You won't get into college

LegacyUser

These are the words my own Mother uttered too me as she has just seen and heard how poorly I've done in my Mock's , she beleave that I'm just a waste and that I've wasted a whole year repeating for nothing, and that I'll amount to nothing.
It's really gotten me down, anytime i try study i constantly procrastinate and do other thinks and hearing my mother tell me she doesn't beleave in me has just shot my confidence down to zero, I don't know what to do anymore !!! I need help, I really want to go to college and I want to prove her wrong. What do i need to do!!!

Beruthiel

Study your ass off and prove her wrong.

jhegarty

How many points would have got based of the mocks ?

LegacyUser

jhegarty wrote: »

How many points would have got based of the mocks ?

200

prinz

Unregistered wrote: »

.........anytime i try study i constantly procrastinate and do other thinks .....

So put some effort in. You've admitted you're not doing the work. So how do YOU think you're going to get the college/course you want. Get the finger out and do your study. Nobody likes doing it but it has to be done.

Tbh I got the same spiel when I was in my leaving cert year.You know how I reacted I worked and worked and worked. I also thanked my mother for telling me like it was and not treating me like a child. You should do the same. I can't think of a more appropriate gift to her for her work in raising you than to study like hell and get good results. Not to prove her wrong, but to prove to her you're an adult, and adults know there's no such things as an easy ride.

ManOfMystery

Unregistered wrote: »

These are the words my own Mother uttered too me as she has just seen and heard how poorly I've done in my Mock's , she beleave that I'm just a waste and that I've wasted a whole year repeating for nothing, and that I'll amount to nothing.
It's really gotten me down, anytime i try study i constantly procrastinate and do other thinks and hearing my mother tell me she doesn't beleave in me has just shot my confidence down to zero, I don't know what to do anymore !!! I need help, I really want to go to college and I want to prove her wrong. What do i need to do!!!

No harm, but she's stating the truth - and it sounds like you need to hear it. You readily admit to not doing the work required, you're not getting the points you need to get into College and your mother has rightly commented on this - so what's the problem?

dollybird09

Unregistered wrote: »

These are the words my own Mother uttered too me as she has just seen and heard how poorly I've done in my Mock's , she beleave that I'm just a waste and that I've wasted a whole year repeating for nothing, and that I'll amount to nothing.
It's really gotten me down, anytime i try study i constantly procrastinate and do other thinks and hearing my mother tell me she doesn't beleave in me has just shot my confidence down to zero, I don't know what to do anymore !!! I need help, I really want to go to college and I want to prove her wrong. What do i need to do!!!

Ok I'm final year in uni... it's going to be tough to get work even with a degree... I wouldn't like to be 18/19, coming out of school with a mediocre leaving cert looking for work - get the finger out and study, if you genuinely try studying and you still find yourself struggling - ask your teachers for extra help or get grinds... you don't want to get a job paying minimum wage and be stuck in a rut still when you're 30!

Parents can be tough - but they do want the best for us...

Get studying.... good luck

Brown.Eyed.Girl

Some teachers do tend to mark the mocks harder than you would be marked in your leaving. They do this as a method to make you panic so you'd spend more time studying. This method doesn't work for everyone - it makes some people (especially those who already have low confidence) feel like they should just give up.

Don't let your mocks results put you off. Just keep trying. Spend more time studying. Keep trying your best. Ignore your mother!

cpu-dude

Unregistered wrote: »

200

I got less, about 180 in my mocks and still got 345 in the real thing. Ignore your mother, everyone knows that they are harder and every one taking part is obviously under prepared (considering there is another 3-4 months revision due for the actually Leaving Cert). Her saying that isn't going to help you, my parents always said just do my best and I did - you should do the same, after all... its YOUR life. College isn't everything.

prinz

Brown.Eyed.Girl wrote: »

Ignore your mother!

Yes that's right ignore the one person in the world who selflessy wants the best for you...

Your mother's not going to be sitting the exams for you. It's your life now, you can waste your time and screw up your exams if you want. But you're the one who will suffer in the long run.

Mr. Presentable

Your mother is only trying to motivate you. Not perhaps in the best way, but nonetheless the intention is not to run you down but to make you try harder. Do what Beruthiel says in the first reply and your mother will be the proudest of your congratulators when you get the real thing.

bnagrrl

ManOfMystery wrote: »

No harm, but she's stating the truth - and it sounds like you need to hear it. You readily admit to not doing the work required, you're not getting the points you need to get into College and your mother has rightly commented on this - so what's the problem?

+1. Your mother only wants what's best for you. You seem in need of a reality check, harsh as it may be.
Talk to you teachers about where you need to improve and what key areas you should focus on for the exams.
Do up a realistic study timetable and stick to it.
It's not too late to turn this around, you can do it.

StroppySu

Sorry to be harsh but as you said yourself you find yourself procrastinating, and this seems like another excuse for you. At least now you have someone else to blame besides yourself.

