NWFreeheel11

I'm pretty sure there is a national response deadline for everyone on April, 15th. But, if you are potentially holding a spot that a PI could offer to someone else, I think it is an obligation to tell them as soon as you know you don't want it. If there is a possibility that you want the spot still, then I think by April 15th. The programs plan for a certain number of people turning them down and unless they do rolling admissions, which most don't in the way that med schools do, then you should be fine. They make x offers and plan to matriculate x-y. You can be a "y" without guilt if you honestly may want the spot.

Nothing here. Also, did Michigan send out all their invites on Friday, or are there more to come?

That's PIBS. The neuro specific program interview weekend is Jan 16-18.

Ah, a buckeye in the mix

Someone got an interview to Michigan! Did anyone else get a call yet?

Is anyone else lucky enough to have received a call? CONGRATS by the way!

How did they contact you?

Well luckily, with all the squats and working out going on in this group of people, together we can whoop any lion coming our way. I'll go work on my bench again just in case...

I spent two hours in the gym today hoping to be away from my email so I could avoid obsessive checking. Now, obviously, I am back at my computer and command^r is my life right now.

Yo Ted, I didn't reply when you started this conversation in the other thread, but now you are starting it again. Why on earth do you feel compelled to have this conversation? We know its competitive, so leave it at that. Does it make you feel better to make others worry like crazy? I didn't even apply to any of the programs you are referring to, but I find this repetitive post irritating as heck. Can we agree to stick to positive posts since we are all pulling our hair out anyway? We know its a tough game.

I'm interested in neuro-rehabilitation technology such as brain-computer interfaces and devices used to assist people with developmental disabilities such as context dependent learning systems.

Grad school can be what ever you want it to be! That's most of the fun :-) I agree, 2 years looks better than 1 & 1, and your R&D job should be as good as you get for professional experience. I know what you mean about ready to get underway. I graduated in 2011 and am ready for this process to roll! Have you considered starting with a Masters to boost your GPA if PhD doesn't work out? It could be a great option.

If you don't want to go there, don't apply. If you don't get it, you can work some more and build your package a bit more. Research experience can definitely overcome a low GPA, and your's is above 3.0, so it is overcomeable. If you are itching to get out, then move and get another job. You aren't stuck and grad school is not an escape, it is a next step. You have good research, so hope for the best and then think of next steps when you have all the information.

No, you are right on both accounts. So, don't drive and think of it as an urban jungle. Where mountains are in Oregon, phenomenal architecture and history are found in Boston. NYC and Washington DC are easy train rides and you have access to one of the largest and most traveled airports in the US. Cheaper and shorter flights to Europe and a city with so much going on you would be silly to be bored. :-)

It might be tough at times, but in grad school life revolves around lab. When you are not in lab, you just have to get creative. I am from the mountains in Oregon and I had committed to UIUC in central Illinois. 2.5 hour drive of nothing but corn in all directions. BUT, with a good group of friends, a good bar, and a good lab, I believe ANYWHERE can be fun. Its about the people rather than the location in my book. I can understand your concern and I am considering this as a factor too. I am just optimistic with the right fit, I can make anywhere work. From the programs you have applied to, here are my two cents: Brandeis - Boston is phenomenal and the whole east coast is so interconnected. OHSU - I am from the Portland area and this city is awesome. Vanderbilt - Nashville is the hollywood of the south and it is lively, happening, and beautiful. Utah - Salt Lake City is near the outdoors so if you like that, you will love Utah. UW - I went to college near Seattle. The Emerald city is happening and phenomenal. UC Denver - Denver is cheap living and great resources for people. Bike shares, good sports, fun bars and events, and great people. Pitt - I have not been there, but have heard great things Iowa - I can't speak to this one, but my above reasoning holds.

