YaBoyAR

I think describing your research in your SOP is merely a way to show you have research experience and some form of training. For example, mentioning that you have done columns and NMR and reaction work-ups would be useful for Orgo programs. Mentioning that you've used python/C++/programming language would be useful for computational programs. Etc etc. I really doubt they care much about your actual project so long as you demonstrated intelligence, comprehension, and training. Even if they did, I'm sure all scientists can relate to projects being put on the back-burner.

Congrats! I also just got the acceptance email. I'm pumped as this is one of my top choices.

Haha. Good point. Great blog, btw!

Definitely take the Calc based physics for both semesters. I don't even know why the algebra based physics is an option. Might as well be High School physics

Officially accepted to Purdue. Just got an email from the school with an offer of admission. Definitely didn't expect anyone to be working this week.

California is expensive, but you're unlikely to find many places that offer more without a fellowship of some sort. Although, the money is really all relative depending on the location's cost of living.

Yeah. Usually schools have a pretty fancy system set up where they use a device specifically tailored to crunch numbers. I believe it's called a 'Calculator.' Although, it's likely only the Ivys have such an advanced device.

Congrats! To those accepted to Washington, may I ask when your app was complete?

Some professors asked that I let them know (2 schools), so I did. The others, I did not. I'd also be interested in the proper etiquette here. I definitely plan to contact them after being accepted though.

I'm so glad everyone is getting accepted! We're all gonna be real Chemists! Whoop!

Emory is now making decisions. Just got an email of acceptance from the admissions department! Feb 28-March 2 visitation, for those interested.

But you applied to reasonable schools for your stats. Your gpa is great and at least you have some research experience. The awards are nice as well. Illinois is obviously going to be the most difficult of those to gain admission. Otherwise, I'd say you're likely to be competitive at the others. Good luck!

UW-Madison is one of the few schools that specifically mention that they do rolling admissions. It'd be nice to hear from them soon!

So, grades just came out for this past semester at my school. Should we be sending the newest transcripts to schools?

What's most surprising is that their software didn't catch this issue first. When I originally tried to upload, I was over the page limit and their software caught the issue and wouldn't accept my submission until it was edited.

Congrats! Hope more follow.

Sort of. They're professionals. Not students or anything so they're break won't be that long. I predict they'll begin the 16th. Take a couple of days off for Christmas and get back to it right after. From what I've seen on the results page, Illinois and Chicago have already begun accepting people and most others will follow suit right after Christmas and early January. But who knows...

Just get it in before the deadline and I'm sure it'll be fine. They likely just do admissions on a rolling basis. Many schools do that.

Got an email from a professor at Purdue last night who reviewed my app. So I guess they're making decisions now, for those interested. I don't know that I would consider it an official notice until the school sends me an email but his exact words were, "Admission / Fellowship is, as they say, money in the bank."

Exactly what ASAP Rocky said. 2 of my letter writers have been great about doing things in a timely manner, and correctly.One had not. However, think about it from their perspective. If you've submitted >5 applications, especially if you didn't send the LoR requests all at the same time, it's easy to get caught up in the shuffle of email and life and lose track of things. Last week, I sent an email to the prof that still hadn't submitted half of my letters. I basically just said, "Hey, I'm gonna send reminders from all the schools right now so you'll have them all bunched up and don't have to go digging to submit." He had the requests since early October in some cases. After doing this, he submitted that day. All complete. Just keep pressing. Professors obviously know how stressful and important this process is for you. They'll understand. Just be respectful, naturally.

You can definitely go ahead and submit your application without them. Then, you can revisit the application to see if they have submitted their letters. They do send out emails as well, however, upon receiving each letter.

That's true. That was tedious. It was the first app I submitted though, so I forgot all about having to do that.

Yeah, I'm one of those overachiever types who submitted all of theirs in October. Lol. Anybody else agree that the UT-Austin and MIT applications were the worst? They asked for so much superfluous information, and the Texas app required that you fill out 2 separate applications. What a pain in the butt!

Under "Coping" I'd add copious amounts of alcohol

Better hurry up! I think the old glove mit is pretty strict about that December 15 deadline for all application materials.