Help! Late bloomer shoots for top Sociology PhD programs

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

First of all, an initial thank you to whomever takes time to read my (slightly long) post.

So, i went into junior college with no direction, sociology was one of the first classes I took, and since then, that’s been my path.

It wasn’t until I transferred to Humboldt State, a low ranking CSU, that I began to get straight A’s. I now want to get a PhD at a top program for the job prospects, but also for myself.

Here are my specs:
-Lower division GPA: 2.9
-Upper division (university) GPA: 3.7
-Major GPA: 3.8ish -all As but one B in a deviance course
-I was on the presidents list for 2 semesters

Extras:
-I was secretary and president of the AKD Soc. honors club on campus
-I was accepted as an honors student and presented a paper at the 2013 ASA conference in NYC as an undergrad
-also I tutored writing and mentored soc transfer students

Also:

-I did a 30pg 50+ article lit review capstone paper and presented to my department.

-a strength of mine is writing and research, although I don’t have any official research experience aside from my capstone project

No GRE yet, but I plan to kick ass on it.

My letters will come from Colorado Boulder and Uwisconsin, and Carleton in Canada.

What are my chances of getting into Brown, Berkeley, ucla, UW, etc.? Should I also apply to good MAs and then enter a PhD?

2

Graduate admissions committees will read your cover letter. Include a research plan. Make sure the plan is interesting and sound and make sure the letter is well written. I mean excellent.

They will consider your transcripts and GRE scores. Good luck on the GRE.

Finally they will read your letters of recommendation. Why are none of them coming from professors at Humboldt?

Any one of the above can sway the decision. It is up to you and your recommendations.