synapticcat

hey! I know your post here was over a month ago, but I was reading your post and I was curious if you ended up applying to more programs. I see that you're interested in pathobiology, and specifically cancer path-related things. If you're interested in applying to more programs, I was wondering if you've considered Case Western? I promise I'm not like, a shill for the BSTP program haha but I do have an interview there and I'm really excited about it! I won't claim to know the intricacies of cancer path research, but they're one of my top choices as a neuropath focused person. They have a cancer biology training program in their pathology department that looks pretty neat (doing my research and picking faculty for my interview pool rn and stumbled across that section of their website). I really mainly mention this because for me personally, I'd be nervous applying to 3 programs, and Case's BSTP takes applications on a rolling basis until January 15th, so if you happened to be looking for another to add to your list I thought it might be a good fit (and I hate to vouch for Ohio as a Michigan native, but Cleveland isn't a horrible place to live and the COL is relatively low) As far as the GRE goes, I'm applying with a rather uneven score - 160 V/153 Q/4.5 AWA and I'm not stoked about it. I had to take the test in the middle of my semester and really did not prepare adequately. I almost retook it but my PI advised me to stick it out (he told me he scored in the 50th %ile on verbal and was almost offended "I was like, hey! I know how words work!"), and I've been doing alright thus far! While my scores aren't the best, I don't think they have held me back, and I'm over the moon about the invites I have. Anyways, just thought I'd drop in since I came across your post. Hopefully this makes you feel a bit better, and best of luck in your apps!

I heard in the other thread that UNC is extending all interview invites by the end of the week for BBSP. I'm guessing I should be preparing myself to receive a mass reject email sometime tomorrow? It seems likely at this point I wouldn't be totally heartbroken, but it would be a bummer.

So you were the one person I saw on the results survey who submitted super early! Congrats on having your shit together so early in the game haha. I heard back on Monday, it was sitting in my inbox when I went to check my UMich PIBS invite (which I knew was coming already), so it was a pleasant surprise. I would love to hear how your interview weekend goes! When I get back to school I'm going to ask my prof if she has any insight and I'll let you know what she tells me. I'm in Ohio already so I'm not coming from too far away, but yeah it looks like two full days where I assume we'll have ~5 faculty appointments that they arrange from the faculty list we provided. Which program was your indicated interest in the app? If you applied neuro I might be able to get some specific info, because my prof was in the neuro department during her time there. Also, have you heard anything from Northwestern DGP? I'm dyin' to hear back haha.

not sure about UCSD or UMass but someone in here posted that they called UNC and they said that everyone will hear, good or bad, by the end of the week (for BBSP)

I was going to ask you the same thing! They only offered me one interview date, which was 2/2-2/3, so I'll be going then. Not sure if the dates mean anything, but I submitted on December 1st for their "priority review". Unfortunately I don't know anything about the interviews I haven't been able to find much information online. I really like the program and it might be the best research fit for me (a lot of cool neuropath labs), so I'm really looking forward to the interview but I'm also really nervous! Have you been able to find any stats or threads online from previous interviewees? I haven't had any luck. A neuroimmunology prof in my department did her postdoc there, so I might try to see if she knows anything about their admissions process.

I'm not interviewing at Penn (didn't apply), but if they're interviewing 48 students and plan to enroll ~25, I assume they would also have to factor in students who they will offer spots to that will decline and enroll at another program - as in, they'll offer more spots than the number that will actually enroll. If that's the case, I feel like your chances should be pretty good? Best of luck!

This is very helpful, thanks! I have a friend who's a first-year at UNC through BBSP, I might reach out and see if she happens to have any insight into the process. Not sure which track/program everyone applied for, but I applied for neuro and I believe she did too when she applied.

