Discuss: How much do you think grades matter in grad school?

[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.

[Phalène]

In my department, anything lower than a B+ will result in you being kicked out of the program... grades can also affect your ability to apply for various fellowships/grants.

[Lauren the Librarian]

I have one prof who uses the traditional A=excellent, B=good, C= Satisfactory, D= Unsatisfactory, but passing, and F=Failing.

I have a different prof who says A= Excellent, B = Good, C= Unsatisfactory, F=Failing (no D's given)

At first glance Prof 2 seems "harder" because B's or better are expected, the prof even said "A 'C' means you don't belong in grad school." But the university doesn't function on a nominal scale; they use the good ol' fashioned GPA (4.0) scale.

So Prof 1 is actually harder because C's will be given out willy nilly while Prof 2 hands out B's as the base line. Is that grade inflation?

But of course grades matter. I need a strong GPA to get into my PhD program. Plus, I'd like to qualify for funding in the coming semesters in my program. I'll do the best I can regardless of the grading scale and write my papers on subjects that actually interest me and will set me up for future success.

[lizdestinee]

I'm stunned at some of the replies to this thread. A GPA under 3.5 as bad in grad school?? Wow it must really depend on the school and program...

 

 

I was in a top 10 school for a PhD program in Engineering and anything above a 3.0 was fine. Literally, fine. Many people had around a 3.2 while there were a few who put in more effort for higher. What mattered was research output, having teaching assistantships, and demonstration of leadership. We were all smart coming in (again, coming in depended on GRE more than GPA... bc I had a 3.1 GPA undergrad but went to a top 15 school for engineering where the average GPA was a 2.7) so therefore GPA didn't matter too much, even for a PhD?

 

I left the program after my qualifiers for a Masters due to funding difficulties and just being bored with research. A few years later, I figured out my life a bit more and went back to a PhD program in a different school, different major. Now in Pathology and Molecular Medicine -- all medical sciences. Now I had a GPA of 3.6 (busted ass for that becuase I completely switched majors) and knowing others', it is competely fine to have a GPA below 3.5. I think we all average around a 3.5-3.8. Nobody gets higher than that.

 

 

In my "gap time", I worked and had tuition reimbursement for classes. I took night classes because I am just crazy like that... took some grad level classes and easily got A's in those... I think it depends on the program???  I really cannot imagine getting above a 3.8-4.0 in grad school in engineering or medicine... the bell curve just doesn't work like that... but I don't know. Just my limited experiences

[Tall Chai Latte]

I also heard conflicting opinions on this matter, and the issue with grades always confuses me. When you get all A's, you might be seen as not spending enough time on research, but when you get less than an A, it seems there's something wrong with you... So confusing. 

 

So I second going with what your advisor says. Embarrassed to say, I failed one requirement prior to my qual. My advisor basically said "you don't need to get an A, just passing the course is fine with me.... I only got one A during my PhD and all other classes B, haha", which made me feel a little better. Research is more important. 

[uromastyx]

Um... of course they matter! Is this a serious conversation?

 

-Reputation within the department

-Funding opportunities

-Annual reports

-Departmental awards

-Letters of rec for grants, etc. Those people will take this into consideration

-Recommendations for post docs or jobs (!)

-Applying for any sort of grant, study abroad, etc. - anything that requires a transcript (what if you apply for PhD after MA?)

[SKN]

I graduated with my M.S. degree with a 4.0 and was damn proud of it. Most of my peers had a 3.75-3.9. During the orientation session for my doctoral program (it included masters students), one of our senior faculty members made a comment that blindsided me...

I'm still waiting for the opportunity to visit with this particular faculty member, but I think the gist of his message was that graduate school should be an educational journey and mistakes are not only inevitable, but should be meaningful as well.

I think the idea is that if you're focusing on research and such, then your grades are bound to suffer, or rather that in the course of doing all the things that you have to do, if something has to suffer and it's not your classes, it's your research and that's worse.

[SKN]

I also heard conflicting opinions on this matter, and the issue with grades always confuses me. When you get all A's, you might be seen as not spending enough time on research, but when you get less than an A, it seems there's something wrong with you... So confusing. 

 

So I second going with what your advisor says. Embarrassed to say, I failed one requirement prior to my qual. My advisor basically said "you don't need to get an A, just passing the course is fine with me.... I only got one A during my PhD and all other classes B, haha", which made me feel a little better. Research is more important. 

I know, I feel like the idea is that you're supposed to do the bare minimum to get an A, but sometimes, it's a lot of work to get an A and they make it seem like it's lame to try hard, but you should be easily making perfect grades.