<p>Hello and thank you for stopping by to assist me.</p>
<p>I am currently a rising junior (just ended sophomore year) with a 3.51 GPA and roughly the same GPA for within the major. My school is an Ivy League that is in the top 10 for my major, ecology and evolutionary biology. </p>
<p>So far I have conducted research in a minority/underprivileged oriented research program last summer that got me real in lab experience. I conducted an independent study on freshwater lake ecology with the guidance of a professor and graduate student and got the opportunity to present my data at a symposium at the university towards the end of the summer. I am also conducting research on insect evolution this summer on a fellowship at a fairly notable american natural history museum. </p>
<p>I'm wondering if I'm still on track for graduate school and perhaps even an upper end grad school for the major. I would be interested in any of the top 10 for ecology and evolutionary biology, or some of the west coast universities like the UC's and University of Hawaii. If this adds anything to it, I am possibly interested in entomology, particularly colonized insects, and a career at NASA (biology department), a university, and/or a government agency (e.g. EPA, Department of Interior). </p>
<p>Thank you for your help!</p>
<p>I have a similar GPA and research experience also- I’ve been told that I am well on track for grad school. My advisor gave me a list of schools that have current research on the topics I’m looking into. As of now, I’m beginning preparations for the GRE and looking into taking the bio subject test as well. I’m planning on taking both of these junior year and using senior year to focus on research and keeping academics up, and, obviously, submitting my applications. Since I haven’t been through a grad school app cycle yet, I can’t give you any detailed information about that. I’d say just start looking at programs and for specific faculty members who are accepting new students and who do research in your area.</p>
<p>You look on track to me - you’re doing research, and taking advantage of your summers. Your GPA is good, and you’re starting to form research interests. Use your third and fourth year to work part-time (paid or volunteer) with a professor in a lab so you can get some continuity in your research and get a recommender who knows your research from long-term projects. </p>
<p>Just keep your grades up, and start studying for the GRE in the second semester of your junior year. You’ll want to take it in the summer between your third and fourth year so you get a chance to take it again, if necessary. Personally, I’d wait until the end of your junior year to take the Bio Subject exam because you’ll want as much biology knowledge as possible, and often your important biology classes will be in your junior year.</p>
<p>Also, I would spend your junior year narrowing down programs and faculty as was mentioned above. You can’t yet find who’s accepting new students, because faculty won’t know until at the earliest probably the end of your junior year, and more likely late in the summer. It all depends on funding renewals and things like that. But you CAN investigate who’s doing research you’re interested in and which programs seem like a good fit. Don’t limit yourself to the West Coast, especially if you are serious about working at government agencies.</p>
<p>If your goal is a career with a government agency, I suggest you look for Pathways Program job opportunities when the time comes. They are a really big foot wedged in the door of civil service employment. I am on a SCEP appointment with the Forest Service while in graduate school, and it will be a significant boost to my chances of securing a permanent job when I graduate.</p>