Neuronista

Thank you for the advice! But what if someone knows me very well but is not so enthusiastic about writing a letter for me? This is my current supervisor. I am now working as an RA in his lab and he was also my undergrad project advisor. So he does know me very well (+ he is the department chair). However, like your friend, I had to constantly remind him to write the letter, and one was even sent 1 day after the deadline. Therefore, I found someone else to write the letters for the rest of schools I applied to. This other person was my MS program director, who does not know me very well, but was very welcoming. I don't know how good/accurate his letter was, though (he sent it directly through the application website). Now some programs asked me why hasn't my current supervisor written a letter. What should I do in such a situation? I'm applying again for Fall 2012, and I'm trying to figure out what to do about this. Any advice?

I'm sorry guys I know I'm fussing too much about the GRE these days. But that only reflects the state of anxiety I'm living. I want to retake the GRE, but I'm planning to take the revised exam, and I want to buy some book(s) to study. Based on your experiences with previous versions of the most popular books (I know many cannot give me feedback on new ones because they're, well, just new. But if you have bought a book for the revised GRE, please share your opinion!), which is the best one? In terms of comprehensiveness, number of explained examples and sample tests, and how close they are to the actual GRE. Thank you soooooo much PS: also, do you know a good study book for the biochemistry subject GRE?

Hi everyone! I'm planning to take the GRE subject test in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology. Most programs I'll be applying to say a subject GRE is strongly recommended, so I think I'll give it a try. I'm wondering if anyone knows any good books to study from. I searched Amazon with no luck. I only found books for other subject GRE tests, not biochem. Any ideas? Thanks

I've been wondering the same. But most people I've consulted told me to wait till Fall (Fall 2011, if applying for Fall 2012). They told me it's too early now and profs tend to forget, given the number of things they usually have on their minds. So I say start e-mailing them early fall so you would have time for some correspondence before application deadlines. Good luck!

Found! Thank you

CONGRATSSSSSSSSSSS!

Hi. I wanted to ask you is there a way to get a full rankings list from US News Report (a list beyond the top 10)? I need the rankings of neuroscience PhD programs and I'm only getting the top 10. Thank you

Thank you, newms! I really wish I'd have a problem of the sort next season Fingers crossed. I didn't find the rankings at that time, then I gave up! Can you please tell me how?

Thank you all for your very helpful advice I have another question about contacting POIs What if I contact several profs (different places) and I happen to get accepted into more than one program. Ultimately, I'll have to choose only one. How would I do that? I mean, how do I tell the other(s) that I'm sorry but I will not attend their program, after all the correspondence etc? Also, what if I do join their program but get more interested in someone else's work, for example during lab rotations? Thanks!

When I come to think of it now, it does seem to be an issue. I'm not sure how to make up for this other than in an LOR. Need to think about it. Research load is not a problem for me. I'm currently working on 2 projects in 2 different (but somewhat related) fields and seem to be doing well (so far). My problem is that exams used to freak me out.

You are so sensitive I think e-mailing once every few months is perfectly fine, especially if you had a strong professional relationship with your advisor, and especially that you have something real to say. Like telling him/her you passed this or that exam, or that you've started working on your dissertation, or that you'll be giving your 1st seminar, things like that. You might want to ask him/her for advice or tips in such situations. And if they really liked you as their student, they will care enough to reply and they will never get annoyed. And glad to know that other people think about these things too, because I was thinking I was overly sentimental too when I felt that I should stay in touch with my MS advisor (who I consider to be my mentor) when I leave for PhD.

What ranking range should I aim at? I'm thinking of applying to schools ranked somewhere between 11-30 in the field. Fair enough?

