how i got into an ivy school | let's get a neuroscience phd!!

Summary

In this engaging video, Bianca, a soon-to-be neuroscience PhD student at Columbia, shares her journey and offers invaluable advice for undergrads aspiring to enter competitive graduate programs. She emphasizes the importance of creating opportunities, such as joining labs and internships, and demonstrating independence and initiative. Bianca also discusses the significance of publications and research experience, while candidly addressing the challenges of the application process. Viewers are encouraged to ask questions about grad school applications, as Bianca promises to delve into her personal experiences, including her stats, rejections, and acceptances, in an upcoming video.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Bianca is moving to New York to start her neuroscience PhD at Columbia University in August.
• 🧳 She's currently dealing with the stress of moving, including finding an apartment and adjusting to New York life.
• 🎓 Bianca emphasizes that undergraduate institution ranking is less important than what you achieve there for grad school admissions.
• 🔬 As a STEM student, she advises finding labs to work in and creating your own opportunities if none are available.
• 💡 Networking and making connections are crucial for finding research opportunities and future career paths.
• 📚 She stresses the importance of independence and initiative, showing graduate admissions committees you're ready for a PhD.
• 📈 Bianca shares her own experiences, including publications, posters, and talks, to illustrate how to stand out in grad school applications.
• 🏢 She mentions the value of working in larger labs for increased publication opportunities.
• 🌐 For those not getting published, she suggests other ways to demonstrate independence and research excellence.
• 📅 Bianca will share more details about her grad school application process, including stats and experiences, in an upcoming video.

Q & A

What is the title of the video?

The title of the video is not explicitly mentioned in the script, but it seems to be related to Columbia University and the speaker's experiences.

What is Bianca's educational background and future plans?

Bianca is a neuroscience PhD student at Columbia University starting in the upcoming August.

What challenges is Bianca facing as she prepares to move to New York?

Bianca is facing challenges such as finding an apartment, buying new furniture, moving her entire life, and adjusting to life as a New Yorker.

What is Bianca's perspective on the weather in the northeast?

Bianca mentions that the weather in the northeast has been warm but suddenly turned cold.

Why does Bianca mention 'window ac drippings'?

Bianca mentions 'window ac drippings' as an example of something gross she expects to experience in New York.

What advice does Bianca give to undergraduates interested in pursuing a master's or PhD?

Bianca advises undergraduates to focus on making their own opportunities, gaining research experience, and not letting their undergraduate institution limit their ambitions.

What does Bianca suggest for finding a lab to work in as an undergraduate?

Bianca suggests emailing professors of interest, asking professors you have a good relationship with, and utilizing your network to find labs.

How does Bianca define a successful student or researcher?

Bianca defines a successful student or researcher as someone who seeks out opportunities, isn't afraid to fail, and is willing to put themselves out there.

What is the most important trait to show graduate admissions committees, according to Bianca?

The most important trait to show graduate admissions committees is independence.

What does Bianca suggest to demonstrate independence in research?

Bianca suggests understanding the purpose behind your research, the bigger picture, and the limitations of your project.

What does Bianca mean by 'make your own opportunities'?

Bianca means that one should actively seek out and create opportunities for themselves, such as finding labs, gaining experience, and networking.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Transition to Columbia University and Grad School Application Insights

The speaker, Bianca, introduces herself as a future neuroscience PhD student at Columbia University starting in August. She discusses the challenges of transitioning to New York, including finding an apartment and adjusting to the city's lifestyle. Bianca shares her concerns about securing accommodation in July due to the majority of listings being for immediate move-ins. She also humorously addresses the discomfort of wearing Invisalign and its impact on her speech. The video promises to cover Bianca's personal grad school application process, including her resume, GPA, research experiences, and the schools she applied to. She invites viewers to ask questions in the comments, which she will address in the video. Bianca emphasizes the importance of making one's own opportunities, especially for first-generation immigrants who may not have guidance on higher education and career paths.

05:01

🔬 Finding and Making Opportunities in Research

Bianca advises undergraduates to seek out lab experiences to enhance their resumes for future graduate studies. She shares her own experience of finding a lab as a freshman with no prior research skills. She suggests emailing professors and leveraging one's network to find opportunities, even if it means reaching out to nearby schools or hospitals. Bianca stresses the importance of creating opportunities, being proactive, and not being afraid of failure or rejection. She encourages students to market themselves by excelling in their coursework and understanding the techniques they learn. Bianca also emphasizes the value of networking, learning from lab supervisors, and being involved in the lab community to build long-lasting relationships and mentorship.

