gliaful

Those are matriculation numbers, as sqxz quoted the number of students IN the program. But a few events upstream impact that number. 60 interviewees will lead to some number of acceptances, BUT how many accepted students "accept them back"? Especially with UCSF and WUSTL, the type of students that get interviews typically get interviews elsewhere; thus, the ratio of students that "accept a program back" is likely to be smaller for top-tier schools (only because students who apply to top-tier schools usually apply to at least a few of them, and thus have more options).

I don't think it kills your chances -- why would UC Davis bother telling you about your transcripts if they weren't interested? I would email them a thank-you for notifying you of this and that you just arranged for them to be sent. You could attach an electronic copy of your transcript to that email as a temporary aid for their adcom meetings.

OHSU (Neuro Grad Program) is reviewing applications on December 15th.

OHSU sent me this just now: This email is to confirm receipt of your application of admission to the Vollum Institute/OHSU Neuroscience Graduate Program. Our Admissions Committee will be meeting on December 15th and the results of their application review will be sent do applicants via email shortly after that date.

Neuroscience applicants -- this appeared the other day: started by NWFreeheel11. That topic has a link to this one, but not vice versa (until now).

I thought the purpose of self-reported scores was for this exact phenomenon. Of course, self-reported scores must match the actual scores when they arrive. Iowa didn't even want me to send my scores (relying entirely on self-reported) until they offer admission (if they do).

I found them soothing because an average 23% acceptance rate sounds really high compared to other values I've heard (and I'm not applying to top-tier schools, either). My top choice has a 7% acceptance rate according to Peterson's...

You were last-minute, but was it before the deadline? I wouldn't try to "apologize" for any part of your application -- that doesn't make them view it through rose-colored glasses. I agree with Cookie above. Contact profs if you would have done that otherwise (to ask about labs), but no need to apologize. Does Berkeley have stated GPA averages on their program page?

There is no definitive list, but you can check the gradcafe Results Search for a school and look at the self-reported admissions/rejections. And you can go here: http://www.petersons.com/graduate-schools.aspx and search for your program of interest. Admission rates for Fall 2014 are listed for most of the schools I looked at.

http://www.sfn.org/~/media/SfN/Documents/Professional%20Development/NDP/SurveyReportAY20102011.ashx Stats, because I love stats, and I love legitimate, anxiolytic stats from SfN most of all. Snapshot: The average neuroscience program receives 88 applications/season, with median 69. Note that the schools that participated in the survey are listed at the end of the report. Average number of acceptances per programs surveyed is 20, for an acceptance rate of 23% -- on average, 12.8 of those 20 students matriculate. (Feels really high, doesn't it? ) The number of applicants to neuroscience programs is NOT on the rise, and has remained stable for at least the last 15 years. Average GRE scores are stable at 156 Verbal (72%ile), 154 Quant (67%ile), 4.4 AW Time to completion 5.5 years, with 15% of students needing a 7th year. I will look to see if there has been a more recent edition of this report. EDIT: You can see older reports here http://www.sfn.org/careers-and-training/higher-education-and-training/training-program-surveys but there haven't been any reports following the 2011 report posted above.

Somewhat unrelated question (reading this made me think of it) that may be better placed elsewhere: Are applications reviewed in the order in which they were received? (At non-rolling admissions schools?)

Ugh, me too. I've taken one class (rather, I am enrolled in the course this semester), and I felt a lot of pressure in writing my SOP to convey my interest in neuroscience and how that interest developed. My research experience is almost as irrelevant as possible (within molecular biology subfields) and lately I've been feeling insecure.

