Blog Career Guidance
December 14, 2011
Hello again students and teachers of Stratford College, it's been an agonizing 3 months without those familiar walls and faces, but also very eventful to say the least! I've almost completed my first semester in DCU now, and it's hard to comprehend just how fast time has passed upon my arrival here. Believe me Sixth Years when I say you are compensated for all those overwhelmingly slow evenings studying in the weeks up to the Leaving Cert. By Freshman year you will definitely be regretting wishing the year away.
Something a lot of us 'alumni' regret is how we didn't cherish our final year in Stratford. Plenty of us, myself included, let the Leaving Certificate itself become a cloud that constantly followed us around, chastising us if we ever forgot about it's looming presence for a moment. At the time, we felt trapped, perhaps even a little guilty if we had fun instead of intense study sessions. But now, in hindsight, Sixth Year was one of the most enjoyable experiences, if not the best of the six consecutive years. There was a lot of laughter to be had, a lot of new-found freedom to utilize to your full advantage, and a slew of rewards we all knew we would get in the end but terrorized ourselves imagining if we didn't. Sixth Year truly is what you make it. All the complexities and books aside, there is so much about it you'll carry with you into college and likely after.
In those final few weeks, college will seem like the equivalent to a mirage of a monsoon in the Sahara desert, the idyllic light at the end of the tunnel. Although this fantasy does come into fruition to some extent, college isn't all fun and games. Behind the countless nights out, there is definitely a workload if you're a procrastinator. Keep that inner procrastinator dormant till June, as hard as it may be to grapple from. Also, if you choose a course that caters to you, or that you have a genuine interest in, then that workload will perhaps manifest itself into fun and games too.
College itself is, more or less, a friend-making establishment where everyone is on the same socially-shy boat. Within weeks, you will have already conjured a stable circle of people to have fun with, integrate in your life, and truly be yourself around to enhance that convivial atmosphere of your first year. However, keeping in contact with your Stratford pals is overwhelmingly crucial. Progressing into a life of assignment due dates, hours of travelling to and from your course, and the possible balance of part-time work spells unwarranted lapses of time where you haven't seen certain people whom you are used to seeing on a daily basis. If you put in a little bit of effort or organize get-together's that suit everyone, then life won't seem half as different as you think it is. Thanks be to Zeus for the powers of social networking!
Wishing you all the best for the holidays!
Cal McGhee (2011)
[Image: www.sxc.hu]
Categories: Career Guidance, Past Pupils.
November 29, 2011
Further Education institutes through the city and county of Dublin provide post Leaving Certificate courses. These courses prepare candidates for employment or entry to Higher Education. There is a large range of courses offered by about 30 colleges throughout Dublin.
These courses do not operate a points system and most courses require passes in five Leaving Certificate subjects. In addition, an interview may also take place along with a portfolio submission in the case of some Art & Design courses. The official closing date is normally late February or March, however, some courses will accept applications in September after the Leaving Certificate results are published. There are however, some very popular courses that fill all their places in February/March, for example, art, media, and music courses in Ballyfermot College of Further Education.
Students undertake these courses
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For their educational value,
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To enhance employment opportunities,
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Gain entry to their original first choice in college for which they did not obtain the necessary points (back door entry)
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To gain entry to colleges in the U.K. which will accept the P.L.C. course in addition to, or instead of, their Leaving Certificate results.
When searching for a suitable course, it might be useful to work backwards, i.e. check if the degree course you really want accepts applications from P.L.C. courses. Then check what P.L.C. courses they will accept, and then find where that P.L.C. course is run.
For example, D.I.T. hold 3 places on their Forensics & Environmental Science course for those who have completed an Applied Science/Lab Technicians P.L.C. course. They also hold 7 places on their Business & Marketing course for candidates who have complete one of four different types of P.L.C. courses. There are too many examples to list here. U.C.D. hold 20 places on their General Science degree, 25 on their Arts degree, 7 on their Nursing degrees, and 3 on their Commerce degree for those candidates who have completed and reached a certain standard in certain P.L.C. course. The I.T. in Tallaght hold 10% of places on most of their courses for P.L.C. graduates.
Below, is a method of searching for the most appropriate P.L.C. course that can lead into that degree you want. Be careful, while some P.L.C. courses may have the correct code, 3rd level colleges insist that the P.L.C. course must have certain module/s within it. Check that the P.L.C. course has the necessary module/s with the college that offers the P.L.C. course.
