BPStudent

I graduated from a top 20 US university with a very dismal barely 2.0 GPA. I spent the next 6 years working a little but still screwing around in life before I finally stepped it up and applied to a low ranking MA program. I switched from MA into MS after performing well and finished up a masters thesis in biochemistry. I finished my MS in biology with a 3.74 GPA, and I managed to publish one first author paper into a decent journal. I also had great LORs from my PI and others in the school. My GRE scores are a bit above average (Q 65% V 77%, Writing 92%) but nothing stellar (in retrospect, I shouldn't have been lazy and should have retaken the test). I applied to a number of upper and mid level schools in the area and in surrounding areas and managed to secure interviews from all of the mid level programs I applied to. I was granted acceptance to 3 out 4 of the programs that invited me for an interview and will be starting next semester at a mid ranked (about 90-100 depending on what you look at) program with a promising PI. So while it may sound a bit easy, I have to note that while I was doing my masters, I pulled about 80 work weeks, spending hours upon hours in the lab doing research and reading and absorbing every scrap of information about my field that I could. I did the best I could to get to know my department and get a good name at the university. If anyone else is in the same boat that I am/was in, keep hope. As the old saying goes, if there is a will there is a way. Just make sure you grow up (like I did) and stop messing about and get serious about your field. Good luck to everyone! If someone with my awful background could work hard to turn things around, I know you can too!