<p>So here's my deal: I graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2009. Due to medical and very personal issues, my junior year grades in the first half of the year were low (C+ average). I knew this was horrible so I decided to move out of my parents' home in the middle of the second semester (this helped with the personal issues) and to also begin volunteering in a bio lab. Side note, UBC is notorious for giving out low grades in intro genetics (1/3 students fail), which is one of the courses I did poorly in. My grades increased in the second semester and my GPA in the next year (senior year) was a 3.54. My overall GPA now stands at just over 3.00 (3.10 for jr and sr years).</p>
<p>Once I began volunteering in the lab, the prof gave me a project which I was able to translate into a senior research project/thesis on which I received a grade of A+. All my research and the paper I wrote on it was integrated into a grad student's research and paper which has been submitted for publication (this means my name is now on a paper). After graduating in 2009, I continued to work in the lab (and still am) as a post-Bac. And now have over two years of experience.</p>
<p>I want to go the grad school, with my top 4 choices being the University of Miami, Washington State University, Louisiana State University, and UC Irvine. My GRE score is a 1320 (Q770) also.</p>
<p>What are my chances of being accepted into their biology programs? Am I competitive in any way? Will my application be tossed out?</p>
<p>Thanks for reading. Any advice would be great!</p>