dvornik

Hello everyone!

This month I will be applying for a lot of chemistry PhD program. But I am very concerned about my credentials.

While I have a pretty high GPA (3.95, Chem BS degree), and I guess alright GRE scores (161Q/164V, but 4 W), I have lacking research experience (only 1 summer REU and the following fall semester, no publications), and I'm afraid I'm almost certainly about to bomb the Chem GRE badly (I'm getting ~700 on the practice tests).

That said, do you guys think I should even bother applying to places like Columbia, Princeton, NYU? Or am I wasting money on application fees?

Thank you very much for your advice
-D

Catria

Columbia, Princeton and NYU are schools where the acceptance rate is typically 10% or less, but do you have backup plans?

dvornik

I am also applying to some lesser ranked schools like SUNY Stony Brook, Rutgers, Boston U

I just don't know where I should draw the line with applications, as each one costs $150 at least when taking into account sending GRE scores, etc... I don't want to throw away money on pipe dreams.

Catria

Tufts is a school where, if you are a domestic applicant, the GRE Chemistry test isn't required. Additionally, like physics, it's not the best or most popular graduate program.

Elocin

This isn't the first time I've heard Tufts has a bad or unpopular graduate program in physics or chemistry. What about the program makes it so terrible?

Catria

Subject pending, Tufts is for you if you think having professors that don't treat you like a number is important.