What can you do with a Chemistry degree from Virginia Commonwealth University?

First, some facts. Of the Chemistry graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:

These are estimates based on AI analysis of 15 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 80%, Chemistry graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University have a much higher likelihood (+13%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

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Also, after graduating, 73% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Chemistry graduate.

See the details:

• What jobs can you get with a Chemistry degree from Virginia Commonwealth University?
• What do Chemistry graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Chemistry degree from Virginia Commonwealth University? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Chemistry degree from Virginia Commonwealth University?
• What are the best colleges for Chemistry?

View a random Chemistry graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University and our analysis:

Relevance score: 36% We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2015 from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Chemistry. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Patient Services Coordinator MyEyeDr. Jun 2015 - Jan 2019 As a Patient Services Coordinator, some interpersonal skills from the chemistry degree may be useful, but the role primarily focuses on coordination and customer service rather than chemistry-specific knowledge. Teleservice Representative Kaiser Permanente Jan 2019 - May 2021 The Teleservice Representative position does not require knowledge of chemistry or its practical application, as it largely centers on customer support and communication. Nutrition Intern Northern Virginia Family Service Jan 2021 - May 2021 The Nutrition Intern role may involve aspects of science and analytical thinking that relate to chemistry, but it is more focused on nutrition rather than directly applying chemistry knowledge. Nutrition Intern No Mud Nutrition Dec 2020 - Jun 2023 Similar to the previous role, the Nutrition Intern position at No Mud Nutrition requires a basic understanding of food science, which may intersect with chemistry knowledge, but it does not directly leverage specific chemistry skills daily. FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING Master of Science - MS George Mason University 2019 - 2021 ABOUT No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Chemistry degree from Virginia Commonwealth University?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:

• Pharmacy Intern
• Harvest Winemaking Intern
• Summer Associate
• Medical Assistant & Administrative Assistant
• Nutrition Intern
• Business Manager
• Information Technology Intern
• Software Test Engineer Intern - Web, Mobile, Data
• Software Test Engineer - Web, Mobile, Data
• Technical Project Manager - Sitecore and Data

From the analysis of LinkedIn profiles of graduates who studied Chemistry at Virginia Commonwealth University, a significant trend emerges regarding the types of jobs they've pursued. Many alumni have gravitated toward positions that are directly related to their chemistry background, particularly in the field of pharmaceuticals. Roles such as Pharmacy Interns and Pharmacists are extremely common, highlighting the demand for chemistry knowledge in medication management and pharmaceutical practices. Other relevant positions include roles in research, winemaking, and laboratory analysis, where candidates can apply their chemistry skills in practical settings. For example, the experience of working as a Histology Technician or an Analytical Chemist utilizes core chemistry principles, demonstrating how their degree translates into various professional environments.

On the flip side, there are also instances where graduates have taken on roles that do not directly relate to their chemistry knowledge. Jobs like Medical Receptionist or Software Test Engineer barely tap into the skills developed during their studies in Chemistry. While some of these non-chemistry roles might leverage analytical skills or critical thinking, they generally do not exploit the specific chemical knowledge gained from their education. Overall, it seems that while many graduates find themselves in relevant, chemistry-focused jobs, a considerable number have also ventured into careers less aligned with their degree, suggesting that the versatility of a Chemistry education opens various pathways, but the connection to the field isn't always direct.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Chemistry graduates (this is across all Chemistry graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Virginia Commonwealth University):

What kind of career trajectories do Chemistry graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

When we look at the career paths of graduates with a Chemistry degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, a few trends pop out. Right after graduating, many of them often land jobs as research assistants, pharmacy technicians, or interns in various fields, including winemaking and pharmaceuticals. For example, some graduates secured positions in the healthcare sector or directly in chemistry-related roles, like being an analytical chemist or a histology technician. This suggests that the early stages of their careers typically involve gaining practical experience and figuring out where they want to go next.

Fast forward about five years or so, and you see a mix of trajectories. A significant number of these grads have managed to stay within fields closely related to their degree—like pharmacy or analytical chemistry—and some have moved up in their roles, becoming pharmacists or laboratory analysts. There are also a few who have veered off into less traditional paths, like software engineering or data science, which indicates that some graduates are leveraging their analytical skills in tech-related jobs. While it’s great that many are finding success in fields connected to chemistry, not every graduate seems to be sticking to a career directly tied to what they studied, which could imply that the degree offers a flexible foundation rather than a fixed career path. Overall, there’s a blend of success stories and those exploring different opportunities outside traditional chemistry roles.

How hard is a Chemistry degree from Virginia Commonwealth University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry can be pretty challenging, and that holds true for Virginia Commonwealth University as well. You’ll dive deep into complex topics like organic chemistry, physical chemistry, and analytical techniques, which can be tough if you're not a fan of math and problem-solving. The coursework involves a lot of lab work, which is hands-on and can be fun, but it also means you’ll spend a good amount of time experimenting and writing up reports. Overall, it’s a rigorous program, so if you’re super passionate about science and ready to put in the effort, you’ll definitely find it rewarding, but just be prepared for some late nights studying!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Chemistry.

Do Chemistry graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University tend to make good money?

Looking at these Chemistry grads from VCU, it seems like they’ve had a pretty mixed bag when it comes to their earnings, but overall, many of them are on the right track. The ones who went into pharmacy seem to be doing well, especially those who moved up from internships to staff positions, which likely brings in decent money. However, some of the earlier job choices, like medical receptionist or intern positions, probably didn’t pay that great initially. Those with roles tied to the Army or in research tend to have stable, albeit sometimes modest, starts. The variety in their career paths shows that while some have comfortably hit that higher paycheck, others might still be grinding through entry-level roles. So, it’s safe to say it’s a mix of decent earnings with some still paving their way up the ladder.

What buzzwords do Chemistry graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Chemistry (this is across all Chemistry graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Virginia Commonwealth University). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Chemistry?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Chemistry (ordered by the average relevance score of their Chemistry graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College	Score	Count
University of California, Santa Cruz	88	10
University of California, Davis	86	11
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	85	19
Texas A&M University	83	11
Georgia State University	82	11
Purdue University	80	11
Virginia Commonwealth University	80	15
The Ohio State University	79	13
University of Pittsburgh	78	12
The University of Texas at Austin	76	15
Penn State University	75	11
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	75	19
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	73	10
University of Wisconsin-Madison	70	12
University of Washington	67	15
Emory University	62	10
Florida International University	60	10
UC Santa Barbara	46	10
Texas Tech University	42	10