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I am a bit confused and would like some input: I applied to both the Chemistry and Biochemistry programs at UT Austin, and have gotten two emails. One email was an official interview invitation from the Biochemistry program. The second one was an email from one of my top-choice PIs regarding my application to the Chemistry program, though he is also in the Biochemistry program. He said that my application had been directed to him since I had listed interests relevant to his lab and I'd specifically listed his name in my letter. In the email he went into greater detail about his research, and then said that he hopes the information will help me make my decision and that he hopes I join his group in the fall. But I have not received any official letter from the Department. What does this mean? I am confused. Thoughts?

I would be willing in exchange for the same! PM?

Hey, I am also applying to Chemistry PhD programs. I have some suggestions for you, and I would be grateful if you (or anyone else reading) would return the favor! I would choose two examples rather than three for your opening, and try to make them a bit shorter. It comes off as a little preachy whereas you are preaching to the choir, no? In your second paragraph: Mathematics and Chemistry have been my favourite subjects ever since the school days childhood. , when I tried every avenue to learn more about them. I have pursued these topics from a young age, leading me to participate... No explanation points. Keep it more formal. I would get rid of the paragraph in red. In general, I would try to shorten it. Try to eliminate excessive description and introduction - just get straight to the point, especially at the beginnings of paragraphs. I know it's late in the game, but if anyone has suggestions for mine, it's below: I believe that studying the chemistry of biological systems will be critical in developing technology to address human health issues as well as future energy demands. I am specifically interested in investigating the chemistry performed by enzymes, using organic chemistry and biochemistry to understand reaction mechanisms as well as structure-function relationships. I am applying for graduate school because I want to dedicate my career to research in this field. My current research interests have resulted from a combination of both coursework and research experiences. During my senior year at X College, I enrolled in three highly influential courses: Advanced Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Structural Biochemistry, and Metabolic Biochemistry. The advanced organic chemistry course incited an enthusiasm for organic reaction mechanisms which was reinforced by studies of enzyme mechanisms and structures in my biochemistry courses. I discovered my passion for structural biochemistry and mechanistic enzymology, and achieved a senior-year GPA of 3.72. My research background is both extensive and varied, affording me a unique and well-rounded perspective in the lab. I have conducted research in four labs, ranging from Physical Chemistry to Environmental Microbiology, and although I have chosen to pursue graduate work in Biochemistry, my experience in other fields makes me a versatile and interdisciplinary researcher. Under Dr. X, I investigated multiphoton dissociation mechanisms using resonance Raman spectroscopy. I operated a Nd:YAG laser, optimized optical equipment, and programmed data analysis software. The next summer, I was accepted by NSF's Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program to research biomimetic complexes in Dr. Y's lab. This research experience was highly influential for me, not only because it was my first exposure to university-level research, but because it introduced me to the chemistry of biological systems and to the concept of biomimetics. I successfully synthesized analogs of metalloenzyme active sites, honed my organic and inorganic synthesis skills, and analyzed complexes using a suite of techniques including single-crystal XRD, paramagnetic NMR, and ESI-LC-MS. I returned to X College with a newfound appreciation for biological chemistry and a new perspective on research. That year, I completed a senior research thesis under Dr. Z, investigating the role of dynamics in the function of a metalloregulatory protein. I successfully expressed and purified a mutant protein in which a tryptophan residue was introduced in the metal-binding domain as a spectroscopic tag, enabling me to assay changes in dynamics by monitoring anisotropy of tryptophan emission. I wrote a dissertation on the project and presented my research in a Chemistry department seminar. After graduating, I taught SAT preparatory classes in order to explore my interest in teaching, which I had cultivated during my three-year appointment as a Chemistry tutor at College. Though I found it fulfilling to help students learn, I missed the intellectual stimulation and challenges of research. I began seriously considering graduate school, and I decided to gain more research experience in order to make an informed decision. I accepted a position as a Research Associate in a Microbiology lab at University A, where I have deepened my understanding of microbiology and enhanced my interest in enzymology. In Dr. A's lab, I have conducted research on three projects. In the first project, I characterized the physiology, phylogenetics, genomics, and pathways of aromatic catabolism of a novel bacterium. The work expanded the known diversity of perchlorate reduction, a metabolism which is a central focus in the lab. Despite being new to biology, I have learned quickly. Over the past year, I have presented my research at the Conference for the American Society of Microbiology and have submitted two manuscripts for publication, which are currently in review. In my second project, I purified and characterized a cytochrome c enzyme involved in electron transport in perchlorate reduction. I demonstrated that the enzyme was the physiological electron donor in our model organism through spectroscopic bioassays developed in the lab, and a manuscript for this work is currently in preparation. This project was especially pivotal because it substantiated my academic interest in enzymology with actual lab experience. More recently, I developed a GC-MS method for characterizing crude oil metabolism in bioreactors. I designed and engineered the bioreactors and have independently developed a method to analyze hydrocarbon degradation in complex biological sample matrices. My research experience in Dr. A lab has prepared me for graduate school in Chemistry in two major ways. First, I have gained a stronger foundation in biology which has contributed to my specific interest in Bioorganic Chemistry. Second, and perhaps more importantly, I have gained confidence in my research abilities. I present my research at weekly sub-group meetings as well as biannual group meetings alongside graduate students and post-docs. I adapt to the research needs of the lab and learn new techniques quickly. In short, I am confident in my ability to perform graduate level research because I currently conduct research among graduate students. Though I enjoy my research at University A, my research interests and career aspirations both point towards a doctoral degree in Chemistry. I hope to make a career in academic research science, either as a PI or as a senior researcher. Graduate school will help me realize this goal, and moreover, it will enable me to pursue my research interest in the organic chemistry of biological systems. I believe my academic preparation and research background have sufficiently prepared me for graduate school. I have extensive research experience, and I am confident that I have the diligence, intelligence, and motivation to succeed. I want to make this important step in my career in the Chemistry program at University B because I am drawn to the large research community on campus, the collaborative research environment, and customizable curriculum. There are numerous investigators studying mechanisms and structural origins of catalysis whom I am interested in working with. In particular, I am interested in Dr. A's work on B, Dr. C's characterization of D, Dr. E's use of F, and Dr. G's work on H. I would be thrilled to pursue a PhD in Chemistry in such a rich and inspiring research community. Thanks

