glasscandie

What would you suggest be the balance between reach vs. safety vs. maybe schools? I have 11 schools on my list (I imagine that will decrease, as I begin contacting researchers), 5 of which I've identified as reaches; 2 maybe's; and 4 safeties. I'm additionally applying to 1 masters program which I'm positive I can get into as a backup plan. Do those sound like normal numbers? I'm afraid I have too many reaches (they are: (1) U Maryland College Park, (2) U North Carolina Chapel Hill, (3) Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL), (4) Tufts, and (5) Boston U).

Thanks, I have it saved already as a PDF, I have the newer version of Word and there's a feature where you can save it as that. Really convenient, I must say. I'll have to check out google docs - I've never actually used that lol

I'd like to post my CV to get constructive criticism on it's lay-out, but I can't figure out a way to post it here. Is that possible? I think the layout is too confusing.

Where can I find a rankings list for neuroscience/animal behavior programs? I found one online but you had to pay to see anything further than the top 5...

So I went back to all the program's Web sites, and cut it down to 12, possibly 13 lol I know I'm going to have to knock at least 2 off of there, and hopefully 3. I think my plan of action now is to start conversing with potential mentors, and see where it goes from there. Maybe people aren't taking applications for 2010, and that would cross it off the list, KWIM? I took Johns Hopkins off, b/c I'm not really sure I'd be able to get in there, and I'm already applying to some competitive programs (UMD, NC, Georgetown, WUSTL, BU and Emory). If a spot on my list falls through b/c of not matching interests or a faculty member not taking applicants, I might put it back on. StudentfromLA - I'm really excited about Wisconsin-Madison. I've been talking via e-mail with a researcher there, who's doing exactly what I want to do and who seems interested in my experience. That's absolutely at the top of my list, with the U of MD NACS program being second. These aren't listed in any particular order, except for W-M. 1. University of Wisconsin-Madison - Primatology 2. University of Maryland-College Park, NACS Program 3. American University

Thanks for taking the time to look this over, I know it was a long post. I was thinking yesterday after I posted it, too, that it's a lot of references to ask for. I'm having trouble cutting down the list, because all the schools have such great programs. New York and Georgia are the two cities I'd consider cutting, because (1) I don't want to go to Georgia, really, but Emory has a great program; and (2) NYC is really expensive to live in, and I will be supporting a daughter by myself (well, ex will be giving me money and all that, but it's still tough). I lived in NJ for most of my life, and I know how high the COL is around there. BUT, NYC has a great evolutionary primatology program. In fact, the only two schools that have primatology programs (which is my main interest, moreso that rats) is NYC and Wisconsin. I know for sure I don't want to cut Maryland or Boston. I don't know if I should cut Hopkins or not - it's hard to get into, but I've been researching at the lab there, so that might be a favorable component to my application.

I'm trying to put together a finalized list of schools to apply to, and I was hoping someone could take a look at the schools and give me an opinion on whether I've applied to a broad enough range. I always hear stories about people who only apply to top-tier schools and then don't get in, and I don't want to be one of those people! I know this is a long post, so I truly appreciate anyone willing to give insight. I honestly think my list of schools is too long, but I don't know where to cut it down. If I felt I didn't have a chance at one of the programs, I wouldn't apply - which is why I'm asking for some help! I'm debating about applying to two masters programs in clinical psych (thesis track) as a backup plan - I do have experience in the field, and my junior thesis was involving schizophrenia. I don't know how that would look (doing clinical) b/c it would be my intention to apply to Ph.D programs when I graduated. My other option if I don't get in is to work in the field - I know I could secure a job at JHU doing what I'm doing now. I say clinical psych. for masters b/c I'm going to stay in Maryland if I don't get into a PhD program, and that's all that's offered around here, outside of the schools I'm applying for my PhD in. I'm applying to animal behavior programs. I'm interested in neuro/cognitive ethology and pharmacology (animal models). My stats for comparison: Haven't taken GRE, but expect to do average to above average (doesn't everyone? lol) Overall GPA 3.72, major/minor GPA 3.9 2 research assistant positions at Johns Hopkins, one with baboon models of drug abuse and one which will start in January examining cognition in rats 1 research assistant/clinical internship at a local psychiatric rehab. facility - did research for them and got clinical experience 1 publication in an undergraduate journal, expected publications from my JHU internships editor of my school's psychology newsletter, also initiated the production of the newsletter making it the first one in 10 years at my school senior year thesis to happen in 2009, and working on my junior year thesis teaching experience Schools: 1. University of Wisconsin-Madison - Primatology (have been conversing with a potential mentor) 2. University of Maryland-College Park, NACS Program (have been invited to do a summer internship at the NACS program) 3. Colorado State University-Fort Collins, Zoology Program 4. Washington University in St. Louis, Biology 5. CUNY-Queens College, NYCEP Program Primatology 6. Columbia, NYCEP Program Primatology 7. American University

Do brain/behavior programs generally do interviews?

