Chemistry PhD Program Application

Graduate School
1

<p>I graduated last spring (2013) with a BS in chemistry from a reasonably well ranked liberal arts college with a GPA of 3.17, major GPA 3.07. I did a full year of research, and spent 3 years as a TA in the department. Since graduation I have been working in an academic capacity at a university and have started to take graduate level courses in my department (I am enrolled as a master's student). I only took one class this semester, but easily got an A. Over the next year I am planning on taking 3 more. </p>

<p>Anyway, I'm looking to apply for PhD programs starting in fall 2015. I have not taken the GRE yet, I am just in the beginning stages of studying for taking them late summer/early fall for both subject and general so I really have no clue how those will go yet. I'm guessing based on diagnostic tests I can easily get my scores around 160 on both sections, hopefully higher, on the general. Obviously, my GPA is a lacking and my letters of recommendation can only come from my undergraduate department (I can't ask anyone in the department I currently work in because people talk and my boss would not be happy if she knew I was planning on leaving). My positives are working Full Time since July and doing well in one graduate class. How much will this help my graduate application? I'm trying to set realistic goals for school. Would this make me a contender at, for example, NYU? Or should I be aiming lower? I look at rankings but I really am not sure what my undergraduate GPA means in the grand scheme of applications. I read a lot of articles saying that less that a 3.4 is considered "bad" for grad school in general, but a few people from my undergrad with a 3.5-3.6 are at the top 10 ranked universities (with comparable undergrad research/departmental jobs), so I'm unsure how to judge GPAs in chemistry. Any previous experience would be helpful, thanks!</p>

2

<p>If you are enrolled as a master’s student, why would your boss be upset with your leaving? Even if you were hired as a tech, the fact that you are enrolled as a masters student should provide an indication of your interest in pursuing a graduate degree.
What kind of research are you interested in pursuing as a PhD? Rather than looking at schools, a better strategy would be to try to find a program or area of research that interests you, and then finding professors working in that area. Then contact the department to see if your background, research experience and academic qualifications would match their needs. </p>

3

<p>Taking and doing well in graduate courses is a plus. You might consider doing more than just one or two courses to bolster your academic track record. If you don’t get into the program you want the first time, you can stay in your current position and complete the Masters before applying again.</p>