This is very good advice. How come we've never thought of this before (my LOR writers and I)? Looking at my grades and test scores, I'm just your average B student. Nothing special (I wasn't really a good test-taker). But most of those who've worked with me in a lab did compliment how well I do in research, especially at learning new techniques and software and academic/scientific writing. My advisor can mention this in the LOR. Yes. All programs I've looked at so far say it's only "preferred" or "recommended". But I thought if I could study hard enough for it to get good scores, maybe that will balance out my not-so-high GPA. Makes very good sense. I'll try to seek out info about the admission process then. I've never thought of it this way! But again, only one program required to mention other schools I've applied to. Is there any other way they would know? This time I'm trying to look for schools in other places too. I'm try to have a wider range of schools in terms of rankings and locations. I'm doing my best! Just finished one manuscript and started drafting the other. These are actually from my MS thesis. I have one review published in a locally published journal (which I know is not of much value, but I still mentioned it). I felt my interviews went OK. I even felt that I was likely to get into one of those programs after the interview because the interviewers seemed to be giving me some kind of approval or something. I don't know. Any interview tips? Yes, I just remembered something. How should I reply when an interviewer asks me why my grades are lower towards the end of my bachelor's degree but where excellent in the first 3 years (which is my case)? I thought I should be frank about it and just say I'm not good at taking exams because I get stressed out at times, especially with the heavier course load in the final years compared to the first years (this might have given them the impression that I don't handle stress well. But I couldn't think of anything else to say ) What would be the best way to answer such question ? Thanks

Exactly! This is what made me kind of reluctant to contact them. But here on the forum I find almost everyone talking about contacting potential advisors. So thought maybe was missing out something? But glad to know I'm not alone not to contact anyone I'm now having a hard time trying to figure out a way to break the news the everyone (parents, LOR writers, advisors, etc). I haven't told anyone about my rejections yet and I've been trying to avoid the question when being asked. I know I must tell them at some point, but how? Maybe I should just face it and state it straight!

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply! Your advice is very helpful Programs either mention nothing about the GRE subject test, or they say it's "not required but preferred" or "recommended". But they don't suggest any particular subjects. I think if I were to take a subject test, it would either be in biology or psychology (although I prefer biology more because it's more related to my background in pharmacy and pharmacology). Well, I was hoping to attend a school in Texas because I have family there. But since it didn't work out, I'm now looking for options in other states too. I like the "numerical value" idea. Will do! I didn't know Peterson's provides acceptance rates? How do I find them? I know with stats like mine it is very unlikely to get into any of the top 10 programs in the field. I know MIT is, but there are a couple of people there I'd like to work with because their research is very close to what I've done for my MS (does this make any difference?). Otherwise, I'd really like to get into a program ranking somewhere in the top 20 - 25 (or 30 max.). Thank you so much for the help and for giving me hope . Indeed, one good acceptance is all what we need!

Here is a table listing the score reporting dates for new GRE http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/register/centers_dates/

I've finally got a reply from the last place I've been waiting on. I was rejected (which was quite accepted). Now, since failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently (Henry Ford), I want to begin again, more intelligently But I need your help. I want to change my whole approach to this thing. How to start? Where to start? What steps should I take? Here is more about me: BS pharmacy (3.30). MS pharmacology (3.36). Currently Senior Research Assistant. 2 publications being prepared. GRE (ahem): 1115 (verbal was horrible ; took the test last minute and had no time to retake. Anyways.). Research interests: hippocampal synaptic plasticity, learning and memory, Alzheimer's diseases, electrophysiology. I've applied before to: UT Austin, UT Southwestern, BCM, and UNT. None accepted. (although interviewed by the last two). My new plan: 1. RETAKE THE GRE! 2. apply to more schools (5-10) 3. ??????????????? 4. ??????????????? 5. ??????????????? I don't know what to do! What do you think could be done to improve my chances next time? Questions boggling my mind: 1. Should I take a subject GRE test? ---> not available where I live; need to travel to a nearby country. 2. Should I apply to the same schools or different ones? 3. Should I contact potential advisors? ---> many schools discourage this. It says so on their websites and that's what the lady in the admission office tells me. However, I've seen people still do it. Should I? 4. Are my research interests too narrow? Should I consider schools with faculty with different interests (to increase my options)? 5. My secondary interests include substance abuse, neurobiological basis of psychiatric diseases and psychopharmacology, and epilepsy. Should I mention this? Or would I seem then out-of-focus? In other words, is it better to mention a narrow range of interests or a wider, more diverse one? 6. What is the best way to answer this question: do you want to continue researching the same area as your MS or you'd like to do something different? ---> my approach would be that although I'm more interested in so and so, but I'm also open to learning new/different things etc. 7. What schools am I likely to get in? So far, I'm interested in Brown, MIT, and Wake Forest. Do I have a chance at these? What other suggestions do you have? 8. What other things should I consider when re-applying? 9. Should I really bother and re-apply in the first place? Sometimes I think: what will make me get accepted the 2nd time when I was rejected the 1st? Sorry for the long post, but I'm kind of lost and I really appreciate your advice!