James Holmes University of Illinois Application Package

APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION
TO THE GRADUATE COLLEGE

University of Illinois Identification Number (UIN)*:
Application Type:
Domestic
Program Information:
Proposed Program: Neuroscience--PHD
Degree:
Term:
Faculty Member:
Fall 2011
Concentration/Specialization:
None
Neuroscience--PHD
Other Specialization:
I intend to continue for the doctoral degree:
Cognitive Neuroscience
Not Applicable
Applicant Information
Last Name:
Holmes
Middle Name:
First Name:
James
Nick Name:
Previous Name:
Birth City:
Gender:
San Diego
Country of Citizenship:
Citizenship Type:
CA
Resident Alien Number:
Not Hispanic or Latino
Race Identification(s):
White
Contact Information
E-mail Address:
Current Address
Permanent Address
2:
2:
3:
3:
City:
San Diego
San Diego
County:
County:
State:
State:
CA
CA
Province:
Province:
Zip:
Zip:
92129
Country:
Birth Country:
United States of America
Native Language:
City:
Date of Birth:
Dual Citizenship Country:
U.S. Citizen
Ethnicity Identification:
Male
Birth State:
Country of Legal Permanent Residence:
Eagan
92129
Country:
Phone (U.S):
Phone (U.S):
Phone (International):
Phone (International):
* The University of Illinois Identification Number is used for internal tracking purposes and is assigned post-application submission.
12/13/1987
United States
of America
Application for Admission to the Graduate College
Illinois Residency Information

Will you have lived in Illinois (for non-educational purposes) for at least 12 months preceding the term for which you are
applying? N
Has at least one of your parents maintained a permanent residence in Illinois for 1 year or more?
Parent First Name:
Parent Last Name:
Address Line 1:
Address Line 2:
City:
County:
State:
Zip:
Illinois
Application Fee Waiver Information

Employee Type:
Designated Program:
Allied Agency:
Allied Agency Phone:
Financial Aid Information

I wish to receive financial aid:
Teaching Assistantship:
Fellowship:
3rd Choice
Research Assistantship:
Tuition Waiver Only:
2nd Choice
I must receive financial aid:
1st Choice
4th Choice
Educational History Information

Institution 1:
Institution 2:
Univ of Cal Riverside
City:
Riverside
City:
State:
California
State:
Country:
Degree:
Country:

Bachelor of Science
Degree:
Degree Translation:
Degree Translation:
Attended From:
Attended From:
Attended To:
09/2006
Degree Awarded/Expected:
Major:
Attended To:
06/2010
06/15/2010
Major:
Neuroscience
Other Major:
Other Major:
Minor/Concentration:
Honors:
Honors:
GPA:
Phi Beta Kappa
GPA:
3.94
Major GPA:
3.85
Major GPA:
GPA Scale:
4.0
GPA Scale:
Non-Numerical GPA Scale:
Institution 3:
Institution 4:
City:
City:
State:
State:
Country:
Country:
Degree:
Degree:
Degree Translation:
Degree Translation:
Attended From:
Attended From:
Attended To:
Attended To:
Major:
Major:
Other Major:
Other Major:
Honors:
Honors:
GPA:
GPA:
Major GPA:
Major GPA:
GPA Scale:
GPA Scale:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Institution 5:
City:
Institution 6:
City:
State:
State:
Country:
Country:
Degree:
Degree:
Degree Translation:
Degree Translation:
Attended From:
Attended From:
Attended To:
Attended To:
Major:
Major:
Other Major:
Other Major:
Honors:
Honors:
GPA:
GPA:
Major GPA:
Major GPA:
GPA Scale:
GPA Scale:
Test Score Information

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Verbal: ____
Analytical: ____ ____ %
710 ____
98 %
Quantitative: ____
800 ____
94 % Analytical Writing: ____
4.0 ____
45 %
GRE General: 09/18/2009

Registration #: 4413054
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
GRE Subject:
Registration #:
Subject:
Score: ____ ____ %
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
GRE Writing Assessment:

Registration #:
Score:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Verbal: ____ ____ %