Below, is an example of how to search for the correct P.L.C. course. This example shows how to search for the correct P.L.C. that can gain you entry into Media Studies in N.I.U.M. (MH109). (Click on thumbnails to open an enlarged version of image.)
It is now necessary to find which P.L.C. colleges offer these courses. The example below searches for EMPXX. The same search can be carried out for the other codes/courses.
Caution
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The type of courses that have the EMPXX code can vary in what subject material they cover. For example, EMPXX can range from ‘Photography’ to ‘Print Journalism & Radio’.
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Be sure to pick the subject material you find the most interesting. Also, there may be other interesting courses found in the other codes, ERPXX, ETFPX, or EPJXX.
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Check that the P.L.C. course has the necessary module/s using the web site of the particular P.L.C. college.
Check List
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Find the C.A.O. code for the 3rd level college course you wish to enter.
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Search cao.ie to find the necessary P.L.C. code/s and any necessary modules.
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Search qualifax.ie using the P.L.C. code/s.
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Find what P.L.C. colleges offer the necessary P.L.C. course/code.
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Don’t just pick a P.L.C. course because it has the correct code, select a course with the correct code that also covers the subject material you find most interesting. Note also, some P.L.C. colleges offer course that allow entry into 2nd year of a third level degree course.
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Check the web site of the particular P.L.C. college to ensure the course also has the necessary module/s.
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Apply in February using the P.L.C. college web site.
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Check the P.L.C. college web site for any additional entry requirements, e.g. portfolio.
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It might be necessary to apply for more than one P.L.C. course.
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Note: Completing a P.LC. course does not guarantee entry into your desired 3rd level college course. You will need to obtain a certain standard in your assessments and exams.
Categories: Career Guidance.
Tags: 2011-2012, PLCs, Post Leaving Certificate courses.
November 3, 2011
The CAO opened on Thursday 3rd November at 12.00 noon for applications and will remain open for online applications until 5.15 pm on the 20th January 2012 next. Below is a detailed explanation of how the CAO application system operates. It is important that all applicants be familiar with this before making an application.
CAO - How it works
The Central Applications Office administers admissions to entry into most third level institutes throughout the country. The system uses the National Framework Qualifications scale. This framework works from levels 1 to 10. If a student has completed the Junior Certificate he is deemed to have reached level 3. If a student completes the Leaving Certificate he is deemed to have reached level 5. Level 6 is a Higher Certificate (normally 2 years), level 7 is an Ordinary Degree, and level 8 is an Honours Degree (normally 3 /4 years). Level 9 is a masters and level 10 is a PhD. When using the C.A.O. application system it deals with levels 6, 7 and 8. Look at the interactive National Framework of Qualifications diagram to get a visual representation of the National Framework Qualifications scale.
CAO - Mock Application Form
Here is a mock-up of a C.A.O. application form. Applicants can choose up to 10 level 8 Honours Degree courses and 10 level 7 Ordinary degrees and/or 10 level 6 Higher Certificate courses. (Click on thumbnail to enlarge the image).
Leaving Certificate Points
When sitting the Leaving Certificate, points are awarded on the basis on the results obtained in the best six subjects. These points are as follows (click on thumbnail to enlarge the image):
Honours Maths
From the Leaving Certificate 2012 bonus points will be awarded for honours Maths.
All students achieving a HD3 or higher will have 25 points added to their total score for honours Maths. The Maths grade itself does not change. Ordinary level Maths remains unchanged. This is a standard 25 points regardless of the grade achieved. The same points are awarded for an A1 as a D3. If Maths is not included in the top six subjects counted, the bonus points are not included. This will have a proportional affect over 550 points for Medicine.
Explanation of how the System Works
Here is an explanation as to how the system operates. This candidate has applied for Arts in U.C.C. (CK 101) as his first preference. The candidate is then grouped with all other students who have applied for this course. They are in no particular order until the Leaving Certificate results of these students are published.
Round 1
Once the results are published, the students’ results are scanned to see who has all the minimum requirements. For example, one student failed Maths and another failed Irish. These students are now excluded from the rest of the process.
