1. Graduate School Prep Club
September 19, 2013

2. Who Are We?
The Chemistry Graduate School Prep Club is a partnership
initiative between the Spelman Chemistry Club and the NSFCenter for C-H Functionalization at Emory University.

3. Who Are We?
The Chemistry Graduate School Prep Club
(GPSC) is an organization devoted to:
1)
Preparing undergraduate students for STEM graduate
program(s) application process.
2)
Developing the essential skills for a successful STEM graduate
career.
3)
Educating its members on current career options for STEM
majors (both traditional and non-traditional)
4)
Identifying research opportunities for undergraduate students at
R1 institutions and industry.
1)
Exposing students to research seminars and laboratory tours

4. Semester 1 (Sept., Oct., Nov.)
1) Is Graduate School Right for Me? – September 19
a. Graduate School Myths
b. How to Choose a Graduate Program
c. How to Choose a Research Group/ PI
2) Applying for Graduate School- October 17
a. GRE
b. Applications
c. Personal Statements
d. CV/Resume
3) Gaining Research Experience - November 14
a. Academic Summer Research Programs
b. Industrial Internships
c. International Opportunities
Semester 2 (Jan., Feb., March,April)
1) Careers in Chemistry – January 16
a. Making an Individual Development Plan
b. Traditional and Non-traditional Chemistry Careers
2) Essential Skills for Graduate School Part 1: Journal Analysis – Feb 20
3) Essential Skills for Graduate School Part 2:
Organization/Literature Searching/ Referencing – March 20
a. Evernote- Electronic Note Taking
b. Mendeley- Paper Organization
c. Scifinder/Zotero/End Note
4) Journal Scavenger Hunt – April 17
a. Starbucks Gift Card for Scavenger Hunt Winner
Outside of Normal Meetings
1) Emory Lab Tours – March/April during Undergraduate Poster
Session
2) Seminar – Dr. MacBeth Research Seminar or Admissions Workshop
(Fall or Spring)
3) VidYo Seminars in conjunction with CCHF Seminars (Various Dates)
a. The Center for Selective C-H Functionalization in conjunction with
the Association of Women in Science sponsors various online
Career and Research Seminars. The GSPC Leadership Team would
like to invite Spelman students to log into these seminars that are
broadcasted via the VidYo software. CCHF can sponsor for a VidYo
account for Spelman students to use.
The Chemistry Graduate School Prep Club is a partnership initiative between the Spelman Chemistry Club and the NSFCenter for C-H Functionalization at Emory University.

5. Chemistry Research Fellowships & Opportunities for
Minority College Students
Summer Undergraduate Research Program
• Opportunity for research within one of the Center’s 23 labs across
the country.
• Participate in data collection and analysis, written and oral
presentations.
• Seminars, workshops, career planning sessions, professional
development
• Communicating science research workshop
One position in the CCHF Research Experience for
Undergraduates (REU) program held for a Spelman GSPC
participant!
• $4000 for 8-10 weeks
• 40+ hours/week of research
• Housing allowance provided

6. Is Graduate School Right For Me?
September 19, 2013

7. Fact Or Fiction
It isn't worth going unless I get into a top-ranked school or program.
Fiction! An advanced degree in a STEM field tells
employers you have what it takes to succeed: persistence
and determination.
It is also a mistake to primarily chose an institution based
on its rank. Are you interested in the research taking place
at the institution? Be sure to chose a program in which
there are several professors whose work interests you.
Does your personality fit with the culture of the
institution? Do you like the location? These are all
questions to consider when applying to graduate school.
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/articles/2012/04/13/4-graduate-school-myths-debunked

8. Overall Rankings
Chemistry
1. Caltech
1.
MIT
1. University of California
-Berkeley
4. Harvard
4. Stanford
6. University of Illinois
-Urbana-Champaign
7. Northwestern
7. Scripps Research Institute
7. University of Wisconsin
- Madison
Biochemistry
1. Harvard
2. University of California
-Berkeley
3. University of California
-San Francisco
4. Scripps Research Institute
5. University of Wisconsin
-Madison
6. MIT
7. Stanford
8. Caltech
9. Yale
10. University of California
-San Diego
http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/chemistry-rankings

9. Fact Or Fiction
My GPA isn’t 4.0 but I should apply to top tier schools anyway.
Fact! Graduate school committees consider more than just
your grades. Research experience as well as extracurricular
activities weigh heavy for graduate acceptance
committees. Your recommendation letters and personal
statement are IMPORTANT.
The scientific community is small. Ask your professors to
not only write you a recommendation but also
help/recommend schools that you should consider. Big
name Schools and PI’s are great, but realize there are
around 200 graduate programs in chemistry out there!
Create a list that incorporates dream schools and safe
schools.

