ocelli

I don't know anything about economics, but I am a bit familiar with D.C. and think that Virginia Tech would probably hold more weight there. I attended undergrad at a VA state school and know that people from VA schools tend to have a good track record with getting jobs in D.C. (partially since a lot of VA public universities are so great). Good luck with your decision! I'm currently deciding as well.

I sent you a message and would be happy to speak more about my personal experience applying!

Hello everyone! 
This is my first time using this site so I hope I am going about this question correctly - I'm currently an international applicant looking to apply for a PhD in Neuroscience in the United States for Fall 2021 entry.
I know this is early but I would like advise early if possible from other applicants, since most colleges state they are unable to let me know of my competitiveness for their program.
My background:
I am currently about to graduate from a university in the UK you will not have heard of with a 4.0 GPA in Medical Science 
I've just been accepted into a 1-year MSc Translational Neuroscience at Imperial College London for Fall 2020 entry.
I know my GPA is competitive and I will not be required to sit the TOEFL as I'm British.
But I'm worried about my experience, in the UK we do not often publish as undergraduates and I have no publications.
I've worked on one independent research project for 8 months as part of my course and I'll be conducting one for my masters, however I doubt either will publish.
The rest of my experience is clinical - I have worked in the Emergency Department doing patient triaging and worked in palliative care for 4 years each. 
I'm looking to apply to John Hopkins, UPenn, Duke and UNC Chapel Hill.
If you have any recommended programmes that may be less competitive but respectable please let me know. 
Will I be a likely contender for the spaces on those programs? I know my experience is lacking and I cannot take time to get more before that's suggested. Please be honest as an application would cost time and money.
Thankyou all!

The gpa thing is not true. I got invited to a R1 school and I have a 3.25 
I did 1 postbacc/gap year and it was great. I got a chance to get more awards that boosted my applications. Try not to see gap years as failures, please. They're quite fun. GPA is not the be all end all, many neuro programs look at you as a person and not just a set of numbers, which is why many schools dropped the GRE. 
 
Also, people coming directly from undergrad are at a disadvantage since they don't have much full time (emphasis on full time) experience. Many, if not all, programs want a year MINIMUM. From the looks of it, its not the gpa that's the issue, its amount of full time research. From the perspective of the ad com, someone who has minimal full time research experience doesn't really understand the complexities of research and are less willing to invite someone in.
 
Lastly, we're barely getting into interview season! Don't give up hope!

Hey everyone!
I'm applying a bit later than everyone else to PREP/other post-bacc programs, but I've applied/am applying to: Boston University, Baylor, Case Western, University of Michigan, UC Santa Cruz, Tufts, University of Maryland, and Oregon Health & Science University (which has a neuroscience-based post-bacc program). I've been viewing this thread for a bit and figured I'd finally make an account and reply here.
Also, in reference to @neurooooo's question, I'm not sure but I believe that at least UChicago should be sending out more interview invites, considering their application isn't technically due until March 31 and they'll likely be receiving applications until then.