I’m in something of a quandary.
I’ll be graduating with a BS in general biology from UC Santa Cruz this fall, with a 3.95 GPA. I have yet to take the GREs but I am typically a very good test-taker and expect to do reasonably well. I am also fairly confident in my writing skills, and think I can pull off a decent personal statement/essay/etc.
I’m interested in applying to ecology/evolutionary biology phD programs this fall as well, but I’m concerned because I have no research experience in my field. I’ve spent about a year working with graduate students in an earth science lab, but best-case scenario I might get a co-authorship on their papers. I’ve been mostly doing grunt work, and have carried out no independent research of my own.
I might be able to carry out some independent research in a plant ecology lab this fall, but that’s up in the air. I’ll be able to get a letter of rec from the professor whose earth science lab I’m in, and the professor whose ecology lab I might be working in. The third will have to come from a professor who I did not work with but who I’ve taken classes with and have done exceedingly well.
What are my chances? Would it be smarter to try and take a year off to get more research experience? Are there even very many research assistant type positions open to people interested in ecology and evolution? I’ve been stressing out about this quite a bit and would like answers from people who have experience/know-how in regards to this kind of stuff.