My chances for a top ten chemistry graduate program

<p>I just want to possibly get some advice on my chances to getting into a top ten graduate school for chemistry.</p>

<p>1) GPA-3.88
2) 6 semesters and 1 summer of organic chemistry research (Loyola University New Orleans)
3) Research experience for undergraduates chemistry (University of Texas at Austin)
4) GRE scores - 148/verbal and 153/quantitative
5) Assuming I will have positive letters of recommendation
6) Paper submitted under revision in a peer reviewed journal article (Organic Lett.)</p>

<p>If you could not tell I am concerned with the GRE scores...</p>

<p>Also, What is the ratio of the number of students accepted to the number of students that apply?</p>

<p>Come on people I am freaking out here!!</p>

<p>Doing “chances” for graduate school is like standing outside, blindfolded, with an MP5 submachine gun on spray-n-pray.</p>

<p>Nobody here can give you anything other than “competitive, maybe.” None of us are on those gradcoms, none of us know what the applicant pool looks like, none of us have any idea how much funding is available, none of us have a clue as to what those professors are researching. Ergo, nothing anyone here says is anything more than a wild-assed guess.</p>

<p>You’ll just have to sweat it out like the rest of us. :)</p>

<p>I did not post on here for a definitive answer. If I seen credentials similar to mine on a previous blog then I would not have posted this. I posted on here simply to find someone with similar achievements in the field of chemistry and find out what chemistry graduate school programs they were accepted into. Thanks anyways</p>

<p>Do your choice programs require the chemistry GRE subject test?
I don’t know enough about them to chance you, but looking at Cal Tech admission requirements as an example it says:
“Chemistry also requires applicants take either the Chemistry, Physics, or Biochemistry Subject Exam as part of the application.”
(obviously pick the one you are best prepared for)
I do know that physics programs weigh the physics subject test highly, as well as math and then writing (for papers) more than the verbal section of the GRE. I would expect chemistry programs to be similar to this, but best to ask a professor or adviser in your department. I am not a chem or physics grad student but am familiar with the physics application.</p>

<p>I assume you are a rising senior? The GRE subject tests are not offered as frequently as the regular one. You will need to check the schedule and register to take it at the soonest time. They are generally only offered once or twice in fall and then spring- which is too late. You might also consider taking the GRE again if it will help your chances.</p>

<p>Grad school admission is unpredictable so it is safest to apply to schools outside the top ten as well.</p>

<p>I am registered for the the chemistry gre in november. Hopefully that score is around the 70th percentile which will possibly make up for my general GRE score. I am also interested in schools that are out of the top ten. Although, my top choices are in the top ten and I am simply discouraged that my general gre will make me a lot less competitive</p>

<p>The math part of the GRE is not that advanced. I think the problem may be that you have not studied this math in school for a while… probably high school. There is time to review and take it again for a higher math score if you want to.</p>

<p>I think your advisers/professors in your chem dept are in the best position to advise you of where you are most likely to be accepted. They are most familiar with where their recent grads are, as well as colleagues in the field. They are also familiar with your research.</p>

<p>A lot of weight could be placed on the Chemistry GRE subject test. Best to ask your profs about the importance of this, as well as schools you are interested in.</p>

<p>Nothing is certain in grad admissions. I got into (all funded) VT, Tufts, and a funded MS program at Miami Univ. (current school-chose because of best research fit), rejected from Boston and Michigan. I didn’t have the best GRE scores (same quant score as you, higher verbal), did not take the Chemistry GRE, had a low 3.0 gpa (~3.2). You see from my list of schools scores necessarily aren’t a great indicator of where you will get in. The only thing you can do is have >3.00 GPA, solid research experience, and solid essays and LORs. That is it. You don’t really know what the adcoms want, they don’t know what they want, they don’t even know what their budget is going to look like for next year.</p>

<p>Gotcha! thanks for the advice people!</p>

<p>Polarscribe that is the single best analogy I have ever heard for grad school admissions :)</p>