Masters in Biology before Neuroscience Phd?

juillet
Tue, 13 May 2014 17:16:27 +0000

If you are mostly concerned with research experience, you don’t need an MS to raise that. What you need is research experience. So it would be far less costly* for you to get a job in the field and work for 2-3 years to build that research experience. There are many positions at universities and non-university labs that will take someone with a BA and prior research experience - research assistant, lab manager, research coordinator, etc.

Also, given that you have an undergrad in psychology without significant biology coursework, I don’t think you would be competitive for a top MS in biology. (You DO have neuroscience coursework, though, so were I you I’d apply to your favored PhD programs this year and if you don’t get in, then take 2-3 years “off” to do that research.)

*I’m not sure why you assume that the MS would be covered - some MS programs in biology are funded, but many are not. And some programs fund some students but not all.