Choosing a program

[toxic_sci]

I'm a senior chemistry major and I need some help. With chemistry, you can go really in tons of directions with respect to grad programs, research, etc. I'm supposed to be graduating this May, and I still don't know what I want to "be when I grow up." I do know I want, and practically need, to go to grad school, but I had major troubles in picking programs. So, I applied to 5 schools: two of them are the same programs of study (forensic science), one of them is an evironmental toxicology program, and two are chemistry programs, but of those two, one is researching art and the other is researching environmental chemistry.

So, my question is, did I make a major mistake applying to so many different types of programs? I mean obviously, statistically it would be better to apply many schools of the same program, but I didn't want to apply to 20 different schools. I just really don't know where I want to go. And I feel really stupid mentioning the types of programs to my reference letter writers cuz they're going to think I'm a flake or something. To be honest, I really think I only have a chance of getting into one of the schools I applied to, and even thats is a big maybe. So I guess I just want to know if what I did was completely stupid, or if someone else has done something similar. Ugh I don't know...this is so stressful to me so I guess this was partially a rant to get it off my chest. Thanks for reading, and I'd really appreciate any insight.

PS. sorry if this is the wrong forum...it was my first post, so I wasn't exactly sure where it would fit best.

[Count de Monet]

You shouldn't go to grad school unless you're sure about what you want to study. Grad school isn't the best place to sort of tinker around with different sub-fields until you find the one you like.

Edited January 19, 2011 by Count de Monet

[lyonessrampant]

Well, it sounds like you have lots of interests. I know that a lot of chem (and hard science) programs like lots of research experience, so if you don't get in on this round, why not take a year or two, do some full-time research and narrow your interests and your focus? That way if/when you reapply, you'll be able to present yourself as a more coherent candidate and really rely upon your references to showcase your strengths. No matter what, good luck!

[colormehappy]

You shouldn't go to grad school unless you're sure about what you want to study. Grad school isn't the best place to sort of tinker around with different sub-fields until you find the one you like

I have to disagree with this. Different fields have different expectations. Some programs expect students to have no idea what they want to focus on or, if the applicants say they do, they expect them to change their minds. Other programs do expect a more developed sense of what you want to study. I'm not really sure where chemistry falls in all of this but if you really love chemistry and you keep an open mind, you might end up loving any one of your programs. You might also hate it. But this could be true even if you thought that's what you wanted to study going in.