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I was just unofficially accepted to a chemistry Ph.D. program. (self.chemistry)

submitted ago by Lokky

After fixing yet another intricacy born from the international nature of my application the admission director informed me that they decided to accept me and that I should be receiving all my documentation by next week. I am so stoked, can't wait to start as a grad student, and I am extremely relieved because I would have had to leave the country othherwise.

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[–]hairyfro 11 points12 points ago

My condolences...

Just kidding... mostly. Good luck!

[–]Lokky[S] 0 points1 point ago

I love pain, it should be the right place for me!

[–]hairyfro 4 points5 points ago

This is my only piece of advice for those going to grad school for chemistry (or any science, I suppose):

When I picked a research group to join, I went with a very large, well established group with a famous professor. Being there were usually between 30 and 40 people in the group, I didn't not get a lot of 1 on 1 time with my professor. If I had it all to do over again, I would go for the small group doing research that interests me rather than for the "prestigious" group.

[–]Lokky[S] 0 points1 point ago

Yeah I am mostly aiming at specific research interests, tied to renewable energy production and storage. There are at least four vcu professors whose research I am interested in.

[–]anzMaterials 2 points3 points ago

Ah, a masochist. You should spend grad school trying to do a total synthesis.

[–]mitchandreNano 5 points6 points ago

Which school are you going to, you can't just leave us hanging.

[–]Lokky[S] 5 points6 points ago

Hah just realized I have not mentioned it. I have been accepted at VCU (virginia commonwealth)

[–]Tetrazene 2 points3 points ago

That's great! I worked there with Steve Fong for two summers. I think it's a great school.

[–]HlafordMaterials 9 points10 points ago

It's Reddit,he can and most likely will.

[–]mz27 5 points6 points ago

Remember that your work is awesome, but that nothing is worth your health and self. So many people who I work with are completely uninteresting even to each other because they live exclusively for their work. It seems like casual alcoholism and 80 hour work weeks are pretty much the norm.

[–]Lokky[S] 1 point2 points ago

As an undergrad who is doing research and tutoring on top of my courseload I already approach 80 hours workweeks and I gotta pay them to do it!

[–]myarlakOrganic 7 points8 points ago

sucker

[–]Lokky[S] 1 point2 points ago

They let me stay into the country, allow me to work and walk away with a degree that will let me move to pretty much anywhere... I wager its worth it.

[–]myarlakOrganic 4 points5 points ago

best of luck, the only thing a PhD guarantees you is years of over working, being under appreciated, and maybe if you are lucky a sense of accomplishment when you are all done... I mostly enjoyed grad school and still left with these feelings...

[–]Lokky[S] 1 point2 points ago

Well personally I find problem solving to be very rewarding. I don't expect recognition or appretiation, just want some freedom in the lab and eventually a piece of paper that allows me to become a professor and abuse my own grad students, bwahaha.

[–]myarlakOrganic 2 points3 points ago

Just wait, you are still naive to the process... this exists for a reason...

[–]Lokky[S] 2 points3 points ago

Oh trust me, I have spent the last year reading the horror stories and hanging out with grad students (some of my friends just got their phd) just so i'd be already jaded to the whole thing.

[–]Alpinestarhero 3 points4 points ago

WELCOME TO HELL

Seriously, 80% of the experiments you attempt will not work. And 90% of that 80% will have you saying to yourself "this time It's definatly going to work!"

Best of luck! (I finish in the lab in 7 months)

[–]zeropoint1 1 point2 points ago

Only 80%? Man, you got lucky.

[–]adriaticseaOrganic 0 points1 point ago

Oh man I always think that THIS is going to be the one that works.

[–]Alpinestarhero 0 points1 point ago

always know when to just GIVE THE FUCK UP. I had a few brilliant ideas on paper, but in practice, nope. I spent 2 months trying to get what seemed a simple acylation to work. Nope. Didn't want to. Walk away!

[–]chemmon1Physical 2 points3 points ago

RUN!!!

