I'm looking for honest advice from people with experience in graduate admissions or academic supervision.

I have a 3-year BSc (General) in Mathematics from Sri Lanka (CGPA 2.73/4.0), completed entirely in English. I also work as a research intern at a state university (not naming it for privacy), have several research publications in mathematical optimization, operations research, linear programming, and graph theory, and I'm currently writing three more papers on vehicle routing problems.

My IELTS score is 6.5 overall, with a 5.5 in Reading.

My goal is to pursue a research-based MSc (thesis-based) in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Operations Research, or a closely related field. I understand that my 3-year degree, CGPA, and IELTS Reading score are significant weaknesses.

For those who have experience with graduate admissions or supervising research students:

• How much can a strong research record realistically compensate for these academic limitations?
• Are there countries or universities where supervisor support carries significant weight in research master's admissions?
• Have you seen applicants with similar profiles succeed, and if so, what made the difference?

I'm looking for realistic opinions rather than encouragement, so I'd really appreciate honest feedback. Thank you.