(Revised) What are my chances of getting into graduate school with a mediocre GPA?

Question

I am a biochemistry major looking to get into a phD program in molecular or developmental biology. I have a 3.30 GPA from a 2nd tier school and my verbal GRE scores are also mediocre.

(GRE: 530 verbal, 760 quantitative, 5.0 analytical).

However, I have 1.5yrs of full-time research work and 3 excellent letters of recommendation from people who I know think highly of my research capabilities.

I am also going to graduate on time, within the traditional 4yrs, even though I took a year off (got accepted to a year-long research fellowship) although I'm not sure if that helps any.

Also, none of the 3 references are my professors. Does that hurt my chances? Two are from scientist's who I've worked directly with and the third is my advisor who knows me personally and is very well respected in the science community. All 3 are phDs and published.

Also, I am female and a US citizen (not minority, though). I'll also need funding.

Help?

Answer 1

I had a low undergrad GPA (due to partying) but decent GRE scores. I was allowed into grad school on a probation basis meaning I had to keep a 3.0 for at least 2 semesters. Which I did and even beyond (funny what you can accomplish with partying all of the time). Now, if you are in grad school and can't make a 3.0, you don't need to be there.

Answer 2

i think of somewhat some faculties will look at your artwork adventure incredibly, as that's what maximum of PhD artwork is approximately. ensure you're making the attempt to speak in my view to the admissions boards on the colleges to which you will prepare -- that usually helps to place a man or woman with a record. you may even touch specific professors with whom you may decide to do study, and instruct them how led to you're. I had a 2.9 GPA as an undergrad and have so far been familiar into 3 graduate courses (ok, so I had some occupation adjustments ;-). That being mentioned, the GPA became from an exact college, and that i'm a savant whilst it incorporates standardized exams, so i became interior the 99th percentile for the GREs.

Answer 3

Generally.. it is a little rough particularly into graduate school.. I had to have a 3.0 average but nowadays(sadly to say) schools are so very hungry for money, they will let most anyone in with any type of grade so you would have to check that out with the particular school you are interested in.