Meet Rafi Brinn ’19

Tell us a little bit about your plans.

“I’m in the graduating class of 2019; I’m a chemistry major, and I’m applying to graduate school for chemistry, although I’m not sure which program I will select right now.” [Update: Rafi was accepted to multiple Ph.D. programs!]

What was the application process like for graduate school?

“The application process was pretty extensive; it’s almost like applying to college all over again. You have to take an exam, called the GRE, and for chemistry it’s recommended that you take the Chemistry GRE. You also need three letters of recommendation, as well as personal statements and your CV; for graduate programs you use your CV instead of a resume.”

What is your best piece of advice for students in your, or any, field who are looking for opportunities to use their degree?

“Definitely start looking early! Even in a field like chemistry, there’s organic chemistry, inorganic, or physical, so it’s good to be thinking about that. Also, talk to faculty members a lot, they have a lot of knowledge and — fun fact — they all went to graduate school!”

How did you use Beyond Barnard’s resources to help you prepare?

“Beyond Barnard has great resources. I met with them to go through my resume and my CV, and they’re also really great people to talk to as you go through this process. They’re there to hear you out!”

Check out Rafi’s video interview at Beyond Barnard’s Instagram page (@beyondbarnard). Remember that students and alumnae can always make an appointment and find more resources by logging in to Handshake.