Undergrad Institution: Big state school. Anyway, I don't think this plays much of a role for anyone -- it's the school's reputation, not yours. Major(s): Biology Minor(s): Mathematics GPA in Major: 3.85 Overall GPA: 3.83 Position in Class: Top 5%. I only know this because I was nominated for commencement speaker (I rejected this), and this is the criterion used. Type of Student: Domestic female GRE Scores (revised): Q: 168, 95th percentile V: 164, 93th W: 6.0, 99th Research Experience: One year in a developmental biology lab, studying skeletal/cartilage development. Lab lacks a postdoc and my two labmates are grad students. Hence, this experience has been independent -- which was initially frustrating, as it would have been nice to have been shown how to do a few things. I proposed and attained funding for my own project after the finishing up a project for a past grad student. I will be working full-time in my lab next semester (spring 2015), for a total of 1.5 years of research experience. I have a first-author publication, but it's a review. I'm not sure if this makes it more or less significant. Certainly it signifies that my research has not been extensive enough to lead to a publication; nonetheless, reviews require a thorough (and yet concise) compilation of the current literature. Awards/Honors/Recognitions: I've been awarded three (smallish) grants, so I'm familiar with the process of applying. I'm also familiar with rejection Pertinent Activities or Jobs: I'm an adjunct faculty in the math department at my school. This is my last semester of undergrad and they asked me to apply. I'm teaching an algebra course and will be next semester as well. I've tutored math for the university's drop-in tutoring center since August 2011. I was a teaching assistant for Calc III (Multivariable & Vector Calc) for the 2012-2013 academic year, and a teaching assistant for Organic Chemistry during the 2013-2014 year. Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: I'm a certified pharmacy tech in my state and have been since Jan 2010 (when I was a high school senior). I worked in a hospital pharmacy preparing IV infusions and compounding oral formulations for 3 years. Special Bonus Points: Ain't got none of these here points. Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I have a W in a 400-level math course. I withdrew because I realized that I needed to graduate (because I didn't have enough loans for this full academic year). I was a biology & math double major up until this point. Knowing that I would be going on in biology and that math was just a creative outlet, I dropped to a minor in math (although I'm 6 credits away from the degree...) Applying to Where: I have submitted applications for the following programs: Brandeis - Neuroscience University of Washington - Neurobiology & Behavior Univ of Utah - Neuroscience Oregon Health and Science Univ - Neuroscience CU Anschutz - Neuroscience Vanderbilt - Neuroscience (NGP) Univ of Pittsburgh - Neuroscience Univ of Iowa - Neuroscience

I bought slacks from H&M...they were something like this: http://www.hm.com/us/product/28728?article=28728-A I hear nice boots are okay (from peachypie and ERRalpha, see above), but I'm not sure what constitutes "nice boots". Please, somebody, post a link to some pictures! I hope this dress-up stuff doesn't matter as much as we're acting like it does. Should my fashion-senselessness affect my ability to further my education? I know being well-dressed for an interview shows respect for the program, but I think my stress about what to wear is much more accurately demonstrative.

I really like this idea, and I did buy a few pairs of skinny slacks (not skin-tight, but more fitted) because those "traditional" tent-looking giant trousers overwhelm my frame. I wasn't sure if I could wear boots under them or over them. Because they are still a little loose through the lower leg, I thought they might bunch up if I tucked them into boots. Furthermore, I have no idea where exactly the line is between casual winter boots and dressy boots. So...could you describe this further? The only school (that I applied to) that offered any advice about what to wear was Colorado Denver. They said this: What should I wear to my interview? Most candidates wear nice slacks or pants paired with a nice shirt or sweater. You may wear a suit, but it isn't customary. Keep in mind comfort and fluctuating temperatures and weather. I don't know if this is the norm, but I bet an email to a program coordinator (upon receipt of an interview invitation) would help you figure this out.

I would cut down the descriptions to one bullet and speak as concisely as possible. CVs, unlike resumes, don't involve lengthy descriptions. Length of the entire document does NOT matter, as your CV will grow with accumulated experiences. Look up examples of CV and try to follow their model of minimal description. I like your template a lot, though.

We're applying to five of the same programs! I have yet to experience this degree of similarity with anyone else on here. OHSU was very responsive when I emailed them, but try the lorgrad@ohsu.edu email AND ngp@ohsu.edu. I had quicker replies from lorgrad.

