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BabyScientist

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  1. Upvote
    BabyScientist got a reaction from dialga in 2022 Neuroscience PhD Applicants and Admissions Results   
    I didn't really study for any of my interviews after my first one. For my first interview I read at least 1 paper for each professor I was meeting with and took all these notes and wrote down questions, etc, and none of it came up in an entire day of interviews. I came up with completely different questions on the spot, and they told me about their research themselves. Didn't study at all after that. I recommend just knowing generally what they study (ie memory in drosophila or mouse models of Parkinsons). During the interview, they'll tell you about their work, and as they talk you will ask questions that come to mind or make connections between their work and yours, but the more important questions you ask wont be about science, they'll be about the grad program, their lab dynamics, their mentorship style, etc. 
  2. Like
    BabyScientist got a reaction from sccoria in 2022 Neuroscience PhD Applicants and Admissions Results   
    I would say there are no safeties for grad school. Yes, UW is very competitive, but so are all the other schools. And UCSD is also more competitive than you'd think. It's not about the school it's the specific department. I'd swap UCSD and Princeton on your lists if anything. That being said, assuming you have decent letters of rec and write a good SOP, you stand a good chance at any of the schools you listed (if you're international though, your odds go down a lot) 
  3. Like
    BabyScientist got a reaction from sccoria in 2021 Neuroscience PhD Applicants and Admissions Results   
    The trick is to have an appropriate range of schools. I applied to 10 and it ended up being too many. Unless you have the money to spend, don't bother. Just make sure every school you apply to has at least 3 faculty you'd be excited to work with. 
  4. Like
    BabyScientist got a reaction from YourNeighborBob in 2022 Neuroscience PhD Applicants and Admissions Results   
    I would say there are no safeties for grad school. Yes, UW is very competitive, but so are all the other schools. And UCSD is also more competitive than you'd think. It's not about the school it's the specific department. I'd swap UCSD and Princeton on your lists if anything. That being said, assuming you have decent letters of rec and write a good SOP, you stand a good chance at any of the schools you listed (if you're international though, your odds go down a lot) 
  5. Like
    BabyScientist got a reaction from GibonFrog in What tier of schools am I competitive for? (Cognitive Neuroscience PhD)   
    I had a worse GPA but more publications, and I think the Duke, BU, WashU tier is about right (I got into BU, didn't apply to the others). It'll definitely depend on your statement of purpose and letters of rec, but you can include the paper that isn't published yet on your CV and say "manuscript in preparation" and it counts. 
  6. Like
    BabyScientist reacted to hellagregg in 2021 Neuroscience PhD Applicants and Admissions Results   
    Does this offer still stand? I made an account just for the flowers...
     
     

