Chances for U of calgary/u of alberta bio grad student?

Student Lounge International Students
1

<p>Sorry if this is the wrong place to post, the "chances" forum doesn't seem to have a lot about Canadian universities or graduate programs. </p>

<p>I'm currently in my last year studying at the University of California, San Diego (as an american citizen) looking to go to Canada for grad school. </p>

<p>Intended graduate program: Ecology masters, eventually planning on going for a Phd hopefully</p>

<p>Undergrad Major: Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior
Cumulative GPA: 3.3
Last year's GPA: 2.8
(Gpa is my weakest part of the app, my university/program is really rigourous and I've been working 60 hours a week in the field the last year.)</p>

<p>They take the last two years GPA, and I'm not going to be working, so theoretically I could raise it high enough by May to get around a 3.2, (minimum for Calgary). </p>

<p>Other things:
I've been working as a field biologist for a year. I am currently the head researcher on a large government study of landscape connectivity and the effect of recreation on bobcats in a nature preserve in Southern California. The study will be complete in a few months and I'm going to write a paper and see if I can get it published. I also have many planned speaking engagements where I will be presenting my work over the last few years. I work for the government doing wildlife research, management, bird surveys, rare plant monitoring, etc. </p>

<p>I also worked for 5 months at a field station in the Bolivian Amazon working with large mammalian carnivores. I worked mainly with pumas and jaguars, also did some anti-poacher patrols, local conservation initiatives, etc. </p>

<p>Just started working at a university lab for Marine ecology. I will be creating maps through GIS using results from stable isotope analysis of sea turtle bones off the coast of Baja to determine migration patterns and feeding habits. </p>

<p>-I am involved with a few citizen science projects
-I've attended many field biology trainings
-helped develop a natural resource management plan for a large open space park in san diego
-great letters of rec
-i have been working nearly full time since i was 15 (only last few yrs in the field)</p>

<p>Chances anyone? Will low GPA totally disqualify me?
I know that graduate admissions are largely holistic, but I'd like to see if I should be looking forward to probably getting in or if it's more of a 50/50 thing.</p>

2

<p>Perhaps you should shop a supervisor at either U… and then you might have a chance to make up for the low GPA.</p>

3

<p>As the previous poster mentioned, you may want to send your resume to potential professors. Examine for any commonality between your research and that of the professors. Sometimes, the professors may be able to get funding in an area of your interest, provided that it has some value to their department’s research theme. The admissions committee will be wanting to know if you have the academic ability to pass the comprehensive qualifying PhD examination. That is where your GPA comes into play. You might want to submit a copy of the abstract of future publication to elicit further interest. </p>

<p>Good luck.</p>