UBackwardsChemistry

Assuming that your performance bounced back after this I think that you should mention it. I had some pretty mediocre grades in my sophomore year largely due to a difficult living situation but was able to get back on track in years 3 and 4. I addressed this in my SoP for all the schools I applied to and it seems to have worked out alright. I gave this a small paragraph at the end as, honestly, GPA is one of the least important metrics for admission (but it can disqualify you if it's way low); ultimately it's up to you. Also there is nothing wrong with "tooting your own horn" a bit in your SoP: admissions committees are looking for talented, committed students and this is your opportunity to highlight your best qualities and (in this case) ameliorate your detractors.

I found this blog post really informed how I approached visit weekends during my application cycle: http://notthelab.blogspot.com/2013/01/tips-for-grad-school-recruiting-weekends.html You can make of it as you will but, by and large, I think that it has some very useful suggestions.

Raines and Weibel really impressed me during my visit weekend and Kiessling is obviously a huge name if you like the chembio interface. The facilities at UW-Madison seem really top notch as well. I can't say anything about Stanford, but I definitely agree with Synorg's post above about UCLA.

Looks like I'm headed to rural Jersey

http://pipeline.corante.com/archives/2013/03/19/scientific_snobbery.php

On Irvine,: - the department is spread out over multiple buildings; the state of the labs is largely dependent on which of these you end up in (ranges from new, open concept with 8' hoods to old school cramped with 6' hoods). No matter where you are it seems that offices are NOT separate from the lab space. -chemicals can take up to a week to get in -I can't really comment on the crystallographic set up, but it sounds like it is at least passable -only five NMRs (one cryoprobed) with a booking system...looks like waiting is a part of life for a department as large as Irvine -Mass spec is fine, big selling point is that it is open 24/7 (Manager seems helpful, but no especially amazing instrumentation) -no catalysis center I've got to say that I was a little disappointed...some good researchers there, though

look familiar? http://chemjobber.blogspot.ca/2013/03/reddit-chemistry-jobs-faq-part-4-does.html

This really depends on the program and degree you choose. For instance, at UToronto you can study towards a masters of applied science (MASc) with a natural sciences bachelors degree while to get admitted for a maters of engineering (MEng) you NEED an engineering degree. If you stick more to the science and less to the flow analysis/hardcore process research you should be able to squeeze into a ChemE program somewhere. It's technically possible, but realistically you need research experience to be considered for most graduate schools; (un?)surprisingly coursework is a poor indicator for whether or not you will succeed in lab.

Wear what makes you comfortable: It's far more important that you are able to showcase your personaiity than your wardrobe. I wouldn't suggest wearing sweatpants, but I wore a Hawaiian shirt to a couple events (it seemed to go over surprisingly well). Jeans and button down will more than suffice.

On UW-Madison: -Labs can be kind of old (particularly in building 2) but the fumehoods are up to date and there's lots of benchspace. Shain tower labs are very nice. Grad student offices are SEPARATE from the labspace (big plus) -chemicals typically arrive a day or two after ordered -Probably the best crystallographic set up in the country (it helps that Bruker Crystallography is headquartered in Madison). -A bunch of NMRs, frequently autosampled. The field and quality of probes for these instruments is also very impressive (prodigy probe, in particular, for lightning fast carbons). Additionally one can get access to 700+ mHz instruments in Biochem if needed -Very decent common mass spec facility (many groups have their own instrumentation as well) -the department is currently building a joint catalysis center (parallel reactors, pressure vessels etc) Madison might actually have better instrumentation than Caltech!

most importantly don't be an asshole to the PI or the other prospectives in your meeting; be courteous and don't cut anyone off! PIs need people who can play nice with others.

On my way back on Sunday my first flight got delayed (due to O'Hare ATC) and I ended up missing my second flight which was the last one of the day to Vancouver. I got rescheduled the next day on a route that almost doubled my travel time b/c apparently they couldn't put me on a direct flight...I'm looking forward to the direct flights I have for this coming weekend

words cannot describe how much I despise O'Hare

This is, surprisingly, not true: I had the chance to talk to the head of the addcom and he said that Caltech averages 1/3 for acceptances-per-admitted students. I think that this is higher than a lot of schools but by no means is it a majority. Definitely agree.

Caltech's buildings (particularly the new one, Schlinger) appear to be very nice to do chemistry in. The hoods are spacious, bench space is decent and there is a new catalysis centre with a dedicated staff scientist to help set up automated reactions and GC/HPLC/UHPLC protocols. The NMR facility is heavily automated, meaning that you will probably have to wait for a bit to get your spectrum but, realistically, all you have to do is drop off your sample in the que (the manager of the facility also seemed super helpful) and pick it up later (instead of having to physically wait in line). I was impressed. Also, there is an awesome pond full of turtles which looks ideal for dissipating stress. I will certainly not be discounting this school based on its facilities.

The #1 thing that I learned from my first visit weekend is to NEVER sign a napkin contract pledging your acceptance of an admissions offer unless you fully intend on attending the school...apparently it can lead to some awkward (but hilarious for those not involved) situations

Good catch; however if you weigh out a spike (lets say 10 mg on a microgram balance) and then take the spectrum on a 300 you will probably lessen your certainty a bit. The user can also have a profound effect on this: I've also seen some specs that were shimmed like garbage integrated very generously to tell a good story...

Tomas Hudlicky has gotten a bit of a reputation for writing about the seedy underbelly of organic syntheses. Derek Lowe summaries two of his more well known works in this vein: http://pipeline.corante.com/archives/2012/11/01/hype_malpractice_and_scientific_misconduct_in_organic_synthesis.php http://pipeline.corante.com/archives/2010/11/12/99_yield_that_friends_is_deception.php Are these allegations true? Definitely; I've even been guilty of malpractice (error out of ignorance). It is important to be aware of the little shortcuts that we, as scientists, might not have otherwise thought twice about (eg reporting only the highest yield, NMR yields above 95% etc) and how they can really cheapen our contributions to chemistry. Please, when you start your graduate career this fall, think hard about how you can do chemistry in a legitimate, reproducable and honest way.

Visit weekends are not an inconsiderable amount of time and (assuming that your school is on the semester system) that due date for the honours thesis is less than two months away. My question is this: when are people stopping labwork and writing up? I think that this coming week will be the last experimental one for me.

I'm glad that this hasn't happened again this year; every grad school has a chance of being a great fit with someone!

I will respectfully disagree with bluerocket: I think that Tristan Lambert and Scott Snyder are bound for great things. Another huge knock against TSRI is, whether true or not, I've heard it through the grapevine that Baran is looking to move his group to wherever will give him the most funding...not exactly a great situation after losing Finn and Nicolau. I've always found Boger's chemistry to be kind of B+, but that's personal opinion.

not yet, but I think that reading this will be useful: http://notthelab.blogspot.ca/2013/01/tips-for-grad-school-recruiting-weekends.html

I've heard at recruitment talks that some PIs don't mind paying incoming students out of grants for a month or two if they have legitimate interest in the group, however some places might have official programs to start early (for all I know)...ask! Also consider whether you want to go hard the summer before starting grad studies. I, personally, am taking at least a couple months off this summer to rest up before ~5 years of 70 +/- 10 hour weeks.

I'm really torn because to spread it out I would have to cut UW-Madison from the team (or visit 4 weekends in a row)...perhaps I'll just have to man up and be travel (and airfare) happy in March Thanks everyone for your thoughts

Does anyone know how to get between Caltech and UCI? I have ~no knowledge of the LA area however it seems like people have been able to fit both into one weekend in previous years