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Hi good people, I am Shams from Bangladesh. I completed my bachelor of pharmacy in 2011 and master of pharmacy in 2013. I admit that I was not a good student and scored around 60% marks in bachelor and masters. Later, I took GRE and TOEFL and scored 305(v-148, Q-157, AWA-3.0) and 92. Since TOEFL expired after 2 years, I took IELTS and scored 7(L-8, R-7, W-7, and S-6.5). I have a very small research experience in Phytochemistry(a thesis during master's) and was able to publish a few articles on a few typical Indian journals (not significant to be honest). In total, I have applied for 2 Pharmaceutical Sciences Ph.D. program in the fall of 2015, 4 Biochemistry Ph.D. program in the fall of 2016 and 1 Biochemistry Ph.D. program in the fall of 2017. All the programs & universities I applied were down of the list on US News graduate school ranking list. Yet, I got rejected on all of them! I have 3 years of experience as a Quality Assurance Officer in a pharmaceutical. To be honest, I don’t love spending my life doing what I do now. So, even after all those rejections, I am kind of desperate now to get back to academic life. But repetitive rejections in last 3 years, have kind of made me think that I am not good enough for a Ph.D. program though out of those 7 programs 3 professors in 3 different terms assured me to provide funding. Yes, I don’t have good grades and that might be a cause of rejections. At this point, I am thinking whether I should lower my expectations or try for a Master's or would it still be a good approach to try again for a Ph.D.? It is always a hassle to get recommendations from previous professors and I am tired of getting rejected! Can anybody please give me some kind advice on what I should try for? Master's or Ph.D.? If master's, then can you please name some easy to get into master's program in biological sciences, biochemistry or pharmaceutical sciences? Your precious words can save my academic life. So, help appreciated. Thanks.

Out of all the admits I have, I've narrowed it down to these two but am finding it hard to make a decision. Points in favour of UZH: MUCH cheaper, as they have no tuition fees, better and bigger city (I'm a city person :P), Less specialised program could leave me with more options after graduation. Points in favour of Uppsala: Potentially better program (I'm getting a Theoretical Chemistry specialisation there), Seemingly more lively community and culture (Uppsala being a student town plus I've received countless follow-up mails after getting the admit, makes me feel like they want me more and more welcoming?) I'm really inclined towards Uppsala, but it would turn out to be twice as expensive as UZH :(

I need to add my physical science after I graduate and I have to choose between physics and chemistry. I took geology for the sake of not destroying my gpa with the former two, but now my grad school that I'm attending (Texas State University) does not take geology. Thoughts?

Hello everyone, I am a rising senior studying at a small liberal arts college where I major in Physical Sciences with a focus in Chemistry. I hope to study total synthesis in graduate school and have started working towards that goal. I have taken p.chem, inorg, and organometallics. However, I have not taken Ochem. Now, here is the catch, I was the TA for the course and carried out tutorial classes with them. In the fall, I would be taking retrosynthesis course. I know it sounds odd. However, would it hurt my chance? ## I have 4.5/5 GPA, done 2 summer research projects. I have spent additional 4 semesters doing research. Next year, I am going to do a senior thesis (just took GRE Chem last week!) Thank you

I am really stuck between attending one of these schools to pursue a PhD in organic chemistry and am desperate for some advice! About me: Graduating from UC Berkeley, interested in total synthesis/Natural products. I’m most likely choosing between Noah Burns at Stanford and Tim Newhouse at Yale. I came out to Berkeley after living in NY for 5 years and am familiar with both the Bay Area and the NYC area. After visiting both schools, I feel more comfortable at Stanford, being that I liked the campus/weather/area more and really connected with the graduate students. Yale was comparable (if not quite as nice) in terms of facilities, although I didn’t resonate with the campus and graduate students as much. I am also not a fan of the cold winters. The problem is I feel the research in my field is stronger at Yale. I feel much more inspired by the work they’re conducting. There are also more PI’s whose labs I’m really interested in joining, and know they are consistently putting out strong, interesting research that I could get in on the ground floor. Yes, of course the researchers at Stanford are renowned as well, and often ranked higher for chemistry, but after visiting the department and talking with people in my department at Berkeley it’s clear that Yale is the department that’s going places in the next 5 years. Im afraid of being stuck in Stanford with a PI who can’t get tenure, who only publishes occasionally and is mediocre in terms of creating inspiring projects and molding their students to be extremely strong, capable scientists. However, the grad students there seemed obviously bright and capable and very happy. After being on my visits, I also don’t know anyone committing to Yale, but know a few at Stanford, and am afraid of not getting a strong incoming cohort at Yale. Any thoughts from people who had to make a similar decision? Research strength vs lifestyle?

