process chemist

I have the opportunity to spend my summer during research with two PIs before the my 1st semister in grad school officially starts. One professor does Physical Organic/Materials, and the other PI does synthetic organic/catalysis. I want to focus on catalysis and synthetic organic chemistry for my graduate studies; however, because of funding issues, I may not be able to get into my first choice lab for the summer. I am ok with this aspect of this arraingment, as I have no obligation to stay with that lab;but, will it cause hard feelings within the department if I choose to leave the Physical Organic lab at the end of the summer, and join the catalysis lab? Also, I know what I want to work on for my graduate work; however, the catalysis lab publishes in lower impact journals than the Physical Organic lab. This is a fully funded MS Chemistry program (thesis based), and I have hopes of entering into a R1 PhD program at the conclusion of my MS. Would it be advisable to join the lab that publishes in higher impact journals, and pivot to my real interest during my application process to PhD programs? I would think that would be confusing to adcoms, but the higher impact journal pubs will make my application stand out more.

I am a native New Orleanian, so I know some good spots. My brother stays in some apartments in Carrolton (to the right of Xavier University, across Carrolton Ave) and he pays $650 for a two bed room. These apartments are ok, they are kind of old, but functional. They have central heat, and air, hard wood floors, but the kitchen is small. I think a one bedroom cost $560 at most. The best thing about this area is that it is near Tulane (~15 min by car, by bus I think you take the Carrolton, and then the Lowerline and you should be directly infront of the tennis courts at Tulane). Also, look into people renting doubles near Prytania. This area is really beautiful, right on the street car line, and about a 30 min street car ride from Canal St., near Audobon Park and the zoo, tons of shops and botiques, restaurants, and most importantly, you will be near the crux of most of the Mardi Gras parades ( which you will get off at Tulane, even for grad school). But be wary of the areas very near Tulane (Prytania is one, but you can find good places there), because that area is filled with exclusive neighborhoods, and rents can run well over $1200/month for a double. If you have a car, and don't mind a commute ( I would recommend having a car), there are some new apartments where the St. Bernard housing project used to be. Those apartments are brand spanking new (like granite countertops new), and they have rent controlled apartments for people on fixed incomes (~$400-$500). This is about 30-45 minutes to Tulane, depending on traffic. The good thing about this area is that it is near (walking distance) the Fair Grounds, so you are in walking distance to probably the best music festival in the country (Jazz Fest, roughly ~20 minute walk, but I wouldn't recommend it), and near the interstate (I-610). The con is probably the crime, but this area is not bad. My grandmother lives like four blocks from here and their neighborhood is extremely quiet. If you want to be far away from campus, there is New Orleans east. This is really far from Tulane's campus, but their are many apartments there, but the crime can be bad in some areas. Driving to campus everyday would be a nightmare, literally it would be an hour commute every day. If you prefer surburia, there are Metarie and Kenner. These are both pretty far from Tulane's campus, but they have the more traditional apartment complexes and they run the gambit from inexpensive to really expensive. But again, the commute is murderous. They are near the airport and malls, but that is literally it. If you want to have fun, you will have to take a short drive to New Orleans. All in all, there are many jewels in New Orleans, but you have to watch the crime in the area (this place is not as bad as people make it out to be), and the cost. Also consider, their are many efforts to enforce traffic laws in New Orleans (speed cameras, stop light cameras, police check points), so the closer you live to Tulane the less you will have to drive, and that lowers the probability of getting several tickets, and you will recieve tickets (at $250 a piece). Also, you will have to consider, the flooding situation. Living uptown in general is safe from a floodin stand point. The Carrolton area only got 4-6 ft in Katrina, as opposed to the area where the projects used to be (about 14 ft of water). I don't recommend Craig's List, but ask some students and they will know. Good luck!

Just talked to Boston today. If you haven't got an admit yet, you probably won't get in. If you want to get in, you have to call an advisor and convince him/her to pull your application so that you can get pulled out of the wait list.

Whoever got rejected from UMICH Applied Physics, when did you hear? I am still waiting, but I applied to the MS program.

Thanks on the info, this is some promising news. Did they mention visitation weekends? I applied to Organic (synthetic) so I guess I will be watching out this week.

Has anyone heard from Boston yet? I am on the verge of calling them tomorrow to see if they made any decisions. I don't see any results on the Results Survey page, and I am worried. I have one acceptance one rejection, and am waiting on Boston (deadline 1/1/12) and Michigan Appled Physics (deadline 1/15/12). This seems like a long time, as March is a little less than two weeks away.

@prfshift You right. The current students are making it work, and it would be nice to share some info about how they are pulling it off though. If I am coming from Ohio to live in LA, I personally am not comfortable in moving into an apartment with a roomate I found on Craig's list or some other site. He/she may need to "rough it" for a year, until he/she makes some friends and is in the position to share an apartment. I really need to know, know you to share an apartment with you. I shared a 2BR apartment with my good friend from college in the Bay Area (Richmond/Oakland-I know?) for 6 mo. before my start date with my former company. You talk about expensive. We payed $750 each for proximity to San Francisco.

