Needing some advice...

[Traowyn]

I don't want to bore everyone with all the details here, so this is just a synopsis of my situation: I graduated in 2000 from a major East Coast university, but with less than stellar grades. I also failed to make any real connections with professors I'd had while I was in school. I went to work within 4 months of graduating in the field of microbiology and I'm still working as a Microbiologist, just in a different corner of the industry. I have been trying for the last several years to develop a plan that will give me the best chance possible (for me) to get into a graduate program in Microbiology. I have taken a few undergraduate level courses since completing my degree at two different universities and have done exceptionally well. But I'm not sure of what else I can do to improve my odds. I'm not sure how I can go about cultivating relationships with professors at this stage of the game. Maybe I can try and take a graduate level course in Microbiology and go and talk to the professor about my situation. I know I'm starting with a few major disadvantages here, but one up side to this is that I'm not giving myself a strict timetable here. I am also not planning to target the most competitive schools. I realize I need to do some backtracking...and I'm going to allow myself the time to get where I need to be, but I really just need some advice to help put me on the right track...

[AllFiredUp]

You don't need to be buddy-buddy with professors. For the ones whose classes you did well in, send them a paper you did with a C.V. and sample statement of purpose. They should be glad to write you a letter. Once you get in, proffer them a bag of Doritos

[bgk]

What AllFiredUp said. Also you can submit a reference from your employer as an additional vote of confidence. I wouldn't do this in lieu of 3 academic references though. As a really safe and sure (but potentially expensive) way back, you might consider first getting an MS. This will give you the chance to do some grad work, some research and find out if you really want to be in a PhD program.

[Traowyn]

Thanks for the responses! Actually there is a Microbiology masters program that I am very interested in applying to. I had the same thought, that working on a Masters would give me more research experience and potentially open doors to something more down the line. I won't have any problem getting an employer reference, but I'm going to need to work on getting in touch with a few of my old professors. I'm feeling a bit strange about that though, just because its been so long. But, I guess professors must be used to that sort of thing.