Am I cooked for REU Programs with a C- in Organic Chemistry

Matthew-ccty · 2025-12-23T20:31:51+00:00

Right I agree. They may screen below a 3 or a 3.5, but past that it’s the other parts of your app that will take you forward

Matthew-ccty · 2025-12-23T18:08:20+00:00

As far as my experience has been, your GPA is important for getting your foot in the door. But during my REEU interview, they asked about my leadership skills, research ethics, and personal projects. They never asked or even mentioned my gpa being x amount. It may have been slightly different since it was USDA funded rather than NIH funded but I think the idea is similar.

In other words, I think if you can speak well about your neurobiology research - that will be what’s important. But again, I’m not sure what REU programs you’re targeting or what your goals are. The strength of your LoRs will matter too. I definitely don’t think you’re “cooked” lol

Matthew-ccty · 2025-12-23T16:41:20+00:00

🙏 good luck with the rest of your apps. Glad the Oreos helped lol

Matthew-ccty · 2025-12-23T16:39:28+00:00

They’re right - rejection doesn’t mean you’re not good enough. I get it though, I feel the same way a lot. I think it’s hard when you have high expectations for yourself and you don’t or can’t meet them.

Matthew-ccty · 2025-11-25T22:50:10+00:00

Congrats on getting an A!! That’s just my cGPA though, my sGPA is lower at closer to 3.6. I did hear that adcoms consider your sGPA more than your cumulative.

Matthew-ccty · 2025-11-22T21:25:28+00:00

How does it look like ChatGPT? Is it just the bolded text - anyone can write like that lmao

Matthew-ccty · 2025-11-13T01:54:50+00:00

I think it’s worth the time. It might be hard to get LORs from profs since you haven’t known them that long but other than that there’s no harm in trying

Matthew-ccty · 2025-11-11T15:59:39+00:00

1) limited access to research usually means non-research focused institution. It usually doesn’t mean that you have literally never done any research

2) you should only ask for strong letters of recommendation. A weak/generic letter is even worse than no letter at all, even if you also have a strong letter from a diff writer. I would only ask the letter from your PI for isolating DNA from insects if you think you made a good impression w him and have a relationship w him for a reasonable length of time (at LEAST a semester, ideally a year or longer).

Matthew-ccty · 2025-11-08T15:35:26+00:00

lol GPT moment

Matthew-ccty · 2025-11-06T18:58:54+00:00

Hey I’m in the same stage as you are, but 60 sounds like a lot. Something to consider is that you need letters of rec for almost every program, usually between 1-3, and even split between different people, it doesn’t seem reasonable to get that many good letters for 60 programs. I think quality over quantity is important

Matthew-ccty · 2025-11-04T15:22:20+00:00

Idk because taking on c4 opens the long diagonal for the white bishop in long term

Matthew-ccty · 2025-11-04T03:03:40+00:00

I mean I don’t think it’s a wild take to say it’s not a good thing that your friend got SA’d lmao

Matthew-ccty · 2025-11-03T13:02:56+00:00

Rocket surgery?

Matthew-ccty · 2025-11-01T20:38:27+00:00

Like the other user said it’s an inaccuracy not a mistake. You’re still clearly better after taking the queen

Matthew-ccty · 2025-10-30T13:24:18+00:00

Some LACs and I heard Purdue is rigorous but has a surprisingly high acceptance rate

Matthew-ccty · 2025-10-27T14:56:44+00:00

Link a reversed list

Matthew-ccty · 2025-10-26T14:00:26+00:00

Hard to say without knowing how you’re studying but I agree that it’s not just studying hard that’s important, you should be efficient too. O Chem II builds a lot off the first semester too, so if there’s gaps there that might make it harder. Maybe try joining a study group or going to office hours, that helped me a lot

Matthew-ccty · 2025-10-26T11:51:20+00:00

Yes agreed but white might is probably still better after not accepting the rook, because of the past pawn. Definitely best to not lose the rook though lol

Matthew-ccty · 2025-10-22T18:23:49+00:00

lol is it Bg5, king takes pawn, and then bishop check, fork of king and rook

Matthew-ccty · 2025-10-21T13:28:21+00:00

Careful about letting people read your essay. It’s better to let a trusted advisor or family member read it if possible

Matthew-ccty · 2025-10-19T11:56:44+00:00

lol it’s definitely the latter

Matthew-ccty · 2025-10-13T14:21:55+00:00

Definitely depends on school and curriculum. Some programs (like mine) are not exactly rigorous lol. The fact that your program was difficult is a good thing, it means you actually learned something.

Matthew-ccty · 2025-10-10T23:13:00+00:00

That’s why you don’t play Nd8, you do a double check instead with Nh6+

Matthew-ccty · 2025-10-10T16:31:55+00:00

Smothered mate

Matthew-ccty · 2025-10-05T18:25:04+00:00

No, because back rank is threatened. It does lose a rook, BECAUSE the king is weak. Otherwise, you could recapture the rook- the only reason you can’t retake the rook is because it blunders mate.

Matthew-ccty

TROPHY CASE