Neuronista

I think that is absolutely fine. I e-mailed the programs I've been rejected from as well and got very fast and positive responses. One program told me to focus on my statement of purpose to explain exactly what research interests are and what I'd like to do in the future. I don't think it's a bad idea to ask. If anything, it won't hurt.

You people gave me back my confidence! I am actually considering contacting the programs to ask them how can I improve my application for next year. Thank you. I was wondering whether I could send such follow-up e-mails to the programs to inform them of any updates (paper published or new lab appointment). So that seems fine then One of my LOR writers (my MS advisor and mentor), offered to sit with me if I get rejected from the last school I'm waiting on (he still has hope!) and we go over my entire application package again (including my SOP and CV) to see what we can do to improve it. Let's just hope for the best!

Thank you for your concern Well, my GRE scores weren't anything stellar either (600s), so that might be a factor too. I'm thinking I should retake it for next time. I thought my interviews went well. In fact, one of my interviewers gave me so much hope that I'll get in that I was really surprised when I was rejected over a one and half months later. He was like you made it up to a very narrow list of finalist applicants and we're planning to take in more grad students this year etc etc. My LOR writers are my MS advisors and my undergrad advisor (who happens to be my current boss to; I'm currently an RA in his lab). It just seems 2011 is not my year. What would you suggest?

Thank you so much! You gave me a lot of hope I have an undergrad GPA of 3.30 and an MS with a GPA of 3.36 (both of which I consider to be on the low side) and wasn't able to get in anywhere this season. I thought maybe because of this. I do have research experience and good LORs. But I still think my app needs to be spiced up a little bit more for next time. I have a question: I'm currently working on two papers. I don't know if any of them will be published by the time I apply in December, but I'm hoping that at least one of them will be. How do I indicate this in my application? Last time, I mentioned in the SOP that I'm preparing manuscripts for publication. Is that good enough? Or the adcoms won't take it unless it's published already? Should I mention this somewhere else in my app?

Oh so I'm not alone? I thought I was the only one on the planet still waiting for their final school's decision. I sent them about a week ago. The reply: we are still "deliberating." OK then. Take your time, dear committee. I've already swallowed the idea that I'm not going anywhere this fall. It would certainly be a surprise if you accept me, but you'll be somewhat messing up with the plans I'm setting right now for the coming year. Anyway, it's up to you. No pressure. GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE STILL WAITING!

I had 2 phone interviews. One interview was more like a friendly conversation: - Why did you choose this field. - Tell me about your research experience. - What are your strengths and weaknesses. - What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time? - What is the last book you read? What is your favorite book? (because I answered the previous question saying I like to read) - What is the most important thing you look for in a schools you apply to? Another interview was more research-oriented: - What was your research about? (and lots of detailed questions about my MS project) - What techniques you already know and what are others that you would like to learn? - Would you like to do something closely related to your MS project for your PhD or you do prefer to take on something different? - Do you have any teaching experience? - What do you plan to do after you get your PhD? - What attracted you to our program? - Did you apply to other schools? Did you get any offers from other places yet? These are the questions I could remember for now. If I remember any more, I'll post them right away. Just relax and be yourself Good luck!

Hmmmmmmm. How is your name indicated in your passport (or transcripts or other official documents)? There must be some other name along with your given (first) name, am I right? You can use this same name to register for the GRE. Some people where I live don't have last names either. They use their father's (or grandfather's) name as their last name. I don't know if it's common to do so in India.

Thanks MoJingly! You're awesome and very talented. I was just feeling down and and I was surfing the web aimlessly until I thought I'll visit the forum and saw your post. It really helped me cheer up. Thank you so much!

Both are excellent programs and have good reputation. What is your definition of "good" weather? Texas (where Baylor is) is warm and it rarely snows in the winter, unlike Massachusetts. For me, I would prefer the later because I would like a colder weather. I live in a hot country and I would like to live some real, cold (preferably snowy) winters Otherwise, both places are comparable very good to study and to live.

Thank you so much for your reply. Actually I already have an MS in pharmacology, and my thesis topic was in neuropharmacology in particular. I did enjoy the research a lot and I really want to go further for a PhD in neuroscience. But thanks for warning me. This is a piece of advice I give myself to my friends who say they want to go for grad school too I had good LORs from professors from both undergrad and grad school, and I've already written my SOP (but I think I'll refine it further and show it to more professors for their input). I also think I'll have to retake the GRE and I'm hoping that I'll have at least one more publication by the time I apply. I hope that will help! The thing is I'm not so sure whether I should re-apply to the same schools or to new ones, but I'm more inclined towards choosing new places. I don't know if a department that has rejected me before will take me the next time I apply

Same here Good luck on your applications next year!