10:01

📈 Demonstrating Independence for Graduate School Admissions

Bianca discusses the importance of showing independence in research to impress graduate admissions committees. She explains that understanding the bigger picture behind research techniques and projects is crucial. Bianca advises students to think critically about their projects, consider their place in the field, and propose new directions. She shares her own accomplishments, including publications and presentations, which demonstrate her independence and research capabilities. Bianca also suggests that while publications are helpful, they are not a requirement for admission. She encourages students to show their independence and passion for research in other ways if their lab does not provide opportunities for publications. She concludes by motivating students to work hard, create opportunities, and join labs or gain relevant work experience to stand out in their applications.

Keywords

💡Columbia

Columbia refers to Columbia University, an Ivy League institution in New York City. In the video, the speaker mentions that they will be attending Columbia as a neuroscience PhD student, indicating a high level of academic achievement. The mention of Columbia sets the stage for discussing the process of getting into competitive graduate programs.

💡PhD

PhD stands for Doctor of Philosophy and represents the highest academic degree awarded by universities. In the script, the speaker is pursuing a PhD in neuroscience, which is a research-intensive degree. The video discusses the journey and requirements for entering a PhD program, emphasizing the importance of research experience and academic excellence.

💡Ivy League

The Ivy League is a group of eight prestigious universities in the United States, known for their academic excellence and rigorous admissions standards. The speaker mentions not attending an Ivy League undergraduate institution but still achieving academic success, challenging the notion that Ivy League attendance is a prerequisite for success.

💡Grad School Application

Grad school application refers to the process of applying to graduate schools for advanced degrees. The video script discusses the speaker's personal experience with grad school applications, including the challenges and strategies for success, such as securing research experience and maintaining a strong academic record.

💡Research Experience

Research experience is practical involvement in scientific or academic research, often gained through internships or working in a lab. The speaker emphasizes the importance of research experience for grad school applications, suggesting that it can be a deciding factor in admissions decisions.

💡Undergraduate Institution

Undergraduate institution refers to the college or university where a student pursues their bachelor's degree. The script challenges the common belief that attending a top undergraduate institution is necessary for grad school success, arguing that performance at the undergraduate level is more important.

💡Publications

Publications are academic papers that are published in scholarly journals, often the result of research projects. The speaker mentions having publications as part of their grad school application, which can demonstrate a candidate's research capabilities and contribute to their competitiveness.

💡Co-op

A co-op (short for cooperative education) is a program where students alternate between classroom study and paid work assignments in their field of study. The speaker suggests that co-op experiences can provide valuable skills and experience that can enhance a student's resume for grad school applications.

💡Independence

Independence, in the context of the video, refers to the ability to work and think autonomously, a crucial skill for researchers. The speaker advises undergraduates to show independence in their research to demonstrate their readiness for a PhD program, which values self-directed learning and research.

💡First-Gen Immigrant

First-gen immigrant refers to someone whose parents did not attend college in the country where they are currently studying. The speaker identifies as a first-gen immigrant, adding a personal dimension to the narrative and highlighting the challenges and unique perspectives that first-gen students bring to higher education.

💡Networking

Networking refers to building professional relationships to advance one's career. The video script mentions the importance of networking for finding research opportunities and gaining insights into the field, which can be crucial for students seeking to enter competitive graduate programs.

Highlights

Warm weather in the northeast suddenly turned cold

Introduction to Bianca, a neuroscience Ph.D. student at Columbia

Bianca's upcoming move to New York and the challenges of adjusting to the city

Bianca's experience with the stress of securing an apartment in New York

Bianca's recent use of Invisalign affecting her speech

The importance of focusing on undergrad achievements for grad school applications

Bianca's advice on making your own opportunities as an undergrad

How to find a lab or research position as an undergraduate

The value of creating your own opportunities and networking

Bianca's journey from a mediocre high school performance to a successful grad school applicant

