someyoungkid

Patience is not a virtue. It is a necessity.

Where do you find the information about the maintenance?

Sorry, but if you wanted to appease me it should have read like this: Upon further reflection I realize that I have no insight about the University of Minnesota. I can now see that when someone who I have never met asks for information about a something, they are not asking for my opinion. Also I sincerely apologize for using the word "bro."

Poncho, your comment is true, insightful and helpful -- YaBoyAr's is not. Saying "You got into UIUC. the end" is, in my opinion, not good advice at all. Also, brooksja5 did't ask anything about UIUC. I'm sure he or she is well aware of national reputations and was asking for specific insight about the program in the twin cities.

What? This is awful advice from YaBoyAr. Minnesota has a pretty large program, and I am sure that they have some great researchers (albeit other than googling their USNEWS ranking just now - #21 - I don't know much about particular faculty at Minnesota). It depends on you personal fit. My approach is I am going to visit every school that I get into and wait to make any decisions until after I have more knowledge about each program.

Thanks so much. You have helped a lot. One last question. If a look through the research profiles of many groups at many schools and I find a few PIs who I would really like to work with, should I try to contact them (or visit the school and their lab) before I have been admitted to the school? Or would this be a waste of time (or even worse, would it just annoy/waste time the PI)?

Eigen, what about the question of getting a spot in a particular group? If I apply to a school becuase of a certain PI, what are the chances that I can get into that lab anyway? Is this something that I shouldn't worry about until I have been accepted and go on visits (then I can ask the PI how many students he/she plans to accept)? In regards to targeting good schools, I feel like there is some validity to this approach--be it simply that "good" schools will have better funding and a higher concentration of excellent PIs. This is just my perception, and I understant that I am very young in my chemistry life. Am I way off base?

Thanks for the reply. I've read through the research topics for the faculty at several schools. In my opinion at most good/large programs there are several groups that look to have topics interesting to me, but I don't know enough about the process of getting into a certain group once you have been admitted to the school. If I apply to a school because a certain PI look very good but I don't land a spot in that group, then what is the point anyway? Also does anyone know about applying for NSF fellowships to fund graduate school (specifically about applying as an undergraduate). One more thing. How "cook cutter" are graduate school applications? Once you have filled one out is it pretty basic to do another? Or are they all long and unique? Thanks again!

I just finished my third year in an ACS certified B.S. Chem program. I attend a small liberal arts university, and I would like to get a Ph.D. in organic synthesis. I'm wondering what top schools I have a shot at getting into. GPA: 3.95 Research: 4 semesters and 1 summer so far. 2 semesters and 1 summer yet to come. Publications: None yet. One in the works that will hopefully be out by the end of the summer. Presentation: 1 oral and 3 posters at professional meetings. At least 2 more before graduation. Awards: Goldwater Scholarship. GRE: Will take this summer. GRE Chem: Will take this fall. I really want to attend a top program, but I don't know which ones I have a realistic shot at attending. My university is well respected, but certainly not known for its research. I should have good to excellent letters of rec. I got a B in P.Chem. but other than that my chem GPA is good, and I am in no way geographically constrained. Any advise would be appreciated!