Nik K

thank you so much for your response! To answer the question: I barely know the PI for the lab! I don't know how common this is among other labs, but out PI barely attend any of the weekly meetings, the main way to contact him is to Email him which he'd respond within 2 weeks, and he might show up to a lab 2-3 times a semester. he could write a recommendation for me, but the GAs know me way better than him and I think their reference letter would be much more helpful than the one I'd receive from the professor. would this look bad on the application? Also I have another question: I'm taking a seminar class on cognitive neuroscience with a pretty well known neuroscience Professor, I'd be in his lab starting next semester, should I ask him for a recommendation, or since I've known him for only a few month the letter would not be as impressive? thanks!

Hi all, I need some second opinions to help me decide on what to do after graduation. My plan was to take some post-baccalaureate fellowship or work in a lab for a year or two before applying to programs that I like, but after checking the profile of some of the students, I think although the chances are slim, there might be a possibility that I could get in this year. I'm graduating in three years so I think compared to other applicants I might not have as much research experience and I don't have any publication. about me: First generation, International student from a middle eastern country, (currently in the US) high school: top of my class in a very competitive national gifted student school(only 30 students in each class, one school in town) have some experience teaching and doing some research. undergrad: University of Oklahoma, Psychology GPA: 3.9, 4.0 Major, GRE: not gonna take but from practice tests, I'm guessing > 90th-95th. Awards and honors: President list, dean list, some merit scholarship Experience: this is what I'm not confident about, I'm graduating in three years, so I don't have as much experience compared to a 4-year student, by the end of fall 2020 I'd have: 3 semester in a cognitive psychology lab 1 semester teaching assistant 1 semester neuroscience lab NO publications. Letter of recommendation: 1) from the psychology lab GA whom I've worked with for 1.5 years, 2) from the psychology professor whom I've taken a class with and I'd TA for her this semester 3) from the professor who I have a class with and also would be in her lab for next semester, I'd like to get into one of these programs: Rockefeller( #1 choice), Columbia, UCLA, UCSF, USCD, north Carolina chapel hill, U Penn, U Michigan, CNUP, MIT what are my chances of getting to these schools? If you have any feedback or comments please let me know. any specific gap year program/ job or research opportunity that would help me increase my chance of getting in, other good programs to consider, or programs that I have a good chance of getting in this year.

Hi all, I need some second opinions to help me decide on what to do after graduation. My plan was to take some post-baccalaureate fellowship or work in a lab for a year or two before applying to programs that I like, but after checking the profile of some of the students, I think although the chances are slim, there might be a possibility that I could get in this year. I'm graduating in three years so I think compared to other applicants I might not have as much research experience and I don't have any publication. about me: First generation, International student from a middle eastern country, (currently in the US) high school: top of my class in a very competitive national gifted student school(only 30 students in each class, one school in town) have some experience teaching and doing some research. undergrad: University of Oklahoma, Psychology GPA: 3.9, 4.0 Major, GRE: not gonna take but from practice tests, I'm guessing > 90th-95th. Awards and honors: President list, dean list, some merit scholarship Experience: this is what I'm not confident about, I'm graduating in three years, so I don't have as much experience compared to a 4-year student, by the end of fall 2020 I'd have: 3 semester in a cognitive psychology lab 1 semester teaching assistant 1 semester neuroscience lab NO publications. Letter of recommendation: 1) from the psychology lab GA whom I've worked with for 1.5 years, 2) from the psychology professor whom I've taken a class with and I'd TA for her this semester 3) from the professor who I have a class with and also would be in her lab for next semester, I'd like to get into one of these programs: Rockefeller( #1 choice), Columbia, UCLA, UCSF, USCD, north Carolina chapel hill, U Penn, U Michigan, CNUP, MIT what are my chances of getting to these schools? If you have any feedback or comments please let me know. any specific gap year program/ job or research opportunity that would help me increase my chance of getting in, other good programs to consider, or programs that I have a good chance of getting in this year.