Just don't apply somewhere you don't want to go. It you like the program and research, do it, but don't add schools to your list so you have more numbers. In the off chance you get into only one of your second choice schools, waiting a year and reapplying is way better than going to a place you are not that interested in and having that define your career. It is very hard to turn down a program, even if its not perfect. Grad schools hard enough, so make sure you go somewhere you LOVE! And get ready for interview season!!! To be perfectly honest, this is my second time applying to schools. I was fully committed, lease signed and everything to start and UIUC in Fall 2013 but I had a family emergency that forced me to withdraw and reapply this year. Interviews are a great time and I had a blast. Since I had time to reapply, I think my application is stronger with a little professional work, and I have taken some time off with my fiance to go on a bicycle trip. We are riding from northern alaska to Panama before schools starts (~14 months) and we have taken a short break for interview season. My point is, have fun with this process. This is about courting, we interview them as much as the other way around. Its a blast!!!!

If I were you, given your nearly perfect profile, I wouldn't worry about applying to more schools. If you have already applied to schools that are doing what you want and you are excited about each one, then I think you are set. Wasting money for school in your second choice bracket because you are nervous is silly. Your profile is as good as you can get and you have applied to a good range of schools. I would recommend relaxing and taking some time off from thinking of applications and start preparing for interviews. Study the people you want to work with at each school you have applied and know them inside and out. Be prepared to speak intelligently and have a good time with interviews, and you should be all set. You only need to get into one school, so getting into 15 is silly. You will get in somewhere if you can speak intelligently to your interests and not blow up a lab during interviews of something :-) Enjoy the process!

It's starting! I'm getting excited.

You should read this post. Matt Might is a prof of CS and Utah and it is a good recap about getting into grad school. Check out the "do the math" section http://matt.might.net/articles/how-to-apply-and-get-in-to-graduate-school-in-science-mathematics-engineering-or-computer-science/

I worked as a recruiter at a "top" tech start-up in silicon valley for a while after graduating while I was doing research at Stanford. Let me tell you: NO ONE CARES IF YOU HAVE AN IVY NAME ON YOUR RESUME. Unless you were coming straight out of undergrad, I would never even look at the school. I have met a ton of very "dumb" ivy people, and some brilliant "nowhere-state" folks. From a recruiting perspective, it is actually a hesitation for me because many of those type (not all of course) come with arrogant baggage and are miserable to talk to. Also, if you are talking to someone in the US who has never heard of UCLA, then walk out. The same goes for anyone international who has never heard of ETH. You don't want to work for them.

I applied to 13 programs. It takes a while, but the investment cost is well worth the payoff. Grad school admissions are a large part random, so the more apps the better your chances. What is a total $1000 investment for a PhD. Cheaper than anything else, I'll tell ya that.

Most neuroscience programs say they welcome applications from CS, engineering, biology, etc. backgrounds. You dont have to have a neuroscience background to be competitive. A good background in biology and a strong explanation of why neuroscience and you should be ok. I have never taken a course in neuroscience either. I have two years of technology entrepreneurship research and I spun it to be connected to my story and my passion. Its all about the narrative and potential for research. If you know the tedium of research and are still passionate, then you are a qualified applicant. Unless you publish in neuroscience, it wont make a huge difference.

Gottcha. Research is the number one factor, and looks like you have quite a bit of experience, so that could help a ton. If you have strong LOR also, then you should be in a good spot. I would, however, apply to some programs that are not considered amongst the strongest in the world, just to mix up your list and add a little more confidence to your applications. A quick google search will show you lots of programs doing what you want to be doing.

Your GRE is fine. Leave it and dont worry about that. You have chosen some very competitive schools. MIT, UCSD, and Columbia are three of the best neuro programs in the US. Given that you want to work on Comp Neuro, I would recommend trying to bring up your grades. Your grades won't give review committees much confidence in your ability to succeed in course work. If your LOR are strong for research, then thats great, but you also have to be able to pass the coursework portion of the program and nearly all schools have a requirement to have a minimum of a B average (>80%) and you have not done that in many classes. Your grades for both your MSc are not strong enough to pass the grade requirements for PhD programs. Maybe look into some less known state school in the US, or work on bringing your grades up?

Solid major GPA