Fall 2011 Chemistry

[tso123d]

So who else here is applying to graduate school for chemistry for next fall?

[SyntheticOrganiker]

I will be. Applying to Scripps, UC Berkeley, Harvard, Columbia, Yale, MIT.

[tso123d]

I guess I'll add that I'm applying to UCSB, UCSD, Northwestern, UNC, Harvard, MIT, Bekeley.

[je1230]

I'm applying to UNC, U of Michigan, U of Illinois, MIT, and PennState for chemistry.

[Backside Attack]

Berkeley, Scripps, UT Austin, Illinois, Harvard, Northwestern for OChem.

[ccb]

Caltech, Harvard, MIT, Stanford, UCLA, UT Austin, Scripps, University of Wisconsin-Madison (all in organic chemistry). Currently doing research at Caltech and has been awarded SURF for doing summer research at Caltech. Also published one paper in PCCP at EPFL, preparing for another one at Caltech. Also worked earlier as a research assistant at EPFL and University of Rostock.

What about others?

Edited November 24, 2010 by ccb

[tso123d]

Orgo sure seems to be well represented here. I am going for materials chem.

Edited November 24, 2010 by tso123d

[UnlikelyGrad]

Welcome, all chem applicants!

You all seem very ambitious. Doesn't anyone here have a "safety school"? Or are you just a really different bunch than the last 2 groups (2009, 2010) of applicants here at GradCafe?

[sulay]

hi guys ! what is your profile.. your GRE scores, subject GRE and publications would love to know..

[SyntheticOrganiker]

To facilitate the discussion, I guess I'll give my numerical stats:

GRE: 1400 composite (>700 quant)

GRE Chem: 95%

GPA: 4.0 at R1 university

~10 grad courses

3 years of research (2 different research groups)

1 summer research project

1 publication in a specialized journal (not 1st author...)

My letters will be great.

We shall see if these are good enough for where I applied.

[je1230]

I'd love some input on my profile. Here's what I've got:

GRE: 800Q 520V

GRE Chemistry: 860

GPA: 3.97 (4.0 major) at a small private university

3 Summer Research Projects- all REUs (one at a national laboratory, one in Brazil, and one at Penn State)

5 Semesters of research including a senior chemistry honors thesis

2 publications, one is primarily an undergrad journal (1st author), the other is in a specialized journal (impact factor of about 5) from my summer research in Brazil (also 1st author)

I expect my letters to be great- two from professors at my school, one from my advisor from Penn State who is well known in his field.

And I'm applying to UNC, U of Michigan, U of Illinois, MIT, and Penn State for chemistry (likely materials/inorganic depending on the programs each school has). I'm considering Penn State a safety school, my advisor has already invited me to his research group and is the chair of the graduate admissions committee, and we're currently working on a publication from my work this past summer. Any input, advice, or criticisms would be welcome.

[Backside Attack]

GRE: 800Q, 500V

GRE Chemistry: 860

GPA: 3.76 at UMich

3 Years of Research, 2 SURF programs

2 Publications

je1230: I think you'll be fine for most of those schools on your list. I definitely know a lot of graduate students at University of Michigan with less impressive stats and experience.

[BCchemie]

GRE: 800Q, 670V, 6.0A

GRE Chemistry: 860

GPA: 3.96 (4.0 Major) at BC

Applying to Scripps, Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Berkeley, CalTech, Columbia, Princeton, Penn

2.5 Years of consistent research in group of senior professor.

Looks like this forum has been somewhat self-selecting of who is posting considering the average chemistry GRE here is substantially above the accepted classes of every top 10 school.

[luce373]

GRE: 800Q, 630V, 4.5A

GRE Chemistry: 830

GPA: 3.99 (4.0 Major) at a small liberal arts college

J-term organic chemistry research, summer of bioinorganic/materials research, and two years of continuous organometallics research (with honors thesis) by the end of the year.

2nd author in an Organometallics paper and a JACS paper from different groups.

I'm applying to Columbia, MIT, Berkeley, Caltech, Irvine, Illinois, Seattle, Madison, Michigan, and Minnesota for inorganic/organometallics. Minnesota is basically my safety school for a variety of reasons.

It looks like we are pretty self-selecting; I hope we all do well!

[tso123d]

Since we're all sharing:

GRE: 1450+

Chem GRE: 890

GPA 4.0 at an R1

2.5 yrs research

I have to say that I felt a lot more confident in my chances with those stats until I saw the stats of others here

[ca2036]

Suppose I'll respond too.

GRE: 800Q, 670V, 4.5A

GRE Chem: 790

GPA: 3.68, 3.89 in chemistry

Research since summer after sophomore year, preparing manuscript now and presented a poster at a conference this past summer, honors thesis this year

Applying to Scripps, MIT, Harvard, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Caltech, and Columbia for O-chem (preferably physical organic)

And I have to agree, definitely don't feel as secure in my chances after seeing all of these!

[SyntheticOrganiker]

After seeing all of these stats, I'm expecting this to be a "fun"/stressful application season. As per the question of safety schools, I'm actually planning on taking a year and applying to medical school if I don't get accepted to the programs I applied to.

[tso123d]

Whew, I'm finally finishing up my last applications. Now for the long wait!

[organicnerd]

Out of curiosity. For those applying for organic chemistry PhD: does anyone of you know what a CBS reagent is and what it's used for?

Help the poor soul.

[Backside Attack]

CBS is an asymmetric catalyst used a lot for stereoselective reductions. Not sure on the exact structure, but it is proline based.

[BCchemie]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBS_catalyst

[applyingtogradschool]

Has anybody here sent in an application to columbia university for chemistry? If so, have they updated your status as of yet on the downloadable forms section of the application? I submitted my application 3 weeks ago and it hasnt been updated. thanks!

[BCchemie]

Has anybody here sent in an application to columbia university for chemistry? If so, have they updated your status as of yet on the downloadable forms section of the application? I submitted my application 3 weeks ago and it hasnt been updated. thanks!

I submitted mine about a week ago and don't have any updated forms yet. Not to worry.

[ca2036]

Has anybody here sent in an application to columbia university for chemistry? If so, have they updated your status as of yet on the downloadable forms section of the application? I submitted my application 3 weeks ago and it hasnt been updated. thanks!

In the same boat here, nothing has been added. I figure they're just being slow about updating anything.

[BCchemie]

First acceptance letter in... Accepted to Stanford by snail mail as of 12/14. Letter was postmarked 12/8 so was probably sitting in my mailbox for a few days.

Visit dates are Feb 26, March 5, March 12, March 19.