Neuroscience: News and Discussions.
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Wanting to focus on behavioral neuroscience, unsure how to go about it. (self.neuroscience)
submitted by ogre14t
So I began my BS Psych while my wife and I were in the Army. I am going through an "online" university (Capella). My end goal is to get into Ohio State Univ. grad program for neuroscience. http://ngsp.osu.edu/ I am a bit unsure of what my next step after the B.S. should be and am looking for advice. Would it be advisable to go for a masters degree before applying? Or just start taking classes until Im eligible? If the masters is recommended is something like biostatistics a good route? At the end of the day, I would like to focus on learning disabilities. Thank you in advance.
[deleted] 1 points
Certainly don't get a 2nd bachelor's degree. A graduate program takes you on the road to a PhD and what this means is research. What you want is research experience and excellent reference letters. You might want to take a look at some Master's programs if it can serve this purpose; I cannot stress how important research experience is. From the website you supplied:
>Research experience carries great weight with the admissions committee and may be the single most important determining factor in assessing a candidate's qualifications for graduate school. Research experience(s) should be detailed in your statement of purpose.
It's not that the experience you get as an undergraduate will be extremely useful, it's rather that it shows initiative and that you have demonstrated that you can work in a research setting.
Have a look at some labs near you, maybe look for a job as a research assistant for 6 months to a year if you haven't done a lot of research. Or you can do something like an MRes if that's available. If you have lots of research experience, however, then you can just apply. It is very common to go from BSc/BA to PhD, at least in the sciences.
>Research experience carries great weight with the admissions committee and may be the single most important determining factor in assessing a candidate's qualifications for graduate school. Research experience(s) should be detailed in your statement of purpose.
It's not that the experience you get as an undergraduate will be extremely useful, it's rather that it shows initiative and that you have demonstrated that you can work in a research setting.
Have a look at some labs near you, maybe look for a job as a research assistant for 6 months to a year if you haven't done a lot of research. Or you can do something like an MRes if that's available. If you have lots of research experience, however, then you can just apply. It is very common to go from BSc/BA to PhD, at least in the sciences.
ogre14t [OP] 1 points
And this is why I am asking, being in an online university I am not afforded research opportunities through the school. I am also not finding any research in the private sector, which is why Im thinking of the masters.
missunexpected 1 points
You can find research opportunities even if you are not at a brick and mortar school. There are tons of summer research programs that you can apply to. Additionally, you can email professors at local universities and ask if they need any (free) research assistants. Obviously, you should try to email professors that are doing research on topics you are interested in, if possible.
[deleted] 1 points
I see. Well a Master's certainly wouldn't hurt. If it's difficult financially, I'd have a look around universities near you - both in psychology, cog sci and neuroscience departments. Perhaps ask the departments or faculty members, briefly explaining your situation and if they have any opportunities in their labs (I'm not 100% sure about this though, if someone who works in academia could comment it would be great). Also I would recommend developing strong programming skills as this is always a big plus. It's something you can develop on your own and will allow you to stand out and also become a productive lab member early on in your studies.
ogre14t [OP] 1 points
Or would a 2nd bachelors in Biology be advisable?
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