neuropsych76

It would make sense that you wouldn't have to since they found you due to your score. However, I can't see ETS losing money like that. These schools are probably not the best ones to go to but I was just wondering. Thank you.

Thank you for all of your replies. Yes, I was really asking how these rankings relate to getting a job later. I'm applying to some schools that I feel I would be a good research fit for and to work with a specific mentor who seems to be active in research. However, a couple of these schools have lower ranks and I didn't know if that is a adequate reason not to go there. I'm hoping to go into academia in hopes of achieving a tenure track position at some college. So basically, as long as I'm productive with my research it really doesn't matter where I go for academia?

I retook the GRE this week and had an identified writing section. I wrote about a paragraph and finished because I wanted to leave. I thought I completed bombed the quant part (the part I retook the GRE for) so I just wanted to leave ASAP. As it turned out I got a 630 (from a 520 the previous month). I felt like I guessed on the majority of questions and many of the questions were in a format or had a concept I didn't cover in my studies. Also, I thought the last few questions were incredibly easy. However, somehow I increased by 110 points and was shocked/ecstatic. So, even if you think you might be doing terribly, you might actually be doing well.

USNews, phds.org, ect... do these rankings matter much? Is there one that is better than the others? I've heard that they are pretty much useless as long as you have a good mentor and are productive with your research. Should I be concerned about applying to schools with lower rankings? Thanks for any input

it is possible but probably not a good alternative. because it's less time you are losing lots of training that other neuropsychologists will have. there are a good amount of schools that offer training in neuropsych, this should get you started http://www.div40.org...ning/index.html

From what I've heard (I was strongly considering clinical neuropsych before I decided to go into cogneuro) it that it is much better to obtain a phd in clinical psychology FIRST and then do a post doc in neuropsychology afterward. there are only a few neuropsych phds and they will probably continue to disappear. neuropsychologists are clinical psychologists first and i think it is more marketable to have a well rounded skill set.

I used Barron's 3500 list to study. Basically, it had 50 lists and I tried to study one everyday or every other day. At the end of each list was a quiz. Using this method worked well for me and I definitely learned a lot of words. I received a 580 on the verbal. I know its not great but its not bad. Most of the words on my GRE were in Barron's list.

Well I was looking at one Canadian School (university of British Columbia) and their program said that applicants should have GRE scores in the 80's or 90's percentiles to be competitive...

Yeah it's a nice idea but I would definitely check first. I can't imagine ETS missing a way for potential profit. They are probably "unofficial for graduate school scores" or something lame.

Oh I interpreted that as if you have taken a few courses in that area and majored in one area that would probably be okay. It didn't seem to binding for admissions but what do I know Well you have lots of other science courses so i dont think that will be a huge detriment for not knowing neuro. If you have lots of cognitive science research it might make up for no neuro research also. Good luck!!

Where do you see the list of disciplines where it says you need to have at least one year of? I just read that they want people with strong math and science coursework but not specifics. I'm on the fence about applying to MIT. I know its better to just give it a shot but I feel like I have such a small chance. I sent my CV and research interest to the only prof I'm super excited about working with. If this prof gives me some positive feedback i'll feel better about applying. Do you have any neuroscience research experience even if you haven't taken any neuro classes?

Well you have much more natural sciences courses than me I think except for programs that explicitly state you need certain pre-reqs you have a good amount of science courses. I've only taken one bio, calc, and neuroscience. I've taken a few psych stats courses but I feel like I have significantly less science coursework than other applicants. Despite that I've been asking around and for programs located in psych departments instead of bi departments I should be fine. However, my understanding is the more science courses, the better. I don't think you should be concerned from what I know.

I'm not sure about how graduating from an Asian institution will affect you but you have a fantastic GRE score. Most places seem to not consider you if you have a 1200 (at least what I've heard.) I think if you have great research experience (maybe working with an fMRI) on top of your other stats you have a good chance.

I have no idea about history programs but I know most psych programs tend to look at the higher score. The logic is that it is much harder to do well by chance but a lot easier to do poorly by chance.

Yeah that's a good way to look at it. Even if its one-in-a-million chance, never knowing what could have been will always bug me. I try not to pay attention to my other bills as I add up the application cost but sometimes the immediate supersedes thinking about the future. A few hundred dollars is worth a chance at a dream school and no regrets. ETS absolutely drives me up the wall. $23 for scores.... when you just dropped 160 per test, it's completely asinine.

I think I'm going to end up applying to 11 schools. A couple more than I hoped so my expenses are a bit higher... It would be stupid to apply to a school just because of the application fee right? For example, MIT is an awesome cogneuro school and I'd love to get in there. But since its so competitive I feel like I'm be wasting $75 because its so hard to get in. At the same time I would regret never knowing if I could have gotten accepted if I didn't apply. Anyone else going through similar cognitive dissonance?

Well I think I would prefer to take it now (as a person also not super strong at math) for two reasons. 1- there are tons of material on how to study for the current GRE. once it changes there will not be as much 2- you get to use a calculator on the new GRE. this means the problems will be much harder from a math perspective. now they are just tricky (still hard but you dont need to know as much math)

I think you have a pretty good shot and you'll at least be considered. Michigan and Duke are hard to get into but I think your stats are good enough to make "fit" matter. I know some top masters programs have deadlines in December so you might want to look at those as well. Good luck!!

And yet they call this a "standardized test"... It was distinguishable for me and the other two people I went with when I took it in October. Hopefully, its identified when I retake..

Yes, I don't think it would be frowned upon at all. I've done it to a few schools and they all seemed pretty receptive. Although one school pretty much told me to not apply because my scores did not equal a high enough number in the formula they use so it can be valuable/disheartening.

I found this before and it looked really nice. But I'm always worried that free online GRE tests do not have very accurate questions. I didn't look at it that much though

I have the same problem. Good research experience but one bad test score seems to undermine the whole application. From what I've heard the GRE won't kill experimental PhD applicants because the number of applicants is less. However, it still can be a screening tool for big time schools like the ives and top research programs. Good luck with your retake, hopefully adcoms will look past one test of little diagnostic utility and review what we have done

Are you applying to clinical psychology PhD programs? If not I think you won't have to worry about it so much about missed 1200. I know clinical psych is super competitive and there are a lot of schools where less than 1200 means your application doesn't get looked at. However, if your applying to developmental programs you might be okay then. My profs said my 1100 was okay considering my experience for psych experimental programs but i'd be in trouble if it was clinical psych (i'm still retaking to try to up my Q though)

Is it any faster for the schools you put down right after you complete the test?

I think this was probably what happened (though I'll never know for sure). I was not confident in my answer for question 2 or 3 which means I might have missed one or both. But again the questions throughout the test seemed harder.