Low GPA..I need advice. How many places should I apply for grad school?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I am an undergrad senior looking to apply to a masters program doing biological research. I am currently working on my second research project after publishing a paper on another project as first author. I hope to submit the results of this project for review before beginning grad school, and will begin writing soon.
I know this will make me look good for grad school, but my GPA is around 2.8-2.9 right now and I have a couple of W's. I am a nontraditional student, but I am only 24, so I am not too much older than my graduating class.</p>

<p>I am just wondering, what are my chances of getting into a good masters program? I don't care too much about the prestige of the school, but I would like tuition waver and a decent stipend, and to, of course, like the research. My GRE scores are 146 quantitative reasoning, and 157 verbal reasoning. I don't have my writing score yet, but I think it will be pretty good. I felt pretty confident about it.</p>

<p>I am also majoring in philosophy as well as zoology. I have been awarded one research scholarship, and have presented 4 posters at scientific conferences. I also have a lot of field work experience. That's really all that I've got.
Thanks for any help/suggestions.</p>

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<p>You have very mediocre stats. However considering your majors and the fact the you’re a nontraditional student, you can probably get in to a state school graduate program.</p>

<p>I can almost guarantee that you will NOT receive stipend or any financial aid, considering your majors and the schools that fit you best.</p>

<p>Usually only top research universities (which accept ~5–50 people each year, all of whom have near perfect GPAs and GRE scores) will fund graduates in your areas of study. I would be extremely surprised if a state school gives you any funding at all for philosophy or zoology research, especially when considering your stats.</p>

<p>TL;DR: You can probably get in to state schools if you have good LORs and essays. You will NOT get funding.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

3

<p>University of Minnesota would most likely accept you.</p>