Access Program?

Pez

Does any1 have info about this? I want to do the PE/biology course but i havent got enough points and some1 told me maybe i could get in with this? any info? thanks x

andrew

It includes 23 secondary schools from north dublin. Its was set up to encourage students from disadvantaged areas to get 3rd level education. Applicants must also meet criteria such as their family income etc.
on the leaflet thingy i have it says that long term unemployment, limited family income, little or no family tradition of progressing to 3rd level and under represented socio-economic groups are considered

more info:
collette.keogh@dcu.ie

Eccentric

Pez wrote:

Does any1 have info about this? I want to do the PE/biology course but i havent got enough points and some1 told me maybe i could get in with this? any info? thanks x

http://www.dcu.ie/students/access/news.shtml

Closing date for applications was the 2nd of March, so I don't know if they'll accept late applications - you could always try calling in to the access office in LG18 for more information.

rugbug86

or you could do a year or 2 in a different science discipline and switch, thats what a friend of mine did, went from 2nd year AC to 1st year SSH.

Pez

Oh right ok! thanks! ur friend swtiched courses? Wud it have to b a course in dcu? or wud i be able to do a science course in say ucd or trinity and then try for the course i want in dcu? x

rugbug86

it varies from case to case - like if you've studied anatomy and physiology in trinity, and get super grades, they'll possibly consider your case.

i'm not a sports science lecturer, or student for that matter, so you'd be best to talk to them. try emailing catherine.woods@dcu.ie - she's the programme chair, she's the one who'd know all about the application procedures.

rugbug86

access will only work if you're in the schools involved, you can't just say "oh i wanna be an access student" - doesn't work like that.

you could repeat your leaving cert and try that way too. if its something you really want then it shouldn't be too difficult.

stringy

rugbug86 wrote:

access will only work if you're in the schools involved, you can't just say "oh i wanna be an access student" - doesn't work like that.

you could repeat your leaving cert and try that way too. if its something you really want then it shouldn't be too difficult.

Wrong I'm afraid.

Any student can apply for the HEAR programme. DCU Access programme is a part of this. DCU does have linked schools, however the Access programme is open to any student in the Rep. of Ireland who meets the criteria, see here http://www.dcu.ie/students/access/routes.shtml

As for switching courses, it's not as easy as RugBug is leading you to believe.

PE is a very competive course entry wise, there are only 20-30 places available. Opting for a lower points course on the CAO with a view to switching is not advisable as nothing is guaranteed. Transfer from courses is possible, although they are treated on an individual basis.
http://www.dcu.ie/registry/transfer.shtml

rugbug86

i never said it was easy, or guaranteed. and i recommended that Pez contacts the lecturer involved in the course.

I'm only going on experiences that i've had and experiences that friends of mine have had.

Pez

rugbug86 wrote:

it varies from case to case - like if you've studied anatomy and physiology in trinity, and get super grades, they'll possibly consider your case.

i'm not a sports science lecturer, or student for that matter, so you'd be best to talk to them. try emailing catherine.woods@dcu.ie - she's the programme chair, she's the one who'd know all about the application procedures.

thanks 4 the info every1..
the anatomy courses is about 510 points.. so i wouldn't get into that.
Yea i contacted catherine wood many times and she never mentioned the access programme she just said i'd have to do it through CAO... so i know im not gonna get it... i could never repeat the leaving.. I got good points in it with a lot of study. i couldnt be sure id exceed it on a second go.. Shame i just didnt get enough for wat i want to do.. hate ireland

:|

So go abroad?

Evangelion

whats the point in this programme? I can uderstand some extra funding for the disadvantaged, but why the lowering in points? I kknow people who've gotten in on this, they don't deserve to be there, and have all dropped out. they have taken places to people who have actually earned their places in the class

tvr

I do concure with that , I am all for extra grants but lowering the points is not good.

Some dont need to get any where near the points only certain grades. There are people in some of the courses who where 100 points off the cao score but got in because they did the access summer course. I have found from my experience that these people are very weak especialy in a team environment.

Lil_cian

Evangelion wrote:

whats the point in this programme? I can uderstand some extra funding for the disadvantaged, but why the lowering in points? I kknow people who've gotten in on this, they don't deserve to be there, and have all dropped out. they have taken places to people who have actually earned their places in the class

in general, class is proportional to results. If you're from a family where neither parents had a leaving cert, you'll have a much harder time getting points, irrespective of how clever you are, then if you're from a family where both parents are graduates, due to the amount of help available at home and the like.

Evangelion

I've heard that before. But at the same time, when your approaching Leaving Cert level, most parents, regardless of qualifications haven't a clue how to do most the things. for example, my dad, fantastic at maths, and mother, fluent Irsh, but the fact was they hadnt practiced in over 20 years.

