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Specialty Chemistry Forums => Chemical Education and Careers => Topic started by: SM30 on January 08, 2008, 11:57:51 AM

Title: Anyone heard back from schools yet? [2008 edition]
Post by: SM30 on January 08, 2008, 11:57:51 AM
and if so when did you apply? I know the majority of people that get in hear back around jan. 14th-feb 14th. Good luck to all. It wouldn't hurt if we had an official "heard back from schools" thread either.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: Mitch on January 08, 2008, 02:33:03 PM
done
::topic sticky::
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: Mitch on January 10, 2008, 09:43:43 PM
An undergrad in my lab heard back from caltech today.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: SM30 on January 11, 2008, 03:00:48 PM
yeah the acceptances roll in the next couple weeks. I don't think anyone has ever told me they got rejected in jan. or early feb. Was the undergrad applying for org, phys, or inorganic?
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: OldThrashbarg on January 19, 2008, 02:24:31 AM
I heard back from UT-Austin today, but I'm still waiting to hear from a ton of other schools.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: Mitch on January 19, 2008, 01:30:40 PM
she applied to phys.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: SM30 on January 19, 2008, 04:52:22 PM
thanks mitch. Yeah I havent heard from anyone yet. I'm still waiting on all 9 of the schools i applied to. Things should get interesting in the next two weeks.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: Mitch on January 19, 2008, 10:05:19 PM
When I applied to Berkeley I swear it took till a couple of weeks in February. I was probably borderline or something, oh-well. Even though I got my acceptance letter rather late, I was told I was the first to accept my year. ;)
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: agrobert on January 20, 2008, 12:20:32 AM
still waiting, psyched
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: Mitch on January 20, 2008, 02:21:48 AM
still waiting, psyched

Keep us up to date.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: agrobert on January 22, 2008, 06:52:25 PM
a friend of mine just got accepted to Princeton, Chemistry
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: SM30 on January 22, 2008, 09:31:34 PM
cool. Was it an obvious accept or were they borderline? That makes me feel a little nervous considering that I also applied there and haven't heard back yet.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: agrobert on January 22, 2008, 11:11:56 PM
she had  an average gpa and test scores
but excellent research experience in a variety of fields

don't worry though,
I haven't heard from any schools yet
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: SM30 on January 25, 2008, 05:59:15 PM
still havent heard back from anyone. Kind of surprising after applying to 9 schools. I thought for sure i'd at least hear back from one this week. Of the people I've talked to only 3 schools have gotten back to people. And even then that was only one person for each school.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: SM30 on January 26, 2008, 07:44:55 PM
rejected by cornell, by letter.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: agrobert on January 28, 2008, 06:00:41 PM
A friend of mine was accepted to Irvine.  App Due Date Jan 15
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: Mitch on January 30, 2008, 01:25:11 AM
caltech's rejection letter gave me a paper cut.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: SM30 on January 31, 2008, 08:40:31 PM
am i the only one slightly worried about the complete lack of replies from schools in late jan. Very few of my friends have heard back from the "top" schools and it seems like if you don't hear soon its rejection city.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: Mitch on January 31, 2008, 09:03:22 PM
It is common if you're a borderline.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: Willo on February 01, 2008, 02:48:03 AM
Well, I do not come from the greatest undergraduate institution ever, its a large public state school, but I had good GREs, GPA, recs, research (one pub), etc and I'm as obsessed as anyone about organic, so take that as you will.  This has been my application experience so far:

UC Irvine:  accepted mid-December by phone
Scripps:  Early Jan, Interview offer by phone, followed by a faculty call and email
UC Berkeley:  Early Jan, Acceptance by email, followed by a faculty call
Colorado State:  Acceptance via email Mid Jan
Boston College: Late Jan acceptance
Princeton:  Nothing yet...

Best of luck in chemistry and grad school!

Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: LarvalOrganiker on February 01, 2008, 12:35:52 PM
So far not bad...

University of Illinois-A misleading email in the second week of Jan and then the phone calls...two thus far.

University of Michigan-(Jan 18) A UPS over nighted single piece of paper acceptance letter.

