chaospaladin

So far when I've been looking at PhD Programs, I've been using this: http://graduate-scho...______________U since I didn't know where to start in terms of looking for PhD Chemistry Programs to apply in Fall 2011. In the link, Harvard is ranked, but Scripps Research Institute --- The Kellogg School of Science and Technology is not ranked, so that is why I asked the question since I was under the impression that unranked programs are not as good as ranked program. I bring up UC Merced since its PhD Chemistry Program like Scripps Research Institute --- The Kellogg School of Science and Technology's PhD Chemistry Program also isn't ranked. I had a feeling that the PhD Chemistry Program at Scripps Research Institute --- The Kellogg School of Science and Technology was also good since the OP was comparing the PhD Program at Scripps Research Institute --- The Kellogg School of Science and Technology with the PhD Program at Harvard. EDIT: Yeah, I'll start looking for a research group that I think best fits me. I do understand that this is a deciding factor for me at this stage and I will take your advice. Thanks for reminding me. I'll ask you more questions if I need to and thanks for answering my questions so far.

I would like to define a low-income family as one who makes less than $45,000 US Dollars per year. I would also like to change my question from "low income students" to "students coming from low income families." The reason for this is obvious. A student who does not work and therefore has an income of $0 per year but comes from a family who makes over $200,000 in US Dollars per year still has an advantage in terms of resources than a student who has a part-time job that pays minimum wage who comes from a family that makes less than $45,000 US Dollars a year.

While it is a confirmed fact that only 13% of students who come from low income families eventually earn a Bachelor's degree or higher in their lifetime, what is the percentage of students who come from low income families who eventually earn a PhD? A low income family is defined as a family who makes less than $45,000 US Dollars per year.

Does an unranked PhD Chemistry Program indicate? I do not believe that an unranked PhD Chemistry Program is necessarily bad since the OP is deciding between Scripps and Harvard, but I would like someone to give input on this. Granted, the PhD Program at Scripps has only been established in 1992, so the program may be too new to rank. I believe UC Merced's PhD Chemistry Program is also new so it has not yet been ranked.

Besides Scripps, are there any other PhD Chemistry programs that require interviews? And when you mean Scripps, you mean The Scripps Research Institute --- Kellogg School of Science and Technology in La Jolla, CA and Jupiter, FL, right?

Does anyone know of any PhD Chemistry programs that they applied to that didn't have a strict 3.00 GPA cut off? My GPA is over 3.00 hence the title, but I'm looking into applying to a few more of the programs that don't have a strict 3.00 GPA cut off as well as the ones that do have a strict 3.00 GPA cut off. Thanks.

Well horrible is a relative word. My physics skills isn't as good as my math skills but it was good enough for me to get A's in two of my physics labs and 3 of my lecture classes. I don't remember that much physics though. I'll probably need to review it. Regarding some professors that don't respond to my email messages asking to perform undergraduate research, should I resend the email message but condense it and get straight to the point? Most of the email messages I sent were too long because I included my very specific and detailed research experience. I know you told me to go in person and ask them but most of the time they are not available and they don't post office hours since they aren't teaching this term or next term. To the professor that you told me a while back to go to office hours a lot and ask for an undergraduate research position next quarter when I have him again for another quarter of Physical Chemistry, I will do that actually. Also when you applied to PhD Chemistry programs when you were an undergraduate student, did you remember specifically any programs that waived your application fee regardless of income? Thanks.

What does POI mean? I know PI means Principal Investigator, but what does POI mean? Is a POI more higher ranked than a PI? My mathematics background is very good. The only problem is that my physics and computer programming background is horrible (but it can still be improved obviously). I mention physics and computer programming because for the Utah State University PhD Program, they mention that Physical Chemistry PhD students must pass a qualifying exam for physics and computer programming prior to entering the program and I fear that I may fail it if I enter Physical Chemistry at Utah State University. When I offer the small suggestions for future directions, do I do this in the Statement of Purpose or in the email messages I send them?

