Graduate Program

Graduate Admissions

This web page describes our graduate admissions process in detail. Questions should be directed to our Graduate Coordinator, Joli Huynh.

Should You Apply?

The graduate programs in Chemistry at Virginia Tech are not for everyone. We recruit and admit students who have a chemistry degree (BS, BA, or equivalent). Sometimes we can consider students with degrees in biology, biochemistry, and chemical engineering, but a good background in chemistry needs to be in evidence on your transcript. We are looking for students with strong academic records, a demonstrated aptitude for research, a desire to deepen and broaden their knowledge of chemistry, and significant commitment and self-motivation to undertake challenging problems.  Those who have these qualities are encouraged to apply!

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Preparing to Apply

You will need the following information for your application.

• Your complete academic record in higher education -- the colleges you've attended, your majors, and your GPAs. Virginia Tech does not admit students with GPA less than 3.0 into its graduate programs. Please note that we will calculate your GPA based on the most recent half (typically 60 credits) of your undergraduate transcript.  Exceptions can sometimes be made for students who have also earned significantly higher GPAs in graduate programs in the United States or Canada (minimum graduate GPA of 3.4, minimum of 15 credit hours).
• Your transcripts. Learn your institution's procedure for submitting "official" transcripts. It is also useful to have a PDF copy of an official, college-issued transcript.  You may wish to prepare a brief, one-page note describing any inconsistencies in your transcript (such as a bad semester that resulted from medical problems).  If you are applying from an institution that does not use a 4-point scale, you should prepare a PDF note that explains how transcripts typically work in your part of the world.
• Three References.  The application will ask you for the names and email addresses of three (3) references who can provide strong letters of recommendation. The web-based application system will then ask those individuals to enter their recommendations on-line.  Professors in your current department or professors at other schools with whom you have done undergraduate research are highly preferred. Also, it is preferred that the email addresses of your references should not be "free" email addresses such as Yahoo, gmail, hotmail, etc.
• Your GRE scores. We require the General GRE exam, and we expect students to score in the 57th percentile on verbal reasoning, 65th percentile on quantitative reasoning, and 45th percentile on analytical writing.  The Chemistry Subject GRE exam is not required but may be helpful in the competition for admission.  We expect a score in the 50th percentile on the GRE Chemistry Subject exam.
• Your TOEFL scores (international students only). The Graduate School's minimum TOEFL scores is 80 (iBT).  The Chemistry Department expects students to score 100 on the internet-based TOEFL (iBT) or 250 on the computer-based TOEFL or 600 on the paper-based TOEFL. Alternatively, we expect students to score 7.5 on the IELTS.
• Personal Statement.  We do NOT require this kind of document.  There are questions within the application that will provide the information we need about your interests and goals.  The fields within the application have limits on the number of characters that can be input.  Therefore you may need to edit your "personal statement" substantially in order to copy-and-paste it into the application form.
• Resume or CV.   We do NOT require this kind of document.  There is a place within the application where you can list up to five key accomplishments such as publications, presentations, or awards.
• Extraneous Materials  Please do NOT send these items.  Sometimes students send us manuscripts of papers that they have submitted to journals, copies of educational certificates and awards, and other materials.  We can only base our admissions decisions on information we can verify independently. If you think you have a special document or other materials that we really need to see, please ask Joli Huynh before sending it.

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How to Apply

If you have not yet done so, please read "Preparing to Apply" above. We use an on-line application. This form can be found at the following link: https://www.applyweb.com/apply/vtechg/index.html. You will have the opportunity to enter the information you have gathered, and you will upload your personal statement and CV during the application process.

• Complete the on-line application form. US applicants do not pay an application fee. International students (including those who may be located in the US) must pay a fee of $65. 
• You will enter your "self-reported" GRE scores and academic records (colleges, GPAs) into the form.  We can base our admission decision on these self-reported scores but we can also withdraw our offer if we find that your official scores differ significantly.
• Arrange for your original transcripts to be sent to the following address.  We will copy them and send the originals to the graduate school.
  • Chemistry Graduate Admissions, Campus Mail Code 0212, Blacksburg, VA 24061.  
• If you think delivery of your transcripts may be delayed, you can send a PDF copy of your unofficial transcripts by email to Joli Huynh. We can make a decision to admit you within the department using the PDF, but the Graduate School will not allow us to make a formal admission without receiving the official copies.  We can withdraw our offer if the official and unofficial transcripts are found to differ.
• Arrange for ETS to submit your official GRE scores (and TOEFL scores, if you are an international student) to Virginia Tech Graduate School. Use institution code 5859. Do not enter a department code.
• Advise your references to expect email from ApplyWeb inviting them to submit recommendations on your behalf. Those who are submitting paper reference letters should do so promptly.  The electronic references are strongly preferred.
• Special note to International Students: Depending on your TOEFL scores, we reserve the right to interview you by telephone, Skype, or gmail video chat to assess your English speaking and listening skills.

