chemistry PhD help

[steelbacks]

I'm looking at doing my postgrad studying in the US (chemistry PhD) but so far i've been rejected by each uni i've applied to. I'm looking at focusing on analytical chemistry. Does anyone know over any uni's in the US that is still accepting graduates for this coming spring that you think i might get accpeted by ?

I finished my forth and final year studying forensic science at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in Cambridge, to which I received a first in forensic science (which is a roughly equivalent to a 3.7 to 4.0 unweighted GPA). Although the degree was forensic science it was in fact more or less just analytical chemistry.

GRE - 1110

Work experience includes working as a Laboratory Technician in which I utilized ICP-MS and ICP-OES to analyze the metal concentrations within water samples. My current job is working as a sample technician producing prototype catalytic converters.

[anthropologygeek]

Well, what classes did you take? Most schools only allow u to not have taken three of the following, advance inorganic, advance organic, instrumental analysis , both pchems, and two semester of calc based physics.

[steelbacks]

These are the modules I undertook.

Life Science: Central Concepts, Introduction to Organic Chemistry, Chemical Change, Foundation Statistics, Group Project, Foundation Biology, The Structure of Chemistry , Foundations of Information Technology, Foundation Mathematics , Study Skills - Science.

The Forensic Analysis of DNA and Biological Material, Introduction to Biology and Forensic Chemistry, Forensic Anthropology and Pathology.

Introduction to Police and Forensic Photography, United Kingdom Legal Systems and Law for Forensic Scientists, Introduction to Forensic Methodologies, Advanced Forensic Methodologies, Scene and Laboratory Investigation.

Advanced Fire and Explosion Investigation, Forensic Analysis of Drugs and Poisons , Introduction to Analytical Chemistry and Laboratory Quality Management, Chemical Criminalistics, Spectroscopic Techniques for Forensic Science, Physical and Quantitative Chemistry for Forensic Scientists, Introduction to Molecular Biochemistry and Forensic Toxicology.

Edited September 5, 2010 by steelbacks

[anthropologygeek]

To do analytical chem you need to take instrumental analysis, both physics that are calc based along with both ochems for majors along with pchem for majors that are calc based. If you did that I could be certain that you would get into a ton of schools for phd any outside top 60. But these are needed classes and you couldn't do it without these.

[steelbacks]

mmm....i hoped that my modules that i'd taken would cover me seeing as most involved analytical chemistry in some way or another.

[Eigen]

Just because they involved analytical chemistry doesn't mean they prepared you for a PhD in it.

A course like Instrumental Analysis teaches you to understand how to work (read: the basics of taking apart, rebuilding, and working with) each of the major types of instruments. You should also have a very good working knowledge of circuitry and electronics, I would think.

Part of the problem will likely be the unusual courses from undergrad, and the fact that you were not in a chemistry program, but rather a forensic chem program- with much more of a specific focus, and much less of a general focus.

Another problem you may be running into is that analytical chemistry (as a field) is dying in large part- mostly, it's being swallowed into the other subdisciplines. Most of the bioanalytical techniques are being taken over by biochemists, the molecular techniques by organic chemists, the electrochemical techniques by inorganic chemists, and a lot of the instrumentation by physical chemists. So few Analytical chemists are going back into academia that the programs that still offer analytical PhDs are very, very competitive.