UC Berkeley- (Jan 18) A phone call from a faculty member who I've met before and am HIGHLY interested in.

Columbia- (Jan 25) Just an email.

Still no MIT, Stanford, or Harvard. I know others who have been accepted to the latter two so...worried a bit.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: SM30 on February 01, 2008, 01:34:14 PM
if you dont mind me asking organiker, what was your app profile like? You're the first person i've seen thats gotten acceptances from columbia and uiuc.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: agrobert on February 01, 2008, 06:12:20 PM
I was accepted to UCSD this morning by email.

Haven't heard from Cal-Tech, Scripps, Berkeley or UCLA.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: LarvalOrganiker on February 01, 2008, 09:58:44 PM
if you dont mind me asking organiker, what was your app profile like? You're the first person i've seen thats gotten acceptances from columbia and uiuc.

3.9-ish GPA.
Three Semesters as a UTA.
>2 years experience with one research group (two minor publications and a larger one that was just accepted and every presentation my advisor could force me into)
President of Undergrad Chem Society for 2 years.
Not much else really. I go to the University of Louisville in Kentucky which ain't exactly hot s#*$ for chemists, but I suppose hard work is enough.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: agrobert on February 06, 2008, 08:20:53 PM
Accepted to UCLA by phone.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: SM30 on February 06, 2008, 08:44:13 PM
cool, i went to ucla for undergrad. I know a bunch about their department, especially organic. I'd be glad to share any info. Unfortunately Fraser Stoddart just left for northwestern so he's no longer an option. Anyone heard from harvard, stanford, columbia, princeton, or upenn? If you havent heard from them by now are you pretty much rejected? It seems like theyve probably given out all of their acceptances already.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: agrobert on February 06, 2008, 09:13:15 PM
A friend of mine has been accepted to UPENN, MIT and Princeton.  All were personal invites from professors she new well.  I don't think it is too late.  I haven't heard of any mass acceptances to those schools yet but I'm not sure how it works.  :)

Yea I'll probably contact you about UCLA if thats cool.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: SM30 on February 06, 2008, 09:17:29 PM
yeah feel free to PM whenever you want. UCLA can be a deceiving program so getting as much info as possible is a good idea.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: macman104 on February 06, 2008, 10:51:26 PM
Quote
All were personal invites from professors she new well.
*daydreams* To have those kinds of connections...
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: SM30 on February 06, 2008, 11:31:01 PM
yeah just wait till you get to the industry. The connections become everything. To be very honest the school you go to isn't THAT big of a deal. We would all love to go to big name schools and work with big name professors, but that doesn't necessarily guarantee anything when it comes to your job. Many organic chemists go through great schools and work with great professors and are in fact great chemists but they end up working at a huge company for 20 years and slaving away at the bench. SOME of them become group leaders and even less become directors. Those connections you gain in the industry and through friends will likely be more important than the actual professor you work for. Always keep your eyes open for co-workers breaking off and starting up their own businesses or professors starting up businesses. Not to mention the job outlook for chemists in the next 5 years is pretty dreadful. Thats just my two cents (but a lot of it comes from people with considerable experience in the industry).
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: MPC on February 07, 2008, 07:38:44 AM
So, I guess I'm slightly nervous too. I have good grades (University of Pittsburgh) and worked in industry (at Carnegie Mellon University) for two years. I decided to go back to grad school recently and applied to 4 schools. The thing is is that I have yet to take the Chemistry GRE. I contacted professors I was interested in at various schools personally which encouraged me to apply (either after seeing my resume, experience, or grades, etc...)

But, I have yet to hear back from any (Penn, Columbia, UC Irvine or MIT). Irvine told me that they have my application "on hold" and they will let me know if they are going to accept me directly without the score, or wait untill april after I have taken it. Does anyone have thoughts on my situation? I am getting really anxious here, but my undergraduate adviser, and freind,  here at Pitt in the chemistry program told me to relax and that everything will work out... :(
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: agrobert on February 07, 2008, 10:13:59 AM
So, I guess I'm slightly nervous too. I have good grades (University of Pittsburgh) and worked in industry (at Carnegie Mellon University) for two years. I decided to go back to grad school recently and applied to 4 schools. The thing is is that I have yet to take the Chemistry GRE. I contacted professors I was interested in at various schools personally which encouraged me to apply (either after seeing my resume, experience, or grades, etc...)