Gah, I can totally see how that would be overwhelming. I figured that's what I would be up for. I'm pretty shocked I was even invited for an interview so I am going to do my best to be prepared going in. I'm really nervous about my interviewing abilities but have the whole month of January to prepare, and I think some profs in my department might be able to help me out with mock interviews etc. Not sure how much you could help me on this point, but I was wondering - if I know a few current students who went through PIBS (people who graduated from my undergrad institution), would it be somehow frowned upon to contact them for advice? I would love to get their perspective but am not sure if this could be an issue, if they end up hosting or interacting with me during interview weekend. Thanks for your insight! Hopefully I can calm down between now and the end of January to kill the interview and not get too overwhelmed in the process.

I got excited that someone on here might be interviewing at UMich the same weekend as me...but I'm going January 25-27th (possibly because I applied through PIBS?) Congrats though! I am so embarrassed because UMich NGP called me to invite me to interview and I was so shocked that I said "wow....congratulations!" to them. It was like telling a restaurant employee "you too!" after getting your meal. They laughed but now I'm sincerely hoping they either bring it up during my interview or that it never sees the light of day ever again for as long as I live. Did you by chance apply to Northwestern DGP? or did you opt for NUIN?

Ah okay, good to know! Honestly unless I get a rejection email I'm holding out hope till January. I'm very pleased with the my interviews so far, but Northwestern is my other top program (UMich PIBS and Case BSTP being my top 2/3) so I would be over the moon if I heard back. Oh well, ya can't get everything when you want it. I've seen people getting interviews as late as mid-Jan so don't be too worried just yet!

Seeing some people hear back from Northwestern DGP, but also see that they sent interviews into January in previous years, with a lot coming right before christmas. Surely this means there's still hope? Maybe? Also wondering about UNC - BBSP, since a lot of people seem to have gotten interviews there. Wondering if they submitted for the priority deadline? I didn't submit until 12/5. Curious also about University of Washington GPN, seen an interview here or there.

Oooh, a Neuro thread! Hopefully I can still post here if I applied to some biomedical programs (with a neuro interest) and some neuro-specific programs Does anyone happen to know if UWashington or Northwestern have sent out all their interview invites? I've seen a couple on the survey results page. Good luck to everyone! Also for reference: Email invite for Skype interview from UVM NGP on 12/12 for the week of 1/22 Call from UMich NGP on 12/15 (applied through PIBS), interview invite via email 12/18 for 1/25-1/27 or 2/1-2/3 Email from Case Western BSTP for interview invite 2/2-2/3 Have not heard back from any other programs yet. Completed everywhere 12/1 except for UNC BBSP, where I was completed 12/5

I'm wondering the same thing at the moment. My school has a January term, where I'll just be training new students in lab and working on my own projects, and I currently have 3 interviews scheduled back to back at the end of January, one of which is pushing into the beginning of my Spring semester. I'm planning to attend any interviews I can get my hands on because I'm so nervous about getting in somewhere, but have interviews at 2 of my top choices as of yesterday, so I'm feeling pretty excited about that (also looking for advice from anyone who's interviewed at Case or UMich). Almost all of my courses are in my department (neuro) this semester, and it's a pretty tight knit group where most of my profs know about my applying to grad school. They're more than happy to help me keep on track with coursework if I have to miss class due to interviews, which is awesome. I'm finishing up my senior year with a capstone seminar in neuroimmunology and have a neuropharm course + lab, but that's really it outside of my lab work.