These minimum requirements are very important. Generally, as most students will do Irish, English, Mathematics, and a third language this will cover the general entry requirements for N.U.I colleges. However, there are exceptions. T.C.D. only require English, Maths, and Irish or a third language, Most of the I.T’s require Irish or English, and Maths. Some engineering and science courses do not require a third language. However, some courses have additional requirements. For example, all engineering courses in T.C.D. and U.C.D. require HC3 in honours Maths. Honours Irish is a requirement for primary teaching. Chemistry is a requirement for Veterinary in U.C.D., Human Nutrition & Dietetics in D.I.T., Pharmacy in T.C.D., Medicine and Dentistry in U.C.C. Physics is a requirement for Theoretical Physics in U.C.D. and T.C.D. One laboratory science(Chemistry/Biology/Physics) is required for many science courses. Architecture in D.I.T. does not require a science subject but does have an aptitude test. Two science subjects are required for Physiotherapy and Human Genetics in T.C.D. Commerce in U.C.D. requires a HD3 or OB3 in Maths. Most U.C.D. courses require 2HC3 and 4OD3 while most T.C.D. courses require 3HC3 and 3OD3. Other courses require a portfolio and/or aptitude test and/or an interview. These examples illustrate how complicated this application process is. Without these minimum requirements, a candidate is excluded from the selection process regardless of how many point obtained.
Those students who have all the minimum requirements and who applied for Arts in U.C.C. (CK 101) are then ranked in order of points obtained. The student who obtained the highest number of points is placed at the top of the queue and the students who obtained the second highest number of points is placed second in the queue, and so on. This process is carried out for all the candidates’ choices. His position in the queue for each of his courses is indicated above.
The colleges where each course takes place is then asked how many students will be taken into each course. This is then deemed to be the cut-off point as indicated below. For example, in U.C.C. Arts there are 6 places for 15 students in the queue. The points obtained by the 6th student in the queue are then the points published. Our candidate is 8th in the queue and will not gain admission. For his second choice, the college (DN 201), have indicated they will take the 7th student and above. Our candidate is 6th in the queue. For his third choice, the college has indicated they will take the 5th student and above. Our candidate is 4th in the queue. This process is carried out for all of the courses applied for. For his 10th preference, our candidate is 12th in the queue for PD 101 where there are only 10 places on the course.
The computer will then scan and select the highest preference course the candidate is eligible for. In this case, it is the second choice, DN 201. Even though the candidate is eligible for the third choice, he will not be offered a place as he has indicated that he would prefer DN 201 above AL 033 by placing DN201 above AL 033 on his application. Indeed, all preferences from 3rd down are now wiped from the system. These courses from 3rd choice down will never be considered again. The student will now receive an offer of a place on DN 201 in round one. If eligible, he will receive two separate offers, one Level 8 (Honours Degree) and one level 7/6 (ordinary degree/certificate). Both offers are independent of each other but he can only accept one. If he receives, for example, his 3rd preference on level 8 in round one, all preferences below this will be deleted from the system and you will never be offered any course from 4th preference down. If he accepts this offer you can still be offered his 2nd /1st preference/s in round two – if the points drop and you become eligible. If he does do not accept this 3rd preference offer, he can still be offered your 2nd /1st preference/s in round two – if the points drop and you become eligible. However, if the points do not drop he cannot change his mind and ask for the original round one offer. He will be left with no offer. The same system operates independently for levels 7/6.
Accepting an offer on level 8 in round one does not preclude you receiving a higher preference offer on level 7/6 in round two. Similarly, accepting an offer on level 7/6 in round one does not preclude you receiving a higher preference offer on level 8 in round two.
For example, if you are offered course C on level 8 and course Y on level 7/6, you will never be offered courses D,E,F,G, nor, courses Z,P,Q,R,S. in future rounds. If you accept course C you can still be offered one of A or B and X in the second round. If you accept course Y you can still be offered course A or B or X in the second round.
Round 2
The student’s first preference was CK 101 and he did not achieve enough points. This candidate is two positions from being offered a place. Six students were offered a place on CK 101 in round one. If two of the students in the queue for CK 101 do not accept their first round offer, two places will become available. These two places will then be offered on Round 2 and our candidate will be offered a place. Therefore, in round one our student was offered DN 201 and in round two, roughly a week later, was offered CK 101. Our candidate can now decide to hold onto his first round offer and decline the second round offered or can accept the second round offer and discard the first round offer. It is worth repeating, that accepting an offer on round one from level 8, does not prevent a higher round 2 offer from either level 8 or indeed level 7/6. Similarly, accepting a round one offer on level 7/6 does not prevent a higher round two offer from level 7/6 or indeed level 8. No candidate will ever be offered a course below the course in he offered in round one. This reinforces why course should always be placed in order of preference.This whole process is carried out simultaneously for the level 7/6 courses. It is carried out in an identical manner and is totally independent of the offers received from the Level 8 section. Therefore, if eligible, it is possible to receive two offers, one level 8 and one level 7/6. Only one can be accepted. No candidate can accept both offers.
