Student Guide - Choosing the Right Program

Introduction

What Courses to Take and When

Research Experience

Getting to Know the Faculty

Admission Requirements

Letters of Recommendation

Interviews

Choosing the Right Program

How to Evaluate a Program

Accepting an Offer

Gaining entry into graduate school in neuroscience can be difficult. In many cases, the number of applicants far exceeds the number of available positions. You can improve your chances by learning as much as possible about potential programs and then focusing your attention on programs that:

offer you a reasonable chance of acceptance. Be realistic in what you expect based on your entire application package (grades, GRE scores, research background, courses, etc.). Many programs can provide information about students admitted in previous years; use this information to see how you stack up. Some programs use specified minimum test scores to decide whether applications will receive further review. Keep in mind, however, that scores for successful applicants can be much higher than the specified minimum.

offer training in the specialty area that you prefer. If you are among those undergraduates who know exactly what type of research you want to work on, then seek out those programs that will give you the best opportunity to do it.

best match your interests. If you have a general idea of the type of work you'd like to pursue, then look for programs that offer training in this area. If you have not settled on at least a general topic, then apply to programs that will give you the most options in your research training. Also consider the type of program you need. Do you prefer a program in which the faculty closely nurture students and move them through the program gradually or do you prefer a more independent environment in which you work almost exclusively with one research mentor?