The importance of independence in research and grad school applications

Bianca's advice on how to show independence in research

The significance of publications, posters, and talks in grad school applications

Bianca's experience with grad school applications and her acceptances

The role of perseverance and hard work in achieving grad school goals

预告下一期视频内容：Bianca将分享她的个人研究生申请过程

Invitation for viewers to like, comment, share, and subscribe for more content

Transcripts

title of the video

video 39 something about columbia these

last few days have just been so warm in

the northeast but i don't know what

happened it just got so cold all of a

sudden going from

sweating to chilly weather or i guess

you can say sweater weather oh wait wait

what

what is this

i'm going to colombia hello everyone my

name is bianca and i will be a

neuroscience phd student at columbia

this upcoming august only a few more

months and you'll see scenery changes

set changes and maybe a slightly more

haphazard demeanor as i try to find an

apartment buy all new furniture move my

entire life and figure out how to

actually be a new yorker without turning

into a puddle of window ac drippings

that's kind of gross but i guess i'll

experience those random drops of water

from the sky aka window ac units in new

york but since moving and program

logistics are at the forefront of my

mind what a perfect way to show everyone

my sanity slowly unraveling from the

stress of not being able to secure an

apartment until july

because most listings are for immediate

move-in only oh the joys of new york

living in an overpriced box without

modern amenities but i guess that's most

cities at this point this video

ah if you if you hear a lisp i just got

invisalign and it's really hard to speak

this video is going to be a bit

different than my usual content but if

you guys want more sneak peeks into

parts of my life beyond just language

content you'll see them scurrying across

my channel like those insane new york

rats

but how did i get into colombia and how

can you get into colombia we will tackle

those questions today and in this video

we'll go through what to focus on as an

undergrad if a master's or a phd is

something that you want to pursue in the

future next week i'll go through the

nitty gritty details of my own personal

grad school application process my

resume gpa research experiences schools

that i got into schools that i got

ghosted from et cetera and hopefully

it'll give you a better idea of what to

expect and how to tailor your

application for any schools that you may

be interested in and if you have any

particular questions that you want

answered feel free to leave them in the

comments so without further ado

if you are an undergrad or perhaps a

recent graduate

how can you get into an ib grad program

how do you make your cv as op as mob and

the body improvement club if you are a

first generation immigrant like myself

you may have heard your parents say

something along the lines of get good

grades in high school get into an ivy

league college become a doctor or

perhaps a lawyer depending on your

parents basically ivy or bust well guess

what

i did not go to an iv undergrad and i'm

doing pretty great for myself i'm making

six speakers right now working at a

biotech company and i am giving it all

up for a barely livable stipend in one

of the most expensive cities in the

world

look at me now with my future doctorate

of philosophy let me philosophize all of

your neural issues

and after my mediocre high school

performance i got into a pretty good

private university and thank goodness i

got a full ride or else i would be

drowning in student loan debt but i

didn't go to an iv or a top 10 or even a

top 20 school i was not valedictorian

and i wasn't top of my class i didn't

get all a's my first two semesters were

actually pretty trash and why do i say

this well in the eyes of the graduate

school acceptance committees

the undergraduate institution you went

to matters less than what you did at

said institution grad school is

competitive you should do as well as you

can and even at your best you may not

get into your dream programs but if you

want to get into great masters or phd

programs don't let your undergraduate

institution limit how high you dream so

how do you get into colombia

make your own opportunities

i am a stem girl so my first move when

going to college was to try to find labs

that i could work in and being a

first-gen kid i kind of had to navigate

college and figure out what the hell i

needed to do on my own and luckily i did

have an older sister that went through

the process a few years ahead of me and

helped me out oh i guess i still have an

older sister

english is a pretty weird language but

regardless i had to learn pretty quickly

that if i want to get a good job i need

experience and what is the pseudo

currency that justifies our worth in the

eyes of employers as less than qualified

undergraduate students

can you guys guess what undergrad i went

to

and if you did not ascribe to the co-op

cult it's basically internships and

part-time work throughout undergrad now

how does one find a lab let alone a lab

that actually pays you when you're a

freshman with absolutely no usable

skills besides staying up for 36 hours

right before a major exam i can also eat

an entire box of extreme flavor bath

blasted flavored blasted goldfish in an

hour and i'm not talking about the small

bags but those huge cardboard boxes of

goldfish that are bigger than your head

but one way to go about finding a lab is

to just hold email professors of

interest go through your professors and

see what their research is about take

note that you may get ghosted by certain

professors but you can also ask a

professor that you have a great

relationship with but labs may not

always be available they may not have

enough funding to take another student

even if the fit between you and that lab

is amazing so if you're looking at your

current undergrad situation and you just

can't find a lab that fits you at all

what do you do just resign to the fact

that you'll never be able to pursue your

research dreams no you make your own

opportunities if you're in a city find

nearby schools or hospitals that have

labs that you're interested in called

email professors or even ask your

professors if they know anyone in their

network that has research interests

aligned with yours it may take a bit but

utilize your surroundings utilize

everyone in your network although it may

be small at this point in your career it

will continue to grow and grow make

opportunities for yourself it's really

challenging to get into your first lab

because you don't have any legitimate

skills so market yourself well by really

paying attention to your biology chem

genetics labs in your courses yes all

the experiments fail some fail

spectacularly but i used to do western

lots all day back in my first academic

lab knowing about and being able to talk

about the techniques and their utility

in the specific area of research you're

