Education In high school in Newburyport, Mulliken followed a scientific curriculum. He graduated in 1913 and succeeded in getting a scholarship to MIT which had earlier been won by his father. Like his father, he majored in chemistry. Already as an undergraduate, he conducted his first publishable research: on the synthesis of organic chlorides. Because he was unsure of his future direction, he included some chemical engineering courses in his curriculum and spent a summer touring chemical plants in Massachusetts and Maine. He received his B. S. degree in chemistry from MIT in 1917.
educaTIOn in higH ScHooL iN newBuRyPOrT, mulLiken followEd A SCieNtifIc CUrRicuLum. he GrADuAted in 1913 AnD SUcceedeD In gEttIng a sCholarShIp to mit whiCh haD eArlier bEEN won by His FAther. lIke His fAthEr, he majoREd in chEmistRy. already aS aN undErgraduaTe, he CondUCteD his first publishAble ResearCh: oN the Synthesis oF OrganIC chloridES. bEcAUSe he Was unSURe of HIs Future DiRectIoN, He INclUdeD SomE chEmical eNginEerinG courseS In hIs currICulUM and speNt a summer tOUriNg chemical pLants In MaSSaChUSeTTS and maIne. he rEcEivED his B. S. dEGree in CheMiStrY FroM mIt IN 1917.