<p>My current thesis adviser had a similar situation. Finished bottom 1/3 in his class with around a 2.5 gpa from a top 10 undergraduate focused school…</p>
<p>… After some job work he hated he begged and pleaded (not literally but you know) with UMich and did amazing on his GRE. He got in on probation, worked his ass off, got his Masters. Went to Penn State got his PhD. Now is a tenured professor with 15 years industry experience before academia, oh and he has a startup company that has secured a few million in funding over the years.</p>
<p>So yes, ANYTHING is possible. Figure out a way and you can do it. Why would you go to a low tier school with students who don’t care as much? Go to a GREAT school with people who are passionate and want to achieve great things.</p>