Neuroscience
Important Steps to a Neuroscience career
- Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Math Physiological Psychology
- Neuroscience Learning
- Cognitive Psychology
- Lab course in Physiological or Cognitive Psychology
- Seminar in Physiological or Cognitive Psychology
- Overall GPA.
- Psychology GPA minor (if you have one).
- GPA last two years in college GPA.
- Maintaining a high GPA from your freshman year on
- If you do not get an A or B in a course you should probably repeat the course.
- You can get involved in research as part of Independent study course and thus earn credit hours and possibly increase your GPA if it counts as a graded course or volunteer.
- An advantage to working in a lab is that you get to know a faculty member who can write you a strong letter of recommendation when you are ready to apply to graduate or medical school. Given you need more than one letter of recommendation, it is probably best to work in two different labs as an undergraduate.
- Get even more involved in research by doing a Senior Honors thesis or some other research where you can get your name on a conference presentation or journal publication. This kind of recognition is rare for an undergraduate and will really boost your standing when you apply to graduate or medical school.
- By doing an internship you can again show your high level of motivation. This internship can be with an on-campus clinic/organization or off-campus clinic/organization dealing with neuroscience.
- There are a number of skills you can develop in addition to what you learn in classes and by conducting research-- computers, writing, and oral communication skills.
- Among others, you can volunteer at a medical hospital or clinic that involves neuroscience issues. This involvement demonstrates a high level of motivation and interest in neuroscience. Any involvement just adds to your overall record and makes you a more competitive applicant.
- This can include a Neuroscience club on campus. Once again, this involvement demonstrates a high level of motivation and interest in neuroscience. Any involvement just adds to your overall record and makes you a more competitive applicant.
- It is not critical that you are employed in a neuroscience context (such as those listed above) as an undergraduate, but if you can get such a job that is a real bonus.
- Shadowing gives you insight into the life of a neuroscientist or medical professional and demonstrates a high level of motivation and interest in neuroscience or medicine.
- It is very important that you start to interact with Professors right away. This can occur by making contributions in class or just going up to your Professors and having a conversation about issues in the field.
- These interactions can lead to being able to work in a Professor's research lab, hearing about job opening that may be available in the Psychology department, and a letter of recommendation.
- Remember, if a faculty member does not really know you or had you in one class, there is a lower likelihood that the Professor will agree to write a letter for you or knows you well enough to write a letter.
- There are two important things to keep in mind with regard to letters of recommendation. First, a short letter of recommendation from a faculty member who does not know you well can sometimes be worse than no letter at all. Second, It is almost always better to have a letter of recommendation from a full-time Professor than an Instructor. For better or worse, the former simply has higher status than the latter.
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Other scoutiescareersinpsychology.org links:
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Click on the links below to read about other Neuroscience careers that only require an undergraduate degree:
Click on the links below to read about other Neuroscience careers that require a graduate degree:
Here is an article that discusses issues related to those above:
http://houseofmind.tumblr.com/post/5248201791/how-to-become-a-neuroscientist