But, I have yet to hear back from any (Penn, Columbia, UC Irvine or MIT). Irvine told me that they have my application "on hold" and they will let me know if they are going to accept me directly without the score, or wait untill april after I have taken it. Does anyone have thoughts on my situation? I am getting really anxious here, but my undergraduate adviser, and freind,  here at Pitt in the chemistry program told me to relax and that everything will work out... :(

Take the Chemistry GRE.  Everything else sounds good.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: SM30 on February 07, 2008, 12:03:32 PM
i also applied to mit, columbia, and penn and have not heard back from any for what its worth (my grades arent considered "good" though). I've heard though that columbia finishes sending out their acceptances this week. I agree with agrobert, take the GRE chemistry and see what happens.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: MPC on February 07, 2008, 02:51:26 PM
Do you think they will wait to make a decision until I get my scores in April though? It seems as though thats what Irvine implied may happen.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: SM30 on February 07, 2008, 03:17:31 PM
most of those schools technically have until march to reply to you so i don't know that they would wait till april. You can always make deals though with these guys. I knew one grad student that got accepted to UCLA on condition that he just take the GRE so they could have it on record. Try to talk to them and explicitly get an answer. Don't rely on what you think is implied.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: SM30 on February 07, 2008, 11:37:37 PM
aaand rejected by princeton by email. Oh and if you haven't heard from Columbia yet, you're likely rejected (i emailed them and asked). This is getting depressing.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: timmexo on February 08, 2008, 01:52:36 PM
Heard back from UCSD, Michigan, UChicago, and Wisconsin

Waiting on Columbia and Yale.  Should I give up hope?

Also, in your opinion, what are the programs like for theoretical/physical chemistry at the aforementioned schools?  I'd like to do something that connects theoretical and experimental research in materials (I think), and UCSD looks like the best place to do it so far.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: agrobert on February 08, 2008, 02:03:54 PM
UCSD has a good program for theoretical chemistry and physics with unique application.  I don't know what you are particularly interested in.  As far as the campus at UCSD you can't beat it.  Minutes from the beach and most labs have an ocean view.  Great place to spend five years.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: OldThrashbarg on February 08, 2008, 02:52:14 PM
Okay, so far:
UT-Austin:Accepted
UIllinois (Urbana Champaign):Accepted
Yale:Accepted
Princeton:Wait list
Haven't heard/waiting to be rejected from Columbia, Stanford

Anyone know what sort of chances I have of getting into Princeton once I'm on the waitlist?  50-50 or so? Or slim to none?
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: SM30 on February 08, 2008, 06:17:27 PM
Wow i didn't know any of these schools had waitlists. I know some have "conditional acceptances" which they send out when they feel enough people arent signing up for their admit weekends. In fact if you're still waiting on columbia their admissions coordinator told me they MIGHT be sending out a few of those in the beginning of next week, but if you haven't gotten in by then you're pretty much rejected.

UCSD is considered very good in biochem, i guess theoretical too. I think Uchicago is particularly strong in physical/analytical chemistry.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: MPC on February 09, 2008, 12:37:44 PM
so, I have a professor at Irvine personally reviewing my application this week. I am hopeful, since of the four schools I have applied this is my top choice. To be honest Columbia seems to be run by a crew of egotistical A-holes. Pardon me if I have offended you, but its my honest opinion after talking with their admissions team. I have spoke with Steve Buchwald numerous times about his group and am still waiting for a reply, but then again MIT dosent usually notify until march or so. In fact, he told me that they don't even really start reviewing applications until mid Feb. So don't freak out those of you MIT hopefuls. Worry more about your grades and research. Penn is another place I am hoping for. Good luck there SM30. You seem to be pretty nervous.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: SM30 on February 09, 2008, 06:48:53 PM
rejected by stanford by mail...and yes i am nervous.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: agrobert on February 10, 2008, 06:21:18 PM
Anyone heard from Scripps?
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: SM30 on February 10, 2008, 06:50:16 PM
a friend of mine got an interview 3 weeks ago. He was contacted by email and a phone call.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: meek on February 11, 2008, 12:44:52 AM
rejected by stanford by mail...and yes i am nervous.