[Images: www.sxc.hu]
Categories: Career Guidance.
Tags: 2011-2012, CAO, Central Applications Office.
October 17, 2011
Culture Shock by Ciara Murphy
It would be an understatement to say that I was excited about college. After almost three months of lazing around, partying and giving myself a well deserved break from the stress of the Leaving Certificate, I was more than ready to get some routine and structure back into my life. I was also lucky enough to get a place in my first CAO choice (Journalism in DCU) so things were going very well for me.
However, it wasn’t long before the curse of “culture shock” hit home. Having come from a class of merely twenty three people, it was overwhelming knowing that I was going to be in a core group of forty eight. And I was thrown into the deep end even more so, having discovered that some of my modules hosted lectures to over two hundred students! It was a completely different setting to anything I had been used to before. Some days, although you are surrounded by people, university can be very lonely.
To be honest, it is more than the size and large groups that throw many off their first few weeks of college. Having attended my first week of lectures, I felt nothing but sheer confusion! Many of the modules are intense and jam packed with information, such as law and politics, whereas others are seemingly simply from the onset but are actually very demanding. Take my "News writing" module for example, if the article's are handed in less than a minute past the deadline or over/under the word count, they are not corrected! Another aspect of college that I found off-putting was the amount of public speaking you are expected to do. From debates to presentations, it’s pretty terrifying for some of us!
I realise that whoever is reading this must be thinking “God, she must really hate college!” but this isn’t true. I’m just expressing how different it is from school and, contray to popular belief, the workload in college is very demanding (yes, even in first year!). Having said all of this, I’m beginning to settle in and I’m really enjoying myself now. After six years of avoiding it, I’m finally conquering my fear of public speaking, I’ve gotten involved in many clubs and societies and I’ve made some friends with other Journalism students who had the same fears and difficulties that I did.
Be aware that college is going to be very strange, daunting and scary to begin with. As long as you are patient and give yourself a chance to settle in and make friends at your own pace, you should survive life as a fresher!
Cathal Brugha Street Fresher by Vincent Murray
Hey! My name is Vincent Murray and I was in Stratford until last year. I am now in DIT Cathal Brugha Street studying a BA in Tourism Management. I will be blogging about my Third Level experience especially in DIT. Currently this is week 5 of 16 before the December break and it is not as laid back as I thought it was going to be. However it’s still less work then the Leaving Certificate. In DIT, for assignments you must get four weeks notice, so am you can imagine some assignments are due in within the next two or three weeks. They promote you joining Societies and Clubs - so basically doing after-school activities. I am Chair of one Society that is Young Fine Gael DIT and I am also a Governing Councillor of DIT. So my first few weeks in college have been a bit hectic but overall an enjoyable experience - meeting new people, having different lectures. It is fun. I'll write before the December break again.
Surving the first day by Cal McGhee
Prior to my entrance into DCU, whenever I heard the word ‘university’ I thought of like-minded scholars under one roof, sharing horror stories of lectures whilst downing coffee and Berroccas in attempts to finish assignments, and speaking with that mother tongue of free-wheeling dry wit I had only ever eavesdropped on . Completely drained of optimism that I would ever become one of those students, to say I was in disbelief when I scrolled down to my CAO acceptance place would be an understatement. Now, having experienced my first taste of life post-Leaving Certificate, the transition to university life has been a surprising albeit pleasant one.
