socxer

Hey all, I am looking to eventually get into a PhD program at a top teir school for Neural Engineering (brain-computer interface or neural prostheses). However, I pretty much acted like a major fuck-up during most of my undergrad career and I currently have (after 3 years) a 3.06 GPA at an Ivy with a good engineering reputation (Mech. Engineering major with certificates in robotics and bioengineering). I also have the issue of disciplinary factors - I was forced to take a year off for violating the extremely strict alcohol policy. How screwed am I because of this? I am going to write this in my SoP as the turning point that made me finally get serious. There are some redeeming factors though: outstanding GRE's - 800Q, 790V, 6.0AW I'm also going to try as hard as I can next year to get a great senior thesis under my belt and some very solid LoR's. So my question is, do I have any kind of shot at a top tier PhD program (I'm thinking JHU, Duke, etc)? Or would it be in my best interest to pursue a Masters at a decent school first, and dominate that, then apply for the top tier PhDs? I'd really appreciate any responses or advice.

Bump, I'm also curious about what neural engineering programs and what they consider important. What are the dealbreakers (whether have's or have not's)?