It is not your mother's fault that your confidence is shot... it's yours. Only you can help yourself study and get the results.

So what can you do?... Well first things first, get off the net and open a book.

You got 200 points in your mocks?

How is that considered bad?

Here are all the courses you can get into in Ireland(you can modify for whatever county your in) with 200 points

http://www.qualifax.ie/?Mainsec=courses&Subsec=search_courses&CRAsort=&action=search&display=&CSH_ID=18&AdvancedKeyword=&keywords_and_titles=&all_or_any_words=&full_or_part_words=&FCT_ID=&FDM_ID=&keywords=&QUA_ID=0&CTP_ID=0&RES_ID=0&COL_ID=0&points=200&CRS_CODE=&CRA_ID=0&CRT_ID=0&ATT_ID=0&PRV_ID=0&COU_ID=0&DST_ID=0

And you can only improve from now on. So I would say you've got a very good cahnce of getting into college with at least 200 points

Alanstrainor

there is only one answer to this. Study your ass off. Even wasting time on boards is you just putting your study off 'till later. Your mum is just trying to scare you into studying, right or wrong, she wants the best for you.

dlofnep

She's only saying it to provoke you to study harder, so that you get into college. Tough love, some might call it. Study harder, and don't worry too much about the mocks. They don't mean much.

adzer86

Deleted User wrote:

You got 200 points in your mocks?

How is that considered bad?

If OP comes out with 200 in the real thing it is bad. I wouldnt consider and average of 30% across the board good at all. Granted you loose 40% per subject when you drop to ordinary level.
OP to be honest the Mock are harder but dont take that for granted. I done pure crap in the mocks. Cause? A week bender with 5 of my classmates in Playa de Ingles during the mid term
Put a positive spin on the whole thing and use the poor results as a good kick up the arse. Its what they are there for after all. GL

Did you not see the link i posted

http://www.qualifax.ie/?Mainsec=courses&Subsec=search_courses&CRAsort=&action=search&display=&CSH_ID=18&AdvancedKeyword=&keywords_and_titles=&all_or_any_words=&full_or_part_words=&FCT_ID=&FDM_ID=&keywords=&QUA_ID=0&CTP_ID=0&RES_ID=0&COL_ID=0&points=200&CRS_CODE=&CRA_ID=0&CRT_ID=0&ATT_ID=0&PRV_ID=0&COU_ID=0&DST_ID=0

There's plenty of good courses there to choose from, with a score of 200

I wouldn't consider that bad.

pisslips

Man I think I got about 250 in the mocks(I actually failed them aswell) and ended up with 500 after ****ing up about 2 exams in the LC. Mind you I almost died in the LC weeks.
Yeah you should never be seeing things for the first time the day before an exam, if you consider that you've had 2 years.You have to do it sometime, you might aswell do it now.

dceire

Don't worry about it she's just trying to push you on to get a good result, in her own little way.

I'm one of two children in my household, my sister is the high achiever & i was never expected to amount to anything much. I even bought into it to some extent and did the leaving cert applied. 5 years on and I'm a month away getting an hons BA from DCU. Cant wait to get my graduation picture up there beside my sisters

adzer86

Those courses may not be for the OP or whatever. You cant just pull out a load of courses and say there ye go. Also, most of them courses are in brutal colleges. Hence the points requirement for them. I take it you know that the points system works on level of course difficulty and level of demand for places. I came out with 355 and thought that wasnt too bad. Anything below 250 i reckon is a failure and if i had of come out with a score like this. I would be looking straight towards the PLC courses or else get out the and get myself a trade.

adzer86

adzer86 wrote: »

Those courses may not be for the OP or whatever. You cant just pull out a load of courses and say there ye go. Also, most of them courses are in brutal colleges. Hence the points requirement for them. I take it you know that the points system works on level of course difficulty and level of demand for places. I came out with 355 and thought that wasnt too bad. Anything below 250 i reckon is a failure and if i had of come out with a score like this. I would be looking straight towards the PLC courses or else get out the and get myself a trade.

That's bullsh!it how is anything under 250 a fail?? When there are still plenty of courses to choose from without doing a PLC or going for a trade.

I'm just pointing out to the OP that she CAN get into college with at least 200 points (considering she meets the minimum grade requirements)

And i wasn't just pulling out a load of courses and saying there ya go.
Again i'm tyring to point out the options for college if the least he/she got was 200 points.

Gavin "shels"

How many points do you need?
How many points do you want?


In 6th year myself and I know the pressure that comes with it. There's 10 weeks and 2 days till the Leaving Cert starts including the two week Easter holiday, that in my opinion is enough time to up your grades and overall your points.

