You don't need to write a great Personal Statement for BIOCHEMISTRY. Nobody studies Biochemistry so u should be fine with any letter. Good Luck.

Racheeta · Jul 14, 2010 6:26 AM

rg - along with good GPA, GRE scores (general and subject), you will also need a decent personal statement to get into a good program. In your personal statement, you could include why you are interested in the subject - particulary which aspect of it. You can also mention what you want to do after you complete your grad school (Masters/PhD). You should also mention any REU (research for undergraduate) program, if you have done. Or, any research experience as an undergrad. In addition, if you are interested in joining a particular lab, you should also write to the professors directly. Good luck.

lilo · Jul 14, 2010 7:37 AM

Racheeta, how could you say nobody studies bchem and you should be fine with just any letter. That is naively stupid. Every grad school looks for certain standards in their students and personal essay os one of them. I am sure schools would rather have no grad students than having one with high school standard. So, rg DO NOT listen to Racheeta and give your full effort to the essay. AND THERE ARE ENOUGH PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO STUDY BIOCHEMISTRY so that almost all big Universities have a separate department for it. Just because you dont study does not mean others dont study Racheeta.  As far as advice goes, just give your background followed by what do you want to accomplish after joining grad school and why the school of your interest is best for you.  Sparrow

jacksparrow · Jul 14, 2010 9:46 AM

It was an incredibly stupid suggestion from Racheeta. Rg, Every good grad school in the united states is very competitive. So, by asking around for suggestion, you are moving towards the first great step that is necessary to succeed in grad school: becoming humble, acknowledging what you don't know and asking for suggestion from those who may know more. Since I am not from your field, and the only reason why I wrote here was because of the comments of Racheeta, my only competent advice is think yourself why you want to spend the most valuable years of your life studying biochemistry and write it. Don't write about how you are a poor son of a farmer from a village in Nepal (in case you are), because grad schools, unlike undergrad schools, don't care about it (and also because everybody from India, China and Africa seems to write it). If you spend sometimes looking at the  background of professors, if possible read their working papers and if you write that you would like to study under the tutulege of professor XXX, it may actually do a lot better. 

Pire · Jul 14, 2010 10:30 AM

Pire is 100% Correct. Please DO NOT write "son of a poor farmer" or anything in that sense in the essay. Sparrow :)

jacksparrow · Jul 14, 2010 11:12 AM

Thanks guys! I really appreciate it. Can anyone suggest me of a website which has some sample essays?

rg · Jul 14, 2010 12:27 PM