thindust

I believe Columbia is done with interview invites. When I emailed 2 weeks ago, UPenn said their international invitations haven't been sent yet but hopefully determined within that week. I emailed again to ask a few days ago but received no reply - I suspect it should have already been done. International interviews for UPenn will be held 13th Feb - and it seems a little late by now if we haven't heard ):

Thanks guys that's helpful to know! I totally understand the point about international applicants with stats being close to being accepted anyway - funding really just levels the playing field by removing some of the financial strain. I was curious because I know of internationals with full funding covered for the whole of their PhDs (the cost of coverage flexible depending on grad school of choice) and decent stats who still struggle to get interviews at both public and private grad schools.

To those who heard from Columbia: did you guys have a skype pre-interview to determine if you should be invited to visit (particularly for internationals)? I was supposed to have one arranged during the fortnight that had just passed but it has been challenging to schedule. I am just wondering if anyone is facing the same problem of a delayed pre-interview. I am starting to get worried because the first interview weekend is approaching and the second is in 2 weeks - without a pre-interview soon I am concerned about not being able to visit.

I have a question out of curiosity: What happens with international students who already have external funding for PhDs? Is there a quota to the enrollment of international students beyond fiscal considerations? That is, assuming the universities can afford to take these international students or that these international students already have external funding, are still universities "taxed" (I don't know what's the right term for this) for admitting too many international students - Is there a state/federal-level quota enforced?

I am an international. I havent heard from Stanford either ): but have from UCSD and they asked to RSVP for the interview by this friday

Not sure if there are any international applicants here who applied for Penn's NGG... I emailed and was told that the committee has yet to decide on the international students to invite but probably will by this week and if so, the interview would be on the 13th of February(:

I think different schools do it differently - Hopkins for one sent the wave for internationals a week or two after. Sometimes they also assume skype interviews for internationals so they do it later (the email sent is usually different).

All the best and have loads of fun!!

I just did and I really hope they reply, they haven't been very responsive!

Hey guys, I know many have received Northwestern (NUIN) interview invitations earlier on and there has recently been a wave of rejections. Does anyone know what it means to not have heard from them - and whether it is worth waiting or is it rather unlikely to get off a wait-list? I am really hoping to finalize my travel plans soon!

Just heard from UCSD a while ago, thrilled! I also heard from MIT a week ago and their questionnaire says to RSVP before 25th Jan, it is possible they will send invites up till a while before that? UCSD's and MIT's visit days partially overlap, but thankfully not the interview days!

If I am not wrong, Google Scholar is the easiest way to get a prof's H-index (: (profs have google scholar profiles) Edit: yikes i take that back not all Profs have Google Scholar profiles. But for those who do its still a quick and easy check.

I won't go into answering your questions directly because it's a crazy load out to discuss, but you might be interested in this!: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/2013/10/25/mind-meld-future-of-brain-to-brain-communication/#.VE0KaouUdWI

Yes most certainly. I have heard of cases with decisions actually reversed when schools become aware of funding. Lack of funding for internationals is a huge deterrent and if you're a compelling candidate, funding may be the only issue holding back your admission/interview. That said, often the people more interested in your funding are the potential supervisors (who will eventually have to pay for you in the lab) rather than the admissions committee - so I'd highly recommend you let both parties know (if you've already been in contact with POIs) as these potential supervisors may well advocate for you.

That also makes sense because it seems on the neurograd calendar that the recruitment days span 25th to 27th feb which is rather late so they can afford to send out interviews later as well

I hope you hear from them soon too, I'm sure it's just rolling out - there's no reason that they'd send all interviews out on a Sunday! The dates are the actual open days, which I probably will fly to the States to attend especially if I get other interviews around that time. It is possible for internationals to go without attending the actual open days, and I was told to specify dates and times within the first half of January for a skype interview with faculty.

Just heard from Columbia by email (wasn't expecting any news on Sunday)! I've been dying waiting for my first interview and thrilled that the much-awaited first is one of my top choices! The dates are Jan 22 - 24 and February 5-7 and I am still trying to decide when.

I reached out to them myself too. I really don't know if it has held back the review of our application, sincerely hope not -- but I emailed to ask if they did, hopefully they reply soon with... some assurance?

Fingers crossed, it looks like a common problem (someone on the Biology thread too). I replied thanking them for updating the file, and asked if it has been holding back the review of my application especially having seen the interview invites, will let you know when I get a reply!

On the same boat! I never understood why my application was incomplete but stupidly thought to give it some time. They updated mine (TOEFL waived) but on the portal it says my application was complete today, that looks awful -.-

Congrats to those who got Harvard interviews. Very very envious! I see some Hopkins interviews as well. Had a frustrating situation over the past few days when I found out that my application was not complete although all documents were in, I think I was silly deciding to give it some time. It only got rectified today after an email so it says that my application was complete only today. Arghhh, I don't know what to feel about that.

I've got the same issue, though I'm not on CAMB nor have I received an invite. It's really annoying because so many interviews have been sent out already and my application remains as "Materials needed". If it helps allay your concerns, I received a reply from the BGS office (along with some other problems with my application status which were resolved about a week after the deadline) that said that as long as unofficial transcripts have been uploaded, the application will be moved forward to review to the respective graduate groups.

Yesyesyesyesyes about people asking. They've been asking even before I submitted my applications though ;_;

I asked because I am an electrophys person myself! I've sadly only done fields to study hippocampal plasticity. I was very keen on learning patch, but my supervisor insisted that it is not realistic as an honors thesis if I didn't have the summer to spend learning (which I spent in another lab back home) based on her experience. True enough, a masters student in the lab for whom she relented and allowed to do patch eventually gave up after a few months and had to learn fields in a panic to get some data for his thesis, so I totally respect people like you who master patch clamping in such a short time. I am applying to 3 of your schools for the same reason! A lot of very exciting work done with techniques that I feel really goes deep down to the physiology - that excites me. I really want to do some in vivo electrophysiology, so I think we probably have overlapping labs of interest as well! Apart from that, in almost all my applications I indicated my interest in systems neuroscience, because I really interested in circuits - network processing, how they give rise to meaningful oscillations and of course, how they ultimate generate coherent behaviors - I can go on forever Not too sure how far away from home you'd be willing to go to do your PhD, but you might want to consider applying to University College London as well since their deadline is quite late. There are labs like Michael Hausser's, Angus Silver's or Troy Margrie's with work that fit your interests too. Although I believe in the UK the funding issues related to internationals applying for PhD positions is even more stark than in the States, they do have quite a few fellowships open to internationals if you're keen And London is absolutely lovely.

I think being on Gradcafe constantly makes me feel like 8 is not enough especially with schools on my list but it's too late to worry about that now! Ah well. Kingloup you've got some really great stats and personally (that's me, I can't speak for the adcoms!) feel you make a very compelling international candidate. What specific areas of neuroscience are you interested in?