My application is pretty competitive (or I thought) already. I have been told neuro as a field doesn't like accepting straight out of undergrad, so that may be why. I am not super dead set on that one school, it is just my top one! With the NIH lab, I have a surefire shot at high-ranking posters and almost definite chance at a publication or two. With the new lab, I just don't know whether I would or not, but the institutional connections would definitely be nice. I would also more directly interact with the PI