Grad School App Advice

My Story: I started somewhat late in the game. In Summer 2009, I knew I wanted to be in grad school for biochem---I just thought it'd be in Fall 2011. Instead, while doing research at a Big Name Institution, I fell in love with the research. By the end of the summer, I knew that I wanted to be in grad school ASAP. Here's my timeline of what occurred next:

Aug-Took general GRE before school had started

Sept-Talked to profs; decided to apply; came up with final list of schools; got profs to agree to write letters

Oct-"Started work" on personal statement; started studying for the subject GRE

Nov-Actually wrote personal statement; sent to prof for revision/advice; took subject GRE in biochem; emailed profs at potential schools

Dec-Turned in apps; filled in nitty-gritty details; sent more emails to profs

I'd change a fair amount of my grad school application process if I could. Here's information that I learned from the process, as well as my other chem friends.

1.First things first, even if you don't think you'll be applying in the fall, take the subject GRE in the spring. Last fall was so hectic for me that I couldn't even study properly for it. It's only offered in April, Oct, and November and you need to sign up about a month ahead of time. Try and take the April one, even if you haven't finished all of the coursework. (Of course, if it's a large amount of coursework, then just try and take the Oct one.)

2. Actually start writing your personal statement early. You should be tailoring it for each school, but it'll probably just be a paragraph at the end of your essay. I know how it goes. A good friend of mine had a basic PS done by the end of the summer---great idea.

3. Don't try and apply to more than 6-7 schools. I actually stuck to this rule, but I had many friends who didn't. Just don't. You go crazy. And if you don't go crazy then, just wait until you get into too many schools and have to narrow it down anyways.

4. Ask for letters of rec early. I asked in September. DO THAT. I have one friend who was out of luck with one of his recs because he asked towards the end of October and the potential letter writer was too busy by this point.

5. Look up fellowships in the summer. I definitely missed the boat on that one. If you're going to apply to fellowships, start in the summer. You really don't want to be researching/writing it in the middle of a hectic, insane semester.

6. Priority for letters of rec writers: Person you've done research with that's closest for your future research > person you've done research for > prof that knows you well > prof whose class you did well in > TA > crazy raccoon you found in the dumpster. (You'll need three letters. I picked one #1, one #2, and one #3 because that's who I had.)

7. I wish I had emailed profs from various places I applied to in Sept. Or in the summer. If you're going to email, it feels slightly useless after November. I'm pretty sure emailing only helped me in one place.

8. WRITE A POSITIVE PERSONAL STATEMENT. Make anyone read it. Instead of "problems," use the phrase "new and exciting challenges." (As stupid as it sounds.) While I don't think good personal statements are that helpful in an application, I definitely think that negative/bad personal statements hurt applications.

Ok, that's enough for me. Do you have advice about grad school apps? Disagree? Let me know.

-Biochemist on the Run