12/1/2022
Hello again! This month has both been the longest and shortest month of the entire semester. The Thanksgiving break gave me some much needed mental recovery time, but December 1st is also approaching. As this was the due date for almost all of my graduate school applications, it was a hectic month. I was also surprised with a special opportunity by my mentor a week ago.
Graduate Applications Update
Since October, I have been slowly working away on my 10 graduate applications. Unfortunately, I allowed some of the colleges to be last minute submissions due to fee waiver issues. In the end, I made sure to put my all into the applications and I am hopeful that I will get into some of my top programs, such as Dartmouth and University of Oregon. Despite being told by my mentor and the McNair program that I would be waiting until at least January to hear back from any of the schools I applied to, I was delighted to get an email a few days ago from Iowa State informing me that an offer for their chemistry PhD program was on the way. I applied to this program due to its small size and impressive faculty, so I will definitely keep it in mind once I hear back from other universities.
Iowa State University
Research Group Photoshoot
A week or so ago, I got an email from my mentor titled “Opportunity to Showcase Diversity in Research Group.” Both myself and my research partner are both women in the chemistry field. We are also considered disadvantaged either due to income or race, so we were asked to participate in a photoshoot for the university. Basically, a camera man followed me around in my lab and took pictures of me holding test tubes with my fluorescent molecules and faking a chemical experiment. I was hesitant at first since I am camera shy, but eventually I realized it is an opportunity to show girls that the STEM field isn’t just for old men in lab coats as it is often portrayed.
Separation for the Photoshoot
What’s Next?
This month has been rewarding as well stressful because of graduate school and my research. Hearing back from a university gave me the needed motivation that I am doing well enough for a PhD program. I am eager to finish out the semester strong and get decisions from the other universities I applied to. Overall, I want a program with a strong program, but I need somewhere that I feel comfortable as well. With the help of my mentor and the McNair program, I am sure I will find somewhere that suits me.
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