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Admissions Timetable

We cannot admit you without a completed application. It is your responsibility to make sure your application is complete. If you are unsure whether specific items have reached VT, you can contact Joli Huynh.  Also please note that admission into the Spring term is considered only under special circumstances, and only for truly outstanding students. If you want to discuss Spring admission, you should contact Paul Deck. All of the following dates apply to admission for the Fall semester.

• December 1st. We begin organizing our admissions office and our admissions committee.
• December 15th. We begin assembling an applicant database and reviewing applications.
• January 15th. This is our "official" application deadline. What this "deadline" means, in practice, is that we begin offering positions in our program with tuition waivers and assistantship support. This process usually takes about one month. Once we reach a certain number of assistantship offers, we have to stop. Applications received after February 15th probably will not be considered unless they are truly outstanding.
• March 15th. Applicants who are no longer under consideration will be notified.
• April 15th. Students who have received offers must respond by this date or they surrender their financial aid packages.

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Once You're Admitted

If you have been admitted, congratulations! But there is still work to do....

• What does "recommended for admission" mean? The Chemistry Department can NOT "admit" anyone. We can only recommend admission to the Graduate School. They do the actual "admitting" of students. However, in our experience, the Graduate School only goes against our recommendation if there is something "wrong" with your application, such as missing official transcripts or official GRE scores -- or if the self-reported information in your application does not match the official documents. So, if you have done a careful, thorough job during the application process, there shouldn't be a problem.
• Initial notification. Because we are confident that the Graduate School will accept our "recommendations" for admission, we notify you immediately by email of our departmental decision, and we say, "Congratulations." The email contains a copy of a letter from the Chairman of our Department, Professor James Tanko, along with an unsigned copy of your Assistantship Agreement.
• Official notification. You will also receive the official, original letter from Prof. Tanko with the official, signed Assistantship Agreement. (About the same time you should receive the official admssion letter from the Graduate School, separately). You should sign and return the official, signed Assistantship Agreement (with Prof. Tanko's signature) by regular mail. (International students may wish to use DHL, UPS, or FedEx to ensure that the Agreement reaches us by April 15th.)
• Your Assistantship Agreement will specify a nine-month GTA contract. However, the Chemistry Department guarantees all of its graduate students continued support, including summers, on either teaching or research assistantships, with full tuition waivers. This support continues for a maximum of five academic years and four summers in residence, as long as you remain in Good Standing and are making satisfactory progress toward a doctoral degree (PhD) as determined by your Advisory Committee.  Support guarantees for MS candidates are negotiated individually.
• Follow-up contacts. A faculty member in your interest area will contact you, possibly by phone, possibly by email, to congratulate you on your admission and offer to answer your questions. These contacts are not interviews -- they are just friendly conversations to encourage you to consider our offer fairly. For example, have you compared the cost of living in Blacksburg against the living expenses in Boston or Pasadena?
• The Weekend. Admitted students who are in the United States will be invited to join us for an enjoyable, weekend in Blacksburg to showcase our programs. Within reason, we pay all your local and travel expenses, including necessary airfares. The 2012 Visitation Weekend is March 16th-18th (Friday and Saturday, students travel back home on Sunday the 18th).  Upon receiving your invitation (look in your email), please contact Joli Huynh (540-231-8225) to arrange your travel and to discuss the details.
• Visiting on your own. Admitted students within the US who are unable or unwilling to attend the Weekend in March are invited to set up an individual visit by contacting  Joli Huynh (540-231-8225).
• Your questions. We know that choosing a graduate program is a highly personal, career-critical desicion. Remember, our faculty members all made those decisions too. If you've been admitted, we're already sure you're right for us. We are here to help you decide whether we are right for you. Don't hesitate to contact individual faculty members with your questions -- or Joli Huynh (Graduate Coordinator) or Rich Gandour (Graduate Admissions Director).
• Deadline for Responding. Of course we would like to hear from you as soon as you have decided to attend Virginia Tech. However, the deadline for responding to our offer is April 15th. After this date, you surrender your financial aid package and your offer of admission is withdrawn.

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Coming On Board

These instructions are under development.  Thank you for your patience.

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