so what do you want to do?

Aisling(",)

so we're only starting 6th year but already im being asked about my courses im putting on my cao.:eek:
i havent got a clue what i want to do and just want to see if im the only one floundering in uncertainty.

so do you know your course you want to get or even your career you wish to pursue or are you compleatly unsure?

oh and weve to have them sent in in 7 months.oh lord!
and to thoose you have already done 6th year did you know at the start of the year or did you just find something?

Dave147

I'll be 23 in 2 months and I'm only just figuring it out now.. Don't panic.

phasers

Oh thank god! I have no idea what I want to do with my life but all my friends do, it's pretty scary

PurpleFistMixer

Knowing what you want to do has advantages is all:

1. Focuses you for your aim. If you know you want to do Law/Medicine/High Points Course Here, then you know you need to work hard to get high points etc. No use realising that your life ambition is to be a doctor a week before the exams and you've done nothing.

2. Matriculation! Of course, it's a bit late if you're already in 6th year, but... well, I had a friend who got 7 A1s, but had to repeat because she didn't have a subject that was required for the course she wanted. So if there's any chance of you doing science in college... you'd want to have a science subject or two in your LC.

Obviously not everyone is going to know, or have an idea, but it's certainly a good idea to start thinking about it. As it gets later in the year you'll have less time to devote to perusing different career choices and researching college courses, because you'll be studying etc./orals/practicals/all that.

insinkerator

If you dont know what you want to do, then pick something that you know w=you have an interest in, because at the very least, if you know you like it, then you know you will put the effort in!

patrickdt10

Aisling(",) wrote: »

so we're only starting 6th year but already im being asked about my courses im putting on my cao.:eek:
i havent got a clue what i want to do and just want to see if im the only one floundering in uncertainty.

so do you know your course you want to get or even your career you wish to pursue or are you compleatly unsure?

oh and weve to have them sent in in 7 months.oh lord!
and to thoose you have already done 6th year did you know at the start of the year or did you just find something?

what a nice phrase aisling. floundering in uncertainty..... to be honest i was the same way at the start of 6th year. i hadnt a clue, and hand on my heart here i still havent a clue what i should be doing. After me doing the leaving cert and getting college offers.

does anyone else think that these are too big of decisions for us to make on our own.

ps. Our career guidance was disgraceful........... and im putting it nicely!

patrickdt10

Dave147 wrote: »

I'll be 23 in 2 months and I'm only just figuring it out now.. Don't panic.

+1. if you panic your f**ked. Its the same with the leaving cert. do not worry about it.
It is only a year and not the end of the world.
I know its early to be talkin about this but even if the mocks go ****, trust me the actual exams will be a lot better in majority of case.

I failed two subjects in the mocks (miserably 16 and 25 % respectively) but in the leavin i managed to get a c1 in one of them amd sadly an e in the other. but what about. The point im making is that the mocks is the kick in the hole thats needed to make you put the work in.

ps. i got the honour in everything except that miserable E. my points for the six subjects were 445:D

rainbow kirby

Dave147 wrote: »

I'll be 23 in 2 months and I'm only just figuring it out now.. Don't panic.

24, final year in college and still haven't a clue. Relax

muffinman

Aisling(",) wrote: »

and to thoose you have already done 6th year did you know at the start of the year or did you just find something?

Knew I wanted to do law since 2nd/3rd year but didn't know which course til the open days. Make sure you go to them.. They're a great way to find out what the college is like (Assuming it is like that lol.. Haven't started yet) But bottom line - don't worry

Piste

I want to do medicine at the moment, though I'm very fickle so it might very well change!

K4t

I just want to be the best person I can and fulfill my potential

Yes, I'm going for the priesthood

Niamh-17

I have a rough idea as to what to stick down on the cao, its either Education Psychology, Arts with Psychology or speech and language therapy....but this could all change!

Gavin "shels"

College and do something in computers.

rhapsody!

I've been through loads of career changes in the past year.

