gocougs

I'm applying for my M.S. (Molecular/Cell Biology) and need 2-3 letters of rec. The reason I am applying for an M.S. at all is my subpar undergrad academic resume: as a 4-year rower, I was more concerned with my sport than my grades, and my ADD (undiagnosed until last year, but now being treated) didn't help. I took a fifth year to both get a second B.S. (Biochemistry & Genetics/Cell Bio) and start on some novel undergrad research, which begins in my next (last) semester. I've just gotten my grades for fall semester - all B+s and an A-. Can I ask the A- professor (or, rather, the organizing professor in a 3-lecturer course) for a recommendation? A poor performance on the first test and one missed assignment deadline (due to a total misunderstanding) were the only things between the A- and an A. I have a few other A-s, but no As in upper division major coursework up until this point. I also plan to ask the PI in my lab for a recommendation after a couple of months, but I won't have appreciable research work done for a while. Half of my applications are due the Feb 1, with the other half distributed all the way through the first of June. My GREs were 169 V, 159 Q, 5.5 A, and I'm still waiting on my Biochem GRE score.

I have a problem: I don't have any professors I know well enough to ask for letters of recommendation. As background, I'm a 5th year Biochemistry and Genetics/Cell Biology double major, with a low (2.8) science GPA. I rowed for 4 years and had ADD that was undiagnosed until this last year - my grades this semester, although not official, are more in the B+/A- range, so hopefully I'm not just an awful student and can try and explain my very subpar GPA. I also have no undergraduate research experience (had no room in my schedule with crew), although I have worked as a lab tech in both academic and industrial settings. Right now, I work in an agricultural research science/wheat genetics facility, but as a timeslip and not doing any science. There is some potential for me to move to the lab once winter sets in, but that is hypothetical at this point. I just took the GRE and received the following preliminary scores: V 750-800 Q 740-800. I test well and have a passion for molecular biology, but other parts of my application are extremely underwhelming. Now, I never used my professor's office hours because I never felt I needed to (although my GPA says otherwise!) and I have never done serious research, so I don't have any professors or PIs I can ask for any sort of meaningful LoR. For reference, I'm applying to M.S. programs at relatively non-competitive (Cal State) schools, with an eventual goal of a Ph.D. and working in biotech.