Regarding convincing the PhD Chemistry Graduate School Admissions Committee of each program I apply to on me being a very excellent fit for a particular Physical Chemistry professor's research group, should I start doing this by emailing Physical Chemistry professors at said universities asking them detailed questions on their research? Some professors are so busy that they don't reply to all of their email messages. Should I give them phone calls instead? Calling a professor to ask them about their research seems awkward though. I'm already starting an email conversation with a professor with 6 messages sent back and forth already so is this considered a good start? Should I just continue emailing Physical Chemistry professors at different universities and doing the exact same thing with what I'm doing so far? Thanks. Also I've been receiving a lot of thumbs down on my posts lately. I'm sorry for spamming, but I just need information. Thanks.

Some professors may choose not to write a letter of recommendation for you if you do not waive your right.

Thanks. Not to bump this thread or anything, but can anyone list any other programs that waive application fees for all students? Thanks. I should have asked this sooner because now I don't think people are as active during this time of the year.

When you mean advisor, do you mean "Principal Investigator"? Are advisors and principal investigators pretty much the same type of people with different titles?

Oh I see. Also who -1 my post? I was just asking an honest question. Geez. EDIT: Whoever -1 my post really discourages questions from inexperienced people like me.

Organic Chemistry is still an interest for me. It is just that Physical Chemistry is a little bit higher on my list than Organic Chemistry. I vaguely remember me saying this at the first 4 posts or so. EDIT: Looking back, I originally said I was interested in inorganic chemistry, but then are these two somewhat similar? I know my TA is trying to be a physical chemist but he works for a PI who is an inorganic chemist.

Actually, I am interested in Physical Chemistry. The only reason why I'm asking is because I heard that Physical Chemistry have the fewest job positions available outside of academia. Is this true?

Does U of T mean University of Toronto? What does JACS and Angewandte mean? Also can someone reply to my other threads and posts in the other 4 threads? Thanks.

Rank the Following Fields in PhD Chemistry from Highest number of Job Positions to lowest Number of Job Positions: Analytical, Computational, Inorganic, Organic, Physical, Theoretical, Bio-organic, Biochemistry, Materials, etc. Are there any other areas I missed? Thanks.

As an extension to one of my previous questions, did anyone apply to any PhD Programs where the application fee was waived due to low income? In case anyone forgot, the previous question was actually different from this question in that the previous question asked for fee waiver for all applicants regardless of income. Thanks!

Is there a forum similar to here that talks about Graduate programs in Chemistry or graduate programs in general?

Is it true that it is very difficult to find a job as a Physical Chemistry after getting a PhD in Physical Chemistry? I posted this in one of the other Chemistry thread, but I would like other opinions on this. Also can someone answer my previous post too? Thanks.

If this is the case, then would I have a higher chance of getting accepted into a PhD program if I expressed interest in joining a research group related to Physical Chemistry when I write my Statement of Purpose? Do you select a research group at the moment you apply or you select one after you are admitted?

Is it true that since there are few jobs for Physical Chemists, it is a little bit easier for a student to gain entry to a PhD Chemistry Program if they express interest in a Physical Chemistry research group? Thanks.

I already said this in the Fall 2011 Chemistry thread, but I'll post the question here again since not many people may check both threads: Can anyone give me a list of PhD Chemistry programs where you applied and the application fee was waived? I'm not asking for a consolidated list obviously, but just the ones you know of and applied. Thank you very much in advance.

Is the reason why Yale won't pay for the visit due to the fact of supply and demand similar to how some application fees are waived? Here is what I mean. Since Yale is a top university, people compete against each other to gain admission, so Yale doesn't have to compete against other universities to take in top students, so that is why they feel like "Well we are a top university, so we are too good to pay for the visits. If you like us, you have to put in money to visit us. If you don't want to visit us and enroll at our university, well then there are always other students who will take the missing spots."

When PhD Chemistry programs admit students, do they admit students based on research group or they just evaluate students against every applicant applying into the program? In other words, let's say I know for a fact a particular Chemistry professor who is a Principal Investigator at a particular university who has very few graduate students in his or her research group due to the Principal Investigator having an extremely uninteresting areas and topics of research that no graduate students wants to do research in, would expressing interest in that research group by saying so in my Statement of Purpose increase my chances of getting into the school's PhD Chemistry Programs? I actually don't plan on deceiving anyone by switching to a different PI of a different area of interest if I do get accepted. I actually am interested in that particular research group with that professor. I just want to know my chances.