There are a number of schools throughout the United States

and elsewhere that ofer a doctorate or PhD in biochemistry.

This is of course not the frst step for many students. People
cannot earn masters or doctorate degrees without frst
earning a bachelors degree. In most cases that bachelors
degree must be earned in a related or in the same feld.
The frst step toward getting a PhD in biochemistry is to get
a !achelor of Science or !achelor of "rts degree in biology
chemistry or biochemistry. !iochemistry is probably the
preferred ma#or since any doctorate program is going to
assume that students ha$e fairly ad$anced %nowledge in the
sub#ect. This %nowledge should not only be demonstrated by
the courses a student too% but it should also be shown by
grades.
&etting a PhD in anything can be tough wor% because many
graduate schools are notoriously competiti$e. They are
typically selecti$e about the students theyll ta%e and they
tend to ha$e a lot of choices. This means that students must
earn good grades especially in their ma#or. Some schools
also re'uire or at least recommend some profciency testing
in sub#ect areas too. There is in the US a &raduate (ecord
)*amination +&(), in biochemistry. Schools may re'uire
good scores on this test and they might also re'uire good
scores on the &() general test.
If students are planning to go straight from a !S in
biochemistry to a PhD in biochemistry theyll ha$e some
time-conscious planning to do. The &()s may need to be
ta%en by early fall of the year they plan to apply to school
and possibly sooner. Students will also ha$e to start some
research prior to senior year to determine where they want
to apply.
Those students at a school with a doctorate program might
thin% they can simply continue on at the same school.
.aculty may frown upon this though it sometimes occurs.
Schools usually want to broaden the range of students
attending and may prefer to select doctoral candidates that
it did not educate as undergraduates. If interested in staying
on at the same school students should discuss the li%elihood
of getting accepted with a few trusted teachers.
Trying to narrow down choices of colleges may be di/cult.
0oo% for those that ha$e interests most aligned with personal
interests. Ta%e ad$antage of the many schools that are open
to ha$ing students $isit meet the faculty and tour the
school. It might be worth ma%ing a summer or early fall trip
before ma%ing decisions on where to apply.
&enerally its a good idea to select at least three schools to
apply to for a PhD in biochemistry. Some college application
ad$ice suggests applying to a greater number of schools but
this can be hard on the poc%etboo% since each charges an
application fee. 1owe$er if li%elihood of being accepting
anywhere is slim widening the feld by flling more
applications may be important.
Students will need to secure letters of recommendation from
their own instructors and its best to choose those teachers
who ha$e been most supporti$e. In late fall or early winter
once grades &() scores and recommendations are
gathered students will submit their applications. Usually
schools notify of acceptance by mid-spring.
2ith good applications and a little luc% most people will fnd
themsel$es studying for a PhD in biochemistry the ne*t fall.
Programs can be constructed in diferent ways but typically
in$ol$e ta%ing se$eral years of classes while wor%ing as
either research assistants or teaching assistants. 3nce
fnished with classes students will complete a fnal pro#ect or
dissertation which may in$ol$e e*tensi$e research. This
dissertation must be appro$ed by faculty in order for the
student to earn PhD status. Time spent in these programs
can $ary from three years to se$eral more for dissertation
completion.