Schools Will Extracurriculars Alone Impact My Chances for a PhD Program at Rutgers?

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Field experience, particularly research experience, is crucial for acceptance into a PhD program, especially in competitive fields like chemistry. However, lacking this experience may not severely hinder chances of admission if academic performance and extracurricular involvement are strong. Engaging in unrelated extracurricular activities, such as student government or sports, may not significantly impact a professor's assessment when selecting graduate students. Prioritizing research experience over other activities is advisable, but balance is important to maintain a well-rounded profile.
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I am at Rutgers in New Jersey. My grades are good, my extracurriculars are good but I have no real field experience and probably won't have anything before I graduate. Will this severely hurt my chances in being accepted into a pHD program? Is it recommended to drop other extracurriculars and force experience into my schedule?
 
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What are you studying? By experience do you mean research experience?
 
Flat said:
What are you studying? By experience do you mean research experience?

I'm studying chemistry (physics concentration) and a math minor. sorry I didn't make that clear - yes, I was referring to research experience.
 
intrepid_nerd said:
I am at Rutgers in New Jersey. My grades are good, my extracurriculars are good but I have no real field experience and probably won't have anything before I graduate. Will this severely hurt my chances in being accepted into a pHD program? Is it recommended to drop other extracurriculars and force experience into my schedule?

Not severely. I can imagine by extra-curricular activities you mean things like student governments and clubs and so on and so forth? If i were a department/professor looking for grad students that are going to spend the next several years working with (for) you, I think i could give a hoot about stuff the student does that doesn't relate to their discipline.
 
Pengwuino said:
Not severely. I can imagine by extra-curricular activities you mean things like student governments and clubs and so on and so forth?

exactly...started a couple programs, participated in sports and clubs, and have 2 jobs.
 

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