Anonymous wrote:It's not really about overall GPA because they don't care about your grades in unrelated classes at all.

Social science PhD: This is accurate for my field; probably won't care about a B- or C+ in Organic Chem. But need to demonstrate potential for excellence in research, and sustained enthusiasm for, the specific field of study.

An old advisor once told me, "If you don't get into a top department, don't go. And don't take on a dime in debt for a PhD." For anyone interested in an academic or research career, I pass on that advice. Keep in mind that top departments for a PhD are NOT the same as top undergrad schools.

Anonymous wrote:Mine went straight from college to PhD. Niche STEM field, lots of research, from a liberal arts school (believe it or not) with a GPA of about 3.6. Most importantly, did the research and found and advisor they connected with. They knew they were getting in and being funded before they applied. That’s how it works in STEM usually.

Similar in my case. As long as your gpa is decent, it’s much more important to find a professor whose research aligns with your interest and has room in his or her lab. Getting a professor to agree to take you on is the main thing— then the official admittance is more of a technicality (maybe it’s different at the super competitive schools).