Radiography
Fashion Design
Interior Design
German
English
Journalism
Zoology
Fine Art
Archaelogy with Latin
Psychology
Psychology and German
Linguistics
Speech and Language Therapy
Photography
Veterinary
Medicine

See I've changed my mind that much in the same year!! AHH!

Jello

patrickdt10 wrote: »

ps. Our career guidance was disgraceful........... and im putting it nicely!

Ours are too - two old planks who just get the piss taken out of them daily, and they deserve it!


Right now I'm going for either Engineering or Science.

Aisling(",)

patrickdt10 wrote: »

what a nice phrase aisling. floundering in uncertainty..... to be honest i was the same way at the start of 6th year. i hadnt a clue, and hand on my heart here i still havent a clue what i should be doing. After me doing the leaving cert and getting college offers.

does anyone else think that these are too big of decisions for us to make on our own.

ps. Our career guidance was disgraceful........... and im putting it nicely!

i think im to young to know what i want to do for the rest of my life now.like i know you change your courses and do different things but i dont want to waste 4 years and then have to do somehting else.and even my mam and dad were trying to help but couldnt think of any career id be good at.ha ill just go on the dole.take the easy way out:pac:

oh my old guidence counceller told me to become a secreatary even though im doing all honors subjects and id hate it!

rhapsody! wrote: »

I've been through loads of career changes in the past year.

Radiography
Fashion Design
Interior Design
German
English
Journalism
Zoology
Fine Art
Archaelogy with Latin
Psychology
Psychology and German
Linguistics
Speech and Language Therapy
Photography
Veterinary
Medicine

See I've changed my mind that much in the same year!! AHH!

ah ive considered 9 of your choices.
god im so indeciseive

pathway33

what's your favourite subject?

Piste

http://www.careerdirections.ie/ has a great test to see what careers you'd be suited to and then what courses you'd have to take to follow that career. I found it very helpful, there are careers out there you never would have thought of but when you see them o the site you think "gosh, I would like that..."

Aisling(",)

pathway33 wrote: »

what's your favourite subject?

emm dont really like any of them anymore but im best at english.
well kinda like history but not any of the iish stuff and i like irish except for the learning

KnifeWRENCH

I didn't have a clue what I wanted to do at the start of 6th Year. I had debated studying Arts, Psychology and Geography before eventually picking Physics.
Going into 2nd year next month- I'm doing a joint degree in Physics & Mathematics.
I have absolutely no idea what job I'll get, or even if I want a job with this degree.
All I know is that I enjoy what I'm doing in college, and that is the most important thing.
I may very well end up doing something completely different.

Don't start panicking - whatever you go on to do in college does not have to determine what job you'll eventually get. If you don't like your course, you can drop out and do something different the following year. There's plenty of time for ye all to decide what you want in life.

(Oh and make sure you always do the Lotto - if you win, there's no need to worry about jobs! :P)

pathway33

Aisling(",) wrote: »

emm dont really like any of them anymore but im best at english.
well kinda like history but not any of the iish stuff and i like irish except for the learning

you should be a journalist or an english teacher

go to www.qualifax.ie and click on 'interest assessment'

it will tell you what course to do

degausserxo

Vet med, chemistry, Irish, English, photography, medicine... I dunno

leprehaungirl

I would absolutly love to do P.e teaching in limerick or the new creative writing course in nuig but the points are to high :mad: so im stuck at a crossroads. Im not being pessamistic about not getting the points just realistic.Prob end up doing Arts!

Beau x1

100% sure about what I want to do - Computer Science.

Just gotta make sure I work even though the points are low enough.
I had a study skills day today which was sort of helpful, tomorrow I'll be back for my actual proper first day. Its funny, this year actually seems to be grand for me since I know I'll be out by the end of it. Gives you a motivation to work since you're actually working towards something.

rainbow kirby

Beau x1 wrote: »

100% sure about what I want to do - Computer Science.

I'm doing CS - got 570 in the LC, my course is 335 points :pac:

Beau x1

Congratulations, off to UCD then I take it! Glad to see that even with such high points you went for what you wanted to do and not medicine, law or the like.