The first day, although it was an almost cartoonish disaster, taught me more lessons than any of the lectures I attended that week (it was Fresher’s Week after all, so there weren’t that many, yet) and was a rite of passage necessary to overcome that odd ‘jolt’ you get from the initial culture shock of college. By the end, I had already, most definitely established myself as ‘the tardy one’, short-changed by painfully slow bus routes and 40 minutes late for my first lecture. After getting over all of the unprecedented disasters, there came those crucial first encounters with class-mates; the odd glances to and from students who sat by themselves hoping for some sort of interaction with the faces they would spend the next three years with, and the initial social atmosphere of bars that makes you wonder ‘how all these people know each other already??’. In hindsight, the first week of college was an unforgettably different sensation, but is also a fantastic keepsake that will really be with you for the long-run. In that crucial week, taking a breather and seeing things clearly is essential. Time and time again will you be told to put effort into the notorious ‘mingling’ stage, and realize it comes naturally because of the congenial atmosphere which, more or less, every college exhibits.
One thing I would hope for any new college student, although not entirely substantive, is for a few familiar faces waiting for them when they get there. I had someone to go about the shortcomings and fish-out-of-water scenarios with, and somehow it made navigating campus a lot less of a worry. You would have to have an impermeable confidence to walk around without feeling like a dwarf in the land of giants, and having another dwarf by your side is a godsend, but not always attainable. After my fellow ‘dwarf’ departed early one particular day, I had to fend for myself in the seemingly isolating land of giants, and finally realised that there really were no giants, mostly dwarves, some who were far shorter and insular than I, without a shred of confidence to spark conversations. It’s a shame to see newcomers be so timid, but everyone learns at their own pace. However, I doubt that will be a problem for Stratford's Sixth years! Another milestone any of you will have, no matter how many friends and acquaintances who adorn your lunch-tables, there will eventually come the day where you’ll have to sit alone in the campus pub/restaurant, and feel like a newcomer all over again. You’ll look around and see chaps playing snooker over casual house-pints, bands of ‘bffs’ taking up every couch, and deafening chatter mixed with equally deafening stereo speakers. But, out of nowhere, that feeling of newness dissipates, and you open up a near-by newspaper lying around, read it casually as if you were chilling by your patio door, and any traces of awkwardness creep back into the crevasses of the mind where they belong.
An admitted nervous wreck at the initial thoughts of ‘The Third Chapter’ of Education, I can whole-heartedly say, no matter what college/university it is, it’s guaranteed to be microscopic of the fears and anxieties that plague you beforehand. After all, what’s so scary about free pizza and bouncy castles on the grass?
[Images: www.sxc.hu]
Categories: Career Guidance, Past Pupils.
Tags: 2011-2012, first impressions of university, Fresher's Week.
May 17, 2011
For Community Week this year, I managed to get a placement in the Irish Cancer Society Shop. When I first went in, it was clear that there would be no loafing around. My work consisted of ironing, putting clothes on racks and putting tags on. That might not sound too demanding but when you’re doing it seven hours in a steamy background it meant I felt like I had run a marathon at the end of every day. However, I think doing all that hard work gave me some very valuable first-hand experience of working - no doubt which I will be able to use in the future. I would like to thank the staff for the friendly and helpful attitude towards me.
John Nolan (TY)
For my community week I worked in Rostrevor Nursing Home. I found it a very useful experience and I learned about how to take care of elderly people and how difficult it is. I also got to see first hand the effect age has on people and how upsetting it is how they lose their sight, hearing and memories. I’m glad I had the chance to work there.
Christine Byrne (TY)
I spent my community week at Ozanam House Child Care Centre. It’s a crèche for disadvantaged children, whose parents cannot afford the prices of an everyday crèche. I basically spent the whole week with the kids. I didn’t learn anything new. It definitely was rewarding, helping out and I enjoyed my week.
Emma O'Brien (TY)
For Community Week I worked in St. Vincent de Paul in Rathfarnham village. I started work at half past two every day until around half past four or five o'clock. All I did there was work the cash register and sorted out the clothes from the donation bags. Over all it was a fun week and I got to meet some very interesting people.
Aaron Sheridan (TY)
For my community week, I worked with the ISPCC who are based in Baggot Street. The ISPCC do a lot of good work to help make kids lives better. I worked with the fundraising department and personally, I found my community week to be much more enjoyable and beneficial than my work experience. It felt good to know that not only was I being independent but I was also contributing to my community.
Hannah Hughes (TY)
[Images: www.sxc.hu, www.svp.ie]
Categories: Career Guidance, Transition Year.
Tags: 2010-2011, community week, Irish Cancer Society, ISPCC, Ozanam House Child Care Centre, Rostrevor Nursing Home, St. Vincent de Paul, work experience.
