Am I required to report GRE scores?
No. Admission to the ACS/UW-Madison Bridge to the Doctorate Program does not require any student to take or report GRE scores.
What criteria are used to evaluate potential Bridge Fellows?
UW uses a holistic evaluation based on students’ description of past experiences and career goals, personal statements, demonstration of self-knowledge, letters of recommendation, and examination of class transcripts.
Is there a minimum GPA cutoff?
No. Our holistic evaluation attempts to identify students who are the best match for UW using a broader set of criteria.
What are the costs involved?
The Bridge Program is funded by the National Science Foundation and UW-Madison. These funding sources cover the cost of tuition, student health care, and a cost-of-living stipend, all at levels equals equivalent to those of entering Ph.D. students. Bridge Fellows are responsible for payment of segregated fees, which are fees assessed by the university for student-initiated programs that cannot be paid using state funds.
I had a rough couple of years adjusting to college. I improved a lot as I went along and got involved in research, but my overall GPA isn’t very high. Am I a good candidate for the Bridge Program?
Yes. The Bridge program is looking for students who have strong ability that may not have been fully realized due to various life events and individual or family circumstances.
I’ve been out of school for a year trying to figure out what I want to do. I’m now convinced that I want to get a Ph.D. in chemistry, but I don’t have as much research experience as most students who knew they wanted to be chemistry majors. Am I a good candidate for the Bridge program?
Yes. The Bridge Program will provide students with the necessary research experience. Some prior research experience is very helpful to be sure that you actually enjoy doing research.
I’m currently in a M.S. program at another school, but I’d really like to get into UW-Madison. Is the Bridge program a good fit for me?
No. The Bridge program is only open to students who are not currently in any graduate program in chemistry or related field.
I graduated with a B.S in Material Science, but I now realize that chemistry rocks and I really want to be a chemist. Is the Bridge program right for me?
Yes. The Bridge Program welcomes applicants whose undergraduate degrees are in science/engineering fields other than chemistry. Bridge Fellows will have the opportunity to beef up their core chemistry background through classes and by being teaching assistants for undergraduate chemistry, typically at the first-year (general chemistry) level.
Research is a big part of the Bridge Program. What determines the research project that I pursue?
After admission, Bridge Fellows will be provided with a suite of potential M.S. research projects provided by faculty across the department. During orientation week, Bridge Fellows can hear faculty give short presentations on their research projects. In the fall semester, Bridge students will rotate through at least 3 different research groups to learn about the diversity of research opportunities Madison has to offer. In November of the fall semester, students will identify which group and project they wish to pursue.
I’m used to a warm climate. Are winters there cold?
Madison has four truly wonderful seasons. Outdoor activities about all year round, and UW Hoofers provides many opportunities for engaging with other students. A sampling of Madison’s four seasons can be found here.