Hello,
Just wondering if anyone can take a look at this posting and give me an idea of how much I should be worried, or if I'm fretting over nothing! I'm currently applying to MS Programs in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology in the US.
My background is probably pretty similar to a lot of people. I did not apply myself that hard in undergrad, and finished with a 3.08 GPA overall, 3.3 in major (Biology). However, since graduating (2010) I've held three internships and two full-time positions doing active field-based research concerning wildlife biology (mostly mammalian and amphibian). I have authored a few articles for newspapers, and currently have my first lead-author publication in prep for submission.
I've made lots of contacts for graduate school, and at two of the schools I'm applying to UF - Gainesville and FSU - Tallahassee, I have worked directly with faculty members who will serve as my major advisor. In both of these cases, they wrote letters for admission. Other letters came from a promiment wildlife biologist and a former boss at an environmental consulting firm.
Averages for the programs are around a 1200 (old GRE) and a 3.4 undergrad GPA
GRE Scores
Q: 145 23% (God-awful.)
V: 161 84%
AW: 5.5 96%
I've also had recommenders fill out the ETS PPI and have submitted fellowship applications to both NSF GRFP, NDSEQ, and EPA STAR. I am confident that the individuals who will serve as my major advisor WILL go to bat for me if need be in front of the admissions committee. I was apparently the first person to complete my application for admission (Fall 2013) to both of these programs per the grad coordinators I talked to (don't know if that has any relelvance)
Do I stand chance, or is it just a matter of time for rejection?
Thanks,
-Dash