Wanting to get in Chemical Engineering Graduate Program

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>Greeting,</p>

<p>I am current a junior and graduating in the Demcember, 2014 with a B.S. degree in Chemistry from West Virginia University. I want to get into the the field of Chemical Engineering but it is too late for me to change major since I don't want to spend any more time in undergrad (my parents are paying for my tuition). My current GPA is 3.1x (I know it is low) because I had a extremely bad semester last Spring and failed 2 of my classes (Biochemistry and Biology), but I got A's for all other classes for that semester. My GPA before that semester was close to 3.5. (I think my major GPA is higher than overall GPA) I realized I pretty much screw up everything now and I am biting my tongue this semester (2013 Fall) and retaking the biochemistry (cannot replace GPA) again and now I am at the top of the class (getting A's). I am also start researching in organic chemistry but the professor just let me work with his grad students and I am not doing any original research now. I still have a little more than a year 'till graduate. I have been researching grad school for a little bit but not a lot, so I am still clueless about the application process (and I will do more definitely). I sincerely hope for advice that what exactly I should do now to improve my chances to get into good graduate chemical engineering program (doesn't have to be Top 20).
Facts about me:
- current major: chemistry B.S.
- intend Grad program: chemical engineering (possibly the phd program)
- current GPA: 3.1x
- my major GPA is higher than the overall GPA
- fail biochemistry but intending to get an A this Fall
- I am an international student and speak pretty good English in comparison with the average international student I have met.
- I am from Hong Kong. Speak Cantonese>English> mandarin (ranked in fluency)
- just start doing research in organic lab this Fall (I am learning a lot), but not original research
- I am graduating in December 2012 (little more than one year until grad)
- I got A in (general chemistry/ Organic Chem II(A+)/ all organic labs/ physical chemistry 1&2&labs/ Calculus 3(A+)/ Speech class)
- I got B in (organic chem I/ organic structure determination)
- my math SAT is 790/800 (missed one question because I don't understand the question in English)
- I enjoy chemistry very much, and all kind of chemistry, so I pick the kind that I can make a better living.
- I do pretty good and enjoy Math, I got a 790/800 in SAT without practicing, I got a A+ in Calculus 3, and I was ranked number 9 in one of the math competition in the whole Texas.
- I read slow
- I type slow
- I think slow but thorough
- I do well in Speech class, I am the top speaker in American high school and college speech class that I took. And I enjoy doing it.
- I am studying harder than ever trying to do damage control on my GPA.
- I cannot afford Master program because I got no money
- I spend one year in a high school in Texas as an exchange student, than spend two years in a community college in Washington, than here in Morgantown for WVU.
- Although WVU is the number one party school, I only go to one party at the begining I was here and I don't feel I enjoy it so I have not party ever since
- I have never got drunk and I don't like people who do.
- My TOEFL iBT two years ago was 84. It should be better now.
- I am very shy and nervous around people, but it is getting better.
- I am the secretary of the Billiards Club this year. </p>

<p>I would like to answer any more detail about myself and I hope for useful comments and advice.</p>

2

<p>Have you taken the GRE? That’s pretty important to apply to graduate school.
It’s pretty normal as an undergraduate to do basically whatever your professor wants you to do. Don’t worry too much about that.
You should just apply to the graduate schools you can get into and see how well you fare. That’s a pretty low GPA for graduate school, but that’s still fine. If you don’t succeed, you can try again in the future.
The biggest problem is switching from Chem to ChemE. You’ll have to make up a fair number of ChemE classes to be able to switch like that. But I wouldn’t say it’s absolutely impossible either.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for replying in such a short time. I am trying to bring my GPA up (definitely no down) to around 3.4 (that’s the best I could do in 1.5 year). I have not taken GRE yet and I am frighten to take it, but I will soon. I have seen programs, from top schools to mediocre school, offers people from other than ChemE if they take one year for the bridge classes before the grad program start. Any more advice I can take from you?</p>

4

<p>Take the GRE ASAP. The longer you wait, the more problems you could potentially develop. You really, really do not want a late GRE score, for example. If you take it ASAP, you might even have a chance to retake if you do badly.
You certainly can move Chem to ChemE, but as I said you do have to make up a few ChemE classes. Especially the reactor and transport series. They form a prerequisite chain, which means that it’ll be hard to do it in a single year. Do what you can though because something is better than nothing. And you do indeed have a chance to make up classes in a pre-grad program, but try to do what you can before then so it proceeds as smoothly as possible.
Ask your research professor for suggestions too. They know a fair bit about academia and they would be willing to help if you do good work in their lab. Also, think about which teachers actually remember and like you. You can ask them for letters of recommendation. Also look for anyone else who helps with grad school. Universities tend to have plenty of help for that if you know where to look.
One more note: for when you actually apply, if you’re not funded for a PhD, that essentially means that the university doesn’t actually want you but they would be willing to take your money anyways.</p>