10. Fact Or Fiction
I don’t want to be professor so graduate school isn’t for me
Fiction! There are a number of careers outside of academia
that require a masters degree and beyond, everything
from industry to patent law. Asking a potential PI, where
their former graduate students ended up is a great way of
learning about potential careers in STEM.

11. Fact Or Fiction
It can be expensive to attend a top ranked school, so consider state
schools as well.
Fiction! Most STEM PhD programs are funded and you
receive a stipend: THIS MEANS YOU ARE PAID TO GO TO
SCHOOL.
There are also various graduate fellowships available
through the National Science Foundation (NSF), the
National Institute of Health (NIH), as well as private donors
and the university. Funding is an important topic you
should be researching when considering a research group.
Do they have funding? How much funding is available? The
amount of funding a PI (Primary Investigator) has can
determine how much or how little you will have to act as a
teaching assistant.

12. Fact Or Fiction
Choosing a group is a more important decision than which school I
go to.
Fact! Your advisor is the most important person in you
graduate career and your research project will be your life
for the next 5+ years so your choice in group will have a
huge impact on your success in graduate school.
Think about what you want out of an advisor and out of
your research group, and what is right for you. How
involved you want your advisor to be? Do you want to
interact with them every day/week/month? Tenured or not
tenured? Big group or small group? How much does
everyone teach? How many undergraduate students are
they mentoring? Where do group members go after they
graduate? Is the advisor supportive of ‘alternative’
careers?

16. Fact Or Fiction
Graduate school takes longer for some people than it does for
others.
Fact! Although the average time to completion is 5-6
years, graduate school is based on your research. When
your research is at a stage that is it complete or can be
completed by someone else, then you graduate. This time
scale can be largely dependent upon the research group.
An important question to ask potential PI is, “what is the
average time for graduation?”

17. Fact Or Fiction
I don’t know what else to do and I did well in undergrad so I should
go to graduate school.
Fiction! Many often find themselves in this predicament.
Realize that graduate school is a COMMITMENT.
Completing a graduate program requires long hours and
hard work! Do not explore this option if you are not up for
the challenge!!!

18. Fact Or Fiction
Applications are primarily due in the spring of senior year so fall
semester should be focused on courses and research, winter break
is a good opportunity to start looking at and visiting some potential
graduate programs.
Fiction! If you are a senior wanting to attend graduate
school next year you should be deciding which schools to
apply to, taking the GRE, and writing personal statements
in the fall. And there is no need to visit, once you are
accepted they will fly you out to visit their campus
Even before senior year there are plenty of things you can
be doing to prepare for graduate school
-begin doing undergraduate research and maybe a
research program during the summer.
-as you read journal articles pay attention to who’s work it
is and learn about research from faculty at other schools.

19. Senior Year
•October
-request recommendation letters/transcripts
-Register for GRE/chemistry GRE
•November
-Take GRE (or earlier), chemistry GRE (October or November)
•October—Mar 1
-Apply to schools (look at your choices’ deadlines)
•Jan/Feb
-Hear back from schools
•Feb/March
-Visit accepted schools
•April 15
-Deadline to accept or decline

20. Visitation Weekend
•Travel/accommodations usually covered
•Learn more about faculty research
•Talk with current students
•Ask how much they publish, how much they talk to their
advisor, where do graduate from their group end up, how
long does the average student take to finish, how much they
teach, what are qualifying exams like, what percentage of
incoming grad students finish their PhD versus leave with a
master’s…
•Atmosphere of the program!

21. Fact Or Fiction
I didn’t get accepted; no problem, I can apply again next year.
Fact! Admission rates are low and depend on a number of
factors, including funding. Some years funding is very tight
and acceptance rates are extremely low. This is why it is
important to contact a potential PI early. This way they can
advocate for you!
If you don’t get in to the graduate program of your choice
the first time you apply, get some experience in industry or
as a post-bac in an academic lab. It will make your
application stronger the next time around.
http://www.carthage.edu/environmental-science/opportunities/graduate-school/

22. Questions?
This work was supported by the NSF under the
CCI Center for Selective C–H Functionalization,
CHE-1205646
Any opinions, findings or recommendations expressed in this
material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily
www.NSF-CCHF.com
reflect the views of the NSF