Perhaps the single
most important step you can take to enhance your undergraduate
training in neuroscience is to acquire hands-on laboratory
experience. For many undergraduates, the idea of laboratory
work grows out of sheer excitement about the field. They may
have been inspired to talk to a faculty member after a
particularly interesting lecture or they may learn about an
interesting research project that requires help from
undergraduate volunteers. No matter how you may learn about
research opportunities, it is up to you to get involved.
By working
productively in a research laboratory -- whether as a student
volunteer, for course credit, or a summer job -- you are
demonstrating a commitment of time and effort that graduate
admissions committees consider extremely important. You also
are learning first hand what laboratory research is all about.
In fact, if your project is particularly successful, you may
find yourself co-author of a paper presented at a research
meeting or a paper written for publication in a scientific
journal..
