Well, I bit the bullet tonight. I’ll see both of you at Columbia this fall! (Provided the school is open, which seems kinda doubtful atm.)
Tom Rovis is actually a big draw for me - his research is super interesting and he made a great impression on me at the visit weekend. But I’d be happy joining some of the more biological groups as well.
I'm a junior pursuing a B.S. in chemistry and I think I will graduate with roughly a 3.7 GPA (maybe 3.6 minimum) if things go well. I think I might graduate with a 3.5-3.6 major GPA. I'm currently and will take a few chemistry graduate courses as well.
I have some publications in reputable journals for different projects I've worked on with a faculty member and graduate student and by the time I graduate will have done research there for 2 years and including two summers full time (or one summer and an REU with a different faculty in the same field). My PI is well-known and respected in his field.
Earlier in my undergraduate career I also did research at a community college but this research only resulted in a few poster sessions and symposiums, oral presentations (no publications).
I already know what field I want to pursue for research (which is what my publications are based on) and want to attend a top graduate school which (best case scenario) have multiple faculty members working on what I find interesting like Princeton.
What are my chances for graduate school admission (assuming I do well on the GRE and chem GRE) and how can I improve my chances?