Nah, I jest. Congrats. Just remember that your sanity is the most important thing to consider throughout this process. Especially come your third year. . .

[–]Lokky[S] 0 points1 point ago

Sanity is something is left at the door when I applied, they make life so hard for us internationals.

[–]Large_Pimpin 1 point2 points ago

Congrats! Just been accepted for a PhD myself!

[–]halfshellheroes 1 point2 points ago

Me too! Congrats to you!

[–]chicky08tinkPolymer 0 points1 point ago

Where to!

[–]halfshellheroes 2 points3 points ago

U. Oregon; I'm hoping for Colorado at Boulder! What about you?

[–]chicky08tinkPolymer 3 points4 points ago

Oh yay! I applied to Colorado at Boulder but I haven't gotten a response... I just got my acceptance from Ohio State University, though I haven't received any other acceptance letters yet

[–]metadex 0 points1 point ago

What is your program? I just transferred to Ohio State.

[–]chicky08tinkPolymer 0 points1 point ago

I applied to the materials chemistry dept as a first option and inorganic as second. I have no idea who I'm going to work with yet obviously but I would love to work under Dr. Gustafson. I will be visiting in March though! Are you in the Chemistry dept?

[–]Lokky[S] 1 point2 points ago

Cheers!

[–]elchismosoComputational 1 point2 points ago

Conglaturation! Are you visiting? Let us know what you think of it!

[–]Lokky[S] 1 point2 points ago

I'm currently getting my bachelor here in the states, I knew it'd be easier to be accepted into grad school if I had a US degree. Been paying out of pocket for it too :(

[–]malangen 1 point2 points ago

I am in the exact same situation with Wayne State University. Very excited, but also waiting to hear from one other school.

[–]Lokky[S] 0 points1 point ago

I had originally planned to apply to multiple schools but I kinda bombed my chemistry GRE (after getting great grades in the genral one) so I decided to cut my losses and don't roll the dice with the top leagues.

[–]chicky08tinkPolymer 1 point2 points ago

I just got accepted into Ohio State! Anyone else around here going to OSU? Edit: I'm also an international student so being accepted means YAY Not going back to my country!

[–]mks351Biophysical 1 point2 points ago

Congratulations on many fronts! "Yay!" for higher education and being able to stay in the country! Hope you enjoy your studies. Best of luck to you!

[–]Lokky[S] 0 points1 point ago

Thank you kind sir.

[–]mks351Biophysical 2 points3 points ago

you're welcome from the kind madam. :)

[–]VanhedOrganic 0 points1 point ago

Don't forget to tend to your health and life outside your studies. It's very easy to lose perspective on things.

[–]Lokky[S] 1 point2 points ago

Health and life? I am no biologist, that's not my field! (Joking aside I count on my girlfriend and vespa club to keep me in touch with life outside the university)

[–]lc111889Organic 0 points1 point ago

Thanks for rubbing it in, I am still waiting to hear back from 6 places.

[–]hansineffect 0 points1 point ago

Let me be the 49th to unofficially congratulate you.

[–]callmecatalystMaterials 1 point2 points ago

I'm so, so, sorry...actually you go numb after a year or so.

[–]zeropoint1 1 point2 points ago

Remember: Success in grad school is not dictated by intelligence but instead by perseverance and determination in the face of constant failure.

[–]CanWeBowlPleaseComputational 0 points1 point ago

Could not have said it better.

[–]Pandadeist12 1 point2 points ago

Congrats! I just got into the University of Arizona's program a few days ago.

[–]Khoeth_Mora -1 points0 points ago

Congratulations to you! I just started on my chemistry Ph.D. this January. So far the classwork has been much more challanging than I was expecting, especially after being away from school for some years, but the laboratory work is amazing! I have my own nitrogen glove box, three NMR's at my disposal, and more research funding than I could hope to spend. Keep us posted, lets us know how you enjoy grad school and good luck!

[–]malangen -2 points-1 points ago

What school? (Also, challenging*)

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