Pnictides

Don't you mean "strict"?

I'm not taking a year off.

Just a quick question, does anyone remember any school(s) they applied to that offered fee waivers for low income students off the top of their head?

Would anyone be interested if I were to upload them (1983 exam and 1990 exam) to a torrent engine?

If you could recommend 1 single Biochemistry book and 1 single Physical chemistry book in order to prepare for the GRE, what two books would those be?

I also have a question on the timing of taking the GRE Chemistry test. If I plan on graduating Spring 2012 and applying to PhD Chemistry programs in Fall 2011 for enrollment in Fall 2012 and the Chemistry GRE is only offered in October, November, and April and I start the inorganic chemistry sequence in Fall 2011 and Winter 2012, how should I study for the inorganic question of the Chemistry GRE? Should I just start self-studying in the summer and take the Chemistry GRE in October 2011?

I thought I'd join in. My GRE scores (taken August 15th).
Verbal 164 (94th percentile) -> Prediction right after the test: 690-790
Math 166 (94th percentile) -> Prediction: 750-800
AWA 5.5 (96th percentile).

A little disappointed about my Math scores, but it shouldn't matter that much.

Took the test on 22/10/2011 (paper based)

Q: 163 (88% = shit)
V: 151 (51% = shit)
AWA: 4.5 (72%)

I am screwed up, no engineering college will accept me with that law Q score. Shit.

And it has only been 7 weeks in. I'm struggling with course work right now because I really don't see the point of all this BS. Course work is such a stupid formality, I just hate how I can't get to work in the lab right away because we all know that's what I'm there for anyway. Just learn the science you need as you go along with research, why all the useless coursework that you'll probably never or hardly use again?

Also, sometimes I bother wondering why I went to grad school anyway. The economy sucks, and it will for a LONG time. We're training way too many PhDs for number of positions available in academia (which I plan on staying far away from). All manufacturing jobs and R and D are being shipped over seas. I'll be educated all right when I leave, but I'll still be poor. I don't see the point of blasting my brains out when it is increasingly likely that none of this BS will pay off. The whole system is f$@%ed beyond belief.

I am still a 2nd year student, so I will take that class in Fall 2012. Don't you mean "Angewandte Chemie"?

Also regarding impact factor, what is the cut off for the index for the journal to be considered "A-Level"? People are saying I should try to work for a PI that has lots of publications in high impact journals.

In PhD Chemistry Applications, what is more important? Research fit or prestige of recommender?

I am asking because I am currently interested in inorganic chemistry and materials for its applications in renewable energy. I am applying to several NSF REU sites and they ask to indicate a few professors I would like to work with. I am already doing undergraduate research with a professor in renewable energy, and I plan to get a letter of recommendation from him for my applications, but I still need 2 more LORs. I plan to get the other 2 LORs from PIs at NSF REU sites. On my NSF REU applications, should I try to designate a professor doing renewable energy (research fit) but not that powerful or a famous professor (National Academy of the Sciences, Nobel prize winner, etc.) and work with a boring project that is uninteresting to me?

My current PI whom I plan to stay at for 4 years works in renewable energy, but is a new professor who does not have prestige.

I know for a fact I want to work with inorganic chemistry, materials, renewable energy for my PhD in inorganic chemistry or materials. Can someone suggest me REU sites that cover these areas? I go on a quarter system, so the REU would need to start June 18th 2012 or later.

What exactly is "research fit"? Is "research fit" how well your undergraduate research projects match up with the projects you will be doing for you PhD research? Let's say if I am already doing undergraduate research in renewable energy right now, would doing undergraduate research in another branch of renewable energy at a REU site increase my "research fit" for PhD applications?

Is it possible for one to abuse "research fit" to get oneself's foot in the door and then switch PIs to a different group where that new group interests you more?

Thanks.

Besides SOP, our undergraduate research, and LORs, how else can we show research fit?

http://apps.webofknowledge.com/UA_GeneralSearch_input.do?product=UA&search_mode=GeneralSearch&SID=4EfaKC1biB2Gk24bFKj&preferencesSaved=

How would I go about in searching for scientific journal articles? Would this website be a good choice?

http://apps.webofknowledge.com/UA_GeneralSearch_input.do?product=UA&search_mode=GeneralSearch&SID=4EfaKC1biB2Gk24bFKj&preferencesSaved=

How would I go about in searching for scientific journal articles? Would this website be a good choice?

Besides SOP, our undergraduate research, and LORs, how else can we show research fit?

What exactly is "research fit"? Is "research fit" how well your undergraduate research projects match up with the projects you will be doing for you PhD research? Let's say if I am already doing undergraduate research in renewable energy right now, would doing undergraduate research in another branch of renewable energy at a REU site increase my "research fit" for PhD applications?

Is it possible for one to abuse "research fit" to get oneself's foot in the door and then switch PIs to a different group where that new group interests you more?

Thanks.

It has to be research fit, as most students to graduate programs have not worked with the famous professors. Those superstar profs in chemistry exist only at certain schools, and most students don't have access to them, even with the NSF-REU programs. But research fit is most important because it allows the program to connect you directly with a prof who does work that you are interested in, because you are going to have to spend 5-6 years there as a PhD student. It would be unfair to you for a program to grant admission to a student, and then have the student find that nobody in your program is doing the research that they want to pursue.

Also, talk to students in these programs. They give you an unfiltered view of their programs. I was hell bent on applying to a program, until I spoke with a grad student in that program at a conference. He told me that, if you are not one of the top students in you cohort, you probably will not end up in a lab of your choosing, and may get pushed into joining any lab. So you may go in wanting to do inorganic, but may be forced to join a biochemistry lab.

I know for a fact I want to work with inorganic chemistry, materials, renewable energy for my PhD in inorganic chemistry or materials. Can someone suggest me REU sites that cover these areas? I go on a quarter system, so the REU would need to start June 18th 2012 or later.

In PhD Chemistry Applications, what is more important? Research fit or prestige of recommender?

I am asking because I am currently interested in inorganic chemistry and materials for its applications in renewable energy. I am applying to several NSF REU sites and they ask to indicate a few professors I would like to work with. I am already doing undergraduate research with a professor in renewable energy, and I plan to get a letter of recommendation from him for my applications, but I still need 2 more LORs. I plan to get the other 2 LORs from PIs at NSF REU sites. On my NSF REU applications, should I try to designate a professor doing renewable energy (research fit) but not that powerful or a famous professor (National Academy of the Sciences, Nobel prize winner, etc.) and work with a boring project that is uninteresting to me?

My current PI whom I plan to stay at for 4 years works in renewable energy, but is a new professor who does not have prestige.