I want to go to UCD for CSci, but I don't do a lab science subject! Arrrgh. Its so frustrating.

pathway33

Beau x1 wrote: »

Congratulations, off to UCD then I take it! Glad to see that even with such high points you went for what you wanted to do and not medicine, law or the like.

I want to go to UCD for CSci, but I don't do a lab science subject! Arrrgh. Its so frustrating.

you could easily do physics on your own in one year........only prob is proving you did the experiments to the inspector if he calls (5% chance)

Beau x1

pathway33 wrote: »

you could easily do physics on your own in one year........only prob is proving you did the experiments to the inspector if he calls (5% chance)

God I'm not going down that route now, that's crazy.. probably going to do the BA CSci in UCD or do the BSc in Maynooth. I'm not sure.

pathway33

Beau x1 wrote: »

God I'm not going down that route now, that's crazy.. probably going to do the BA CSci in UCD or do the BSc in Maynooth. I'm not sure.

u only need an OD3? is that right?.......if you are doing computer science you must be swarming with brains......easy peasy

theres loads doing an extra subject on their own

Beau x1

pathway33 wrote: »

u only need an OD3? is that right?.......if you are doing computer science you must be swarming with brains......easy peasy

theres loads doing an extra subject on their own

OD3 seems about right, but still I couldn't pull it off. Haha not true unfortunately, I'm not the academic type but I'm great with computers since its something I have such a strong interest in.

I just can't afford to pick it up now really tbh. Just wish my career guidance teacher would have told me about the importance of picking a science for the leaving cert when we were choosing our subjects.

pathway33

Beau x1 wrote: »

OD3 seems about right, but still I couldn't pull it off. Haha not true unfortunately, I'm not the academic type but I'm great with computers since its something I have such a strong interest in.

I just can't afford to pick it up now really tbh. Just wish my career guidance teacher would have told me about the importance of picking a science for the leaving cert when we were choosing our subjects.

well if you've got the sort of brain that likes coming up with code for computer programs then physics should be right up your path......i know a guy who is ace at computers but couldnt write an english essay to save his life.....i'd say you are judging your academic ability on weak subjects and not strong ones.....like pass physics would be

PurpleFistMixer

Beau x1 wrote: »

I just can't afford to pick it up now really tbh. Just wish my career guidance teacher would have told me about the importance of picking a science for the leaving cert when we were choosing our subjects.

That's terrible... I'm not entirely sure what career guidance teachers are meant to do exactly, but flogging the "If there's ANY CHANCE you might want to do ANYTHING science related, PICK A SCIENCE DAMNIT" thing should definitely be up there on the list.

Beau x1

PurpleFistMixer wrote: »

That's terrible... I'm not entirely sure what career guidance teachers are meant to do exactly, but flogging the "If there's ANY CHANCE you might want to do ANYTHING science related, PICK A SCIENCE DAMNIT" thing should definitely be up there on the list.

Yeah, tell me about it. Now I have to settle for second best really...its a shame.

Ah well I'll be packing my bags off to Maynooth I guess.

pathway33

Beau x1 wrote: »

Yeah, tell me about it. Now I have to settle for second best really...its a shame.

Ah well I'll be packing my bags off to Maynooth I guess.

question 5 (h) on this years physics paper for 1.75%

what is the colour of the live wire in an electric cable?

you can get your dream course i tell you.....your destiny is in your own hands blah blah

PurpleFistMixer

If you only need a OD3... look at a pass physics paper before you go resigning yourself to NUIM (oh lord, anything but that! .. I kid). Okay, obviously it'd take work, but if it's what you need to get what you really want to do... you'll have the motivation.
(And you can always ask the people on this board for help, there's enough physics nerds floating around.)

Beau x1

PurpleFistMixer wrote: »

If you only need a OD3... look at a pass physics paper before you go resigning yourself to NUIM (oh lord, anything but that! .. I kid). Okay, obviously it'd take work, but if it's what you need to get what you really want to do... you'll have the motivation.
(And you can always ask the people on this board for help, there's enough physics nerds floating around.)

I know I know, but its just not like that. I have to put my attention to other subjects, such as Maths.

