Overview of program

The mission of the ACCESS program is to increase the diversity of qualified applicants to PHD programs in chemistry, chemical engineering and materials science throughout the United States. ACCESS is a weekend of educational and informative events that will introduce talented sophomores, juniors and seniors to the benefits of a graduate education in chemistry, chemical engineering, and materials science. The goal of ACCESS is not to prepare students for graduate school at MIT specifically, but rather to introduce them to the advantages of choosing a graduate career path at an institution that best meets each participant's individual needs.

The weekend-long program offers students an overview of graduate education through seminars, faculty talks, and interactive sessions, all designed to give a greater understanding of the application process and an insight into the doors a graduate career can open.

ACCESS will give participants:

• A broad exposure to the opportunities that can be gained from a graduate education in chemistry, chemical engineering, and materials science;
• An introduction to the various career paths that can result from a graduate education in chemistry, chemical engineering, and materials science;
• An opportunity to hear directly from faculty and students their reasons for choosing a graduate career;
• An explanation of the funding structure for graduate education and information on graduate fellowships;
• A chance to meet and socialize with fellow undergraduates from around the nation who are pursuing similar goals;
• And a fun Cambridge/Boston experience!

Program Highlights

ACCESS participants can expect to learn more about:

• Education and research components of a graduate degree in chemistry, chemical engineering or materials science
• A day in the life of a graduate student in science and technology
• The graduate school admissions process, including how to build a strong application package
• Community and diversity on the MIT campus and in the Boston/Cambridge area
• Career opportunities and success after graduate study

In addition, participants will have the opportunity to meet and interact with:

• Some of the world's leading faculty in the fields of chemistry, chemical engineering and materials science and engineering
• Current MIT graduate students
• MIT graduate admissions officers
• Each other!

After ACCESS

What can you do with a PhD?

The decision to pursue a PhD is an important one, and not one to be made lightly or without consideration. Doctoral study and research can take an average of five and a half years to complete, and requires consistent focus and hard work; it's not for everyone.

That said, the rewards of a PhD are considerable. Doctoral work itself is an exciting and positive experience and opens doors to otherwise unavailable career possibilities. A PhD prepares you for strong roles in academia and research, but also broadens your knowledge and competence to be a leader in business and other areas.

For more information on life as a PhD, go to About.com: Why get a Chemistry PhD http://chemistry.about.com/od/careerdevelopment/a/why-get-phd.htm

Science Magazine: Should I do a PhD? http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2007_09_14/caredit_a0700130

Alumni Profiles

The ACCESS program provides under-represented minority students an overview of the potential benefits of a graduate degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, or materials science.

Professional Profiles

Dow Partnership

The ACCESS program, initiated in 2009, is a weekend of workshops, talks, tours and interaction created for select underrepresented minority undergraduates in the U.S. The purpose of the program is to introduce students to the exciting possibilities of graduate-level education in chemical engineering, materials science, and chemistry and is based on Dow Chemical Company's highly successful BEST program, which offers a similar experience for graduate students wishing to explore industrial careers in science and engineering. A recent Dow Outreach gift has allowed expansion of the program from the original Department of Chemical Engineering program, to the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and the Department of Chemistry. http://www.dow.com/

For more information, go to http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/dow-collaboration.html

From left to right: Timothy M. Swager, John D. MacArthur Professor of Chemistry; Klavs F. Jensen, professor of materials science and engineering, Warren K. Lewis Professor of Chemical Engineering and head of the Department of Chemical Engineering; Theresa Kotanchek, vice president, sustainable technologies and innovation sourcing,The Dow Chemical Company; Cecilia D'Oliveira, executive director of MIT OpenCourseWare; Sylvia T. Ceyer, J. C. Sheehan Professor of Chemistry and head of the Department of Chemistry; Catherine Hunt, director, innovation sourcing and sustainable technology, The Dow Chemical Company; and Edwin L. Thomas, Morris Cohen Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
Photo: Donna Coveney