Vene

Here's my advice for that, don't worry one bit about the ranking, worry far more about the connections the professors have. Work for a PI who collaborates with companies and who files for patents in addition to publishing in journals. And nobody in industry gives a shit about top 10 versus top 30.

I took it last year and never got a paper copy. I saw the AW score by logging into their website.

Number three barely knows you, so I'd avoid asking him. Number two isn't bad, but even if he gives a strong letter it sounds like it will be fairly generic. Number one sounds like the best option to me. With you other two LOR writers how do you know them? If you have a couple already talking about your research abilities having one talk about your classroom abilities isn't bad. Also, with said polisci professor did you take advanced level courses with him? Are the classes pertinent to your major (even if not directly related to your research interest)? If the answers to these are yes I see no reason not to ask. If they're no, get the letter from professor two.

The biggest advantage I had to submitting early was that I was able to contact the graduate offices to ensure that they had all the materials in hand. The extra time allowed me to fix some minor snags that popped up.

Do not apply, you just got handed a huge red flag.

Biomedical neuro departments may give a higher stipend, at least that's the first thing to pops into my mind.

To add to that, it would be a lot more of an issue if your employer felt any loyalty towards you. As a general rule, companies will drop you the instant they think it will save them a few dollars. Do you really owe them an ounce of loyalty in return?

Speaking of citation managers, my university gives me a license for EndNote (which is phenomenal when I cite journal articles), but it kind of sucks when I have references to textbooks or patents. Is Zotero able to handle those effectively?

I'm not in a neuroscience program, but I'm currently working in a neuroscience lab and although we very much are focused on the molecular biology aspects we are collaborating with a psychology lab as well for the behavioral aspects. So, I don't think you're completely out of luck, if you apply to neuro programs where they expect significant behavioral work. If you can find some way to get some biology knowledge it may help strengthen your application a lot.

"I have 6 years of research experience in the R & D lab of a global FMCG company" That's how.

It depends. Some schools I applied to sent it after I submitted the final application. Others allowed me to enter my LOR writers at any point in the process and it would send a request to them.

You know, you face a hell of a lot more rejection job hunting.

Get a second monitor which you can keep at home when you use the computer. That way you have the portability you need and can still have a good sized screen.

If trying to correct a minor typo lowered my chances in a program I'm not really sure I'd want to join that program anyway.

I think patents are also quite positive. I don't know that they're seen as at the same level as publications in journals, but they're still good.

My opinion is that if you have a spot for you at your current institution by all means be ambitious.

I see no real issues with your profile, chemistry majors can do quite well in biology. Although if you're applying to neuroscience programs I doubt they care about your chem GRE score.

Industrial experience is just fine, and coming in with four publications is great. I think the suspicion you're thinking of is that companies tend to have more of a profit motive and so papers from there have to be read with a potential conflict of interest in mind. I can say I've certainly not received any negative treatment because my research experience came from industry.

Oh, just get the damn job. Two years off of school can be a very positive experience, it gets you away from the academic way of looking at the world for a little bit. It also gives you time to mature and be mentally prepared for a PhD program's demands. Also, unless the contract stipulates that you cannot voluntarily leave (which would be weird) there is nothing wrong with you leaving the job early.

CSUs do not have the same reputation as the UCs, but that doesn't mean the education you'd get is any worse. My opinion is that if you're paying for the degree focus more on controlling your level of debt to a manageable level than on getting in 'the best' university. Besides, masters degrees from top universities aren't necessarily a good value.

I'm with you on that.

I wouldn't say so. Is looking at graduate school really any different than looking for a job when you already have one? Besides, I'm sure you have bills to pay between now and when classes start up next fall. Do what you gotta do to pay the bills.

Extracurricular activities aren't really important. Your lab experience, publication, and presenting experience are what are important.

First, I don't think any program would give a shit about somebody that petty. Second, just don't tell your boss exactly where you're going. A former supervisor of mine left for a job at a different company and she refused to tell upper management which company it was as she wanted to keep it confidential. There was nothing they could do.

Talk to your professor. They are there to help you.