<p>I'm graduating with a B.S. in biology from a very well-respected LAC in May. I have a strong research background that includes a publication in The Journal of Applied Ichthyology as well as a few other journals, 3 or 4 published abstracts, many presentations at science competitions/seminars, etc. Plus I will have 5 years of work experience volunteering at a local museum in my field. </p>
<p>However, my grades kind of suck. I have a 3.0+ in all biology classes but a 2.75 overall. I plan on getting my master's at a local state school, because I can go there for free and there is a professor there who is doing work on a genus of fish that I am interested in. I have [what I think is] a killer idea for a graduate thesis, one that could land me a good first name publication in a major journal.</p>
<p>If I attend an average state school for my MS, but do really well in it and do good research, is there a chance I could get in to a top 10 ecology/evolutionary biology school for my PhD?</p>