materialsgirl

Yeah no problem. I was in the exact same boat early in June and most of the advice I got was to do a masters. Even my PI from undergrad suggested that I do that. Just don't pay out of pocket/take out loans for a masters! Not worth the debt.

I have similar stats to you (cumulative GPA is 2.66, cumulative chem 2.9 and last 60 units 3.01) but I graduated last year. I've been working for a diagnostics/medical devices company for the past year. I am doing the master's route (also applying to RIT!). As much as I want to show and prove to PhD committees that I am a hard worker, my grades ARE going to hold me back. I've talked to my old REU PI and he was honest with me and told me that with my stats I wouldn't even get into the program (and they're in the top 100...). It was a wake up call that no matter how hard I try to get my application reviewed, it wont really happen. I know it isn't the most ideal situation, but if I want to have the chance to get into powerhouses (UWashington & Berkeley for example) I have to do a masters. It might not be what you want to hear but I suggest the masters.

I have the 1995, 2000, and 2006. PM your email and we can trade 2007 and 1995

By connecticut do you mean UConn? If so, there's definitely a chance you can get in. If your GPA isn't under a 3.0 and you can retake the GRE you should be fine. I did an REU there and was able to get some of the inside scoop for the application process! It isn't a WOW school but it does take its research super seriously. I wanted to apply there but I wasn't interested in being in storrs for 5 years plus the projects didn't interest me that much.

I don't recommend staying at the same institution for a masters and PhD. Both of my PIs from undergrad said that it doesn't really look good doing that (something about being able to work in new environments and such, don't remember since it was a year ago). I'm planning on doing a masters before a phd since my grades were pretty bad. There are a lot of masters at lesser known schools that are funded. I can PM you a list of schools that offer funded terminal master's programs that way you can go to a different school for a phd. As far as masters to phd, there are some schools that might do that but it's up to the school. These schools have funded masters as well. Where are you coming from?

Hey guys, I'm deciding on what kind of programs I should I apply to this fall (to start Fall 2018) and would like some input on my plan. I've reached out to two PIs from undergrad and they both had different suggestions. Areas of research I am looking into are physical. inorganic, and materials chemistry. PI #1 (from my home institution): apply to funded master's chemistry programs (very limited but include schools such as western Washington, San Francisco State to name a couple) PI #2 (from my REU): apply to lower tier PhD programs. Little bit about me/ my situation: I graduated May 2016 with an overall GPA of 2.67 and a major GPA of 2.81 from a religious/liberal arts school . I had a very difficult freshman and sophomore year due to personal issues resulting in a super low GPA that I was never able to recover from (~2.4 average both years). I was able to raise my GPA Junior year (fall: 2.6, spring 3.2) but the fall of my senior year it tanked to a 2.5 due to mental health issues. I was given the option to take a medical leave of absence that semester but I decided against it due to my relationship with my mother at that time (I could not go back home with her for that year). Spring my GPA went back up to a 3.46. Overall, I did much better in my upper division classes than my lower division classes, but not enough to help me. Undergrad was a shit show for me due to financial issues/lack of family support all affecting my mental health. (I'm a minority female, low income background, first generation going to college. Parents did not really understand but tried to and eventually got the hang of it my senior year) I did research for 5 semesters in undergrad: Spring 2014: Computational/biochemistry lab. Realized I hated working with modeled proteins so I looked around for another lab. Fall 2014 - Spring 2016: Inorganic lab. Presented at ACS with my lab partner on the work we did. PI#1 said that there should be enough data produced to be able to get a paper out of it and he said he would work on it but haven't heard any updates since meeting with him in January. Also, I received a grant to continue working over the summer of 2015 in this lab, but I turned down the offer and accepted an NSF REU. Summer 2015: NSF REU at UConn, materials/physical chem related computational lab. Presented that work at ACS as well. (PI#2) I still keep in touch with him as well to give him updates on my plans and next steps. Both PIs that I worked with have expressed to me that they will write strong letters of recommendation for me. Overall, I have a decent amount of research with the possibility of 1 publication (not getting my hopes up for it though). I currently have an industry job not related chemistry but a instrumentation/technical role working with engineers, assay research, and data analytics to qualify the company's instruments. I enjoy the work and my manager has also expressed that he will write me a good letter of recommendation but since it isn't chemistry related, I am worried that it will affect me negatively. Also, I will be moving across the country in November and I'm worried that my manager/the company will take this the wrong way and not write me a letter... Note: I have not taken the GRE or cGRE, currently studying for them and will take them in September and October. Should I put off applying this upcoming cycle? Should I focus on only Master's programs this fall? Should I include maybe one or two PhD programs in the mix? Any tips for not accidentally burning bridges with my manager once I move? Will my current job affect me negatively? Will the move affect me negatively? I know that I am not a strong candidate for top PhD programs but I feel like I have chance for Master's programs, which will ultimately help me in achieving my dream of attending top PhD schools (looking at you Northwestern). Any input helps. thanks! *edited for grammar