<p>I've already applied to UW Madison, UCLA, UCB, and U Chicago. I'm still waiting on Chicago. I got into UW Madison.</p>
<p>What schools should I apply to for regular decision? I live in Massachusetts so UWM is out of state for me. I am going to major in Biochemistry/Chemical Biology with a focus on organic chemistry and synthesis. I plan on going into neurochemistry for my graduate studies. </p>
<p>I am certain than I'm going the undergrad ==> grad ==> PHD ==> faculty route. What would be a better school than UW Madison for undergraduate research/education? I would like to get as much lab work as possible, in addition to independent research.</p>
<p>Also, how likely is it to get into a top graduate program with a scholarship from UW Madison? </p>
<p>Harvey Mudd remains my top choice but I am not sure what other schools I should apply to.</p>
<p>Also, how likely is it to get into a top graduate program with a scholarship from UW Madison</p>
<p>It’s up to YOU…not the school. If you have a high GPA, a great resume, great GRE scores, you can go directly into a PhD fully-funded program.</p>
<p>Since you’re OOS for UW-M, why go there? It’s a fine school, but why pay the OOS costs for that school or UCLA or Cal? Are your parents fine with paying $50k per year for a UC? </p>
<p>What about Johns Hopkins?</p>
<p>Aren’t you applying to UMass or some non-reach privates? Or some OOS publics that will give you money?</p>
<p>Are you thinking that you can’t get into a funded PhD program from UMass???</p>
<p>Very fine schools you have on your list! I would add that one of the top research universities, in terms of funding in the US, is the University of Washington in Seattle. I am not saying they are any better than the schools you have in your list, but you should certainly do some investigation and see if they are a fit for you. I have also heard that their chem dept. is quite good, although that was more word-of-mouth and I have seen no quantitative data to support that theory.</p>
<p>Another major factor is having mature, focused research interests that align with the research interests of 1 or more prospective dissertation mentors at your target school(s).
You’ll need to take the initiative to develop and display those interests, for example by getting involved in significant research, being co-author of a scientific journal article(s), or being part of a team presenting findings at a national conference in your field. This kind of engagement may be easier to initiate at smaller schools like Mudd or Chicago (which have higher rates of PhD completions in the physical & life sciences than large public research universities – [COLLEGE PHD PRODUCTIVITY](<a href=“Doctoral Degree Productivity - Institutional Research - Reed College”>http://www.reed.edu/ir/phd.html</a>)). However, there are at least as many research opportunities at a top public university like Wisconsin or UCLA (you just might have to work a little harder to engage).</p>