looking to get it into will put you

ahead of the pack even if your technique

is not there yet because they always

fail during your courses

so what is the mark of a successful

student

a successful researcher a successful

person

someone that seeks out the things that

they're looking for

someone that isn't afraid to fail or get

rejected or get ghosted someone who was

willing to put themselves out there so

now you found a lab that you can join

but what's next make your own

opportunities wait i i thought we

already did that throughout your career

and just life in general the overarching

thesis is this make your own

opportunities especially in career you

can't slow down on creating new avenues

for yourself everyone jokes about

networking but it's actually a really

important skill to have once you get

into your lab learn as much as you can

from your supervisor post-doc boss

whatever you want to call it ask them to

teach you things beyond the scope of

your project show interest in the other

projects that they're a part of watch

them do other things pay attention to

how they present things ask to be

involved seek out other postdocs in the

last ask them what they're doing ask

them to teach you techniques be as

involved as you can in the lab be a good

co-worker and help out wherever you can

people love seeing passionate students

and are willing to go to bed for you if

you show interest in what they do view

your lab members as future co-workers

research is really small so if you stay

in the field you'll probably work with

them again i've already worked with four

former co-workers at three separate labs

and i am only 25. treat everyone with

respect and not just because you want

those letters of recommendation humility

goes a long way and will help you to

make long lasting relationships and

mentors that you can reach out to years

later for career advice or anything else

that you may need once you're in your

lab and have a good relationship with

your coworkers what is the most

important thing to do how do you improve

your cb in the eyes of the graduate

admissions committee independence what

is the point of a phd to make you an

independent researcher

so how do you impress that com showing

them that you're already

an independent researcher don't just

view your lab as a daily task list to

check off and leave this will be more

challenging advice but if you want to

get into competitive graduate programs

you will need to put in the effort

depending on your field and especially

for stem you need to differentiate

yourself amongst other students that

also have research

and how do you do that by showing

independence now technically

research isn't a requirement to get into

programs phd is supposed to teach you

how to be an independent research don't

just learn how to do techniques learn

why that technique is being used in that

particular situation what's the bigger

picture

what's the question that we're trying to

answer why do we even choose this

particular experiment what are the

limitations don't just learn about your

project how does your project fit into

the field and what are the limitations

of said project what questions can we

answer within the scope of this project

can you propose new project directions

considering the unknown knowledge of the

field what are these questions teaching

you how to basically write papers to

write grants independent researchers

drive projects which culminate in the

formation of grants and the publication

of papers how do you convince adcom or

future employers that you're able to do

more independent research by being able

to talk about your research beyond

superficial techniques by understanding

the purpose behind your research through

publications posters and talks upon

applying to graduate programs i had

seven publications four posters and four

talks two publications i was a second

author and the rest were middle authors

and for those of you unaware of

publication culture and science first

authors are the main project lead it's a

huge accomplishment so it looks amazing

for more junior members like me

anywhere in the top four authors is

really great and middle authorship means

that you contributed a bit but it wasn't

a major project for you so try to get on

as many papers as you can remember what

i said about reaching out to other lab

members to learn techniques and to help

them out with their work this is another

reason why you should do that everything

you do for a project will give you a

higher authorship on the resulting paper

although you should note that not

everything you do will result in a paper

unfortunately now when you're choosing a

lab check out the publication history

because some labs just don't publish

that frequently which will make it

harder to get on papers generally

postdoc heavy labs will publish more

papers

larger labs will probably publish more

than smaller labs

but although publications are very

helpful to increase the competitiveness

of your resume it's not a requirement if

your lab doesn't give you those

opportunities that's all right try to

show independent research in other ways

make your own opportunities not everyone

in my cohort has papers on their resume

but they were to show excellence and

passion and independence in other ways

the reality is that grad school is

competitive especially the cycle the

reality is that you'll probably have to

put in a lot of effort you will probably

have to put in late nights and you will

definitely have to work hard but it's

not an impossible dream to go to an

amazing grad program throughout your

undergraduate career if you're able to

one join a lab or internship or work

experience that corresponds your area of

interest and two create opportunities to

show independent work and you'll be

ahead of the pack but what does four to

five years of putting this framework

into practice look like

tune in next week where i'll go through

my grad apps and show all my stats all

my rejections all my acceptances and my

thoughts about the overall process

but if you enjoyed this video please

give me a like comment share and

subscribe and let me know if you have

any other questions about the grad

school application process

i won't have all the answers but i will

do my best to answer them from my

experience

i only know

about the biology side of phd programs a

little bit about the kensai because they

have people in my current company who

have told me about their chemistry phd

applications but granted it was like 10

years ago

so we'll we'll see but if it's more

general info maybe i'll know if it's for

different fields then i may not have the

answer but i will try my best but thank

you so much for watching this video um

check out my patreon if you're

interested it's different content but

maybe i can start incorporating some of

my science stuff in there too if you

guys are interested just let me know in

the comments and i'll figure that out

but i hope you have a great rest of your

day and i will see you next week bye

[Music]

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