  7. Like
    BabyScientist got a reaction from rainestorm in 2020 Neuroscience PhD Applicants and Admission Results   
    I interviewed 3 years ago XD
  8. Like
    BabyScientist got a reaction from Neuro-tic in 2021 Neuroscience PhD Applicants and Admissions Results   
    Potential advisors is key. Of course you can't know who you'll end up with, but which program has the most faculty you want to work with? Which program gave you the best vibes? I'd recommend emailing faculty you're most interested in at each program you're considering and asking for a meeting/call, and talk to them about your deciding process. 
  9. Like
    BabyScientist got a reaction from astrocytic in 2021 Neuroscience PhD Applicants and Admissions Results   
    Potential advisors is key. Of course you can't know who you'll end up with, but which program has the most faculty you want to work with? Which program gave you the best vibes? I'd recommend emailing faculty you're most interested in at each program you're considering and asking for a meeting/call, and talk to them about your deciding process. 
  10. Upvote
    BabyScientist got a reaction from lowestprime in 2021 Neuroscience PhD Applicants and Admissions Results   
    This is exactly the answer I'd give (current student). Focus on the lab, not the institution. It will matter wayyyy more who you worked with/what you accomplished than where you did it. Choose faculty who will be good mentors and who have the resources for you to do good science. Doesn't matter which institution they're at, matters what you can do in the lab. 
  11. Upvote
    BabyScientist reacted to canigetuhhhhhhhanswerpls in 2021 Neuroscience PhD Applicants and Admissions Results   
    I'm not a current grad student, but literally everyone (faculty, postdocs, students) has told me that the number one priority should be choosing a school that has at least a few labs you're really interested in. Prestige will not get you a postdoc, your performance in grad school will. My current PI went to a grad school that is ranked lower than #200 but did her post doc at a top ranked ivy. 
    So, it's important that the work you'll be doing is inspiring to you. Grad school is very long. Where do you see yourself happy and successful? 
    The one aspect that prestige may affect is funding, but many schools have ample funding despite being "lower ranked." I wouldn't let USNews decide for you.
  12. Upvote
    BabyScientist got a reaction from corticostriatal in 2020 Neuroscience PhD Applicants and Admission Results   
    I'm still waiting for Harvard to reject me. 
    I'm a second year PhD student. 
  13. Upvote
    BabyScientist got a reaction from minimini in 2021 Neuroscience PhD Applicants and Admissions Results   
    I think your list looks good and your GPA is fine. I had a 3.4 without a masters. I think at this point your biggest focus should be on writing a good SOP. The worst part of your application is that you're an international student. I think you should add a few more schools (I hear the pandemic is decreasing admissions slots), and maybe add a few more private schools. I'm not sure if this is true, but I'm under the impression private schools have more ability to fund international students. 
  14. Upvote
    BabyScientist got a reaction from minimini in 2021 Neuroscience PhD Applicants and Admissions Results   
    You have a chance. There's always a chance. You'd just have a wayyy better chance with a year or 2 of full time experience under your belt... If you have the means to apply, then apply to your favorites now, just know you may get rejected. If you'd rather have a better shot, get more experience first. Full time research experience is incredibly important, not just for getting in, but for succeeding once you're in. I took 2 years off and I know how to do most techniques and keep projects organized and all the logistical things that go into research that my labmates who didn't take time off struggle with regularly. 
  15. Upvote
    BabyScientist got a reaction from lowestprime in 2021 Neuroscience PhD Applicants and Admissions Results   
    You have a chance. There's always a chance. You'd just have a wayyy better chance with a year or 2 of full time experience under your belt... If you have the means to apply, then apply to your favorites now, just know you may get rejected. If you'd rather have a better shot, get more experience first. Full time research experience is incredibly important, not just for getting in, but for succeeding once you're in. I took 2 years off and I know how to do most techniques and keep projects organized and all the logistical things that go into research that my labmates who didn't take time off struggle with regularly. 
  16. Upvote
    BabyScientist got a reaction from lowestprime in 2021 Neuroscience PhD Applicants and Admissions Results   
    The trick is to have an appropriate range of schools. I applied to 10 and it ended up being too many. Unless you have the money to spend, don't bother. Just make sure every school you apply to has at least 3 faculty you'd be excited to work with. 
  17. Upvote
    BabyScientist got a reaction from willilandsomewhere in 2021 Neuroscience PhD Applicants and Admissions Results   
    What can you do to get into the 1 school you're applying to where multiple faculty have told the admissions committee they support you? 
    Don't be an ass at the interview. 
    Seriously. That's it. 
  18. Upvote
    BabyScientist got a reaction from SocDevMum in 2021 Neuroscience PhD Applicants and Admissions Results   
    What can you do to get into the 1 school you're applying to where multiple faculty have told the admissions committee they support you? 
    Don't be an ass at the interview. 
    Seriously. That's it. 
  19. Upvote
    BabyScientist got a reaction from dopamine_machine in 2021 Neuroscience PhD Applicants and Admissions Results   
    From my understanding it's realllly small. They accept like 1-3 students a year.
  20. Like
    BabyScientist got a reaction from shadiae in Small School vs prestige   
    I know people who attended a tiny PhD program at a hospital in LA and got great post docs. Small programs can still have great faculty. What matters is how productive you are and how much you accomplish, not where you want. 
    Congrats on getting in! 
  21. Upvote
    BabyScientist got a reaction from dopamine_machine in Updating my CV   
    I'd put it on there. Definitely won't hurt. Like dippedincoffee said, some people won't care, but some might like it. People have can have very different paths that lead them to a PhD, yours just included medically-relevant volunteer work. If you can tie those experiences in to why you want a PhD, even better. If not, no harm. We're allowed to explore careers before choosing one. 
  22. Like
    BabyScientist got a reaction from bctnln1059 in How would grad schools view Pass/Fail this (COVID) semester?   
    I don't think anyone's going to consider anything a red flag in this crazy time. If anything, you might just have to explain it if they ask. 
  23. Upvote
    BabyScientist got a reaction from dopamine_machine in Ask questions about the PhD application process!   
    Unhelpful to ask for an informal chat before interviews.
    I found it completely unnecessary to read papers for my interviews in advance. I started off doing them, but the papers never came up. You should have an idea of what they do, but focus on knowing how to talk about your own research. Also know why you want a PhD and why that program is a good fit for you. They are unlikely to test your knowledge of their science, and more likely to test your knowledge of your own science.
    You also won't be expected to come in ready to do their research. You're expected to show interest and intellectual ability, they'd teach you whatever technical skills necessary to perform research in their lab. It's school, after all.
    I don't think any of my interviewers asked me about my strengths and weaknesses...
    Your goal in the interview is to show them you're passionate and dedicated and KNOW you want to be there.
  24. Like
    BabyScientist got a reaction from dopamine_machine in 2021 Neuroscience PhD Applicants and Admissions Results   
    Unless you want to apply to any schools that require the GRE, don't bother. Your application is fine without it 
  25. Upvote
    BabyScientist got a reaction from mitochondria_1 in Mount Sinai vs University of Virginia vs New York University vs Johns Hopkins vs Albert Einstein College of Medicine   
    I'd prioritize faculty. If you liked all the schools and can't decide, prioritize faculty interests, narrowing it down to the 3: NYU, Mt Sinai, UVA.
    Then consider the faculty. Are there specific ones you're excited about? Have you met/spoken to them? Do you know for sure they're open to taking students next year? Do their trainees have good relationships with them? Reach out to them to ask these questions. Doing that helped me decide between the 2 schools I was torn between. 
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