In the end, it is down to the work you put in yourself.

I do have to say, the system is poor, high points courses usually require A's in irrelevant subjects. the obvious example getting an A1 in Geography for medicine, just for the points.

rugbug86

its a silly system alright. but it seems to be the one that works.

the only other possible system that might work is the system used for courses like music - high points required in certain subjects, then a bare minimum on other subjects, and then an interview which will assess your skills/ability. this is fine for music, but i can't see an interview working for all courses. although i do think there should be interviews for those who wish to study the likes of medicine.

Lil_cian

rugbug86 wrote:

its a silly system alright. but it seems to be the one that works.

the only other possible system that might work is the system used for courses like music - high points required in certain subjects, then a bare minimum on other subjects, and then an interview which will assess your skills/ability. this is fine for music, but i can't see an interview working for all courses. although i do think there should be interviews for those who wish to study the likes of medicine.

We could just take the A level system. Seems to work perfectly fine for the British, and that means the college won't take into account any silly subjects.

Evangelion

their system does seem to be far more practical.

We say Medicine as a great example and interview would be nice, but if Chemistry became extremely popular, or any subject it would be the same case

sunnyjim

Evangelion wrote:

whats the point in this programme? I can uderstand some extra funding for the disadvantaged, but why the lowering in points? I kknow people who've gotten in on this, they don't deserve to be there, and have all dropped out. they have taken places to people who have actually earned their places in the class

Agreed. I cant see how lowering the points is fair at all. There were lads from my old school who got the ACCESS program who didn't deserve it at all - so they got

A) a week of free tution free, before the first semester started (I would have killed for it)
Lower points
C) And isn't there a grant to go with it?!

Stupid system. But having said that, if it gets a few people through college who would not have otherwise gotten in, then maybe its worth it.

rugbug86

when i was in first year a girl in my class was on access. she got lower points, offered a place on res and a grant.

a guy in my class's little sister is on it - her secondary school was on the list, his wasn't. she gets lots more benefits than him. and they live in the same house.

fair? i think not. especially when places are taken up by people who don't really like the course, just put it down cos its shiny or looks like fun. there's a reason why points are high for courses - you need some prior knowledge. like i came to dcu with no chemistry or biology, so ended up failing first year and having to repeat. this girl failed a few modules, below compensation range, and because she was on access, got through.

biggest killer? she lives just down the road from me :P just cos we didn't go to the same school - i went to the institute cos my family wanted me to have a better education. its funny that if i had stayed in a local school i may have qualified for access, and be graduating this year!

[end rant]

phreak

rugbug86 wrote:

there's a reason why points are high for courses - you need some prior knowledge.

Thats not true. Points depend on demand

rugbug86

yea, depends on demand, but ya gotta admit that some of it is to do with ability and prior knowledge- like some courses have high points, but aren't full.

Evangelion

sunnyjim wrote:

Agreed. I cant see how lowering the points is fair at all. There were lads from my old school who got the ACCESS program who didn't deserve it at all - so they got

A) a week of free tution free, before the first semester started (I would have killed for it)
Lower points
C) And isn't there a grant to go with it?!

Stupid system. But having said that, if it gets a few people through college who would not have otherwise gotten in, then maybe its worth it.

I dont agree with the last part. Say as many as 1 in 5(and I doubt its that high) get through. Thats 5 places that coudl be given to students where there more of a chance that 3 in 5 get in. A waste of 2 in stead of 4. The good of the many and all that jazz

InTouch

Many of my peers who are on the access programme I have heard have since dropped out due to circumstances beyond their control and/or dislike of university life, I must say that some of those with whom I began first year were selected because the board had faith in them, they were willing to to do the work in first year and they are still working hard on their courses, and the "waster" rate is very low, despite belief above here. And anyone who doesn't get in on the access programme always has the option to apply a year later and hope to stand out more. I got on the Access programme, and if it weren't for that, I wouldn't have been able to go on with my university education. There are some who appreciate it and some who don't. But anyone who gets on and doesn't do any work ought to be ashamed of themselves. But that's not the issue, anyone wishing to get into college but who doesn't have the means should apply, but only if they think they have what it takes

RTM

I'm an Access graduate, and if it wasn't for Access I'd never have gone to college. I didn't get enough points to get in the standard way, and so I was very grateful for it. Sure, there are people who don't appreciate it and drop out because they couldn't be bothered, but there are also people who have used daddy's ten grand to go to college and don't appreciate it either, who also end up dropping out. In my 1st year there were about 60 Access students, and I believe that number has quadrupled now. It opened doors for me that would have stayed shut, and for that reason I will always be grateful.