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Afroshroomerican
Oprah's Minion



Registered: 05/12/06
Posts: 891
Loc: Pennsylvania
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Chemistry major and Mathematics Minor
#8154621 - 03/16/08 07:11 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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I'm trying to figure out what I should do for grad school with a Major in Chemistry and a Minor in Math.
My major cum is 3.7 my minor is 3.2 overall 3.5
I graduate in December.
I was considering Physical Organic Chemistry. I definitely would like to use math to a degree (so I wouldn't want pure Organic and I HATE biochem)
Any ideas? something with job-security and a good salary would be nice as well.
-------------------- "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." ~Martin Luther King Jr.~ <passitbobbie> if I just showed you a closeup of my ass <passitbobbie> youd think it was female "You owe errrbody up in here an apology fow youwe shit, HO!" - classic
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DieCommie


Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
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Are you thinking PhD or Masters? Have you taken the GRE already, and do you have any undergrad research experience?
You could get into a masters program, no sweat probably. Then get a job in industry. You GPA is a little low to be competitive in PhD programs, so if you want to do that you will pretty much have to take what you can get. Unless you have killer GRE scores and great undergrad research.
If you want a good salary and job-security, I would think masters program.
I dont know much about the sub-fields of chemistry, so Im no hope to you there. Otherwise, Im in the same boat as you. I graduate in December, and am looking to grad school.
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badchad
Mad Scientist

Registered: 03/02/05
Posts: 13,379
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Re: Chemistry major and Mathematics Minor [Re: DieCommie]
#8154793 - 03/16/08 07:59 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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There are a lot of other factors that go into getting accepted into grad school. As was previously mentioned research experience goes a long way.
You also have to understand that graduate students are the driving force behind research. It is in the best interest of a professor to hire and take on a graduate student. They are essentially, skilled slave labor. One thing I constantly tell people about graduate school is that in the end, you are judged on the work you do and the papers you publish. The name of the institution means very little. Thus, if you can find a well-known and influential professor at a smaller school, it may be easier to get accepted.
Your biggest decision at the moment is whether to go for a masters or Ph.D. There is an enormous amount of separation between the two degrees (in terms of job scope).
-------------------- ...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge. It is an indellible experience; it is forever known. I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did. Smith, P. Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27. ...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely. Osmond, H. Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436
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Afroshroomerican
Oprah's Minion



Registered: 05/12/06
Posts: 891
Loc: Pennsylvania
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Re: Chemistry major and Mathematics Minor [Re: DieCommie]
#8156163 - 03/17/08 04:51 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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To be honest with you, I really like chemistry. I love science and math. But I don't think I have the desire to complete another 4 years and devote my life to the building of the field.
I am a person with varied interests. I love to write as well (which was my original major). I decided chemistry because it's the center science and allows me to dabble into many fields.
With that, I MUCH rather go for my master's in Chemistry and so something with that. The only reason I chose to go for a PhD was because I was told that it was the only way: 1) to get the school to pay for you 2) to earn anything from having a B.S. to M.S. (according to one of my profs having a M.S. in Chem is useless because it's essentially saying you couldn't cut it as a PhD.)
I'm a simple man. I just want job security with a nice 50kish pay with possible advancement to 65-80k. Can I do this with a M.S.
If I can get that with an M.S. and get a free ride (like with a PhD.) then I have no desire to get a PhD. I want to remain low-key and contribute my share to the science community by being an underdog. fits my personality and aptitude to a tee.
-------------------- "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." ~Martin Luther King Jr.~ <passitbobbie> if I just showed you a closeup of my ass <passitbobbie> youd think it was female "You owe errrbody up in here an apology fow youwe shit, HO!" - classic
Edited by Afroshroomerican (03/17/08 04:56 AM)
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badchad
Mad Scientist

Registered: 03/02/05
Posts: 13,379
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It's highely unlikely you would have your M.S. paid for, although the nice part about that is it should only take you two years to complete.
I think your salary ideals around 50k are possible, but you'll need to work for some type of industry. If that is your goal however, you can do that with a B.S.
-------------------- ...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge. It is an indellible experience; it is forever known. I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did. Smith, P. Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27. ...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely. Osmond, H. Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436
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Annom
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Registered: 12/22/02
Posts: 6,367
Loc: Europe
Last seen: 1 year, 3 days
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Don't you need a master before you can start on your PhD?
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Seuss
Error: divide byzero



