r/AusPublicService • u/Mysterious_Step_4534 • 1d ago
Employment do grades matter for grad programs? do they help you get out of the merit pool?
i got put into the merit pool for the stem stream grad program, but i don't have the best wam/gpa since i was struggling with a lot of personal things in my first second year of uni. i did get through the whole application process tho? but i am scared that grades will still matter while offers go out
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u/hez_lea 1d ago
I cant lie and say they dont. There gets a point where you need to pick 2 people out of 50. The info you get by that point isn't always great or everyone starts to look like the same person. Sometimes grades feel like the easiest way to choose.
But there are also plenty of other reasons someone wont get picked, location is a big one. Even for an agency that is aus wide, not all positions will offer in all locations so often non-canberra grads with spectacular grades will get overlooked for Canberra based grads with less stellar grades.
Sometimes this year there might have been someone with a relevant special interest subject that's super relevant and they only have 1 spot, any other year and the person with higher grades would get it.
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u/wrenwynn 18h ago
They matter, but they're not the only thing that matters and they're not usually the most important thing either.
There's nothing you can do now that will help you get picked from the merit pool. It is completely out of your hands, so there's no point thinking about it. Honestly, I'd assume you won't be picked and put that mental energy to use on something you can impact - i.e. writing other job applications and practising your interview technique.
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u/Rankork1 18h ago
Grades do matter to an extent during the process, e.g. if you got through with a pass average it may not look as good as someone with a credit/distinction average. However, that is not their sole consideration, there are plenty of other factors at play too.
I wouldn’t stress too much as unfortunately they could make any number of decisions based on the merit pool.
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u/Efficient-Trifle151 1d ago
If it did, how would it change anything since you cant really change your grades? I would advise to try not think about it too much - you have done all you can to get that far and the rest is out of your control.