Before I say this, I would like to note that I am African American, and a left-leaning Independant who has visited LA many times. I didn't want to bring this up, but her it goes. Are they, in an offhand manner, telling you to apply for public housing? It wouldn't be bad to live in the "projects" if you were going to Iowa State, or the University of Kansas; but, you are talking LA county, the land of gang banging. I couldn't imagine where you would end up if you did this. It is totally un-realistic that you can live in LA county, let alone Pasadena on less than $50K a year. I just worked up a budget, and came to $25K for rent on a studo apartment, lights, gas for your car, and groceries, and that was low balling most of the figures. This is bare bones living. I am thinking about the same thing with Boston U. If I get in, I will be sad, because I know I can't afford to live in Boston on that stipend. I will have no other choice but to take out $20-25K in loans to cover basic living expenses.

@alphaproton I was wondering about U Michigan myself. They are still sending out offers, even thought their deadline was so early.

I know it seems hard now, but if you are able to see this through, a PhD will pay off in the long run. May I ask, why did your fellowship drop to 22K? I worked in industry for 4 years as a Process Analytical Chemist. I also recruited new hires for my company, and I can attest that a MS is viewed just like a BS in industry. Also, the work in industry is not glamorous or exciting, or challenging for that matter. I have a friend from undergrad who is in a PhD program at Purdue; eventhough, she is continuing on with her PhD and passed all of her qualifyers, she participated in a MS graduation ceremony to be awarded a MS, even though she is still enrolled as a full time PhD student. Getting awarded this MS can open doors, because it will allow you to teach at Jr. Colleges to pick up extra money, and teach summer school in the local public school system to get some extra cash. That is what one of my friends did when he was in graduate school, he just sat down w/ his PI and asked if there were any openings where he could get work study, or get some extra cash. He also, and I am not saying you have to, sent his wife and his two small kids to live with her parents. This allowed him to concentrate on his task of finishing his studies, rather than worrying about the welfare of his family. He pulled it off, and make 100K+ at my old company, has a live in nanny, and his kids are doing great. Just hold on, and see it thorough. I know it just sounds like words now, but you and your wife will laugh at this experience some day in the future. God speed.

@ah233. It was Univ of Michigan for Applied Physics. They have their own GRE code and everything, but they told me that they didn't have my most recent scores until I called them about decisioins, which have started to come out as of yesterday. I e-mailed my new scores to the department, but they were "lost" since December 18th when I was told they arrived to the program, buy one of the program's administrators.

So one of my graduate programs misplaced my GRE scores, and the Adcoms have been reviewing my profile with my previous scores (which were abysmal). It wasn't until today that they got the most up to date version (which were substanually better than my previous effort, +100 points in the Q section), although the scores were sent directly, as requested, to the program on Dec 18, 2011. I guess I will be geting a rejection e-mail from that program. Why in the hell are these programs so poorly administered. It always seems as if someone is misplacing something that should be a couple of mouse clicks away; or, someone is always loosing documents that should be readily available in a database for the adcoms to review.

Well just got my rejection e-mail from Vanderbilt (Organic). Stated they received an unprecedented number of applicants this year (no surprise). So far, have 1 admit, 1 rejection, and 2 others pending (Boston (Organic), Michigan Applied Physics)

Has anyone applied to Applied Physics programs this year? I only applied to Michigan for an MS in applied physics, but haven't heard anything yet.

Has anyone heard from Boston? Their deadline was Dec. 1st, and I completed their supplemental essay around Jan 17th.

The knock on Purdue is the location. To live in Indiana, which is one of the more conservative states in the midwest, not to mention West Lafayette. Your nearest source of enjoyment is between Chicago and Indianapolis (I would choose Chicago, so much more to do). Think about it, you will be living there for at least 4 years. Do you really want to live in a place where the only thing to do is go to a Pacer's game? You not only have to consider research, but location, of the institution.

Work experience can be counted as research experience/practical experience. Many people in the sciences use their work experience/projects as their research experience. Unless specified by the program, "academic" research is not necessarly required.

http://quizlet.com/47571/barrons-gre-wordlist-4759-words-flash-cards/ 4500 words from Barron's list. All free.

I saw a Vanderbilt acceptance on the results page. When did you send in your application? I got an e-mail yesterday from the Chemistry graduate secretary to confirm some information. I submitted on the 3rd of January. Have there been any more acceptance?

I think that since a number of people received early admits before Jan 1st., people are expecting to hear from all of their schools like yesterday. It is only January 13th, and many grad coms are still making decisions on first round admits (Vanderbilt's deadline isn't until Jan 15th).

That was last year's date

UNC, BBSP, January 27-29 (5 other dates)

Has any one heard from Boston U yet? I applied for synthetic organic, and I am just a little worried. By the way, what is the stipend for Boston? That stipend has to be serious because Boston is serious.

The books are good only for content, but you can learn all of the content, and not have your pacing down. Pacing was my problem w/ my first attempt. You should get the Kaplan new GRE book w/ the CD rom. There are 20 Math, and Verbal practice test. If you have the resources, also I recommend getting the Kaplan online course. I only used it for the quiz bank to get my pacing together. There are so many questions in their quiz bank, you can hardly finish half of them. Also, Barrons's has some nice tricks in their practice book also, but their CD sucks.

Dude/Dudette, Your stats and scores are great. Don't worry. Be happy. There is nothing you can do to influence decisions, but as Maya Angelou said, "You have to prepare for greatness," and you obvioulsy have.