Hi all. This site was recommended to me by the folks over at /r/gradadmissions on reddit. I've never posted here before so let me know if there is a more appropriate forum to direct my questions to! I'm a rising senior studying neuroscience who will graduate this coming spring and am looking to apply to PhD programs for Fall 2018. I am primarily interested in translational neuroscience. Despite all the help from my advisors, mentors, and a very enthusiastic PI I am quite nervous and could use some help gauging how applications work, if I should consider not applying this cycle, and if the schools I'm applying to are realistic (or complete reaches), etc. I want to give you guys as much info as possible, so this might get a little long. I am really thankful to anyone who reads all the way through! School: top-25 liberal arts school with a well-regarded program in Neuroscience Major & Minors: Neuroscience major, Chemistry & Philosophy double minor Cumulative GPA: 3.73 cumulative Major GPA: 3.81 Background: White female, parents hold college degrees or higher in non-science related fields GRE: Taking in a few weeks! I expect to have to adjust my list based on how my scores come out. Based on my practice tests I feel good on verbal reasoning, but am really reaching to hit a good quantitative score. Holding off on taking until I'm more sure of my GRE-math skills. Research Experience: 1 1/2 years at home institution, 2 summers of research programs Spent my junior summer at a state university through a program funded by their molecular medicine department working in an MS lab that was developing & characterizing a novel transgenic mouse line. Got a LoR from the PI there that helped me land an NIH-funded translational neuroscience REU program this summer, which I am currently wrapping up. I've been working in an epilepsy lab that primarily uses optogenetics and e-phys to study learning and memory (in rats). At my home institution, I have been in a neurodevelopmental lab for ~6 months, and will have 1 1/2 years of experience there by the time I graduate. We use zebrafish to study the neurodevelopmental effects of environmental toxins associated with autism. I will have no publications, but will have a couple poster & oral presentations under my belt, and my home lab is presenting at a regional conference this fall. I'm familiar with common cellular/molecular, e-phys, and behavioral techniques, animal models (rats, mice, zebrafish) - including husbandry/colony management, etc. Awards/Honors: I was inducted into my school's chapter of Nu Rho Psi (nat'l honors society in neuroscience) this past May. We do not have a dean's list or anything similar. Relevant Jobs & Activities I was elected marketing chair for our majors' committee, which means I produce advertisements for all of our activities in coordination with our faculty, sell merchandise, and handle all things communications related for our group - this position will continue into the fall semester. I will be taking over as Chapter President for Nu Rho Psi this coming fall, where I'll work with the major's committee and faculty to bring speakers to campus, organize community outreach activities, social events in the department, etc. Media Associate in my school's IT department. I have a background in graphic design and like to bridge the gap between art and science. I help labs with technical support in everything from ImageJ to "how to make my poster not look shitty". This is nice because it's landed me in the acknowledgements of posters from some diverse departments - and I really like helping people! Neuroscience tutor - I get paid to tutor people in our introductory neuroscience course Chemistry grader - I get paid to grade problem sets for the prof I took genchem with Letters of Rec: One of the pro's of going to a small school is knowing all the professors in your department. I have a very enthusiastic PI who is 100% on board to write me letters (and who has offered to help me refine my school list, edit my statements, etc), a PI from the summer program I'm currently at who I have great rapport with and who I will be asking to write a letter for me soon, and a couple of advisors at school who I can ask for letters who have written for me in the past. Programs I'm interested in: Schools where I like the location and have identified PIs with research I am interested in. I have lived in the midwest my whole life and am not particularly interested in staying here unless it's for a fabulous program in a town I like University of Michigan NGP (my home state and my parents' alma mater. love AA, many friends in the area, fantastic medical system and translational research, close to home, PI went here and may be helpful if I decide to apply) University of Vermont NGP (my program this summer is here. I love the town, the people, research atmosphere, and have gotten favorable reviews from the program director) University of Washington UC San Francisco Northwestern University NUIN (love the program, am originally from the chicago area, have friends and family around, etc) UC San Diego (probably another top choice of mine) UC Davis Case Western (toured Case and Cleveland Clinic and loved it but......cleveland) Dartmouth College Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine (PEMM) Scripps Research Institute (possibly my top choice? I would kill to work in so many of the labs here) University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign I am planning to apply to 10-12 schools because I am nervous, so that is not an exhaustive list (and I am still figuring it out). I am essentially wondering (a) if I am choosing schools too far out of my reach, (b) if I should consider taking time and working as an RA to strengthen my application (or if I'll be okay as-is), and (c) if you have any programs that come to mind that you think I might be interested in looking into? I am especially interested in finding more "mid-tier" programs - but grad admissions are so individualized that it's so hard to gauge! Thanks to anyone who took the time to read this! I really do appreciate it.