MemphisMomma

I think if you are an average grad student that wants an average career, then average grades (for the program- not a C in every course) will suffice. However, if you intend to apply for fellowship, a later grad program, or any position that request you send a transcript- I'd keep those grades up. However, if you have stellar publications, your grades probably don't matter all that much in the long run.

Pick your program wisely or make sure to pick a really understanding advisor. I am on the last leg of a degree in biomedical sciences. I currently have a toddler. I am expected to be in lab 40-50 hours a week now but I basically am writing. Anyway, after the baby I shifted my day to come in an hour later. Our campus also has an on-site daycare. My boss is really flexible as I have certain goals to meet in a week but I can break up my time however I want. That means returning to lab some evenings and leaving the baby with his father while I finish an experiment. I think if you choose an advisor with a family or refrain from picking a really competitive lab you can survive. I have had to rely on friends to watch my son until 7 or so in the evening because its after daycare hours. So go for the top notch lab if you have the support system in place

Well I had a 2.9 GPA but I had the highest GRE score of the incoming students at the school (I only found this out because I got an alumni scholarship that went to the student with the highest GRE score). I chose my program based on funding and the cost of living in the city compared to a graduate stipend. While my PhD is not from a top-tier school, I have a few publications and I am managing to pull postdoc interviews at top-tier schools. So apply (but realistic so you don't spend too much) and hope for the best.

I came out for my interview before receiving a formal letter of acceptance, but when I got there I learned that almost everyone there on the interview had already gotten an acceptance letter.

I don't have to teach undergrads but I do the lab for a portion of the medical school classes. I think if your ultimate goal is to have a lab or just to teach at the undergraduate level, then perhaps you want a graduate school that encourages some teaching. However if you want to go into industry, work for a think tank, or use your PhD in an alternative career, teaching is just an additional pain. I'd rather err on the side of caution and get a little teaching under my belt.

I think it's ok to be friends, particularly if you are in the same age range. When I was in undergrad, professors with terminal degrees told me that they put in the work to earn the title so I had better address them as Dr. X. Fast forward to grad school and my advisor prefers I address him by his first name, which I never do. He is 20+ years older than myself and my upbringing subconsciously forces me to address him as Dr. On the other hand, I know a graduate student in the department that is 2 years younger than her advisor and they are really good friends and refer to one another on a first name basis. So I personally think it goes with your individual situation. If I was uncertain, I would use a default formal mode and refer to the advisor as Dr. SoAndSuch and minimize the social time to activities that involved a decent portion of the lab.