The true meaning of a GPA

[Trishalishus, PhD, CNS]

G'day

Is a GPA of 6.5 from an Australian university considered good/reasonable/average/acceptable - what? for applying to do grad dip; a PhD?

Do prospective employers care?

I'd appreciate your thoughts - particularly if you are an academic or a boss.

Also - one of my lecturers said "You should do research for an advanced degree; you already have a Masters (in an unrelated area) so you could probably go straight into a PhD program. I'd be happy to be your supervisor." Is this a personal honour/compliment or are lecturers looking for students to do projects under their supervision for some reason (eg continued funding?) i.e should I be flattered and touched by a compliment or am I inflating my sense of myself? Again, I'd appreciate your thoughts - particularly if you are an academic.

Thanks in advance

[Grace Oz]

[QUOshould I be flattered and touched by a compliment or am I inflating my sense of myself? Again, I'd appreciate your thoughts - particularly if you are an academic.

TE]

I'm not an academic, Trish, but for what it's worth ......... don't read too deeply into it, and take it for sure as a compliment. It's never harmful to have a positive sense of self either. So long as you keep it balanced and in perspective. :)

Wishing you all the best.

[talaxandra]

As a PhD candidate I can tell you that universities like to play the odds - provided the academic standard is maintained, the lower the drop out/failure rate of post-graduates, the better they look. In other words, being encouraged to undertake a PhD is a fairly clear sign at least one person thinks you are likely to succeed. Congratulations - if this is something you want, go for it :)

PS Except for (optional) student union fees, and a short course I chose to do to supplement my research methodology, my PhD has been fee free, and any associated costs (eg the conferences in the UK & US I leave for at the end of the month, computer & internet costs, stationery) are tax deductable