Hi I am currently trying to decide between 2, potentially 3 MS chem programs. I have offers from GWU (w/ fellowship), SDSU, and UBC (conditional offer). I think the UBC offer is less likely as it is contingent on me confirming a lab supervisor prior to May 31 and I have not had any luck so far. I'm currently about to graduate from UCSD where I have had some research experience. I am mostly choosing between GWU MS in Environmental and Green Chemistry and SDSU for MS Chemistry. I want to pursue environmental chemistry work in the future but mostly, I want to really focus on research, and I am considering doing a PhD in the future. Although GWU is a more prestigious school, the program does not really provide a 'thesis' option. I know that this doesn't mean I can't do research, but I feel that it is less likely? Rather, it's more centered around coursework and 1 capstone project during the last semester. SDSU is very thesis based with a lab supervisor that you work with throughout the whole program. I am wondering if it would be better for me to choose SDSU over GWU based on the fact that I am guaranteed to really gain experience in a lab-setting and doing research, whereas at GWU, I feel that I would be less able to conduct serious research, although I could be wrong.

Hello All, I want to keep this relatively short so I'll start by saying that I am currently deciding between UChicago & UMichigan (fully funded PhD), although I just visited UIUC (am still processing the visit but my gut is not as blown away as I was by the first two). UMichigan gave me a full merit fellowship (5 semesters, full funding the rest of my 5 years) that would allow me to avoid TA duties if I so choose. UChicago's stipend is higher and they gave me a small recruitment fellowship after I visited. I came from a small, liberal arts college so I feel like UChicago, as an institution, is more in line with the educational philosophy of my own undergraduate institution; it also has the small-school feel I am used to. Additionally, I feel like it has a higher prestige, as a whole, than UMichigan, which my advisor said might come into play after grad school (though I feel like on the department level, they are very much equals). I also come from NYC so Chicago is much more like home. What's making my choice very difficult is my bias towards UChicago as an institution and the fact that I am being recruited fairly heavily by my favorite professor at UMichigan; the stipends are almost identical when adjusted for cost of living but UMichigan's holds more prestige. Anyway, as a first-generation college student and a student from several underrepresented backgrounds, I thought I'd ask you guys for any advice. Any, and all advice/thoughts would be much appreciated! Please feel free to message me as well!

I am deciding between Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill for a Chemistry Ph.D. I know UNC has a stronger chem program overall but I am looking to do more chem bio with biomed applications, and Duke has one of the best med schools. In terms of research groups, they're pretty balanced with 2-3 groups at each school that I could work for. So in re: pros/cons, UNC and Duke are tied for me. My question is: are students happier/less stressed at Duke or at UNC? I get that UNC has a top program and that likely comes with additional stress, but is it so bad I should choose Duke instead? I know that the programs at Columbia, Stanford, etc. are pretty cutthroat and stress-inducing and I am wondering if that is the case at UNC.

Hi, this is my first post on thegradcafe so bear with me. I recently committed to Temple University to start pursuing a PhD in physical chemistry in the fall. I also received a presidential fellowship that means I get an increased stipend and only need to work as a TA or RA for 2.5 out of the 5 years. Therefore, I am not planning to work as a TA my first semester. From what I've found online, Temple suggests you take two 3-credit electives and a 1-credit "Teaching in Higher Ed" course while teaching. Since I don't have to work as a TA, should I take more than that? I'm used to taking a full load of courses and working 3 jobs in undergrad, so I like to be busy. Also, I was looking at course offerings for next semester and it seems like a majority of the classes I could/would like to take are only offered at night. Is this typical for a full-time PhD program? It seemed odd, since you're strongly discouraged from having another job. Lastly, can anyone who has had this kind of schedule tell me how you managed your time? In my first semester, I won't officially be in a group yet, so I won't have my own office. Do you just bounce around between libraries and cafes to work during the day until your classes at night? How much time do you spend on campus? Sorry for all of the questions, I'm just not sure what to anticipate. Thank you!

