Former Director of Graduate Studies, Dr. Kathryn Schreiner, with some of our 2023 MS Graduates. (from left to right: Jordan Bremer, Shannon King, Dr. Kathryn Schreiner, Samuel Scott, Jonathan Tigner, Maggie Brown, and Jam Hamza)
Graduate Application Instructions & Admission Requirements
We accept applications for fall semesters only. The priority deadline is January 7, 2025 for the 2025-2026 academic year, and we will consider applications on a rolling basis after that, until the cohort is full. All applications are submitted online at choose.umn.edu.
To learn more about admission requirements, please visit the UMD Graduate School website.
Application Fee
Application fees for graduate applications
Graduate school is a significant investment, and we realize that many applicants face financial and other challenges beyond their control. However, we are unable to accommodate requests for application fee waivers.
Requirements for Applicants
An undergraduate degree in chemistry, biochemistry, or a closely related field is required for admission. Undergraduate courses should include:
- calculus
- college physics
- organic chemistry
- analytical chemistry
And junior or senior level courses in:
- inorganic chemistry
- physical chemistry
- biochemistry
Transcripts
Provide information for all post-secondary institutions attended, even if you did not receive a degree. Upload unofficial transcripts directly to the online application. Please do not mail in paper copies of transcripts. After admission, the University will request official paper copies of transcripts.
Application Materials & Uploads
- Personal statement (required; see aspects for evaluation below)
- Curriculum vitae or resume (required)
- Diversity statement (strongly encouraged)
- Extenuating circumstances (optional)
As we consider admission to the program, we evaluate applications holistically, considering coursework completed, GPA, experiences, and the evaluation aspects listed below. An ideal essay would touch on these prompts and tie them together into a cohesive, compelling story about you as the applicant.
Aspects for evaluation by the admissions committee:
- Research ability and interest: Describe your experience with scientific research, in an official and unofficial capacity. What drives your scientific curiosity, and what motivates you to want to be a scientist?
- Teaching ability: Describe your teaching and mentoring experience, through TA or tutoring positions, outreach, volunteer work, or other venues both inside and outside of the classroom.
- Leadership experience: Describe your leadership experience, inside or outside of the classroom, or situations where you took personal initiative to lead a project or a group.
- Teamwork skills: What are some examples of times that you have worked productively in a team? What was your role in the team, and was the team successful?
- Grit and Tenacity: What is an example of a time that you have faced challenges or adversity in your life? How did you overcome those challenges, and what did it teach you?
- Career goals and fit with our program: What are your career goals, and specifically how does this Chemistry MS program fit into your career plans?
- Evidence of equity and inclusivity work: Why are diversity, equity, and inclusivity important in science, and how have you worked to build an inclusive community either within your undergraduate program or in another setting? How would you advance these issues as a graduate student in our program?
Letters of Recommendation
Three (3) letters of recommendation are required. Do not upload them yourself. You will add the names and contact information for your letter writers and they will receive an email from "[email protected]" that contains a secure link to the recommendation portal for this application. The subject line will include your name and the words "Recommendation for the University of Minnesota"
We look for evidence of the evaluation aspects above in letters of recommendation, so be sure to share the aspects for evaluation with your letter writers.
If you have further questions about our program, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Dr. Melissa Maurer-Jones, in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.