Quantitative: ____ ____ %
GMAT:
Registration #:
Analytical: ____ ____ %

Total Score: ____ ____ %
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MAT:
Raw Score:
Overall %:
% for Intended Major:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MCAT
Verbal Reasoning:
Writing Sample:
Physical Sciences:
Biological Sciences:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TOEFL:
Registration #:
Appointment #:
TWE Score:
Paper-Based Test Score:

Computer-Based Test Score:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TOEFL iBT:
Registration #:
Total Score:
Listening:
Writing:
Reading:
Speaking:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Language Ability Information

Chinese:
Russian:
French:
Spanish:
Hindi:
Korean:
Other:
Other:
Read
Recommendation Information
First Name:
First Name:
First Name:
Last Name:
Last Name:
Last Name:
Phone:
Phone:
Phone:
Email:
Email:
.com
Email:
Title:
Title:
Title:
Employer:
Employer:
Employer:
Relation:
Relation:
Relation:
Right to review waived?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Fee Payment Information

Payment Type:
Credit Card
Payment Amount:
70
Payment Status:
Payment Transaction Date:
10/25/2010 12:17:51 AM
Applicant Signature and Confirmation of Information

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is committed to maintaining a safe environment for all members of the
University community. As part of this commitment, the University requires applicants who are under current indictment or
have been convicted of a crime (other than a routine traffic offense or in a juvenile proceeding) to disclose this information
as a mandatory step in the application process. A previous conviction or current indictment does not automatically bar
admission to the University, but does require review. Complete information must be sent by certified mail at the time of
application for admission to: Review Committee, 300 Turner Student Services Building, 610 East John Street, Champaign,
Illinois 61820 USA. Applicants are responsible for verifying receipt by the University and for maintaining a copy of the
receipt certifying submission. Information to be submitted includes a brief explanation, location (city, state, country) of
conviction or current indictment, dates, and court disposition, in English. This statement must include a grant of permission
to the University for complete access to criminal records, if any. For further information on this requirement, call (217) 3330050.
I understand that withholding pertinent information requested on this application or giving false information will make me
ineligible for admission to the University or subject to dismissal. With this in mind, I certify that the statements are correct
and complete, including a report of all criminal history as described above. Furthermore, I agree that if I am employed by the
University of Illinois, I will adhere to and be bound by the University of Illinois Statutes, the General Rules Concerning
University Organization and Procedure adopted by the Board of Trustees, and any and all other applicable rules and
regulations of the University and its Board of Trustees.
James Holmes
Signature: _____________________________________________________
Submitted:
Date:
10/25/2010 12:19:00 AM
10/25/2010 12:19:00 AM
CHECK WITH YOUR PROPOSED PROGRAM OF STUDY OFFICE FOR

ADDITIONAL APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS. PLEASE REFER TO THE
PROGRAM LISTING FOR CONTACT INFORMATION.
Experience
James Holmes
4920327
James Holmes
Aspiring Scientist
Home
Home Address
James Holmes
San Diego, CA 92129
OBJECTIVE
To obtain a position as a neuroscience graduate student
EDUCATION
2006 - 2010, University of California, Riverside

Graduated with B.S. in Neuroscience
Dean's Fellow
Regent's Scholar
Phi Beta Kappa Society
SKILLS
Dissection, buffer preparation and staining

Fluorescence microscopy, dissection microscopy, cell counts
Proficient using computer software including Microsoft Office
Adaptable to work environment; problem solver
RELATED EXPERIENCE
UCR, Department of Cellular Biology & Neuroscience Riverside, CA 92521
December 2007 - September 2009
Laboratory Assistant
Digitization of mice with mitochondrial rich muscle
Fluorescence microscopy of neuronal mapping of the Zebra Finch
Dissection, staining and photography of hummingbird and Passeriforme flight muscles
Comparison of motor end plate stains of flight muscles
Camp Max Straus 6505 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 600
Camp Counselor
Provided leadership and guidance to underprivileged children.
Took an active stance as a positive role model.
Assisted children in achieving their potential.
Facilitated excellence in mentoring.
UCR, Department of Chemistry Riverside, CA 92521
Laboratory Assistant
Analyzed mass spectrometry and HPLC data, graphs and principles
Performed redox titrations, chromatography, ultra violet spectroscopy, etc.
June 2008 - August 2008
December 2006 - June 2007
Salk Institute for Biological Studies La Jolla, CA 92037

