot more than teaching? I don't think it's that bad, OP, just talk about it as a positive experience and how now that you've had a taste for research you very much want to further your education. Also, are you currently in a lab, because that'll give you even more experience by the time that you can start graduate school.

I think it makes enough sense. Also, it's not unheard of for MDs to do research.

I can't speak specifically about Maryland, but public transit certainly doesn't stop in the winter. Also, first order of business once you get there should be to buy good coats and boots.

In the US it's not expected to have publications when going into a PhD because a lot of PhD programs will take people straight out of undergrad. As long as it wasn't published in a scam journal I think you're fine. I also do think the articles in the magazines are relevant. They're not equal to a peer-reviewed publication, but they are definitely something you'll want to include.

I've work with a staffing agency before, I just put the name of the company I worked at on my resume as that's where I actually did the work.

Very much this. I also think it depends a bit on the nature of the assistance. Helping a collaborator to learn a method you use is a lot different than teaching the lab in the next building. With the former you're already partners and I wouldn't expect any money to change hands. With the latter you're taking time out of your day to instruct others purely for their benefit and some type of compensation is appropriate, even if it's not strictly monetary. Related to this is how I wouldn't expect students who get together to study to pay each other anything as they are all contributing and gaining from the experience. But that is worlds apart from asking somebody to tutor you where there is a very clear service being rendered.

I would expect the 10-15 days to mean business days. It probably won't be late, but at the very least I'd contact any program you're applying to with a December 1st deadline to give them a head's up. They may be willing to look the other way if ETS gives it late, they might not, but I can't imagine that it would harm you to let them know what's going on.

I can't take anybody who uses friendzone unironically seriously.

I'm just sharing my experience, again, it may well be a regional thing as there simply are not as many top 10 or top 20 universities in the midwest so instead of recruiting at MIT a fortune 500 may recruit from UW-Madison instead.

Why are you looking at consulting firms if you're interested in a biology PhD? It's entirely the wrong skillset. That said, I can say that I have worked at a fortune 500 in the midwest (region may be relevant) and although there were people there with degrees from top universities there were also people with degrees from state universities. There were also a number of people who graduated from small private universities in the area (obviously their bachelors degree, as said universities don't tend to offer doctorates).