Get answers to some admissions Frequently-Asked Questions below:
- General Questions
Is financial support available?
All graduate students in good standing in the PhD program are guaranteed financial support, including stipend, tuition scholarship, and health insurance. That support may take different forms, including teaching assistantships, research assistantships, fellowships, etc.
Please note that if you are accepted, the initial support offer in your letter of acceptance will only mention two terms of support (fall and spring). However, support is guaranteed for the summer term and beyond as long as you remain in good academic standing.
Must I secure a research advisor/PI prior to admission?
No. Our faculty members and their research are also listed on our website. You could contact any of our faculty members to discuss their research and make a connection, but it is not required for the application process or admission.
What is the size of your department?
Our department consists of the following:
- 30 Research Faculty
- 15 Teaching Faculty
- 200 (approx.) Graduate Students
- 15 Postdocs
- 20 staff
How many students enter your program each year?
Typically, our goal is to have approximately 40 new students enter the program each year.
When will decisions be sent to applicants?
The Admissions Committee will review the applications beginning in December and review them as they are completed. Decisions are made on a rolling basis from December 15 to January 15.
All decisions will be made and sent via email by February 1.
- Personal Statements
What should be included in the personal statement?
We would like to hear about your experiences and motivations that have led you to pursue a Ph.D. Please address the following topics in three or four paragraphs, with each paragraph focusing on a different topic.
- A description of your previous scientific experiences (e.g., research, coursework and/or teaching) that have formed the foundation for your pursuit of a Ph.D. in chemistry. For example, provide a description of your previous research experience, including the institution, the faculty mentor, and the time commitment (e.g., 6 weeks during summer, or 10 hours a week for 2 semesters).
- Describe the scientific question or questions you were trying to address, your hypothesis, your technical approach, and the significance of your findings. If your work resulted in a publication, conference poster, presentation, or thesis, list those here, too. If you have more than one research experience, please mention each.
- Success in scientific research requires personal qualities not measured by tests including curiosity, creativity, adaptability, self-motivation, passion for research, conscientiousness, persistence, self-organization, grit, resilience, and integrity, just to name a few. Select one or two traits that you think are your greatest strengths and provide an example of your life experience that illustrates each trait.
Your goals as a Ph.D. student in chemistry and beyond, including referring to specific Pitt chemistry faculty and/or opportunities, along with a brief explanation for your selections. We encourage you to view the personal statement as an opportunity to expand on details that are not covered by other parts of your application, and to share with us how you think about science. Feel free to include any experiences or background that could contribute to a diverse and inclusive Pitt chemistry community or additional information that would help us better understand your college or career trajectory, academic performance, and/or scientific pursuits, including any obstacles you have overcome.
What is the required length for the Personal Statement?
We don’t indicate a required length of the SOP because there isn’t one. Most are 1-2 pages in length, but there have been some submitted that were less than one or as large as five pages. While responding to the prompts, it is a place for you to share your experience and explain any issues/situations that you feel the admissions committee should have more information about while reviewing your application.
- Transcripts
Must I submit official transcripts for the application process?
No. Unofficial transcripts must be uploaded to the application website. Official transcripts typically are too large and/or contain security features that prohibit them from being uploaded into the application website. If you have any issues, please contact the GradCAS Help Center.
If you are accepted and admitted we will request for final official transcripts, with the degree posted, be sent directly to the university.
What is the GPA requirement?
The university requires a minimum 3.00 GPA in the most recently earned degree. When reporting your GPA, you must use the cumulative grade, not the current term grade.
- Test Scores
Must I submit a language score report if I complete a degree in a U.S. institution or an institution whose medium of instruction is English?
No, you will not need to submit a language score report if you have a Bachelor's or Master's degree from a U.S. institution or from an institutions whose language of instruction is English and located in countries whose official languages include English. The list of countries can be found here.
What are the minimum GRE, subject GRE and TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo requirements?
We do not have a minimum score requirement for the GRE and subject GRE. These exam scores are not required to be submitted for admission.
We do have a minimum for the TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo. The minimum acceptable TOEFL score is 100 (with at least a score of 22 in all of the four sections of speaking, listening, reading and writing), the required minimum IELTS is 7.0 (with at least 6.5 in each of its four sections), and the required minimum Duolingo is 120. Language scores over two years old are not accepted. Please see our website for the links to the different language testing sites.
The IELTS, TOEFL, and Duolingo are offering online testing.
Will you accept photocopies of GRE and TOEFL score reports?
We don't accept hardcopies of any information during the application process. You are asked to self-report your scores and attach a copy of your score report to your application. If you have difficulties attaching the score report, you can email them (as an unsecured PDF) to the graduate administrator (gradadm@pitt.edu) and she will upload them to your application. You must have submitted your application in order for the graduate administrator to be able to attach the report.
You must request that the official scores be sent to the university. The official scores must be received by January 15.
What is the University of Pittsburgh's school and department codes for GRE score reports?
The school code is 2927. The department code is 0301 - General Chemistry. This code is sufficient to reach our department. You do not need to break it down into individual divisions of chemistry.
What is the department code for TOEFL score reports?
The code is 2927.
- Application Submission, Status and Fees
Can I get a fee waiver to submit my application?
You can apply for an application fee waiver through the dean’s office by submitting their survey, Qualtrics Survey. The department does not make this decision and is not part of the process.
If you have any specific questions regarding the process, you should contact Chris Zurcher.
Can I submit a paper application?
No. We no longer accept paper applications. You can apply online through GradCAS and the link can be found on our website. Follow the instructions for either domestic or international applications.
Is my file complete?
You can view the status of your application by clicking Check Status at the top of the application dashboard on GradCAS. Reminder emails are sent to those with incomplete applications. It is to your advantage to get this information to us as soon as possible. All application materials must be received by January 15. All incomplete applications will be marked incomplete and declined on January 16, removing them from any further review.
Complete files includes the following documents to be completed and uploaded:
- Online application
- Personal statement
- Unofficial transcripts, from each school a degree was received, uploaded to the website
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Language scores: TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo (if applicable)
- Unofficial scores are sufficient for review while the official scores are being requested and sent but an official offer of admission cannot be made if the official scores have not been received. TOEFL and Duolingo can be sent electronically, IELTS must be mailed via post. Please attach a PDF copy of your score report to your application. Official scores must be received by January 15.
IELTS score reports can be sent to our graduate administrator at this address:
Christie Hay
Department of Chemistry
University of Pittsburgh
236 Chevron Science Center
219 Parkman Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15260General and Subject GRE scores are recommended but are not required
Should I send my supporting application material to the department or graduate admissions?
Our application process is completely online, so everything must be uploaded to the application website. If you have any difficulties, please contact the GradCAS Applicant Help Center. If you or your references have any issues regarding submitting your letters of recommendation, please refer to the Letters by Liaison Help Center.
I have a question that isn't answered here. Who should I contact?
Please reach out to our graduate administrator, Christie Hay, at gradadm@pitt.edu.