June 2006 - August 2006
Student Intern
Designed a computer program to illustrate temporal perceptions of causality
Executed procedures (pipeting, gel electrophoresis, conceptual modeling, etc.)
Programmed a flicker fusion utility, which notes differences in contrast between monitors.
10
Personal Statement
James Holmes
4920327
Rational people act based on incentives for self-fulfillment, including fulfilling needs
of self-development and needs of feeling useful and helpful to others. I look forward to
fulfilling my quest to advance my knowledge and I plan to use my critical thinking skills
by studying the subject I am passionate about, neuroscience.
I desire to attend graduate study at the University of Illinois, a leader and innovator in
scientific research, because the university will provide opportunities to pursue my
foremost passions, the science of learning, cognition and memory. I have always been
fascinated by the complexities of a long lost thought seemingly arising out of nowhere
into a stream of awareness. These fascinations likely stemmed from my interest in
puzzles and paradoxes as an adolescent and continued through my curiosity in academic
research.
Making new discoveries in neuroscience is intrinsically rewarding in its own right. I
have an unquenchable curiosity, a strong desire to know and explore the unknown, and a
need to persist against the odds. Graduate study at the University of Illinois will provide a
focus for me to perform and achieve through neuroscience research.
To prepare myself for graduate study at the University of Illinois, I sought
involvement in a general array of academic research. My first summer internship, at the
Salk Institute of Biological Studies, was done while I was still in high school. Working in
Terrence Sejnowsky's computational neurobiology lab, I had little experience in
computer programming and the work was challenging to say the least. Nonetheless, I
taught myself how to program in Flash and then constructed a cross-temporal calibration
model. The purpose of this model was to show an illusion between cause and effect
relationships. In this illusion, the mind is actually tricked into believing an action
precedes the event that caused it. Completing the project and presenting my model at the
end of the internship was exhilarating and I believe graduate study at the University of
Illinois will provide commensurate opportunities for a satisfying neuroscience research
experience.
Another laboratory I worked in was within the department of chemistry at the
University of California, Riverside. Having previously been exposed to a computational
approach, I wanted to explore the facets of chemical analysis. Beginning by making
buffer solutions, I soon advanced into more complicated techniques. These included
performing high performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry and ultra violet
spectroscopy on a modified twelve mer dna sequence. With the end product we
bombarded the dna with ultra violet rays to observe cancerous effects. Although I don't
plan on curing cancer in graduate school I believe this research experience is worthwhile
and relevant to my goals of contributing to neuroscience. Only with a multidisciplinary
perspective to the specialized field of neuroscience can we hope to fully understand the
brain.
The most recent laboratory I worked in was the Flight Lab in the department of
cellular biology and neuroscience. Working in this lab enabled me to distinguish
structural and quantitative differences in neural systems at a lower level of functional
analysis. I dissected various flight muscles of Passeriformes and then stained their motor
end plates. With these stained muscles, I compared their arrangements to the stained
muscles of hummingbirds, which have a unique motor end plate pattern. In the future my
11
Personal Statement
James Holmes
4920327
goal is to analyze and study higher neural functional levels of analysis such as learning
and memory.
Researching learning and memory interests me because these are the very cognitive
processes which enable us to acquire information and retain it. They are at the core of
what distinguishes us as people. Due to the seemingly infinite vastness of indefinite
knowledge we must be selective in our pursuits of knowledge. This is why I have chosen
to study the primary source of all things, our own minds.
Ultimately, I aspire to become a cognitive neuroscientist. I intend to continue
performing research after graduate school in either academic or public sectors. My lifelong goal is to increase the efficiency of how human beings learn and remember.
12
Letter of Reference
Submitted Date: 10/26/2010 4:30:00 PM
Term of Application:
First Name: James

