Neuroscience Fall 2010 - Where do I Stand?

[djg05010]

I'm a senior at UConn and I'm wondering where I sit in terms of the applicant pool for Fall 2010 Neuroscience programs. I don't really know what would be my "reach" schools (finding it much harder to get an idea of what a good applicant is for grad programs than I had when I was applying for undergrad education).

Cumulative GPA: 3.8

Double Major: 4.0 in Psychology, 3.8 in Physiology & Neurobiology

Minor: Neuroscience, 4.0

GRE: 1450 (770Q 680V)

I've worked in the same behavioral neuroscience lab for the last 2 years (this year will be my third). By the time I graduate I should have 1-2 first authorships, 2-3 second authorships, and 1-2 third/fourth authorships along with 3 second authorship posters at SFN and 1 third authorship poster at SFN.

I've been primarily working on parkinson's research and would like stay in that general field but am finding myself having to gravitate more towards molecular neuroscience programs (vs. the behavior neuroscience program I've been working in) simply because that's what most of the labs that I've looked at are doing. This is what my main concern is because I haven't had a whole lot of experience in this particular aspect of the field.

So yeah, would places like UC-SD or some of the other top neuroscience programs be a reach for me?

[fuzzylogician]

I don't know anything specific about neuroscience but with those credentials and a strong sop and lors, I'm willing to bet you'll be one of the stronger candidates in your field this year.

Re: reach schools: this isn't college. The concepts of safety and reach don't apply here as they did before. Schools choose candidates that are a good fit, so you will often find people rejected from lower-ranked "safeties" and accepted to top ranked "reach" programs -- simply because that's where they fit best. Similarly, you'll find candidates with 4.0 GPAs/1600 GREs/3 publications rejected from those programs - because there's no one suitable there to advise them. Do your research and apply to those programs that you're passionate about attending. Ask yourself - would I go here if it were the only place that accepted me? If there answer is no, save yourself the time and money and don't even try. on the flip side, regardless of whether you think a certain school is out of reach for you or not, it's always advisable to apply if you see yourself working there. You'd much rather be pleasantly surprised than always have those "what if" thoughts.

[NsciApp]

I have a cumulative GPA of 3.76 (double major psych and neuro) from a select liberal arts college, a GRE of 1300 (630 verbal, 670 math), high honors in neuroscience, 4 years of research experience in several labs labs with much indpendent work, will have 3 journal articles (2 first authors, 1 second), several talks and posters (including SFN, SPSP, undergrad research fairs, and McNair) and fantastic letters of rec. My advisors have said that they expect I will get into several of the "top" schools I am applying to (UCSD, UCSF, Stanford, Yale, Michigan, etc). Of course I don't know whether I actually will get in to these programs, but it sounds like you are doing even better than I *numerically* (obviously it's hard to compare our more intangible abilities), so I would expect you to get in, too! It was reassuring for me to speak with my mentors about the strengths and weaknesses of my application. You could try doing the same--maybe it would make you feel better?

I'm a senior at UConn and I'm wondering where I sit in terms of the applicant pool for Fall 2010 Neuroscience programs. I don't really know what would be my "reach" schools (finding it much harder to get an idea of what a good applicant is for grad programs than I had when I was applying for undergrad education).

Cumulative GPA: 3.8

Double Major: 4.0 in Psychology, 3.8 in Physiology & Neurobiology

Minor: Neuroscience, 4.0

GRE: 1450 (770Q 680V)

I've worked in the same behavioral neuroscience lab for the last 2 years (this year will be my third). By the time I graduate I should have 1-2 first authorships, 2-3 second authorships, and 1-2 third/fourth authorships along with 3 second authorship posters at SFN and 1 third authorship poster at SFN.

I've been primarily working on parkinson's research and would like stay in that general field but am finding myself having to gravitate more towards molecular neuroscience programs (vs. the behavior neuroscience program I've been working in) simply because that's what most of the labs that I've looked at are doing. This is what my main concern is because I haven't had a whole lot of experience in this particular aspect of the field.

So yeah, would places like UC-SD or some of the other top neuroscience programs be a reach for me?