Also I found this blog post really helpful/humorous. It's about dressing for a conference like a "fashionable lady scientist", but I think all of the outfits are business casual: http://laserboyfriend.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-dress-for-conference-like.html

I have been bothered by the "business casual" thing too. I bought some slacks and a pair of black oxfords, but I'm stressing about shirts. I loathe button downs. They are never long enough for my torso (and I'm only 5'7). So I've been looking at other blouses, and I figure if I can buy 2-3, I would be set. I just bought this: http://www.loft.com/petite-pleated-mixed-media-tee/356924 (except not in petite sizing) from LOFT as they are having a 50% off EVERYTHING sale today (Cyber Monday) and it made the shirt only $22...which is more than I'd ordinarily spend on a shirt (I'm thrifty), but I know it'll get a few uses. I don't want to wear a dress because I don't want to deal with the "is it modest enough?" crap. Plus it'll be winter during interviews...

So...when programs say that they have a deadline of X, does that mean applications are due ON X by 11:59pm, or does that mean applications are due by X-1 at 11:59pm ? Today is December 1st, and many programs have deadlines of December 1st. Are applications due tonight at midnight or were they due last night at midnight? Are they looking at my stuff today?

I did not have my PI edit my SOP -- she not on our admissions committee and it's been ~40 years since she applied to grad school. I sent my SOP (just one) to my university's writing center and got advice on flow/structure/etc. I did the same thing you did, except in reverse -- I had a main SOP, and then I broke my SOP into two pieces and expanded upon those (for the few schools that requested two essays). All of my SOPs were basically the same, except I had a couple paragraphs that I changed for each school (what I like about the program, who I'd like to work with based on my interests). I think you should hit submit and join the party! If you'd like, you can send it my way and I'll give you feedback. I'm a fairly nitpicky writer.

My friend (we'll call her Sally for ease of reference/anonymity) is applying for grad school and has a question about interview weekends (evolutionary bio, specifically) but she doesn't have a gradcafe account. I keep bugging her to join me on here but she hasn't done it yet. Anyway, that stuff's not really relevant to her question. Sally is a smoker (I don't know how much/frequency/whatever, she seems like a "regular old smoker" in my naive observations) and she is concerned about interview weekends. She wants to quit but doesn't plan to until she graduates in May. We think it would be best for her to not smoke during the interview weekends because it gives a bad impression, but we don't really know. I guess her specific question is whether that's true (and she should abstain and deal with withdrawal), or if she could sneak it (not sure of her plans here), or if anyone has any other thoughts about this. I suggested she buy nicotine patches and wear them during visits, but she seemed averse to the idea. Now that I've posted on her behalf maybe I can get her to join gradcafe and more specifically address (be involved in!) her concerns. I tried.

It's almost December 1st guys! AHHHHHHHHHHH! Sorry for the unnecessary post. Indubitably you have access to a calendar. I submitted all of my apps in mid-October so I've been anxiously watching the days pass for a while.

I took the ACS only because it was the final in my second semester. I don't think you can sign up to take it independently, but I honestly have no clue. At my university, there are two biochem tracks: two semesters with lab, intended for chem majors, and a one-semester "survey" of biochem that can be taken by bio majors if they choose to forgo the rigor of the chem-track courses. I took the chemistry-based biochemistry and I still found it quite "biological" (I mean, of course it is -- but I guess I thought it would rely more on organic than it actually did). I really grew to love it even though I wasn't too fond of organic. Biochemistry pulled a lot of concepts together for me and I thrived. I only mention these things because I think it's misleading to say that chemistry-track biochem courses are somehow removed from biological relevance. At my university at least, the bio-based survey of biochem is taken by students who don't really care for biochem and want to get through it quicker. I don't think survey courses on one's transcript are a good way of strengthening one's application. If the bio-based biochem at your school is of equal rigor to the chem course, but simply focuses more on biological concepts, it sounds safe to take.

I think that your B in second semester organic will help you a lot, as second semester really depends on the material presented in first semester. You could candidly provide the explanation that you gave us -- organic catches many students off-guard, but you were able to overcome your struggle and earn a better grade in the second semester. If you plan on taking biochemistry, doing well in that course will further bolster the argument that you do indeed understand organic at a better-than-C level. What percentile were your organic ACS scores? I don't think gen chem scores help me understand your situation in organic.