Registered: 04/27/01
Posts: 23,480
Loc: Caribbean
Last seen: 3 months, 8 days
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Quote:
I love to write as well (which was my original major). I decided chemistry because it's the center science and allows me to dabble into many fields.
How about engineering management for the masters? It would build on top of your existing skills (math/chemistry) and would get you into the higher paying jobs without having to go down the phd route.
-------------------- Just another spore in the wind.
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Annom
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Registered: 12/22/02
Posts: 6,367
Loc: Europe
Last seen: 1 year, 3 days
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Re: Chemistry major and Mathematics Minor [Re: Seuss]
#8156321 - 03/17/08 07:21 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Yes, if you don't want/need to work in science and want job security and a high pay, you should go for a management master.
My advice is to do what you like doing/learning, unless you have a dream-job in mind that needs a certain path to it.
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Afroshroomerican
Oprah's Minion



Registered: 05/12/06
Posts: 891
Loc: Pennsylvania
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Re: Chemistry major and Mathematics Minor [Re: Annom]
#8156865 - 03/17/08 11:11 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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I want to thank you all for your replies!
I very much enjoy chemistry and would not mind at all getting a Master's in it. I'd love 2 years of studying just chemistry. (there's an intrinsic desire to get my Master's) The thing is I have no desire to get my PhD.
My salary goal is around 60-80k preferably 75ish with good job security. Is this attainable through a Master's in Chem ?
I keep looking for Master's degree salaries with chem and there are sparse details.
I'm not trying to avoid the chem on grad level, just no desire to write a thesis etc. So I want to go to study chem, not just learn to manage engineers.
-------------------- "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." ~Martin Luther King Jr.~ <passitbobbie> if I just showed you a closeup of my ass <passitbobbie> youd think it was female "You owe errrbody up in here an apology fow youwe shit, HO!" - classic
Edited by Afroshroomerican (03/17/08 11:14 AM)
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Seuss
Error: divide byzero



Registered: 04/27/01
Posts: 23,480
Loc: Caribbean
Last seen: 3 months, 8 days
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> I keep looking for Master's degree salaries with chem and there are sparse details.
Maybe in chemical engineering (working with oil wells, etc), but for pure chemisty you are going to be hard pressed to find a job as a chemist without a phd. There are a few, such as jobs testing water quality at the water treatment plant, etc, but they are difficult to find (and typically, you are nothing more than a glorified lab assistant). Forensic chemist would be another area you could get into with a masters rather than a phd. I've also seen environmental chemist jobs around that were looking for masters rather than phd.
Personally, I would go for the management based masters. Much better to be making more money for doing less work while sitting in the nice air-conditioned office... but management isn't for everybody... and if it isn't for you, I understand. A minor in math, BS in chem, an MBA (or engineering management masters), and a strong background in writing make you a very desirable employee.
However, more important than anything else, whatever you decide, make certain that it is something you enjoy doing.
-------------------- Just another spore in the wind.
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DieCommie


Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
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Re: Chemistry major and Mathematics Minor [Re: Annom]
#8157286 - 03/17/08 12:50 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
Annom said: Don't you need a master before you can start on your PhD?
Not in the US. In Europe you do. (I have seen a few foreign students get screwed thinking they needed a masters first) Here in the US though many masters programs are terminal, meaning they do not apply towards a PhD at all. Sometimes you can get a masters along the way to a PhD, but usually you just go straight for it without getting a masters.
People often think that masters is a step below a PhD, well it is less education. But they are different types of degrees emphasizing different types of education. One mainly for research, one mainly for industry. Thats why you dont see many people with a masters in physics, or a PhD in engineering (usually).
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Annom
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Registered: 12/22/02
Posts: 6,367
Loc: Europe
Last seen: 1 year, 3 days
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Re: Chemistry major and Mathematics Minor [Re: DieCommie]
#8157553 - 03/17/08 02:14 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Ah, our education systems are very different in many ways. They use the same names, but are definitely not the same.
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supra
computerEnthusiast
Registered: 10/26/03
Posts: 6,446
Loc: TEXAS
Last seen: 13 years, 1 month
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suess is right, the oil companies will pay you fat. My buddy works for marathon oil, he is a chem major, and gets paid 300 per day plus 50 cash for food and necessities. The only shitty part is he is on sight for days at a time. But going out of town for 10 days and coming back with 3,000 has got to be nice...
peace
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