I've read some things about this on SDN lately. Is it true? How is it expressed. A professor would not give you an "A" even though you got "C's" on the tests, wouldn't he?
they are much more leniant about grades in phd programs - actually everytime we are in a class with grad students the undergrads to a bit better usually (the grad students hardly study it seems). you can usually get only 1 or 2 C's (keep a 3.0) - there is no point on them being harsh to grad students, they aren't gunning for post-docs based on grades, usually recs and lab/thesis etc ..have much more weight.
-jot
To answer Spiderman's question, one would not get an A in the class if he got C's on the tests. He/She would simply not get C's on the test. In my grad program, a C is a failing grade. That means that almost everyone makes a B- or better. Most of my professors at Wash U want to give A- as the median grade.
That's how it was at my grad school too. An A- or B+ was the average grade for most classes. You were doing well if you got an A. If you got anything less than that you were doing average or below average. Only 2 or 3 classes had people getting C's, D's, or F's.