2nd Year Advice Needed

Graduate School
1

<p>Its been a year since ive started college and asked about research and grad school on these boards, and I need some advice right now (mostly about course work). I am an entering sophomore next fall. A little update on my research: Current project I am helping with is almost complete, the paper should end up as a mid/high level publication. I should be 2nd/3rd author on it.</p>

<p>Main Questions:
1) Am I going too fast through my coursework? Apparently I am 1/1.5 years ahead in coursework for my biochem major. At this rate, I will be able to graduate in 3 years total. Should I slow down? (I am doing fine in my courses, nothing below a B+).
2) Should I pick up a double major? I was thinking about something in an unrelated field that I could use in my life (maybe econ?). Other question here is will a double major in an unrelated field make the admissions committee doubt my interest in biochem?
3) Regarding the GRE subject test. I understand that some top tier schools recommend, but not require subject tests. Should I take the subject test or not. Will this affect my chances of getting a fellowship?
4) What kind of biochem course work would I need to prepare for the subject test? (Do I need Pchem?)
5) Does it matter when I take the GREs (except within 5 years of application to phd programs). Any recommendations on when I should take it?
6) What can I do to increase my chances of obtaining a fellowship?</p>

2

<p>
[quote]
1) Am I going too fast through my coursework? Apparently I am 1/1.5 years ahead in coursework for my biochem major. At this rate, I will be able to graduate in 3 years total. Should I slow down? (I am doing fine in my courses, nothing below a B+).

[/quote]

Why not just take more upper-level biochemistry courses? If you have the opportunity to take graduate courses, you should really think about taking them.</p>

<p>
[quote]
2) Should I pick up a double major? I was thinking about something in an unrelated field that I could use in my life (maybe econ?). Other question here is will a double major in an unrelated field make the admissions committee doubt my interest in biochem?

[/quote]

A second major will probably not affect grad school admissions, either in a positive way or a negative way.</p>

<p>
[quote]
3) Regarding the GRE subject test. I understand that some top tier schools recommend, but not require subject tests. Should I take the subject test or not. Will this affect my chances of getting a fellowship?

[/quote]

You should take the subject test if and only if you think you can get a great score on it (80th percentile+, or preferably 90th percentile+). If not, don't take it. The subject test is really not terribly important, in the grand scheme of things.</p>

<p>
[quote]
5) Does it matter when I take the GREs (except within 5 years of application to phd programs). Any recommendations on when I should take it?

[/quote]

Most people take the general test during the summer or fall before their senior year, and the subject test either in April of their junior year or November of their senior year. There's no reason to take the tests earlier.</p>

<p>
[quote]
6) What can I do to increase my chances of obtaining a fellowship?

[/quote]

Do you mean an NSF? Basically, you want to have a good application package in general (good grades, good GRE scores, great letters of recommendation), plus a focused plan of research and a well-written set of background essays.</p>

3

<p>Regarding #1, I have already talked to my adviser about this. She said I need special permission from the dean (which I already knew), and it would be very hard to get. Apparently very few students have ever done this, which I find odd at a UC..... So she basically discouraged me from trying to get into the classes. I am not sure that I can get into any graduate classes.</p>