hamilton1

Finally I've found a chemistry thread! My applications: MIT Chemistry, rejected Caltech Biochemistry, rejected Harvard Systems Biology, interviewed and rejected Yale Chemistry, admitted with 26k Oxford Medicinal Chemistry (MSc+PhD), admitted with 31k :grad: ; I'm going there!!! Some stats: GRE chemistry: 950 (99%) GRE general: V600, Q800, AWA 6.0 TOEFL iBT: 114/120 GPA 4.00, unknown university Significant achievements at nat.&intl. chemistry competitions, minimal research experience, no publications Would be nice to hear from some other chemistry people (apps, profiles...)! Can anyone give me some advice on how to get a publication? Any suggestions on how to best spend the summer before my MSc course?

At an Ivy League interview, a professor asked me if I had applied to other schools as well:rolleyes:. I told the truth (of course I had applied to several schools), but didn't give names. What do you think of the question? What do they want to test? Does it mean they want to reject me? Thanks for your comments!

Does anyone know when CalTech usually sends out acceptances for the PhD program in chemistry? Has anyone been admitted yet? I'm getting nervous as their websites mentions a visiting weekend in the beginning of march.

Hi there, I've just been admitted to the Yale Program in Chemistry (Biophysical). Does anyone know about MIT Chemistry PhD decisions? Applied: MIT, Harvard, Yale, Caltech, Oxford Accepted: Oxford, Yale Interviews: Harvard (2 Feb), Oxford (18 Dec) Denied: let's hope for none...

patricia, I recommend you to take as many practice tests as possible; you can download POWERPRER for free from ETS. Also, use the testmagic site to prepare for retaking the test. Get you your own preparation book (e.g. Princeton or Kaplan) and learn all the vocabulary (~300). Then you will know the most important words and will score much better the next time. Also, check out the GRE basic diagnostic service: enter your registration number etc. and get a list of your correct and incorrect answers shown by question type. All the best, hamilton1

Sorry, Harvard has already sent out the invitations for the Systems Biology Program (received an e-mail on Jan 11). I'm sure you'll get admission at a different great school. Best regards, hamilton1

Hi, I have recently been invited to an interview at Harvard (Systems Biology), which includes a "dinner party". I have been told to dress casually; what exactly does that mean? Do you have some general tips for such dinner parties? I've never been to one before... Does anyone know if interviews are more personality-focussed or more knowledge/skill-focussed there? Thanks for your info and good look for your admissions, hamilton1

Hi there, I'd just like to know if anyone has been admitted to the MIT PhD program in chemistry yet. The website states that "decisions are made on a rolling basis beginning in December" and "we hope to have all offers made by mid February" as well as "declines will be mailed by end of February"; so I'm getting more and more nervous... Looking forward to your opinion, hamilton1

I just know that Harvard interviews international students in the HILS systems biology program, as I recently got an interview invitation for Jan 26 or Feb 2; they pay for the flights and accommodation. I'm really looking forward to the interview. I don't have any info on interviews in other life science programs at Harvard.

I have sent you an e-mail. Best regards, hamilton1

Hi there, I just wanted to tell you that I have received an interview invitation from Harvard Integrated Life Sciences (Systems Biology). However, bear in mind that other programs might send out their invitations at a different time. My stats: GRE chem 950 (99%), GRE V: 600 (85%), Q: 800 (94%), AWA: 6.0 (96%), GPA 4.00, international student, some research experience Applied: MIT, Harvard, Yale, Caltech, Oxford Accepted: Oxford Interviews: Harvard (26 Jan or 2 Feb), Oxford (18 Dec) Denied: let's hope for none...

Hi everyone, nice to meet some other bioscience people. My stats: GRE chem 950 (99%), GRE V: 600 (85%), Q: 800 (94%), AWA: 6.0 (96%), GPA 4.00, international student, some research experience I'd like to give you some advice concerning interviews: You might be asked to give a short presentation, say between 5 and 15 minutes. Always have a suitable topic ready. Learn the presentation by heart in order to keep the time limit. Find out who will be interviewing you. Read a paper (e.g. Nature, Science etc) by one of the main interviewers to get an idea of their field, the techniques they apply etc. Find out what the interviewers are looking for. If you apply to a Medicinal Chemistry for Cancer program, as I did, you will have to demonstrate strong skills in practical organic chemistry, theoretical chemistry, molecular modelling, pharmacology, cancer biology etc. Be prepared to write a short essay on your motivation for the program (e.g. within a 10 minute time limit). Do not be intimidated by large applicant numbers. (MedChem: ~140 apps for ~15 interviews for ~2 places) All the best for your interviews. Does anyone know how Oxford compares to the other schools I'm applying to? Is anyone familiar with the college system at Oxford? Applied: MIT, Harvard, Yale, Caltech, Oxford Accepted: Oxford (Medicinal Chemistry for Cancer Studentship) Interviews: Oxford (18 Dec) Denied: let's hope for none...

Hi everyone, nice to meet some other bioscience people. My stats: GRE chem 950 (99%), GRE V: 600 (85%), Q: 800 (94%), AWA: 6.0 (96%), GPA 4.00, international student, some research experience I'd like to give you some advice concerning interviews: You might be asked to give a short presentation, say between 5 and 15 minutes. Always have a suitable topic ready. Learn the presentation by heart in order to keep the time limit. Find out who will be interviewing you. Read a paper (e.g. Nature, Science etc) by one of the main interviewers to get an idea of their field, the techniques they apply etc. Find out what the interviewers are looking for. If you apply to a Medicinal Chemistry for Cancer program, as I did, you will have to demonstrate strong skills in practical organic chemistry, theoretical chemistry, molecular modelling, pharmacology, cancer biology etc. Be prepared to write a short essay on your motivation for the program (e.g. within a 10 minute time limit). Do not be intimidated by large applicant numbers. (MedChem: ~140 apps for ~15 interviews for ~2 places) All the best for your interviews. Does anyone know how Oxford compares to the other schools I'm applying to? Is anyone familiar with the college system at Oxford? Applied: MIT, Harvard, Yale, Caltech, Oxford Accepted: Oxford (Medicinal Chemistry for Cancer Studentship) Interviews: Oxford (18 Dec) Denied: let's hope for none...

No, I don't have any papers yet, but I've done 2 unpublished volontary research projects. A third one will be ready in February (but that is too late for the application) and will most likely result in publication. (btw. I'm 18 now, so I don't think grad schools will expect a paper at this time).