A doctorate or PhD in biochemistry is available from a number of schools across the United States and elsewhere. Of course, for many students, this is not the first step. A bachelor’s degree is required before pursuing a master’s or doctorate degree. In most cases, the bachelor’s degree must be in a field that is related to or the same as the bachelor’s degree.
Obtaining a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree in biology, chemistry, or biochemistry is the first step toward obtaining a PhD in biochemistry. Biochemistry is probably the best major because any doctoral program will assume that students have a good understanding of the subject. This knowledge should be demonstrated not only through the courses that a student has taken, but also through grades.
Obtaining a PhD in any field can be difficult due to the competitive nature of many graduate schools. They are usually picky about the students they accept, and they have a lot of options. This means that students must achieve high grades, particularly in their field of study. Some schools also require or strongly encourage proficiency testing in specific subject areas. In the United States, a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) in biochemistry is available. Schools may require high scores on this test, as well as high scores on the GRE general test.
If students intend to go straight from a BS in biochemistry to a PhD in biochemistry, they will need to plan ahead of time. The GREs may be required by early fall of the year they intend to apply to school, if not sooner. Prior to their senior year, students will need to start doing some research to figure out where they want to apply.
Students enrolled in a doctoral program may believe they can simply continue their education at the same institution. Faculty may frown on this, but it does happen from time to time. Schools typically want to diversify their student body, so they may prefer to select doctoral candidates who were not undergraduates. If students want to stay at the same school, they should talk to a few trusted teachers about their chances of being accepted.
It can be difficult to narrow down college options. Look for people who have interests that are similar to your own. Take advantage of the many schools that welcome students to come in and meet the faculty and tour the campus. Before deciding where to apply, consider taking a trip in the summer or early fall.
In general, choosing at least three schools to apply to for a PhD in biochemistry is a good idea. Some college application advice suggests applying to a larger number of schools, but this can be costly due to the application fees charged by each school. If the chances of being accepted anywhere are slim, however, expanding the field by filling out more applications may be necessary.
Students will need to obtain letters of recommendation from their own instructors, with the best teachers being those who have been the most helpful. Students will submit their applications in late fall or early winter, once their grades, GRE scores, and recommendations have been gathered. By mid-spring, most schools will have informed you of your acceptance.
Most people will be studying for a PhD in biochemistry the following fall with good applications and a little luck. Programs can be built in a variety of ways, but they usually entail taking several years of classes while working as research or teaching assistants. Students will complete a final project or dissertation after finishing their classes, which may require extensive research. In order for the student to receive PhD status, the dissertation must be approved by the faculty. The duration of these programs can range from three to several years, depending on how long it takes to complete the dissertation.