My Chances for Plant Bio Programs?

[BioEric]

Hi all. I decided to make an account to get your opinion on my chances for Plant Biology PhD programs. I graduated from UC Davis two years ago with a BS in Microbiology. I completed my lower division courses at a community college before transferring to UCD. I have an overall GPA of 3.4. Although my GPA isn't particularly terrible, I received C grades in several of my major upper division courses. These grades are coming back to bite me as I'm putting my applications together. They really don't look nice even though my overall GPA is solid.

I really hope these grades will not hinder my chances of getting into a program. I've been trying to make up for it by focusing on my research and work experience. As an undergraduate, I had four research internships over the course of three years in my field of interest - plant microbial ecology and genetics. After graduating I worked for a year as a microbiology laboratory technician at a viticulture/enology lab. I'm now doing plant genetics work in a major agricultural biotech company. I know I can get really strong LORs from my professors and work supervisors, and I could probably write a really compelling statement of purpose too. 

I've emailed several professors in programs that I am interested in about graduate opportunities in their lab, and several of them have set up Skype calls with me and encouraged me to apply. I'm still really concerned because I don't know how competitive these programs actually are. These professors probably talk to potential students on a weekly basis. This whole application period is stressing me out because it seems like graduate admission committees put so much weight on GPA and GRE scores.  I'll be taking the GRE in two weeks, and although I've been studying for the GRE, I don't think my scores will be high enough to look really spectacular (80th-90th percentile), but who knows.

Some of the schools I've been looking into:

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Iowa State University
Washington State University
Oregon State University

Washington State University is my top choice so far. I've been in contact with a professor there and I am really interested in her work. I have a Skype interview with her next week. Hopefully I can make a good impression and get my name out there! 

Please let me know what you guys think!

 

 

 

[plantguy]

Hi, I'm a fellow Plant Biologist who had applied to grad schools recently. I also applied to UIUC, may I ask how did your GRE go? 

I also applied to UMD, UMass Amherst and Colorado State. 

I think you have a good shot getting interview invitations if you got a decent GRE score. and I don't think the professors really speak to a lot of students on Skype on a weekly basis. At least not to international students. Anyways, I'd be happy to hear if you  have any updates.