Upcoming Junior in Undergrad Looking for Grad School Advice

[Dedi]

Hello,

 

I'm going to a small, private, liberal arts college and I'm double majoring in psychology and biology (and technically satisfying the animal behavior major core classes). I'm going to apply for a PhD (Or a Masters leading to a PhD) program, after a year and a half, in neuroscience or animal behavior. I have a couple choices in mind, but I wonder if they are as far of a reach as I've been told by other students at my university (Stanford, UC-Davis, Purdue, and McGill (Canada)). Unless I find them to be a perfect fit, I will not apply to any "just in case" schools (I don't even look for prestige in the schools, I just look into research topics). My topic of interest is narrow, and also look at required classes (cores and electives) to see if I will enjoy taking them. I'd rather wait another year being a research assistant somewhere than waste my time with research that does not interest me. I hate when people tell me I should apply for more than four schools.

 

My research interest is the neural basis of caged stereotypies (e.g. a tiger pacing back and forth) and how to assess and prevent them in zoos. I also have a specialized interest in behavioral epigenetics, as I believe they are a key to my main research interest. I've been looking at grad schools since last year and I finally found a decent number of contacts. I'm also looking forward to going to the Zoo Animal Welfare conference next year as a PI I'm interested in was in there this year and last year, and may possibly be there next year. If not, I'll be able to at least widen my network of people I might like to work with.

Anyways, I've tried contacting all Professors I would like to do research with. I've gotten some feedback: most that replied said their labs are full. The only Professor that responded to me that is in my top choice was Stanford (Though I just recently found out about McGill), and I learned from e-mailing him that a lot of professors don't like the "one size fits all" interest e-mail. I tried that with him and got no response. But, when I asked him questions about his research (twice), both times he replied. I'm trying to personalize my e-mails by looking closer into their publications, which I really should have been doing from the start. Oh well, I'm still learning.

 

Okay, credentials. I currently have a ~3.36 cGPA and ~3.45 in my major courses. My lowest grades were from Freshman year; in my sophomore year, I averaged about a 3.8 for both semesters, with a 4.0 spring semester. I've been practicing the GRE and am going to get a study guide and study hard like I've done for my ACT (which was a composite of 29, if that forecasts how well I might do on the GRE). I'd like to take it this winter, so I have time to retake it if I don't do so well.

 

I finished up an independent research project with zebrafish welfare that was for a course but beyond what was expected of me. I presented a poster in the university conference and am getting it set up as a preliminary report in the Tri-Beta undergraduate journal as a sole author (my professor is helping me and will certainly be in the acknowledgements). This fall semester, I will have 3 separate research projects: two as part of my research in biology (one will be continuing my zebrafish studies, the other will be a collaborative project on amphipods with one of my advisors) and an experimental psychology course that is mainly project work (nothing really related to my research interests, but required for the psych major. Plus it's just good experience). I'm hoping that the biology projects will be sufficiently successful to write a publication on.

Next spring semester, I'll be doing a Research in Animal Behavior course, and I think I have an idea on what I want to do for that.

Next year summer is full of uncertainty. I'm hoping to participate in the SSRP (Stanford's REU in the Biosciences) or do one on one research with my neuroscience professor considering he doesn't have any other committments (He's supposed to let me know in Fall semester, but otherwise it's an "of course"). He's usually quite successful in submitting publications. Should I even bother trying to get into the SSRP if my neuroscience professor will be willing to work with me?

I don't know what I'll be specifically be doing for research my senior year, but I know I'll have an independent research project in Behavioral Ecology and Microbiology. I'll also be doing a research seminar in psychology with my other advisor who also does animal behavior.

 

So, with the variety of professors I'll be working with, I should have some decent LORs. I have already chosen my two advisors (since I'll be taking their classes and researching with them, they should have a good idea of my work ethic and dedication) and my neuroscience professor (even if I don't research with him after all, he knows me quite well and we discuss neuroscience topics a lot face to face and e-mail).

Generally, professors here like me. I've even had a history professor that taught my honors cultural seminar (I dropped out of the honors program because of my freshman grades. I would qualify now, but I wouldn't go back) that was in my first semester volunteer himself to write a recommendation letter for an REU (I didn't get in; there was >2% of a chance of being chosen). I didn't even have to ask.

 

As for experience, I was a biology lab assistant last year (and is also my top choice for next year) so I have some idea of lab techniques (we are a small school, however).

I was part of the local shelter's "Mod Squad" which is a behavior modifcation for dogs program for about 6 months. I was basically an elite volunteer at the shelter and got to experience an interview.

This year I would like to volunteer at the local zoo (which is more flexible than Mod Squad) to make environmental enrichment objects. I want to eventually, by the time I graduate, become part of the animal watch program (looking for behaviors).

I got an invitation for an interview for a research assistant position at the nearby medical college, taking care of zebrafish. Because I don't live near there for the summer, I told them I'll happily accept if the position isn't taken by the time I get back to college. I should've just accepted the invitation and start working in the fall, since it's only a 3 hour drive, but I can't find a way to contact them back. Human Resources told me they don't have a record of calling me.

 

Okay, I think I'm done. Any comments on what may be my weak points and should improve upon?

I know my GPA isn't the best. However, with the trend that's going on right now, I should be able to get it to at least 3.5.

 

 

[Dedi]

As I read more and more sample CV's and other people's research experience, I realized that a liberal arts education is quite different than a research university. In fact, I have never heard of anyone outside of my college doing an independent research project for a class, while it's quite normal to get research experience that way here. We don't have research labs (though we have course labs which isn't the same) with RAs and grad students (The grad students go to a different building, as far as I know). It's just the faculty and the undergrad students.

 

With that being said, would I put those research projects that were a part of a course into my CV as research experience? Anyone is free to answer that, but if someone from a liberal arts college is able to answer that, I'd be eternally grateful.

 

Sorry if I sounded aloof, I was tired when I wrote that previous post.

Edited July 11, 2013 by Dedi

[juilletmercredi]

I applaud your decision to focus in and only apply to schools that are a good, near-perfect fit - IMO there's no other reason to go to a PhD program - but I would say don't worry too much about the coursework.  It is such a small part of your program.  You want to make sure that the coursework you have is going to teach you the content base you need to do good work in your field, but don't rule out schools because they have a couple of core classes you think you won't like.  You may be surprised.  I'm a social/health psychologist who had to take a neuroscience seminar as part of my program and I loved it.

 

If you're just going into junior year, don't worry that their labs are currently full.  It will be two years before you join their labs.

 

3.36 is a bit low but it's not impossible; I had a 3.42 when I got into my program (but my major GPA was higher; it's your major GPA that may give pause).

 

I went to a small LAC that routinely had independent research projects as part of courses.  I didn't put them on my CV as projects, but I think it was clear from my statement and other materials that I had a lot of research knowledge acquired in and out of the classroom.  So OP, I wouldn't necessarily count a required course (especially a methods course) as a separate research project, but it is valuable experience.

 

Yes, you should still bother trying to get into the SSRP.  You can get independent confirmation from another professor at a different university that you are awesome.

[Dedi]

I guess I should separate the major GPAs: My Biology GPA is 3.18 and my psychology GPA is 3.875. This is due to the nature of the courses: over here, biology courses tend to be more rigorous than psychology (which seems to be true in many places). I got an A in biopsychology, but it was listed under psychology.

 

I probably won't list experimental psych as part of my research projects, but I think I'll put down the research in biology, research methods for animal behavior, and research seminar in psychology as research experience (maybe behavioral ecology, too?) in my CV. I'll probably mention my first project with zebrafish in my SOP as I gained a lot of experience in research from that.