I was just accepted with funding to Cambridge, and it has totally thrown a wrench in my decision. I have tried to explain my pros and cons for each school, but I am also concerned in general about the difference between a USA and a UK PhD - some people say it doesn't matter while others say it is a kiss of death, so I do not know where the truth lies. If anybody has any feedback or experience, this would be greatly appreciated!! I am a younger PhD candidate and American if that matters. Cambridge - I have been working with this professor since last August, when he helped me to write a proposal for the Churchill Scholarship (I didn't make it past the first round lol but we stayed in touch after). The lab is a really great fit, and the POI is very interested in me, but I am somewhat tentative about attending a UK PhD program for several reasons. I am coming straight from undergraduate and would lose out on some valuable advanced coursework and well as connections for job opportunities down the road (since I would be in the UK). I love the idea of finishing my PhD 1-2 years earlier, but I am worried that this would limit my opportunities afterward. I also spent a year living in Germany previously and consider living in Europe to be a huge advantage. UChicago - Another great fit in terms of the professor, and they offered me a pretty competitive fellowship which would ease the cost of living. I also applied for GRFP under this professor, but that is by no means a given award. The professor is young and extremely productive, and I got along quite well with the graduate students. I think that I would benefit from the first-year graduate courses in a US school, and I really liked the first-year TA experience at UChicago. My main concern here was the atmosphere - I got the feeling that the program was rather competitive and that a lot of the graduate students were unhappy.

Has anyone heard from NIH- OxCam Fellowship program about interviews?

Hey, anyone going to University of Rochester’s chemistry visitation weekend March 2-4?

I just realized... 20 years from now... some of you will be Nobel laureates...

Got acceptance offers from Yale and UCSB Chemistry Grad programs for fall 2018. I am an international student applied from an unknown undergrad school. I had a Skype talk with the professor from UCSB physics and I loved the projects and his attitude. Then, Yale accepted me. I like two or three labs there but I am kind of stuck with the other lab. Am i being close minded? I will possibly find something fascinating in Yale but the other lab was amazing. Anyone with similar experiences or who has visited both places? If I go to UCSB what would I miss that Yale would offer?

I recently got a Skype interview with Oxford for DPhil in Organic Chemistry, does anyone have any advice on how to prepare or anyone willing to share their experiences? Thanks!

Does anyone have any thoughts (and even better experience) re: choosing Yale versus Princeton for physical chemistry? Also accepted to UNC, UC Boulder, UCLA, U. Penn, and UCSD.

Hi Today I got my GRE Chemistry score back and it was pretty abysmal, a 690 (48%). I was wondering whether if I should even bother sending it as a domestic applicant for Ph.D. chemistry programs, as the score being that low may hurt instead of help my application. Some background: Applying from undergrad at Berkeley, 2.88 cumulative and 2.68 major GPA. GRE scores 162Q 163V 5.5W, 2 summer internships, 1.5 semesters/ 3.6 "full time" months worth of research, no publications, part time job in the chemistry stockrooms since summer before sophomore year. 4 total recommendation letters (where schools allow more than 3) - 3 solid ones from my PI, postdoc now at Genentech, and my work supervisor, and 1 from a postdoc that taught a class. I'm applying to most of the UCs except Berkeley, USC, Scripps, JHU, UChicago, and Northwestern Thanks for any feedback, any advice appreciated!

Hey everyone, I recently got into MIT , Berkeley and Columbia for a chemistry PhD. I am interested in inorganic materials. I was wondering if anyone has advice on which one to choose? I would really appreciate if anyone shared their experience in one of these programs. Thanks!

Hey everyone, I recently got into MIT , Berkeley and Columbia for a chemistry PhD. I am interested in inorganic materials. I was wondering if anyone has advice on which one to choose? I would really appreciate if anyone shared their experience in one of these programs. Thanks!

Hey all, As an international applicant with little experience in the American graduate admissions world, I would like to know what to expect from an skype interview with a POI. I would like to be more prepared but I am not sure whether they will talk about their research experience, my credentials, my goals as a grad student, my personal life, general chemistry (lol) or even a mix of everything. What are the topics professors are usually more interested in these interviews?

Has anyone heard anything about interviews for the OxCam NIH Partnership program?

