nguoicailay

To Hijojo: I considered double-majoring in either Math/Chemistry or Physics/Chemistry. My parents were very mad when I told them that. I eventually did not do double major even though it looks better if I have an extra degree. It is not because of my parents. It is because self-taught learning, for me, is much faster to gain knowledge. I’m naturally a self-taught person, and I find that my schooling actually interferes with my learning. My PI and I are not very close because he is very busy. I think that I have to make to connection with the professors at my desire graduate school by myself. Thank you for your advice. To all: I will never give up on this field. I know that money is vital, but only Chemistry can make me happy. Actually, I finished the prerequisites for med school with decent grades but did not apply. I’m tired of making flashcards and memorizing. I keep telling my parents that I don’t want that in the future, when I get back from hospital, I tell myself “Oh, God! Tomorrow, I have to do this job again”. Anyways, thank you very much!

Hello, I’m Chemistry Major/ junior at a university in California. My total GPA is 3.94, and major GPA is 4.0. I estimate I will have a total of 2.5 years of research lab experience when I apply to graduate school. I love to pursue Ph.D. in Physical/theoretical Chemistry although people around me (even my family) discourage me from pursuing it. They think that it is a challenging but dead-end field. My parents are very mad at me and want me to pursue MD degree because they think that MD earns more money and is suitable for a woman than this field. However, despite discouragements and bouts of self-doubt, I will stick to my goal. My degree program does not well-prepare for this field. I have bought books and taught myself linear algebra, vector calculus, Complex variable, differential equations, probability theory, and Fortran (I know that I need more knowledge). My questions are: I heard that because there are fewer applicants for Physical/Theoretical Chemistry, it is much easier to get into Ph.D programs at top schools (UCB, Havard, Cal Tech, MIT, etc.) Is that right? How did you guys (graduate students in Physical/theoretical Chemistry) prepare during undergraduate years when undergraduate program does not prepare much knowledge for this field? What is your advice for me, an undergraduate who wish to get into top schools in Physical/theoretical Chemistry? What do you wish that you should have done or prepared during undergraduate years? Thank you very much!