7
FEES
Be prepared to pay, as you will encounter fees
along the way. Each time you take the Graduate
Record Examination (GRE) costs around $140, for
example. On top of these costs, there may also be
application fees for the graduate programs you are considering,
meaning that applying to six or seven schools could cost you as
much as $600! If you can’t pay the fee, ask the program if the fee
can be waived or reduced. It never hurts to ask.
GRADES
Almost all graduate school applications will
require transcripts from ALL schools you have
attended. That includes that the local community
college where you may have taken classes while
home for the summer. Make sure that you request all of the
transcripts in time to arrive by the application deadline (or ear-
lier), as applications may be considered incomplete without
them, and thus not get reviewed. In terms of grades, most grad-
uate programs require a B average or better (3.0/4.0) to gain
admission. Your application will be especially strengthened by
good grades in your upper division courses. In fact, many places
consider these grades more heavily than those in your first two
years.
ENTRY EXAMS
You will also need to submit scores from the GRE.
Check to see which exams are required by the
schools to which you are applying, and learn their
typical score requirements for admission. Not all
schools require the subject test, but some do. Plan accordingly to
have these exams completed in enough time for the scores to be
reported before the application deadline.
If you are applying for admission in the fall, you should really
target taking these exams by September of your senior year.
If you are applying for spring admission (i.e. January or Febru-
ary), then you will need to have your GREs done by May of the
year you graduate to receive your scores in time. Check with the
schools to which you are applying to see whether they will con-
sider applications for spring admission (some may not). If you
are an international student, you may also be required to submit
scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
Again, you want to make sure that these scores are reported in
time for the application deadline.
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Every school will require you to submit a personal
statement, in which you should succinctly describe
what you have done to prepare for graduate
school. You should take this part of the application
very seriously. Here are a few tips for success:
Articulate your personal goals. Explain to the admissions
committee why they should make you an offer to come to their
school. Describe your career goals and what area(s) of research
you wish to pursue. Take the time to outline the relevant course-
work you have taken to prepare for advanced studies.
Describe your undergraduate research. Many places will not
strongly consider applications from students with no research
experience, so if you have not been involved in research yet, do
so. This research can come in many forms, ranging from partici-
pating in research at your home institution, to going away for
the summer to participate in a Research Experiences for Under-
graduate (REU) program. The National Science Foundation main-
tains a list of schools with active REU programs on its website.
Also, many schools, companies, and national labs offer summer
programs that are internally supported, so check with them. No
matter how you get it, research experience is a must for getting
into a good graduate school. In your personal statement, you
should relate your overall experience to the committee.
Explain your extracurricular activities. In addition to research,
if you have been involved in clubs or other activities that have
allowed you to develop leadership skills (e.g., serving as secretary
of your local ACS Student Affiliates chapter, etc.), this is also use-
ful to describe to the committee.
Research the faculty. Take the time to tell the admissions
committee under which faculty members you are most inter-
ested in studying. This shows the committee that you have done
your homework and that you have thought about what you
want to do. As a rule of thumb, you should be sure there are at
least three faculty members whose research interests you, since
admission to a doctoral program does not guarantee you admis-
sion into a particular faculty member’s group.
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Most programs will request at least three letters
of recommendation in support of your application.
These letters should come from faculty or employ-
ers who can speak to your experience in chemistry.
You should include letters from faculty who have taught you in
class or with whom you have done research. Make sure that you
ask for these letters at least a month in advance.
Take the time to sit down with any letter writers who don’t
know you well to discuss your career aspirations. Prior to your
meeting, give them a copy of your current résumé. If you don’t
have a résumé, learn how to create one now. As you begin to
enter the professional workforce, an up-to-date résumé is a
must, and many schools have services to help you prepare one
(see the sidebar about resources, below). This will help your
letter writers provide a more meaningful assessment of your
background and goals to the admissions committee. Also, don’t
hesitate to bug your letter writers and remind them of upcom-
ing deadlines.
WHICH SCHOOL IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
If you are lucky enough to be admitted to more
than one program, then you face the tough task of
narrowing down your options to one program. How
do you decide?