Program Dates
Is the listed start or end date of the program flexible?
No. The first week of the program has many orientation events that are very important for all participants to attend. The program is a mandatory 10 weeks for the 10 weeks it is scheduled.
What if my school is on a quarter system and my exams are in the first and/or second week of June.
In the past, we've accommodated the need for students to have exams administered on the NYU campus. We cannot, however, allow students to start a week or two late.
Application Process
From whom should I request recommendations?
The best person most suitable for writing your recommendation letter is someone that knows you personally, is able to comment on your aptitudes, attitudes, personality and academic background. If there is something unusual/special that cannot be understood from the forms, this person may be able to provide the additional explanations. It is very helpful if the person can tell where you rank, in relation to your peers - academically and outside of the classroom setting. If the person is able to comment about your academic background in the field of neuroscience, computers, mathematics, psychology, biology, physics, etc, that is a big plus.
When are applicants generally notified about their acceptance or non-acceptance?
Applicants will be notified in mid to late April.
Is there a way to check on the status of my application, or to confirm the receipt of application materials?
All applications are considered pending until applicants are notified. In general, we do not confirm the receipt of application materials. However; we will notify applicants if we identify that there are supporting materials missing from their application (personal statement, CV, transcript, or LORs) that will affect our decision.
Eligibility
I do not have a neuroscience course on my transcript as my school does not offer neural science courses. Am I still eligible for the program?
Yes. Qualified applicants who have taken biological sciences in combination with some psychology courses as their background are still considered for the program if they are otherwise highly qualified. CNS recognizes that not all schools offer classes labeled "Neuroscience" in their curricula.
I am not a rising sophomore or junior, but I am a senior/student in a post-baccalaureate program. Am I eligible to apply for the program?
No. The SURP program is designed for students who will have at least a full year of undergraduate coursework to complete after the summer program is over.
I am a non-NYU first year student with sophomore standing due to AP credits or other pre-college work. Am I eligible for the program?
Probably not. Your application will be much stronger next year.
Program
Who are the faculty members, and labs, that participate in SURP?
The participating faculty and labs vary each year depending on their own availability, funding, and the interests of the applicants; therefore we cannot provide you with a list of affiliate faculty prior to the submission of applications. Applicants should review the CORE FACULTY and AFFILIATED FACULTY from the main CNS website for a list of current faculty and their research interests, which can guide your initial indications of possible faculty with whom you wish to work. In your personal statement, explain the reason you've chosen the three preferred faculty mentors. In the past, the faculty who have mentored projects in the program are:
Cristina Alberini
Chiye Aoki
Thomas Carew
Marisa Carrasco
Claude Desplan
Andre Fenton
Fobert Froemke
Paul Glimcher
Mike Hawken
David Heeger
Roozbeh Kiani
Lynne Kiorpes
Eric Klann
Michael Landy
Joseph LeDoux
Weiji Ma
J Anthony Movshon
Denis Pelli
Liz Phelps
David Poeppel
Alex Reyes
Dmitry Ringberg