Well I feel that I am going to shoot for MM, and EM as a fallout because I am willing to work my butt off to become and ELT.
While this may be subsequently debated, in my own experience and in what I saw over the years...the Navy doesn't do a bad job of putting you in the right job. (All debates on people not liking anything about the NNPP and leaving asap aside for the moment). I'd love for someone in that RTC process to shed some light on their little black magic ball they use to decide this for people. Overall, they're not going to put you into a job that has your lowest aptitude (ASVAB scores?). I know of no secret formula...all I do know is that they seem to fit the right personality with the right job.
NPS/Prototype GPA. When you ask for something in the Navy, you're standing in line with your peers according to your GPA (yes...with exceptions...there are always outliers). Don't ask for additional academic training if your NPS/Prototype grade is "barely passing". First task at hand, high GPA in NPS.
ELT. Aside from wanting to ask what you know about what you're "willing to work you butt off" for, where do you see yourself with it in 8 years? You're either looking to make E-7 or getting out and working Commercial. There is no such thing as a "career ELT", who isn't struggling to get past E-6. In order to promote, you have to do an M Div LCPO tour (this is a sticky point for those ELTs that never learned how to also be MMs). Then you go on to an Engineering Dept. Master Chief tour where you're supervising everyone. As you go up in rank, your rating tends to become more and more transparent. Once you're the senior enlisted at your command (e.g., Chief of the Boat, Fleet Master Chief, etc)...your rating is all but gone in terms of your day-to-day job.
The chemistry procedures by the way aren't chemistry experiments. The analysis, procedures, reports, etc are all "follow the procedure exactly"...same procedures, using trained techniques, same thing, every day. Highly technical? Absolutely! More fun than the EMs cleaning a motor generator after watch? No doubt. However, if being an ELT was the "greatest thing in the universe" than all the exELTs here would still be in the Navy. (Ok guys, have fun with that...I'm out). :-)
I'll admit, this is all somewhat lofty and perhaps too far down the road for you at this point; however, the Navy:Getting Out threads are filled with "ok, what do I do now?". Regardless of your path, keep a future resume in mind as to what you want it to say one day. Do what makes you happy....but if you go MM/ELT, make sure you're good at your job...both of them.
Co60