So this semester, it looks like I am getting my first ever Cs (spectroscopy and physics II). I am super bummed but here are my updated specs and plz let me know what you think. I am a junior chem major, dance minor, math minor I go to a "top 100" R1 public university GPA: 3.3 (3.1 major gpa) -I completed a summer undergraduate research fellowship at my school two summers ago (biochemistry) and I am currently trying to move away from that kind of research. -I completed an NSF-REU this past summer at an R2 university. (Theoretical/computational chemistry) -I have presented my biochemistry research at 1 national conference and 3 regional conferences (will possibly attend another national conference for this) -I have presented my theoretical research at 1 national conference and I plan on presenting it at ACS meeting and potentially another national conference -I have one publication where I am first author (theoretical/computational) in a pretty well-known journal -I have two research mentors that would write me great letters of rec and one professor in quantum chemistry that would also be able to write me a good letter of rec -have not taken gre yet Other things: I'm a big advocate for women in stem and I am on the board of my school's feminist group along with the women in stem group on campus (I dont care too much if this helps me get in, but it might) Before these C's I was hoping to apply to top 10 schools (focusing on theoretical/computational). I'm pretty sure this isn't possible anymore so are top 25 schools doable? Any suggestions? Should I drop out lol

Hi everyone, I am applying to PhD programs in the US for the Fall 2018 semester but I am not confident that my SOP is good enough. As an international student, I have little knowledge on this since writing SOP for graduate schools is not common my country. Can someone review my SOP and tell me what could be changed to improve it? Any advice is welcome I tried to keep it 1 page long because I heard that faculty members in the US do not like to see statements any longer than that. However, I had to omit that I have one manuscript in preparation, one poster presentation, voluntary activities etc. What do you think? Should I replace any information on my SOP by those? Thanks To the admissions committee, I am writing on behalf of my application for the Doctoral program in Chemistry at the University of X. I have earned a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from the Federal University of Viçosa (Brazil) in 2015 and a Master's degree in Inorganic Chemistry from the Federal University of Minas Gerais in 2017. The strong research on catalysis and new synthetic methodologies conducted in your institution made me very interested in pursuing graduate studies at your department. Since sophomore year in college, I have been involved in research projects in the interface between organic and inorganic chemistry, studying new ways to transform abundant and cheap substances into valuable compounds using less toxic reagents and generating less waste. In my Master's thesis I managed to transform compounds extracted from pine trees into biologically-active amines in a one-pot procedure using ethanol instead of toluene as a solvent, a greener approach to the synthesis of amines that led to higher yields and selectivities than the traditional systems already used. In addition, I had the opportunity to take graduate-level courses about group theory, advanced mass spectrometry, nanotechnology and experimental nuclear magnetic resonance which contributed to my understanding of core concepts of my research area. I have also spent the 2012-2013 academic year in the U.S performing research at the University of California Davis as a recipient of the Science Without Borders scholarship. Studying abroad has introduced me to state-of-the-art science and allowed me to operate new instruments and learn new techniques not available in my home institution, besides the rich cultural exchange. In 2016, the American Chemical Society awarded me with a scholarship to travel to Panama, where I received intensive training on scientific outreach and communication. This opportunity has impacted the way I think chemistry can serve our society and made me realize I can do more for my country than I ever expected through science. Brazil has numerous economic and social inequality problems,and I think one of the most powerful ways to overcome them is through international scientific cooperation and knowledge exchange. Research experience combined with extensive theoretical and practical training received during the baccalaureate and graduate-level courses encouraged me to take a step further in my career as a scientist. My professional goal is to become highly qualified in the field of catalysis and teach at an institution committed to social, economic, environmental and scientific development in my country. The PhD program in Chemistry at the University of Utah is a very good fit for me since it has a structure with all the resources I need to advance in my research, with Dr. X and Dr. Y and Dr. Z groups being very active and relevant to my field. The NMR facility have the capability of multinuclear detection, which is indispensable for my work in the frontier of organometallic chemistry and synthesis, as well as modern mass and optical spectrometers. I am confident that the aforementioned characteristics make me a viable candidate for this graduate program. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss my candidacy with the department faculty and provide further information. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Hi everyone, I am about to go to the US for a masters in chemistry. My intention is to apply to a PhD program after my MS degree is awarded, but I was wondering about the possibility of working before continuing to a doctoral program. As an international student, what would be my chances of getting hired by any company? I know that companies try to avoid hiring foreign workers since the visa and/or residency permits are costly to obtain. But has anyone here been hired under these circumstances? How was your experience? Please share stories or comments that you consider to be useful for me and others in the same situation. Thanks

GRE- 303 (V:144 Q:159) & TOEFL 88 (all section above 20), CGPA: 8.86, Undergraduate institution: IIT(India) , Major: Chemistry, Research experience: 1 yr, Strong LOR (expected) So far I have planned to apply to University of Illinois Chicago & Michigan state university for the graduate program focusing on organic chemistry. Can anyone give me any suggestion regarding my choices and also suggest some universities with this score? I'll be graduating this year.