I was talking to a post-doc fellow at my Hopkins internship, and she told me that most of her schools paid for the costs of traveling to interviews. Is that mostly true? I hadn't heard that before.

I did start working on my SOP, thanks for that tip. I'm finding that it's really difficult for me to write, especially trying to keep it within 2 pages. I don't know how I'm going to describe all my research experience in it, plus my future goals, plus why I want to go to XYZ school.

I'm applying for the fall 2010, but I'd really like to have my applications done by September/October 2009 so I'm not rushing around at the last minute. I already have my list of schools finalized (sort of), and I've been in contact with professors I want to work with for a few months now. So, when did your apps come out? And when did you start working on it?

Oh awesome, I didn't see that before, thanks!

I was published this year in the Undergraduate Journal of Psychology, out of UNC Chapel Hill, but I think b/c it was an undergraduate journal the way of going about it was different - I just sent an e-mail with my abstract, contact info, and an attachment of the essay. I still had to undergo the peer review process - that was a giant pain, btw. Good luck to you! I'm hopefully looking at a co-author on at least 1 paper from one of my research internships, so whenever that happens for a "real" journal, I might be better help lol

Thanks! That's exactly the type of information I'm looking for. I was having the same issue with COL in Maryland and DC, where I'm also applying, as well as the NY/NJ area - apartments (I'll need a 2 bedroom) are going to be well over $1,000/month, which I'm not sure I can afford on a stipend. Ex-husband will be paying child support, my truck, and for daycare, which will be a huge relief, but I'm still not sure I'd be able to swing it. Maybe I'll look and see if WashU has student family housing...the U of Wisconsin does, and it's marginally cheaper than living out in the "real world" lol

I was looking into their program, and it sounds really great - I'm not so sure that I want to move 3,000 miles away from my family (I used to live in Monterey, CA and it was a pain); and I'm also nervous about the cost of living, considering I will probably be a single parent when I make my way to grad. school (have a daughter, in the middle of a separation). What do you think the COL is like around there?

I saw some other posts about having others evaluate their profiles, so I thought I'd try to seek some advice on anything else I should be doing now to make myself a stronger candidate for my applications. I'm looking at a fall 2010 entry. I will be applying to animal behavior programs, and just so you can get an idea, the top places I'm looking at are: U Wisconsin-Madison, American University, the New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology (which is CUNY, NYU, and Columbia - I'd apply to all three), Boston U, and Colorado State Fort Collins...among many others. But those are at the top of my list. I have a 3.7 GPA, but if you calculate only my major it would be a 3.9. I haven't taken the GREs, but you could assume I'd do about average. I'm currently doing two research internships. One is at Johns Hopkins, where I'm working with primates as well as doing my senior thesis; and the other is at a psychiatric rehabilitation center, where I'm doing also independent research, teaching reintegration classes to the clients, and coordinating their evidence-based practice therapy programs. I am also applying for summer internships, and got a "maybe" from the NACS program at U of Maryland (I have to re-contact in March). I have one publication, a literary review in the Undergraduate Journal of Psychology; and I'm also editor of my school's psychology newsletter. What else should I be doing?

I'm really glad to read about other women with children pursuing Ph.D's. I have a 3 year old, who will be 4 going on 5 if and when I get accepted into a program, and there's a good chance that I will be single at the time (my now husband and I are going through a trial separation). I've been doing my homework, and it seems possible to me! Maybe hard, but I've never been afraid of a little work. Luckily my family and husband have been supportive of my decision to pursue higher education - which will be great if I end up at a school near them, but probably a little tougher if I end up going somewhere that's not. For the field I'm interested in (primate behavior), the schools are scattered all over the country. Good luck to you!

Hello all! I'm new to the board. I'll be applying to animal behavior/cognition/neuroscience programs for a fall 2010 entry, so I'm a bit early - but I don't want to be stressed, and want to get my apps done by Sept/Oct '09. My name's Courtney, and I'm interning at Johns Hopkins; and a local psychiatric rehabilitation center doing research and leading some reintegration classes. I have a giant list of schools I need to cut down, but the top few I'm looking at are below - I'd love to hear any comments on the programs. Anyone know how I can find how they're ranked? I've looked at the US News Report rankings, but I think that might be basing it on the clinical programs - am I wrong? - U of Wisconsin-Madison, at the Harlow Primate Lab.: I started talking to a faculty member there that I'm interested in working with, and the research there sounds awesome. I know nothing about the area though. - American University: Also have been talking with a faculty member there, and visited the lab. It's not working with primates, though, which is my main interest. - The New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology: It's a collaboration between CUNY, NYU, and Columbia. - University of Maryland, College Park, NACS program: I think I might have secured a summer internship there, and the program is awesome - but I think it's really competitive. - Johns Hopkins - Georgetown - Boston U - Northeastern - U Mass Boston - University of Colorado, Boulder - Colorado State, Fort Collins - Cornell - University of Pennsy, Philadelphia - Tufts University - University of Virginia, Charlottesville - University of Maine, Orono: Good evolution program