neuropanic

"low GPA" ??

Probably depends on what type of program you're applying to, but Bio is probably preferred for most. Could be different for Behavioral Neuroscience, though. Maybe shoot them an email and ask?

I would say apply to more private schools and fewer public schools than you listed.

We have non-human primates in our lab. I don't work with them, but they all have names and we always know which is which and they are very carefully taken care of. I get that some of the experiments can be stressful for the animal, but there are so many regulations. I know people who got out of doing research on vertebrates because there were too many regulations.

Obviously depends on what you want to go into, but if you're looking to do biomedical research, there are definitely a fee biomedical science masters programs (I believe WFU has one- I know a MS student there doing research in the neuroscience department). If you're more into cognitive neuroscience, maybe a psych masters would be better.

Ah, that must be it then. I thankfully don't need 4 bedrooms.

Weird, Chapel Hill is on my radar because it's affordable for 1 person to rent a house (I have dogs). I thought Athens was pretty close and that GA was more expensive than NC. Guess I was wrong. Probably depends on how many rooms you need in CH too since you have a family.

What do you guys think about a combined 5 year BS/MS program? Currently applying to one as we start Fall of junior year.

Sorry, but that GPA is a huge red flag. A lot of the people with "low GPAs" getting into schools are people with close to a 3.0. I would be really surprised if you got in anywhere without first doing another degree/program of some sort. You have to pass your classes in grad school, and I would be skeptical that you truly understood your field if you have a GPA that low. The class I made a C in, I made a C because I didn't understand and didn't have the time to put into it to understand, and that prof operated on a C- curve. Grades do show a lot.

I'm not pre med but almost every science major at my school is. Apparently a lot of the advice given if you're going the science route is to either major in something very biochemical based (something like biochem or molecular bio) or anatomy/physiology based (like health and exercise science, for example) as med school is usually half of each. This could just be based on courses required for majors at my school, though. A plain bio major is discouraged here. I would just say major in what you like and can have a high GPA in.

I wouldn't say it would be "overlooked" completely because you did do poorly the first time around (they will probably wonder why you did poorly and if it will cause issues in grad school courses- probably still something to consider), but doing well in those classes will assure them that you know the material and learned how to study for those courses! Then doing well in upper level classes will look even better. More bad grades in upper level classes would likely be a red flag, though. People make mistakes. Sometimes you have to fix them and sometimes you have to let them go. I think you are choosing the right thing in this instance. Good luck!

If you fail a class, you probably aren't ready for the next one in that sequence. At least take Orgo I again.

Oh, and take your meds in their bottles! I've taken them without bottles before without issue, but I think they can technically take them from you if you do that.

They will see the liquids not in a bag and make you throw them out... most likely. I usually pack anything necessary (well, that I can't easily find just anywhere, like my makeup and deodorant) and then buy everything else after I get through security or when I land. I rarely pack toothpaste, shaving cream, and shampoo/conditioner if I'm flying without a checked bag just because it's annoying.

If it's 9-5, that isn't possible based on my schedule. :/ Would have to be split into 3 days.

Mainly immunohistochemistry

You'll have a hard time getting accepted if you have started a Master's that you won't finish. If you don't want to spend 2 years on it, don't do it. That looks pretty shady.

I know a lot of people go into cog. neuroscience from either a BA in Biology or Psych so I wouldn't worry too much about that. My PI has a BA in Psych and now does neuropharmacology research. Neuro is obviously pretty science-based, so I'm sure those grades will be important to most programs. If you are lacking in that department, I know people sometimes recommend taking a GRE subject test. Maybe that would be worth a try? I also forgot to mention that you have a lot of research experience compared to a lot of applicants. Impressive! I know that publications aren't necessary, but they look good if they aren't in pay-to-play journals.

A psych background shouldn't hurt as long as you have a strong background in biology, chemistry (mainly organic and biochem), calculus, and physics. Those are competitive programs. Make sure you're applying based on research fit, not ranking.

Thank you! I totally forgot to schedule in that part of things. Good to hear all of the little things that you don't immediately think of when you think of working in a lab.

Correct. My school is weird about classes. Most upper level classes are offered for one class section per year (so only like 15-30 kids per year could take the class). I would prefer to have all of my classes MWF and use TTh to do research, but it just wouldn't work out that way. Assuming it will take me an hour after my last class MWF to eat lunch and commute, I'd have 3 hours in the lab each afternoon. I'm mostly assuming the work day ends at 5pm because the post doc I'm working for has a family, although I'm sure everyone works longer hours when things pick up. This schedule sounds reasonable to me. I'm a pretty efficient worker and never really have to do my work on the weekends, unless I'm studying for an exam. I could just simply push off some work to the weekend to even it all out and my workload wouldn't be that different (probably actually less difficult anyway because I'm used to all science and math courses, which have labs or class 4 times per week and my divisionals are 100-level). Orrr I guess I could just work later, but I like telling myself to relax around 6-7 and just lie in bed or hang out with friends. Good to hear that 10 hours is reasonable to expect an UG to be in a lab. I will obviously try to do more, but I can only do what I can do. Thanks for the feedback!

Thank you both! 10 hours is the amount of time I found assuming that the lab is only open 8-5 and I will only be going in in the afternoons, leaving mornings to do schoolwork/classes and not going in one day of the week since I have my lab then. The good news is that I'm only taking 2 science courses and 1 lab, so if the lab is open for longer and on the weekends, I could easily get more hours in. I'm also taking a divisional (should be easy) and a language requirement (should also be easy, but the class is every day). It only adds up to 14 hours. I'm trying to treat the lab as another course. I am very committed, but don't want to overdo it and make my coursework suffer. Looking online and in my undergrad bulletin, getting credit for research usually requires 3 hours per week per credit hour. I'm not doing that this semester since it's not an independent project, but I have to in the future to graduate.

I'll be officially starting to volunteer in a lab working on a project for a post doc. She said I can be as involved or uninvolved as I like, but she thinks the results will be publishable (with positive or negative results), and I would love to help out enough to be listed as an author. How many hours for an undergrad would be typical for this kind of work? It's an off campus lab, so it would take me about 30 mins to get there since my car is parked off campus. I was going to try to do a minimum of 10 hours and 15 when I could/ if the lab is open outside of normal office hours (working with mice so I understand that sleep/wake cycles could be an issue). Would 10 hours per week be sufficient? Even if it didn't get me listed as an author, is this a normal or desirable amount for an undergrad?

Best places to rent a house? 3 dogs doesn't sound like an apartment will work out.

How easy would it be to rent a house there? Would it be affordable? I will most likely have 3 dogs by the time I go, and they are very important to me. I would like to have a yard for a lot of reasons, so I figure a house would be the best bet.