Last Name: Holmes
E-Mail:
Proposed Program of Study: Neuroscience
Degree: Neuroscience--PHD
Recommender Information
First Name:
Last Name:
Institution / Organization:
Position / Title:
E-Mail:
To what extent do you recommend this applicant for admission as a graduate student in their proposed field of study?
I strongly recommend this applicant
Please describe how long you have known the applicant and under what circumstances you have known the applicant:
I have known James for four years through his participation in
Please evaluate the applicant in comparison with others you have known during your professional career. Describe the
comparison group you are using:
I am comparing James to other senior undergraduates in his major.
Please submit a statement of recommendation addressing the applicants abilities to pursue graduate studies and research.
Please address the following as applicable: the applicants ability to work with peers, supervisors and subordinates;
teaching potential; any outstanding abilities, talents, liabilities and weaknesses; and oral and written communication skills.
Thank you for your thoughtful assessment of this applicant. Your responses will provide the Admissions Committee with
information needed to make a thorough evaluation of the applicant. Please send comments or concerns to Illinois
Graduate and Professional Admissions at gradadmissions@illinois.edu.
Letter of Recommendation
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Recommendation Essay
October 15, 2010
Dear Graduate School Selection Committee:

I am writing this letter in support of the graduate school application of Mr. James Holmes. I have known James
for the past
years through
. The
Program consists of accelerated courses and the completion of
quarterly required learning contracts. Students must successfully complete a learning contract that includes a
core set of Honors courses, maintaining a minimum grade point average, attending academic workshops, and
completing at least 10 hours of community service and 10 hours of personal growth. The
Program is
rigorous and rewarding for students.
James is among the top 1% of Honors students and is self-motivated, intelligent, and driven. As a neuroscience
major in the Honors Program, James maintains a 3.949 cumulative grade point average and has been named to
the Deans Honors and Chancellors Honors Lists for his academic excellence. He has also received
recognition at the annual Honors Convocation for his scholarly endeavors. This past June, James graduated
from the University with highest honors, Summa Cum Laude. James is an extraordinarily gifted student who is
very dedicated to his academic pursuits. He takes an active role in his education, and brings a great amount of
intellectual and emotional maturity into the classroom. He is passionate about a career in science and seeks out
opportunities to learn as much as possible about his chosen field of interest, and how he can positively
contribute to the world.
James worked for two years as a laboratory assistant in the Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience. He
engaged in biotechnology research, and he approached his research responsibilities with the same level of
maturity, intellectual curiosity, and critical thinking as he has his other academic pursuits. James has a desire to
contribute to the body of knowledge and understanding of neurobiology including how learning and memory
function. He is eager to continue to expand his knowledge and experience in the field. James received
excellent evaluations from the professors and graduate students with whom he worked and was mentored. He
has received excellent training for the rigor of graduate school, and I strongly recommend him for admission.
I encourage you to consider Mr. James Holmes among your top candidates and thank you for your consideration
of him. If you would like more information, please contact me at
or
Sincerely,
Letter of Reference
First Name: James

Last Name: Holmes
E-Mail:
First Name:
Last Name:
Position / Title:
E-Mail: e
October 16, 2010
Re: James Holmess application to Program
Dear Selection Committee:
I am writing this letter in support of James Holmess application to your Graduate

Program. I have discussed with James his future professional goals on several occasions and
I am impressed about his determination to develop his professional career in the field of
neuroscience.
I got to know James
This class
. Besides formal lectures
students are required to prepare Power Point presentation of original peer-reviewed paper
and participate in debates on specific topics. James did very well earning A. James is also a
student in
This class
. It requires active participation and James
excel at this. Besides his excellent performance on all exams he prepared very well designed
PowerPoint presentation discussing one of the current topics in neuroscience, which
required reading original scientific papers, and gave very good presentation. He also has
proved to be very effective group leader working on the group project assignment. Again, he
did excellent earning A. James demonstrated in both classes that he is the top student and
that he has a strong drive towards neuroscience. This performance in both classes speaks to
his intellectual capability and to his motivation.
Page 1 of 2
2
James will do well in his future professional training because of his intelligence,
motivation and passion towards science. Thus, I am pleased to recommend him to you.
Sincerely,
Page 2 of 2
3
Letter of Reference
First Name: James