I was in a very similar situation this year. I applied to 4 schools, and initially chose 3 people to do my LORs. Two of them were very supportive and even told me never hesitate to ask them to write/fill out more whenever I needed. These were my MS advisors. The third person was the PI in whose lab I currently work as a research assistant. He showed some kind of enthusiasm but would delay doing them week after the other, and I was really embarrassed having to keep reminding him. Therefore, I only asked him to do 2 out of 4 for me. For the rest two schools I found someone else (a prof. from MS). I think my application would have been stronger if an LOR from my current supervisor (who also happens to be my undergrad research project advisor as well!), were included. But I really didn't like the feeling of having to beg him to send those forms for me.

I'm an international student too and I'm applying for the neurosciences for fall 2011. Unfortunately I got rejected from all except one last school I'm waiting on. I'm thinking they say no, Wake Forest Neuroscience is on the top of my list of programs I'll be applying to next season. I just wanted to ask you, what attracted you to this program and how easily you think the chances are to get in? Also what other neuroscience programs would you suggest? Thanks so much and congrats for being admitted

I've been interviewed by my "supposedly" safety school on April 1st. No word until I had to e-mail them yesterday. I got a quick reply (after a few hours) saying the committee is still deliberating! This is the last school I'm waiting on, and I've been rejected by all others already. I would really like to know their decision ASAP so that if it's a no, I'll want to start preparing for next year (searching for other schools, studying for and retaking the GRE, etc.) Good luck to all of you and congrats to those who've been admitted

I'm still waiting too. I haven't heard anything from this school since my interview on April 1. I don't even know if I'm waitlisted. I think I'll have to contact them today to find out. Good luck to you all

Maybe. You never know. Grad schools can be very unpredictable sometimes . This is why it is best to contact the program to find out. I've heard several stories from people who said that they received offers long after April 15 because someone had declined their offer and they got accepted off a waiting list. One person even told me they got an acceptance letter in June! So hope is always there, and receiving nothing by April 15 does not necessarily mean rejection. Just call or e-mail them to see where you stand. Good luck and keep us posted!

I'm an international applicant too and I haven't received anything from one of my schools as well. Yes it is common for grad schools to put applicants on waitlists, but you can never be sure unless they tell you (by e-mail or through their website, for example) or you ask them. I'm planning to e-mail this last program if I receive nothing by Monday to ask them about my status. Good luck!

Hi Taylor, So, in general, do you think that if someone needs to retake the GRE (like me), would better do it before or after the test format changes? I took the test only once. I messed up the verbal section badly (490), while I got 610 on the quantitative section. I think I can do much better in quant if I practice more because my main obstacle was time (I was pretty slow and I didn't have the time to answer all questions). So If I practice more, I think I'll be able to think faster and do the questions faster. I'm not sure whether I can do better on the verbal section because I'm really bad at memorizing lists of vocabulary words I got a 5.0 an the analytical writing section, though. I'm applying for a PhD in biomedical sciences, so I guess they focus more on the quant score. But I still do need to improve my overall score, including both verbal and quant.

I took my GRE in Kuwait. All instructions were totally in English, even the "put your coat here" ones . Kuwait is an Arabic-speaking country, but since the GRE is in English, all test-takers are expected to understand it. No-one spoke Arabic, neither the people at the test center nor the test-takers themselves, even though they looked Arab! I agree with Ennue. Sending an e-mail just to make sure will not hurt. It will reassure you and will prevent any surprises. Good luck!

I think, sadly, I'll be in the same situation. I applied to several schools this year and I'm being rejected by each of them one after the other. I still have one school that didn't reply yet but I'm just assuming it will be a rejection too. Whatever. Like jaxzwolf, I have a good relationship with all my LOR writers. And one of them, in particular, knows that I'm being rejected (I'm still too embarrassed to tell the others) but still has hope that I just might get accepted into this last place I'm waiting on. He's very supportive and already offered that if nothing works out, he will always be ready to supply me with the number of LOR's a want and that he'll help me improve my application for another round. One other LOR writer is on sabbatical leave; however, before he left he told me to always e-mail him whenever I needed anything and whenever I needed any more LORs. Very sweet of him too. I know my LORs wish me the very best and that they really do want me to go for that PhD. They were the ones who encouraged me to apply in the first place. But I'm still very embarrassed from them and from everyone else who knew that I was applying. I feel like I want to hide from everyone for a while until they all forget about me and my PhD hunting Just wanted to vent. Good luck mj53 and to everyone else wants to reapply. We can do this. It's just that our time hasn't come yet!