jmbky1

Yeah you're right. I guess I should closely monitor my forum browsing while drinking. My bad bros. I don't want to make enemies here so I apologize for coming across as a douche.

sorry i'm rude

Yeah this is true. I need six courses, usually completed within the first 1.5 yrs, then the rest is research in my area. I just know I want to be a professor so I might end up having to teach the shit that annoys me along with the parts I love. I guess that is to be expected though and I can figure out a way to not be as harsh on the stuff I found to be useless and dull. I think I'll finish this rotation and the rest of my rotations before making a decision, so thanks for that bit of advice. Maybe I am just overwhelmed with everything at the moment.

OK so I just started in the doctoral program at school as a biochemistry student. For my first lab rotation, I'm working in an organic lab and it sort of has reminded me of how much I enjoyed organic lab as an undergrad. I feel like I'm more interested in the organic lab than I am working in a biochem lab (I hate running gels and assays and all that other boring shit.) But here is my problem... As far as biochem is concerned, I am interested in some of the research and I feel comfortable in my knowledge of the subject. I could probably get out with a PhD in ~5 years. However, there is a lot in biochem that I can't stand. I fucking HATE metabolism and the memorization that mirrors the biology portion of biochemistry. I love studying protein structure/function (prof here who does cool research in there area, where I'd more than likely end up), but much of the rest I can't say I have much interest in. With organic, I love the lab part of it WAY more than biochem, but the coursework is where I sort of suck. I worry I would be a shitty organic chemist and I almost wonder if I should go with what I'd be better at and end up a great biochemist rather than a sub-par organic chemist. Organic PhD's typically run ~6 years so I'd be here a bit longer which would blow. I dunno I don't want to rush into anything so maybe you guys could shed some light on this situation from experience.

I'm going to begin working on my PhD in biochemistry this fall. Up until recently, my research interests were in the realm of protein structure, function, and evolution. However, my obsession with issues at the interface of science and religion over the past year or so has led me to become very interested in abiogenesis. I'm not religious at all, but questions of origin have always intrigued me. Problem is, there isn't much research going on in the field. There isn't any going on at the university I'm going to, though I might be able to convince someone to sponsor me. But there isn't much abiogenesis research occurring at any university so my school of choice is obviously not the problem. How do common scientists view abiogenesis? Any suggestions to my situation?

I was talking to a guy who had committed to BU's chem PhD program and after seeing a prof at FSU give a talk at his school, decided to renege on his commitment...IN THE MIDDLE OF MAY. Needless to say, he's not welcome back on BU's campus ever again. They weren't pleased. BUT, he's able to laugh about this because he knows all that matters is that he ended up where he wanted to be and with the mentor he wanted. Do what the hell you want to do and don't worry about anyone else.

Happiness would totally vary on a person to person basis, as well as department. I just got back from visiting and to be perfectly honest, Tallahassee is a really shitty city. No one goes to FSU for its location. That being said, the campus is gorgeous and I'm not too worried about living in a huge city with tons to do. The school itself and the awesome faculty sold me immediately.

Is there an official way of doing this, or can I just e-mail people in the departments of the respective schools letting them know of my decision?

I've been accepted to a couple of chemistry PhD programs and my initial interests while applying were in biochemistry. I was wondering if my area of focus shifted to maybe analytical or physical chemistry, would that be acceptable? I'm sure many people have done it, but I don't want them to think I'm some type of indecisive flake. I'm not one of those guys who knew he wanted to be a biochemist from the time he was 10. If I visit and talk with faculty and find that I mesh better with, say, a physical chemist and his areas of research seem intriguing, would it not be a problem shifting to that?

Name dropping is DEFINITELY important. A lot of programs admit students based on which advisors need grads so if you say you are interested in the work of Mr. Smith and not many other people do, your chances are increased.

TRUTH. I'm 2 for 2 on admissions so far to PhD and I did just about this for my statements. Here's sort of an outline for how I structured mine: Interesting/engaging opener for what brought you to realize you wanted to go to grad school. Why do you want the specific degree (in your case, most places will want an explanation as to why you want MS over PhD) Research experience Career aspirations Why this school? (what can the school offer you that others can't?) Which prof do you have an interest in working with and why? (look at their research and focus on why it's appealing to you) Why you? (what you can offer the school that other candidates can't) Interesting closure to tie it all together. Hope that helps some, though I can only speak for PhD apps.

No, I have not. I figure that my visit will definitely aid in my decision.

I've got a bit of a dilemma, but one that I guess I don't mind having. I got into my first choice for chemistry which is at FSU. They offered a TA and a stipend of $19,000 along with a note saying that student fees can sometimes be upwards of $1,000 per semester (yikes!). I also got into the University of Louisville's program. They offered me a fellowship for $30,000 per year (Yes, thirty thousand!) as part of a fellowship program that brings chemistry into middle school classrooms via grad students. Consumes maybe 15-20 hours a week of your time. So here is my problem: FSU was my top choice, but there is such a huge difference in money. Also, is the prestige of a FSU diploma outweighed by the prestige of a fellowship over TA? I don't know. I live in Louisville now and would like a change of scenery, but the offer just seems so enticing. Plus, I could quickly pay off all undergrad debt. What would you all recommend? Take the huge pay-cut and go to my first choice (and get out of town!) or accept the fellowship at a school I still wouldn't mind attending?

Applying for a chemistry PhD. My interests lie in protein structure, function, and evolution. So I guess you would consider me a biochemist, though I do love analytical. Sometimes biochemistry just doesn't have enough math for me to be satisfied. Maybe I can be an analytical biochemist :shock:

I have a Bachelor's in Business Administration and have been admitted to get my PhD in chemistry this fall. I originally intended on med school, but I decided I would hate myself if I went to med school and that I liked chemistry too much. Since at this point I was already a senior, I only had time to complete a minor in chemistry. I took a year of physics, a year of gen chem, a year of organic, a year of biology, a semester of analytical and a semester of biochem all within a year and a half. My overall GPA ended up being a 3.4 (I hated business and got bad grades in accounting) but my science GPA was around a 3.9. My GRE math was very high, did research all last summer which was uncredited/unpaid, and got very strong letters of recommendation from science faculty. I realize I'm a rare case, but grad schools look at your situation and take it all into account. At first glance, I am a business major with a 3.4 GPA who wants to be a chemistry PhD which is absolutely laughable. BUT, grad schools obviously take time to look beneath the surface to see your potential and examine your situation. Just contact faculty and explain your situation. That's what I did.

The other thread was about 6 months old and only concerned last fall's enrollment so I took the liberty of creating a new one. Hopefully the mods don't mind.