<p>I'm currently researching different programs for application next year and, while I've identified many which interest me, I'm not sure about my chances of being accepted into the really prestigious ones.</p>
<p>First, my history:</p>
<p>-2 years of undergraduate research
-prior industry laboratory experience
-3.95 Chemistry major GPA
-3.8 overall GPA
-Several fellowships and scholarships, including research experience in Europe
-I'm older than the typical graduate school applicant
-Attending University of California
-Haven't yet taken GREs</p>
<p>I'm interested, of course, in the top name schools, but am also interested in other "less-distinguished" schools with really interesting research opportunities. I'm more into mathematical chemistry than the syntheses and procedures one normally associates with the major.</p>
<p>What schools are best known for theoretical chemistry, quantum chemistry, DFT, etc?</p>
<p>I enjoy being a grease monkey, so physical/analytical chemistry is an option as well, but I really do enjoy (love) the mathematical side of things. </p>
<p>Would anyone be able to provide me with a short list of schools I should really investigate further?</p>
<p>I’m a senior in MIT Chemistry, and I can tell you that there are multiple opportunities here for doing physical chemistry of the type you are describing. Professor Troy van Voorhis comes to mind. He is wonderful and runs a very robust DFT lab (among other things). There are students from both Physics and Chemistry in his lab. Your numbers seem competitive, and if you are applying to schools definitely don’t overlook MIT thinking it’s out of your reach.</p>
<p>I have just gone through this admissions process, and I’m a physical chemistry student. I can give you more specific answers about specific professors/specific programs (the important stuff) through PMs.</p>
<p>I suggest you talk to professors to get a meaningful idea about your chances. What I can say is that your superficial information is probably competitive - that’s about it. The “2 years experience” and “UC” comments isn’t enough information for me to say anything. </p>
<p>Theoretical:</p>
<p>Berkeley is historically the strongest in theoretical/mathematical chemistry. You can also find many great theorists at UIUC, MIT, Caltech (a lot of them seem old though), University of Maryland, Northwestern, Columbia, Chicago, UCSD, UCLA, Wisconsin, Harvard etc… </p>
<p>Experimental Physical:</p>
<p>Stanford, MIT, Berkeley, and Caltech are all great in experimental physical chemistry. Yale, Northwestern, Cornell, UCLA, UCSD, UIUC, Wisconsin, University of Washington, Colorado-Boulder are awesome as well.</p>