[2017 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results]

Undergrad Institution: UCSD
Major(s): Cognitive Science, Specialization in Machine Learning
Minor(s): -
GPA in Major: 3.9+
Overall GPA: 3.4+ ( Will be 3.5+ when I apply)
Position in Class: ?
Type of Student: International Asian

GRE Scores (revised/old version): Will take soon. Projected score is based on practice tests.
Q: -(Will be 168+)
V: -(Will be 155+)
W: - ...
B: -

Research Interests: Neural basis of decision making. Computational modelling of decision making

Research Experience:

1+ year in Systems neuroscience lab. Lots of rodent training on behavioral task and neuron recordings. 

6 months in Language cognition lab. Learned experimental design and running experiments on human subjects.

Research intern over the summer at Yale. Data analysis and behavioral training on rhesus monkeys.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: 

Dean's list (multiple times)

Frontiers of innovation Scholar's Program - small award with some amount of scholarship. 

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: 

Will IA for a neuro-anatomy class in upcoming fall

Multiple TA experience in institutions for high-school students in South Korea

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: 

Steep increase in GPA after 2 years of Army duty.

2.6-(ARMY)-3.9-3.7-?(most likely 3.7+)

Strong interest in philosophy.

Special Bonus Points: 

Very strong recommendation letters from my PIs and humanity/philosophy professor

Veteran of ROK army (received highest honors in squad leader training from Regiment commander)

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: 

Low overall GPA - Although I am confident that I will be 3.6+ by the time I graduate, it is still quite low.

4 Ws. - 2 are from my freshmen year(1 music and 1 aerospace class), and 2 are from my junior year.(1 math and 1 major class)

Planning on retaking those classes that I withdrew in junior year.

Applying to Where:

I have not made a full list, but here is a list of schools where I will most likely apply;

(All neuro/cognitive science programs)

Yale(BBS)

Harvard

NYU

Mount Sinai

Duke

University of Washington

University of Chicago

UC Irvine

UT Austin

UIUC

University of Minnesota

Boston University

 

Question: Am I aiming too high?