I know that you're kidding about NUIM, but there has to be a bit of truth in that, no?

I dunno, its like I have to do something I really love in a bog standard university now, makes me feel like I'll go nowhere in my career but I don't really have a choice. I'm not going to get physics all sorted out, I can't do it and if I did I'd be sacrificing grades I need to get in to CSci (doing 4 H, 3 Ordinary subjects, so I need the points).

I might just do the BA (doesn't require a lab science in UCD), and then a masters to top it off. I'm really not sure at all.

JSK 252

Pharmacy UCC.

pathway33

BEAU X

yep www.examinations.ie and you can pick up all the answers there too for the past few years

i'll even buy you the book myself wrap it in purple paper and place it outside the pub with the most vowels in its name in a village of your choosing anywhere in ireland for you to collect.

seriously i didnt just pick physics off the top of my head.....now biology if you said you were doing that in a year i would laugh at you....but physics ordinary level is very common sensey......concepts that can be easy to relate to.....and if theres stuff you dont like in it.....just leave it out....40% is the target not 90


this was another question in 2008 for 1.75%. You were given this sentence as part of a bigger paragraph:

The main sources of renewable energy are the sun (solar energy), the wind, moving water (hydropower, wave and tidal energy), heat below the surface of the earth (geothermal energy) and biomass (wood, waste, crops).



Then for 1.75% you were asked to list the main sources of renewable energy !!!!!!! hellllloooooo :rolleyes:



even if you did this exam now you would get 15%......you only have to make up 25%.....25% is a fail of catastrophic proportions.....can you fail catastrophically.....i think you can



by the way theres a guaranteed 30% just for the experiments and they will probably be in part B too.......up to youhoo.....i'm not saying its all a doddle....work has to be done but the the reward......

rhapsody!

I knwo what I want as a career but it doesn't require scientific knowledge or anything like that! I just want to work in a wildlife conservation park like Fota or Longleat!

And Zoology isn't an actual requirement, but I still want to go to college.
But the chemistry scares me. I haven't done it since junior cert and hated it..

*shudders*

rainbow kirby

Beau x1 wrote: »

Congratulations, off to UCD then I take it! Glad to see that even with such high points you went for what you wanted to do and not medicine, law or the like.

I'm in 4th year CS in UCD (doing the BSc course, DN030)
Anyway, I hate the sight of blood and law sounds incredibly boring, but I'm a big computer geek, who also likes maths and physics.

There's a lot to be said for the relatively broad education that the BA CS course gives - I would have loved to have taken some linguistics courses along the way and that would be a decent backup to CS within the context of the BA degree. Also, CS/Econ looks really good to employers, particularly if you've taken some maths with it along the way.

Beau x1

rainbow kirby wrote: »

I'm in 4th year CS in UCD (doing the BSc course, DN030)
Anyway, I hate the sight of blood and law sounds incredibly boring, but I'm a big computer geek, who also likes maths and physics.

There's a lot to be said for the relatively broad education that the BA CS course gives - I would have loved to have taken some linguistics courses along the way and that would be a decent backup to CS within the context of the BA degree. Also, CS/Econ looks really good to employers, particularly if you've taken some maths with it along the way.

That's exactly what I was thinking! I thought I was just being a complete idiot though, I love Economics for the LC and I love Computers as well.

The thing that put me off the BA though was that I want to be doing a LOT of computers as well as arts topics. You know, I don't want to spend like 5 hours doing a language and then 1 hour of computers haha.

Thanks for all the advice guys, I'll consider physics :]

rainbow kirby

If you're doing BA CS you'll have pretty much equal amounts of CS and your arts subject, and your final year is full CS because you've completed your degree course in your arts subject in 3 years.

Your interest in economics actually makes it sound like you're really well suited to BA CS btw.

Beau x1

rainbow kirby wrote: »

If you're doing BA CS you'll have pretty much equal amounts of CS and your arts subject, and your final year is full CS because you've completed your degree course in your arts subject in 3 years.

Your interest in economics actually makes it sound like you're really well suited to BA CS btw.

God thank you so much rainbow kirby, you have really helped me set my goals.

