[NSF GRFP 2019-2020]

Honorable Mention: E/E E/E E/VG

Chemistry - Chemical Structure, Dynamics, and Mechanism / First-year graduate student Congratulations to everyone

[Chemistry Fall 2019 cycle]

16 hours ago, chemap said:

Hi everyone! I wanted to get an input on how you guys are deciding what program to commit to. If any of you could please help that'd be great! Thanks!

Hey! I basically made a pro-con list between the three programs I was seriously considering after visits. I ranked the aspects that were most important to me (research, location, etc.), and then looked at which schools had the pros for those aspects. The school with the most pros won. It's a very tough decision, so I decided to go about it in a somewhat quantitative way to make it easier. 

Good luck in your decision, and whichever program you choose will be right for you

[Chemistry Fall 2019 cycle]

Did anyone else apply for chemical biology at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor? I have not heard anything back, but I noticed many people already received their acceptances in different disciplines.

[Visiting Weekends 2019]

UM-Ann Arbor: February 22-23; March 22-23

University of Chicago: February 7-9; February 21-23

University of Washington: February 21-23; March 7-9

UW-Madison: February 15-17; March 8-10

Yale: March 7-8; March 28-29

Columbia: February 8-10; March 8-10

Northwestern: March 15-17; March 22-24 (On the department website)

UCSF: January 27 - 28, and February 3 - 4

(this is assuming that the interview serves as the visiting weekend because why fly candidates out twice when interviews are required)

Rice: Feb 7 -9

UC Santa Barbara - Feb 21 -23

Caltech: March 7-9; March 21-23

UC Berkeley: March 1-2; March 8-9; March 15-16 (expect Stanford's visit to be the day before Cal's - they always coordinate visits)

UCLA: February 21-23, March 14-16

 Georgia Tech: January 24-26, February 28-March 2

Colorado State: February 15-17, March 8-10

 USC: Feburary 8-9

Princeton: February 22-23, March 1-2, March 15-16

UT Austin: February 22-23, March 22-23

 UCSD: February 8-9, March 1-2

CU-Boulder: February 28-March 2; March 14-16

UPenn: Feb 22-23 (Open house/ interview weekend)

Harvard: March 14-16 (department of chemistry & chemical biology CCB)

Texas A&M: March 1-2

Ohio State: February 15-16, March 8-9

University of Notre Dame: February 21-23, March 7-9

University of Pittsburgh: February 22-24, March 29-31

 

[Chemistry Fall 2019 cycle]

Undergrad Institution: Small liberal arts
Major(s): Chemistry, Biochemistry concentration 
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 
Overall GPA: 3.71
Position in Class: 
Type of Student: Domestic, white, female
GRE Scores (revised/old version):
Q: 156
V: 158
W: 4.0
S: none


Research Experience: Two years at undergraduate, first author publication, two poster presentations (one at ACS national meeting), summer research at the Cleveland Clinic

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Undergraduatechemistry scholarship, first author publication

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: ACS student affiliates president, tutor for two years, TA for two years

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points: Very good relationships with letter writers, very involved in undergraduate

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

Applying to Where:
University of Notre Dame - Chemistry (accepted)

Johns Hopkins University - PMB (invited to visit)

University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Ohio State, Maryland college park, Wisconsin Madison (IPiB), Pittsburgh, UMass, Case Western Reserve (BSTP)

[How did you discern which type of research to pursue?]

Hey everyone! I couldn't find a post about this yet, so I thought I would start it. All of the experience I have in chemistry research is in the area of protein chemistry/biochemistry. I really do enjoy it, but how do I know that this is the best type of chemistry to pursue? 

I'm just looking for advice on finding my interests in research. I enjoy reading all types of chemistry journal articles, but what will I really enjoy doing for the years in grad school?

How did you discern this for yourself?