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Prepare me for Graduate School!
Name: frankie a marston
Status: N/A
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 1999
Question:
I am a sophomore chemistry major and am planning on attending
graduate school. Could you please answer the following questions?
1> What GPA is normally expected to for being accepted to a graduate school?
2> If I start working on a PhD as soon as I finish my bachelor's degree, how many
years should it take?
I have already begun research and seems that I have am doing enough
preparative work for graduate school. Do you have any suggestions
to help me better prepare myself before going trying to get accepted
to a good graduate school?
Replies:
Sure! Most graduate schools do not set minimum requirements
for admission to chemistry programs, believe it or not.
Grad schools are hungry for grad students and if you can
establish a decent background in chemistry it is very likely
that you can find someplace that will give you a year to
prove yourself to them...what you should ask yourself is
"WHY do I want to go to graduate school?" It is a LOT of work
and if you're going to devote 4,5,6 (maybe more) years to getting
a Ph.D. you better be sure that this is what you want to do
for a living. That said, most grad schools look at GPA, letters
of rec, and GRE scores (general and chemistry subject). The better
those things are, the more choices you will have and the better
the fellowships will be. You are welcome to send me personal
mail (rtopper) and I will try to give you more specific info.
Basically, the fact that you are doing research already is a BIG plus
and letters of rec from your research advisor will be very helpful.
Other than that, try to do well in your classes and keep challenging
yourself by taking special topics classes in areas of chemistry
you find particularly interesting once you are ready (biochem,
physical, analytical, phys org, synthesis, adv inorg, etc).
Finally, APPLY TO SEVERAL PLACES AND VISIT ALL SCHOOLS TO WHICH
YOU ARE ACCEPTED BEFORE MAKING YOUR DECISION!!!!!! Often the school
will even giveyou some $ to help cover your expenses to come for a
visit. And if you can't afford the application fee many schools will
waive it upon request.
Good luck!
- dr topper
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Update: February 2012
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