I've just checked there are a lot of things I can masters in, each one year each. So if I did 2 I would be well set career-wise; and an extra 2 years isn't much at all.

This is absolutely perfect for me. Thank you, so much. A lot of stress has been taken off me tonight, and I'm off to bed!

Fyr.Fytr

Always knew i wanted to be a firefighter/paramedic, but finding a college course to help and suit me was a challenge.

Though of engineering or forensics (arson investigation is a huge intrest of mine)

But in the end decided to go for nursing, got it on the cao got my no1, delighted cant wait.

Tip #1 for the cao, get your application in early, its chaper and its less likely to crash. Even put down 1 course, just so your on the system, you can always change it later.

Tip #2 Go to open days, higher options conference, fas oppertunitys etc etc, wander around look at all the options open to you, grab a few prospectus and skim through get a few ideas, then narrow it down to what you want.

Tip #3 The internet is a huge resource, qualifax, career directions etc etc etc all have tests etc to assess your intrests and prospective career choices, use them

Tip #4 When considering a career after college, remember to research the career itself, not everything is like what you see on tv and if thats the basis of your choice (eg wanting to be a vet after watching animal hospital, or a cop after the bill) think again, tv picks and chooses the good bits, the bits theyll know youll like

Tip #5 Relax! Not the end of the world, do your homework and tip over with a bit of revision each night, 5-10 mins of irish or french or what ever verbs, do the extra maths sum, it all build up, cramming doesnt work, youll get stressed out and possibly flunk. Have a problem with a subject, get it sorted now, be it grind or a bit of a kick in the rear from a teacher your sorted.

Best of luck, feel free to pm me for help as ive just been through the whole rig-marole myself

rainbow kirby

Beau x1 wrote: »

God thank you so much rainbow kirby, you have really helped me set my goals.

I've just checked there are a lot of things I can masters in, each one year each. So if I did 2 I would be well set career-wise; and an extra 2 years isn't much at all.

This is absolutely perfect for me. Thank you, so much. A lot of stress has been taken off me tonight, and I'm off to bed!

Glad I could be of help

crunchycorner

Well i always liked the idea of medicine but i'm not 100% sure if i definitely want to do it and since i'm not doing chemistry now i was thinking i'd do a science degree in college and hopefully by the time i'm finished that i will have my mind made up about medicine.... i know it will take longer but i don't want to go into something i'm not sure about and i won't be under as much pressure this year!!

We also have a rubbish career guidance teacher, she still hasn't given back our aptitude tests from 3years ago!! So do any of ye know roughly how many points i'd need for a science degree???

pathway33

crunchycorner wrote: »

Well i always liked the idea of medicine but i'm not 100% sure if i definitely want to do it and since i'm not doing chemistry now i was thinking i'd do a science degree in college and hopefully by the time i'm finished that i will have my mind made up about medicine.... i know it will take longer but i don't want to go into something i'm not sure about and i won't under as much pressure this year!!

We also have a rubbish career guidance teacher, she still hasn't given back our aptitude tests from 3years ago!! So do any of ye know roughly how many points i'd need for a science degree???

in ucd this year it was 300. you probably need a third language and either honours maths or a B in pass. and you might need a science subject

Jello

Afaik in TCD Science this year you need 415 points, plus a HC3 in two Science subjects (although included in this are the likes of Geography, Ag Science, Applied Maths etc).

Fringe

Been planning on doing Science in Trinity since mid-5th year. Just really like the subject and I'm doing all the sciences. Course is only 415 and I got 540 in my summer exam so I'm really sorted for my LC I'll definitely try and aim higher though.

crunchycorner

Points don't sound too bad. I'm have french(h) as a third language and i'm doing biology and phys/chem, (both h), i want to go back to pass maths tho

Anyone know what points and matriculation are like for science in UL or NUIG???

pathway33

crunchycorner wrote: »

Points don't sound too bad. I'm have french(h) as a third language and i'm doing biology and phys/chem, (both h), i want to go back to pass maths tho

Anyone know what points and matriculation are like for science in UL or NUIG???

www.qualfax.ie