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12-18 applicants
are invited for an interview session, which begins on
a Thursday evening and runs through Saturday morning/afternoon.
The interview weekends occur during January, February,
and sometimes March (2008 interview dates have not yet
been announced). The events typically include an orientation
with members of the admissions committee, tours of the
campus and scientific facilities, informal conversations
with graduate students and faculty, as well as a day
of interview sessions on Friday. There is also the opportunity
to attend information sessions about special programs
offered by Washington University or the Neuroscience
Program.
The Neuroscience Program covers expenses for transportation,
hotel charges, and meal expenses incurred during your
travel and visit. All travel arrangements are handled
by the Neuroscience Program.
On Friday there are typically 5 interviews, which last
between 30 and 45 minutes. These meetings are one-on-one
with professors who are likely to share common scientific
interests.
Our graduate students in the Neuroscience program play
an integral part in arranging each interview weekend.
Candidates for the program will be assigned a student
mentor who can offer their advice and experiences in
the Neuroscience program as well as help you learn the
“real scoop” and navigate your interview
schedule. Candidates will have the opportunity to attend
dinners with students and faculty, as well as see highlights
of the St. Louis area and attend social activities arranged
by the students.
We
are pleased to announce that this year we have adapted
our admissions procedures to improve the ability of
applicants to evaluate our Program as they choose a
school for their graduate education. As before, applicants whose files are judged favorably by
the committee in December and January will be invited
to interview at Washington University during a short,
two-day trip on one of two weeks (interviews on January
25 or February 8, 2008).
The change is as
follows: Applicants who are subsequently offered
admission to the Program will be invited for an optional
second visit on March 28. Like the first interview,
the second trip will be at Program expense. The
second visit is purely for the sake of the applicants.
When considering the possibility of attending
different Neuroscience Programs, there are many important
features about an individual Program, the University
and the host city that must be considered carefully.
We believe a second visit to Washington University
will permit students to make an informed and confident
choice. The second trip will include i) opportunities
to meet with specific faculty and laboratories that
could not be scheduled on the first visit, ii) to meet
and get to know better other potential 1st year class
members, iii) to sit in on a 1st year Neuroscience class
in order to get a feeling for the academic culture,
and importantly iv) to tour the city and see potential
living arrangements at a relaxed pace.
Questions about the interview process may be sent to Sally Vogt .
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