<p>yes… that’s what I am saying. 3.8+ GPA ALONE doesn’t get you in. However, having research experience but with a GPA lower than 3.8 seems to put you in the “less competent” pile. At least this is what it looks like from the statistics. It looks like it’s one of the many pretty important factors.</p>
<p>It’s almost like saying, a 2400 SAT score won’t get you into MIT undergrad, but still, having a 4.0 high school GPA with not so stellar SAT score will make you less competent too.</p>
<p>The truth is, nearly every one I look at who went to tip top grad schools, has GPA 3.9+. I have yet to find any one who got admitted with a GPA lower than 3.8 (at least in my fields (computer science / mathematics)).</p>