Cambridge, and The Leaving Cert Abroad

Earth,Calling

Hello there

I'm wondering if there are any other Irish students going to Cambridge this year? I've got a Firm CO of AAAAABB for Law at Jesus. Don't ask how because I only got 18/30 in the LNAT:o

Are there any others with conditionals for Cambridge, or unconditionals, if such things are possible?!

I think (hope) I have made the grade. However I'm very worried that I'm going to be at a bit of a disadvantage from not having studied History for the Leaving Cert. I studied Irish, English, Maths, AppMat, French, Physics and Biology, so precious little of my knowledge is in the humanities. I talked to the Director of Studies at Jesus about it, and he said it's common for international students to find themselves behind at first, but they "usually find their feet"... *usually??:eek: "

I've started freaking out about it and I haven't even been accepted yet.
Do any other LC'ers, especially those going abroad to study, kind of feel like the Leaving Cert isn't really setting you up well enough for your 3rd level education?

Naikon

Yes , I do feel the LC doesent really have anything really usefull for setting me up for my third level computing course except maths which is the only really subject that will be of use in my opinion.
Everything else i will probably forget in a month or two due to the fact its mostly trivial stuff which will never be of use in most college courses except if you want to study a subject in the LC for third level.
I wouldent worry about History because the only "skill" you aquire at leaving cert level is the skill of rote learning topics with little or no abstraction involved in the stuff you are studying, therefore you dont really need a knack to be good at it because you arent thinking like a Historian in most cases because there is no abstract reasoning, just learning off plenty of material.
I cant understand why the goverment complains about the takeup of computing at third level when there is no option at second level to give people a idea of whats involved.(sorry for going a bit off topic there:))
You will most likely make the leap to 3rd level just as prepared as everyone else.

antSionnach

Absolutely agree with Naikon, its completely inadequate.

I applied to some English colleges to study, and had a few acceptances. However I got a course in Ireland instead (Veterinary) and one of the main reasons for not taking up a UK offer was (obviously being close to home), but also my education. The leaving cert is not enough to equip you against your fellow students in exams.

I know people say that a Leaving cert grade is *allegedly* worth .66 of an A level, but tbh I think that may be an overstatement. There are people on my course in Dublin with A Levels, and the education that they brought with them in first year was far beyond what any of us knew in subjects like Chemistry, Physics, Biology, etc.

The Leaving cert is not specialised enough. People say thing like 'it's the skills you learn that are important' Thats rubbish. You can learn just the same skills, only more applicable, in subjects that are relevent to your future. I mean, why cant we just do 4 subjects, study them well and come out with a more specialised education. If you are undecided what you want to do in college you could always study 2 arts and 2 sciences. Its not rocket science.

This thing of a completely wide spectrum of focus, and yet a tiny pool of subjects to choose from is ridiculous.

There arent enough subjects available, and there are too many subjects compulsory. Thats my opinion. Rant over:)