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Why do HEI's have so little places reserved for FETAC? (Discussion)

  • 05-03-2015 6:50pm
    #1
    Flight From Death
    Registered Users Posts: 69 ✭✭


    FETAC courses offer an excellent entry point into academic study. They also serve as a great "taster" option for someone to try out a certain area of study that they aren't entirely sure whether or not they are interested in. They provide a decent basis of knowledge and experience for someone to draw from if they go on and study for a degree, something they wouldn't have gotten from the Leaving Cert.

    So why is it so hard for FETAC holders to get a place on a degree course? Holders of a FETAC Major certificate have already proven that they are interested enough in their chosen subject to apply themselves to it full-time for at least a year. And now, with many FETAC courses providing work experience opportunities, their graduates are far more experienced and knowledgeable than those going off a Leaving Cert. Yet so many degree courses reserve just 2-4 places for people with FETAC awards applying from all around the country. Why is that? Why is the system set up so that its a much better option for a young person to repeat the Leaving Cert than to go on to a FETAC Level 5 if they don't get the results they need?

    For example; I want to study Social Care B.A. Hons in DIT. But I have a poor enough Leaving Cert. I can do a FETAC Level 5 in Social Care and then next year, compete with people from all over the country for 1 of 4 places on the course, or I can repeat the Leaving and get in that way, which would be a surer way of getting in. Surely by doing the Level 5 I would be much better equipped to get my degree? Well getting a place would be much harder for me that way, as I am competing for 1 of 4 reserved places, instead of the 1 of 44 places for Leaving Cert applicants.

    I think the CAO system leaves a lot to be desired and is in need of some serious revision. More places for FETAC holders!

    What do yas reckon?


Comments

  • #2
    irishlad12345
    Registered Users Posts: 358 ✭✭irishlad12345


    have to agree i was in a FETAC course and have to repeat the leaving cert because the leaving cert the leaving cert has less competition for places


  • #3
    katydid
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,351 ✭✭✭katydid


    Flight From Death wrote: »
    FETAC courses offer an excellent entry point into academic study. They also serve as a great "taster" option for someone to try out a certain area of study that they aren't entirely sure whether or not they are interested in. They provide a decent basis of knowledge and experience for someone to draw from if they go on and study for a degree, something they wouldn't have gotten from the Leaving Cert.

    So why is it so hard for FETAC holders to get a place on a degree course? Holders of a FETAC Major certificate have already proven that they are interested enough in their chosen subject to apply themselves to it full-time for at least a year. And now, with many FETAC courses providing work experience opportunities, their graduates are far more experienced and knowledgeable than those going off a Leaving Cert. Yet so many degree courses reserve just 2-4 places for people with FETAC awards applying from all around the country. Why is that? Why is the system set up so that its a much better option for a young person to repeat the Leaving Cert than to go on to a FETAC Level 5 if they don't get the results they need?

    For example; I want to study Social Care B.A. Hons in DIT. But I have a poor enough Leaving Cert. I can do a FETAC Level 5 in Social Care and then next year, compete with people from all over the country for 1 of 4 places on the course, or I can repeat the Leaving and get in that way, which would be a surer way of getting in. Surely by doing the Level 5 I would be much better equipped to get my degree? Well getting a place would be much harder for me that way, as I am competing for 1 of 4 reserved places, instead of the 1 of 44 places for Leaving Cert applicants.

    I think the CAO system leaves a lot to be desired and is in need of some serious revision. More places for FETAC holders!

    What do yas reckon?

    It's down to individual colleges, rather than the CAO


  • #4
    spurious
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,264 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    I have always felt that particularly in the case of DIT which was originally part of the City of Dublin VEC, it was a pity that they didn't reserve a percentage of places for students who chose the VEC for their secondary education instead of the generally 'better regarded' religious run schools. It would have changed the profile of college participation in the poorer areas of Dublin served by the VEC schools, along with the profile of child attending the 'Techs', which in Dublin was often seen, particularly after the introduction of 'free' education as non - academic.

    Likewise, the few places reserved for FETAC applicants should have been increased.


  • #5
    Iopu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 182 ✭✭Iopu


    I found my fetac level 5 course to be way too easy. We had exams that 2 a4 pages covered everything that could come up. I strolled though it and got 8 distinctions. I also got my no.1 cao choice so I won't conplain.


  • #6
    Flight From Death
    Registered Users Posts: 69 ✭✭Flight From Death


    Iopu wrote: »
    I found my fetac level 5 course to be way too easy. We had exams that 2 a4 pages covered everything that could come up. I strolled though it and got 8 distinctions. I also got my no.1 cao choice so I won't conplain.

    May I ask what the course was and where? And what was your CAO choice? I know they aren't that hard but 8 distinctions on my course would have been very hard to achieve.


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