damn. mine must be in the mail....maybe I'll get it tomorrow or sometime next week...
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: LarvalOrganiker on February 11, 2008, 06:14:42 PM
Just got my rejection from Stanford.

Still waiting to hear from MIT and Harvard. At this point I'm not too worried. I've already got a helluva choice to make.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: enahs on February 11, 2008, 08:39:07 PM
Wow, we got a lot of over-achievers here! Impressive guys!

Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: meek on February 12, 2008, 01:05:02 AM
anyone heard anything from Northwestern?
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: MPC on February 13, 2008, 05:16:36 PM
Heard from UC Irvine. They said they will wait until I take the Chemistry GRE until making their decision....I have no idea if thats good or not. I guess they could have rejected me. So its probably not too bad
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: SM30 on February 13, 2008, 05:43:10 PM
if they said that i wouldnt be surprised that the chem gre is just a formality. I've heard from many people that it's not weighed heavily into the equation so i doubt theyre really "making a decision" on it. You're right in that if they really wanted to reject you they already would have.
Oh and a friend of mine was rejected by northwestern three or four weeks ago. Haven't heard of any acceptances from there.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: macman104 on February 13, 2008, 06:33:44 PM
I had a friend get accepted to Northwestern (I believe he's actually attending there).  He had a few years of research experience in an organic lab also.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: SM30 on February 14, 2008, 03:37:33 PM
How many outstanding schools for the rest of you guys? I have 7 and its been pretty quiet overall this week. Anyone still have hope for the outstanding schools?
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: agrobert on February 14, 2008, 04:07:07 PM
Yea waiting on Scripps, Berkeley and Cal-Tech still.  Better to wait then to already have been rejected.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: bluenote on February 15, 2008, 07:17:15 PM
Has anyone heard from CU Boulder?
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: fingolfn on February 18, 2008, 03:00:18 PM
i just called columbia's chemistry gsas admissions office and they told me that most offer letters have been sent already and they are only gona make 1-2 more offers this week.  Next week they will start sending out rejections.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: agrobert on February 21, 2008, 07:25:06 PM
Rejected from Cal-Tech by email. 21 Feb 2008
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: ADOGG2008 on February 27, 2008, 02:46:26 AM
 :( Yeah I called Columbia and Scripts a few days ago and they said that all of the offers have been given out at this point so if you don't have an interview lined up, I'm afraid it may be time to throw in the towel.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: agrobert on March 16, 2008, 08:36:21 PM
Does anyone know if there is a deadline for schools to respond back to you?  Scripps, Berkeley???  I know its probably to late but I find it wierd to have had no contact by either school and I wouldn't want to confirm UCLA and then later be accepted to Scipps.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: Mitch on March 16, 2008, 10:13:54 PM
They should of gotten back to you by now. You need to contact them now!
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: SM30 on March 17, 2008, 01:46:13 AM
so you're settling on UCLA agrobert? Did you do the whole visit? Is there a prof that you wanted to work for?
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: agrobert on March 17, 2008, 12:36:59 PM
Yea I met with Garg, Jung, Kwon and Merlic.  As of now I'm stuck between Jung and Garg, but leaning towards Garg.  Seems like a better opportunity if I work hard.
Title: Re: Anyone heard back from schools yet?
Post by: SM30 on March 18, 2008, 06:19:20 PM
I've yet to hear anything solid on Garg because he's so new. I know Jung is a really nice guy and a great chemist. Some of the folks in his group are really cool too. I'd personally go with Jung, but thats only because I know him and know nothing about Garg. Actually I think Garg took over Stoddart's old labs in Mol Sci.