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Undergrad Institution: Small public liberal arts schoolMajor(s): BiologyMinor(s): ChemistryGPA in Major: 3.5Overall GPA: 3.1Position in Class: unkType of Student: Female GRE Scores:Q: - 161V: - 163W: - 4.0Research Experience: Semester abroad in Africa where I participated in several primate research projects and then designed and conducted my own project which led to a published paper Undergraduate Research Thesis Post bach- Lead field ecologist for national project for several years Post bach- Fellowship at large, well known environmental agency. Several ongoing research projects 2-3 additional summer research jobs while an undergraduate Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Undergraduate research poster presentation award Pertinent Activities or Jobs: See research exp Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: R and python programming Remote sensing data work Several paper and poster presentations Workshop leader at national conference 2nd author on peer reviewed publication 3rd author on paper currently in review Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Only applied to schools where I had positive contact with PI's and was encouraged to apply Areas of interest: Landscape Ecology & Remote Sensing analysis Applying for Masters programs in (updating with results when I remember): UC Davis - GGE CSU -- Natural Resource Ecology University of Washington- Environmental and Forest Sciences- Professor I was in contact with told me they decided to go with someone who has two masters degrees and they'll be turning the position into a PhD instead now. No official rejection yet UC Berkeley- Landscape Architecture/Environmental Planning

I'm preparing to apply to Ecology graduate programs and would like to start in the Fall of 2019. The schools I am most interested in are UC Davis, Stanford, UC Berkeley, Colorado State, Yale, Duke and UVa. I graduated in 2014 with a GPA of 3.02. GPA by semester: 2.98, 2.82, 2.16, 3.15, 3.30, 3.44, 3.80 (semester abroad so not part of 3.02) and 3.54. Luckily this shows a steady upward trend, and the last 4 semesters are significantly higher than 3.02. However, the minimum GPA at most schools I'm applying to is 3.0, with 'suggested' GPAs of 3.25 and higher. Outside of my GPA I have some resume highlights; 3 years of field work and research project participation, a peer reviewed paper in review for publication (2nd author), 2 poster presentations at large conferences, symposium speaker at a large conference and multiple independent research projects. Additionally I am currently studying HARD for the GRE and generally do well on standardized tests. I expect strong letters of recommendation. Given this information, do I have enough "other stuff" going for me to have any hope of getting into a program at these schools? Is there a specific way I should frame my GPA in applications? I don't really have an excuse except that I got much better at studying and much more motivated in my last 2 years of school. Thanks in advance for any advice!