Hello everyone, I have a few questions about my applications and I'd love to get your advice. My stats: Undergrad Institution: Top US Liberal Arts College Major(s): Chemistry GPA undergraduate: 3.44 Research Interest: Biochemistry GRE Scores: V: 165 (95%) Q: 161 (80%) W: pending Chemistry: 790 (75%) Research Experience: 1 year as a full time RA in a UC Berkeley microbiology lab, 1 REU (summer) in bioinorganic lab, 1 summer and 1 senior research project (1 year) in biochemistry lab, 1 summer in physical chemistry lab Publications: 2 submitted, 1 as a shared-first-author, 1 as a second author. Possibly 1-2 more to be submitted as third author. Presentations: 1 Poster Presentation at National Conference, several other presentations including REU research and senior project presentations Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Dean's List, Scholarships (NSF STEM scholarship) Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Research tech at UC Berkeley currently. Past: Tutor (Chemistry), TA (Chemistry) Applying: UC Berkeley, University of Washington, UT Austin, UCSF, CU Boulder, UC Davis I have three questions: Do I retake the general GRE in order to boost my quantitative score (161, 80%)? I am confident I can do better than that, but if I retake it now, some of the scores may not arrive until after my application is due (of course, they would already have my first set of scores). I'm worried about how it might come off to send a second round of scores like that, but I'm also worried that my quantitative score is too low. Thoughts? My GPA is a little low, and it is particularly low because of a bad grade I got my first semester of organic chemistry. In order to compensate, I took a challenging advanced organic chemistry class later and did quite well. Should I address that point in my personal statement at all? A couple of my PIs have suggested I send four letters of recommendation, and submit the last as "supplementary". Has anyone else done this? I'd really appreciate any suggestions or thoughts you have. Good luck everyone! -dllll

Hello I am in a similar situation - running out of test prep materials. I have tried to locate other ETS practice tests from previous years but have not had great success. GR0627 is the only one I've been able to find. Needless to say, I'm not great at the internet. Can anyone point me in the direction of more practice tests? Thanks so much for your help!