Help me narrow my final school list for neuroscience PhD?

Saturnalia
Sun, 05 Nov 2017 22:12:59 +0000

Hey everyone,

I posted a few months ago for general advice on the difference between US and international application processes (I’m from the US but have spent recent years abroad since finishing college). As the deadlines approach, I just wanted to narrow my list for neuroscience PhD programs based on selectivity. Any advice is appreciated.

Here’s my list, in no particular order:

UC Berkeley
NYU
Vanderbilt
Duke
UCLA
UVA
Harvard
Stanford
Princeton
U Colorado

Position since college: Fulbright Scholar of medical research abroad in neuroscience / psychiatry

Undergrad: Top 5 LAC. Honors distinction. Senior yearlong thesis in Neuroscience. Double major in Neuroscience and German.

GPA: 3.60 (w/ honors). Note: this includes three summer courses taken at my state flagship school (Physics I and II, Biochem). Without these courses, my home institution GPA is 3.56. Major GPA is around 3.5.

GRE: Taking in one week but practice tests have generally been 160-162 for both sections (Kaplan)

Research: Fulbright Scholarship in Neuroscience; Yearlong senior thesis in neuroscience; multiple internships, awards and scholarships in neuroscience received during undergrad. Total award value: ~$15,000