Yuanyang

Not to discredit the notion of going to a master's program, I just might not be able to afford it among other things I've definitely overlooked. I dont even know which schools offers a Masters degree in Neuro! I'm sure alot of people can vouch for a master's degree once they've completed one but I'm very uncertain now if that is what I need to do. And quite honestly this response is a big surprise to me.

Well this is terrible news. I've been avoiding a master's program since my late thesis advisor and PI advised against it. If that GPA wont get past you guys, what chance to I have at an admissions panel.

I'll have to explain in the SOP that I was coming off SSRIs when I was a freshman; I know its not a very good excuse. I've also been rejected from masters programs before I've gotten my job as a research tech. I've also completed a Thesis for my BA degree. I dont see how another 3 years doing essentially what I did in my undergrad, will advance my understanding of biology more than what i've been doing now as a Technician.

I need advice so this is a good place to start. Also, yes I posted this in Gov Affairs; I cant read forum tags at 1AM. Desired Program: Neuroscience/Neurobiology PhD, Fall 2015 Goal: A job where I'm paid to act like I'm the smartest person in a room (professor) Undergrad: Private Liberal arts college, B.A. class of 2011 Major: Biology Minor: Mathematics (no real computer science minor) GPA: 2.3 (Major GPA ~3.3). Bad freshman-sophmore year grades and very low grade inflation. Position in Class: No clue, there is no ranking system at the college and everyone in my class thinks they have the worst grades. GRE: 160 Math, 161 verbal, 5 AW Quant-related coursework: Statistics, computational macroeconomics, data-structures and algorithums Research Experience: 3 Years at MIT as a research technican in a neuroscience labratory, 2 publications as a middle author, and some summer programming experience in bioinformatics with 1 middle author publication. Awards/Honors/Recognitions: none Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Odd jobs as a tutor, signator for brewing club, SCUBA certified, better traveled than Rick Steves Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Miscellaneous? Special Bonus Points: On good personal terms with Dr.E Boyden and Dr.K Tye. Reccomendation from Dr.A Graybiel. Took 2 grad courses at Harvard Extension School and one Summer lab course in electrophysiology at UW Friday Harbor Lab. Schools I'm looking into: Reach Tier: Columbia, Stanford, John Hopkins, MIT, Harvard (the latter two is the result of explaining to idiot relatives that just because i work for and know the professors there doesnt mean I'll be easier to get in. nevertheless they expect me to apply) Likely Tier: UCSD, U of Washington, UT Huston, UT Southwestern Medical, Boston U, U of Arizona Letters of Recommendation: 2-3 letters from my workplace, the PI's name holds some weight in the field but she urges me to get my undergrad professors to write one as well. The problem is, the best letter from my undergrad college is from a professor whom recently passed away and im not sure who else to go to. I'm looking for other good programs in neuroscience. Also, thinking of taking the GRE again. And finally, can anyone vouch for application "tutor" services for help with writing the SOP?

I need advice so this is a good place to start I guess. Desired Program:: Neuroscience/Neurobiology PhD, Fall 2015 Goal: A job where I'm paid to act like I'm the smartest person in a room (professor) Undergrad: Private Liberal arts college, B.A. class of 2011 Major: Biology Minor: Mathematics (no real computer science minor) GPA: 2.3 (Major GPA ~3.3). Bad freshman-sophmore year grades and very low grade inflation. GRE: 160 Math, 161 verbal, 5 AW Quant-related coursework: Statistics, computational macroeconomics, data-structures and algorithums Work Experience: 3 Years at MIT as a research technican in a neuroscience labratory, 2 publications as a middle author, and some summer programming experience in bioinformatics with 1 middle author publication. Schools I'm looking into: Reach Tier: Columbia, Stanford, John Hopkins, MIT, Harvard (the latter two is the result of explaining to idiot relatives that just because i work for and know the professors there doesnt mean I'll be easier to get in. nevertheless they expect me to apply) Likely Tier: UCSD, U of Washington, UT Huston, UT Southwestern Medical, Boston U, U of Arizona SOP: A detailed research plan of what kind of project I want to do. I've been planning it it since I was an undergrad so there will be opportunity for narration on how I came up with it. I'll also have to explain my bad grades; I have been trying to get off SSRI medication at the time, with disasterous consequences. Letters of Recommendation: 2-3 letters from my workplace, the PI's name holds some weight in the field but she urges me to get my undergrad professors to write one as well. The problem is, the best letter from my undergrad college is from a professor whom recently passed away and im not sure who else to go to. I'm looking for other good programs in neuroscience. Also, thinking of taking the GRE again. And finally, can anyone vouch for application "tutor" services for help with writing the SOP?