Last Name: Holmes
E-Mail:
First Name:
Last Name:
Position / Title:
E-Mail:
December 7, 2010
Dear Member of the Admissions Committee:
I am pleased to recommend James Holmes for admission to your graduate program.
James was a student in my
at the
University of California, Riverside. I rate James as an excellent student based on his
performance in my course.
is
. The course
involves
The students have to
. In
many ways, this course is
. James good performance in
this course therefore indicates a motivated student with a logical thought process and the ability
to integrate knowledge with advanced concepts and techniques.
My communication with James indicates a quiet, hard-working and professional
individual. I evaluate his writing skills as excellent based on the papers submitted to fulfill
requirements for my course. Please contact me if you have any questions regarding my
recommendation of James Holmes
Thank you,
Sincerely,
Neuroscience Program
School of Molecular and Cell Biology
3 1 8 B Morrill Hall
5 0 5 S. Goodwin Avenue
Urbana, IL 6 1 8 0 1
Phone: 2 1 7 -3 3 3 -4 9 7 1
Email: nsp@life.illinois.edu
March 21, 2011
Mr. James Holmes

San Diego, CA 92129
Dear Mr. Holmes:
I am very pleased to inform you that you have been accepted as a graduate student
into the Neuroscience Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Those who met you at during your interview visit felt that your personal and
professional qualities are truly outstanding and that you will be an excellent match
for our program. We are very excited about having you in our program, and we
hope you will accept our offer. Please let us know as soon as possible, but no later
than April 15, once you have come to a decision about accepting our offer of
admission.
The Neuroscience Program has historically provided support for all graduate
students who remain in good academic standing. Support will be provided
through a combination of fellowship, NIH traineeship, teaching assistantship, and
research assistantship. The starting stipend is currently $22,660 per year plus
waiver of tuition and most fees.
I encourage you to speak further with members of our faculty in whose research
you are interested, and who might serve as your research advisor. In particular,
Drs. Roberto Galvez and Lee Beverly have expressed interest in having you join
their laboratories.
We hope we will see you here in the fall! If you have any further questions about
the program, please feel free to contact our Director, Gene Robinson, our
Coordinator, Sam Beshers, or myself.
Sincerely,
J. Lee Beverly, Professor

Chair, Neuroscience Admissions Committee

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APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION

TO THE GRADUATE COLLEGE

I intend to continue for the doctoral degree:

Resident Alien Number:

Not Hispanic or Latino

United States of America

Dual Citizenship Country:

United States of America

Country of Legal Permanent Residence:

United States of America

United States of America

Application for Admission to the Graduate College

Illinois Residency Information

Parent Last Name:

Application Fee Waiver Information

Allied Agency Phone:

Financial Aid Information

I must receive financial aid:

Educational History Information

Univ of Cal Riverside

United States of America

Phi Beta Kappa

Non-Numerical GPA Scale:

Non-Numerical GPA Scale:

Application for Admission to the Graduate College

Non-Numerical GPA Scale:

Non-Numerical GPA Scale:

Non-Numerical GPA Scale:

Non-Numerical GPA Scale:

Application for Admission to the Graduate College

Test Score Information

GRE General: 09/18/2009

GRE Writing Assessment:

Verbal: ____ ____ %

Analytical: ____ ____ %

% for Intended Major:

Paper-Based Test Score:

Language Ability Information

Right to review waived?

Right to review waived?

Right to review waived?

Application for Admission to the Graduate College

Fee Payment Information

Applicant Signature and Confirmation of Information

CHECK WITH YOUR PROPOSED PROGRAM OF STUDY OFFICE FOR

2006 - 2010, University of California, Riverside

Dissection, buffer preparation and staining

June 2008 - August 2008

December 2006 - June 2007

Salk Institute for Biological Studies La Jolla, CA 92037

Application for Admission to the Graduate College

First Name: James

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

October 15, 2010

Dear Graduate School Selection Committee:

Application for Admission to the Graduate College

First Name: James

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

October 16, 2010

Re: James Holmess application to Program

Dear Selection Committee:

I am writing this letter in support of James Holmess application to your Graduate

Verbal: %

Analytical: %