What I Wish I’d Known as an Undergrad: Applying to Graduate School, Part II

I wanted to go into a little more depth as to what the process is behind applying and what you can do now to prepare. Every graduate school will be looking for something different. This post is based off of my experience and is meant only to be a jumping off point. If you think there is something I’m missing from this list, let me know and I’ll include it.

GPA: Every school wants to know your GPA and see your transcript. Often, they will have a minimum GPA requirement, but if they don’t they are probably still looking for a 3.0 or higher. It’s always a good idea to safely clear the GPA hurdle as well, so if the school is looking for a 3.2, try to clear it with a 3.4. This was something that surprised me as when applying, as I always thought that most schools wouldn’t consider you unless you were close to a 4.0, but aiming for an A- or B+ in each of your classes is not a bad goal at all. (Note: It can’t hurt to strive for higher grades, especially if you want to apply to high-end schools like Cal Tech or Wisconsin-Madison.)

Work Experience: I cannot stress how vitally important research experience is when applying to graduate school. It’s a good idea to get about two years’ experience working in a professor’s group. It also means that you could have your name on a published paper by the time you graduate, which is really impressive to reviewers. Don’t be afraid to switch groups after a year or so either, as it helps you look at what sorts of things are being worked on right now in your chosen field. Also keep your eye out for internships over the summer months. If they aren’t exactly in your chosen field, don’t worry, the real world experience will help you grow and stand out on a resume.

Letters of Recommendation: Most schools ask for three or so letters of recommendation from someone who knows you and your abilities well. The first two should be easy, after all you hopefully have worked for a couple of professors by now. The others should come from mentors on internship opportunities, professors who have taught a couple of your classes and you are close with, or someone of authority that has a good idea of how you work and think. Try to have four or five people in your pool to call on when the time comes to start sending out letters, so start getting to know them now.

GRE: The Graduate Record Exam is often required by graduate schools as well. The general one is surprisingly simple, considering what you’ve gone through to get to that point. The math questions are things you’ve done during your sophomore year of high school, and you should be fine on the other questions if you are well read. The GRE is important, but generally not weighed as heavy as other sections. If the school requires the Subject Test (Chemistry GRE), make sure to prepare for it in advanced, as it is usually only offered a few times a year.

Statement of Purpose: The wild-card of the bunch. This is your opportunity to make yourself shine! Look around the internet and ask those in the know about how your statement of purpose should look, but here are some quick thoughts.

Your statement should include your research experience, current topics in your field that interest you, and specific things you like about the department you are applying to such as faculty and facilities. Be thourough, but try to keep it between 1-2 pages. Remember, this is not a personal statement, so leave out the fact that you were the best player on your Ultimate Frisbee team, however impressive that may be.

Having everything being sparkly clean will mean that you have a good chance of getting into the vast majority of programs. But what if one of your areas are lacking? The good news is that every aspect of your application will be weighed against each other and one area that’s blemished can be made up for in the other areas. Had a slump sophomore year and now your GPA will never recover? Post some decent GRE scores, participate in research groups, show an upward swing of your grades on your transcript, and get some excellent recommenders and you are back to having a good shot. Make sure to address any inconsistences in your statement of purpose, and it can’t hurt to have one or two of your recommenders to also address it and assure the review committee that all is well now.

For some insight from an actual graduate admission's committee member, check out FSU's Mike Shatruk's AMA on Reddit. And subscribe to the r/chemsitry subreddit to become a part of the world-wide chemistry community.

Best of luck!

-Woodward