By Thomas W. Kallen Department of Chemistry SUNY College at Brockport

Questions to be Answered Graduate School in Chemistry or Biochemistry: Should you go? Where should you go? What is the out-of-pocket cost? How does one apply? Once you’ve been accepted, then what?

The Answers Should you go?  A graduate degree represents a large time commitment.  MS: 1.5 – 2.5 years (avg. = 2 years)  PhD: 4 – 7 years (avg. = 4.5 years)  A graduate degree requires a personal commitment and strong personal qualities.  You must love your science and be willing to do it to the exclusion of everything else.  You must be an independent learner. Relatively little of what you are expected to know of theory or about laboratory skills is taught in your required grad classes!  You must like libraries. It is expected that you will become current and remain current in the literature of your field.  You must love laboratory, have good laboratory skills, and be familiar with instruments. A graduate degree is a research degree after all.  You must be willing to write! You’re not done until your thesis is done!

The Answers Should you go? The rewards are great! Intellectual fulfillment in graduate school. Increased responsibility in the workplace. Salaries (Starting Salaries, Inexperienced Chemistry Grads, 2007): BS$36,700 ($70,000 median, all chemists) MS$48,000 ($87,100 median, all chemists) PhD$75,000 ($110,000, median, all chemists) Source: Chemical & Engineering News, 86(22), June 2, 2008 However, money isn’t everything! Graduate training isn’t the best training for all careers. Advanced degrees may limit your employability. The PhD tends to channel you toward supervisory positions and away from the “bench.”

The Answers Should you go? If you’re not sure, ask Your research mentor. Members of your faculty. Seminar speakers!!! What should you ask? Am I graduate school material? What courses should I be taking in preparation? How would I fit into your graduate program?

The Answers Where should you go? Do you want an MS or a PhD? Schools that offer only an MS will offer you a waiver of tuition and a teaching assistantship. Schools that offer a PhD will only offer tuition waivers and teaching assistantships to PhD candidates. You’ll will pay your own way for an MS at these schools! What geographic location do you prefer? View this as an opportunity to try other regions. Remember, you will live there year-round! Graduate school is a full- time job! Consider travel expenses to visit relatives and friends. They could be prohibitive!

The Answers Where should you go? Do you have a chance of getting into a particular program? Think critically about: Your undergraduate preparation, overall GPA, and GPA in your major. Your research experience. Your letters of recommendation. Does the graduate faculty of the institution have faculty members who are doing research in your area of interest? Again, these are research degrees; and you will work under a current member of the graduate faculty! Will you have more than one choice?

The Answers Where should you go? How large is the program and is it likely that you will feel “comfortable” in it? You may be treated as “expendable” and/or feel “lost” in a very large program. Small programs may be more “nurturing” but may lack the resources and equipment you will require to do meaningful research! Be careful! Resources: American Chemical Society /CNBP_ ACS Directory of Graduate Research

The Answers What is the out-of-pocket cost? If you have chosen correctly, out-of-pocket costs should be minimal. Entry-level students on PhD programs will be offered… A half-time teaching assistantship ($14,000 - $25,000 per academic year to live on). A tuition waiver. Supplemental “scholarships” for “first-round draft choices!” A summer stipend ($3,000 - $6,000 for the summer). Returning students who have chosen a research supervisor may be offered… A research assistantship for the year by your research supervisor. Out-of pocket costs should amount to only books, fees, and unusual living and travel expenses.

The Answers How does one apply? The application form: Many graduate schools allow on-line applications. You may fill-out a paper application instead. If you apply directly to the department, they may waive application fees. Send transcripts and ask for letters of recommendation early. The registrar gives first priority to graduating seniors, but …. Your faculty consists of grown-up students. They procrastinate too! Take the general GREs this fall. General GRE scores are required by most schools. If the school to which you are applying requires the area GRE, take it as soon as possible, but not on the same date you take the “generals.”

The Answers How does one apply? Try to complete and send your applications by the end of November or early December. Offers of teaching assistantships and scholarships to “first-round draft choices” are made in January or early February. If you wait until the school’s announced deadline to apply, you will only receive an offer when the school is turned-down by their first choices. Exploit opportunities to emphasize: Undergraduate research experience. Undergraduate teaching experience. Arrange to visit the schools to which you have applied and have the most interest.

The Answers How does one apply? Stay on top of your application’s progress. Check here to see that transcripts and letters of recommendation have indeed been sent. Check at the school to which you have applied to see whether your application is complete. Indicate an interest in the school and its faculty. If you know of a faculty member you might like to work with, communicate with her/him by . Ask questions about her/his research and projects she/he might have available. You might even inquire about the availability of summer support for research during the summer between graduation and grad school!

The Answers Once you’ve been accepted, then what? You will receive an offer of admission, an offer of an assistantship, and a deadline for your response. If you are still interested in that particular school, call the department to arrange for a visit. The department will usually pay for your travel and meals and arrange for you to “room with” a grad student during your stay. You may find yourself on a plane with other prospective students of that department. Compare notes on offers of admission! During the visit, talk to potential research supervisors and to members of their research groups. Ask the faculty member about her/his research and what problems you could select from. Ask about summer research support. Ask her/his students about her/him as a person and as a supervisor.

The Answers Once you’ve been accepted, then what? Accept the offer of admission by their deadline or, if you cannot respond by their deadline, contact them to indicate your continued interest and the date by which you will respond. In the latter case, don’t be surprised if they “sweeten the pot” with an offer of an additional “scholarship” shortly after your call. Write to the other schools that have made offers, thanking them for their offer and expressing your “regrets.” Be polite---don’t rub it in. Thank your recommenders. Let them know where you will be going! Departments keep records of grad school acceptances or the first employer of their graduates. Let the chairperson know too!

Conclusion Feel free to ask any member of your faculty for advice and/or assistance! Good Luck!