I got around 250-270 points in my mocks, I'm aiming for 350 and I'll aim for that by doing my best in my exams and putting in the most amount of effort and work as I can in 10 weeks, that's all you can do aswell.

adzer86

Ok maybe i was being a bit OTT in terms of not being able to get into college after scoring 200 or so points as you have pointed out by posting the link. But at the end of the day everyone is entitled to an opinion and after getting 190 in my mocks. I took that finger of mine out of my arse and realised that with some effort you can get into the 300's. Some people are very clever but totally blank in exams and this is where the points system is flawed imo. Your so called second chance at it has to wait til the next year, which means new novels, new material, new poets etc.

shellyboo

Deleted User wrote: »

That's bullsh!it how is anything under 250 a fail?? When there are still plenty of courses to choose from without doing a PLC or going for a trade.

I'm just pointing out to the OP that she CAN get into college with at least 200 points (considering she meets the minimum grade requirements)

And i wasn't just pulling out a load of courses and saying there ya go.
Again i'm tyring to point out the options for college if the least he/she got was 200 points.

The CAO forms are long submitted, presumably the OP has a course in mind and 200 points is not enough to get her into that course.

Also, she's repeating, which to me would suggest that she didn't get enough points last time around. Yes, some people would be happy with 200 points and there courses you can do - but if the OP is not one of these people, then pointing out to her the courses available for 200 points isn't going to do her any good.

I'd have been gutted if I'd got 200 in my Leaving and my parents would have kicked my arse. OP, your mother is only worried about you and trying to shock some sense into you.

Don't be blaming her for "knocking your confidence", it sounds like you're setting up a convenient excuse for when she's proved right. Cram like crazy for the next 10 weeks, and you'll be fine. Get the best results you can, just to prove her wrong. Make yourself proud.

The CAO forms are long submitted

You can apply untill May as far as I know, although you have to pay extra.

Also, she's repeating, which to me would suggest that she didn't get enough points last time around. Yes, some people would be happy with 200 points and there courses you can do - but if the OP is not one of these people, then pointing out to her the courses available for 200 points isn't going to do her any good

.

Agree here, although I was only trying to point out that they can actually get in to college, just depends on what course they want to do.

jd83

Hi OP,
I done my Leaving Cert years ago, got around 200 points. Pretty much the same as you. Procrastinated, found it hard to concentrated. I ended up working for a few years after that. However I always regreted the fact that I did try harder and get a better result. I had the ability i was just lazy and didnt see the bigger picture.

Eventually got sick of working a decided to go back to education and do a Degree. I still found it hard to study but I used to divide the work i had to do into small amounts and do them in 1 hour segments. It helped as Id work for an hour on something then take a break come back later do another hour on something else. This helped me stop losing my concentration. I also found some place where i would not be disturbed and that had no distractions and forced myself to do whatever work i had assigned myself for that period. I am now 2 Months away from completing my Degree.

Another thing i noticed when i start to study harder was that the time flew in.

banshee_bones

Everyone knows the mocks (results wise) are basically a joke. The idea of the mocks is more about testing your time management abilities within a situation like that.
But perhaps you should be studying more. I know theres little time left but not so little that you can't turn it around.
So get off the net, cut off all time wasting activities and get stuck in. Take short regular breaks so you dont burnout but just keep at it. As the saying goes, "throw enough sh1t at a wall some of it is going to stick"

Just pull out all the stops between now and June and im sure you will kick ass. remember the LC isnt the end of the world! There is life after! Good Luck!

LegacyUser

If you find yourself getting distracted and procrastinating while actually trying to study then try what I did... get cheap digital watch with a repeating alarm... set it to go off every 5 minutes.
If you're not doing the right thing when the alarm goes off... stop and go back to what you should be doing, don't get upset or angry at your mistake, just immediately put down the wrong thing and pick up the correct thing.
If you are doing the right thing when the alarm goes off then smile to your self, take a deep breath and try to feel good about the fact you are doing the right thing... then keep studying.
After a while you sort of become like Pavlov's dog... Study + Alarm = Happy



If you are completely avoiding study at all... as in not even getting round to sitting down with a book every night at all then well you'll just have to start setting time aside every day to study in.
Start today.

Snickit

You get used to those remarks. Have been getting the same comments since 1st year. Another 2 to go no:) Iv just settled into a do nothing routine at the moment now (in TY, isn't it expected?) So I should work come September. Maybe.
Moral of the story: Her abuse, which I assure you wasnt to motivate me, is nothing but a buzzing bee after awhile.

Giblets1067

I don't think telling the op that everyone knows that the mocks are harder than the real thing and to ignore his mother is good advice. Sometimes people are poorly prepared for the mocks and so do bad in them and find them "hard" and then realise that they need to study and so study harder and are better prepared for the real thing and therefore sometimes feel that it's "easier". I'm not saying this is always the case but I just think that it's a bit of a cop out to say "Ah sure it's grand, you'll do fine in the real thing because everyone knows the mocks are harder". Also op you have admitted that you procastinate - I don't think your mother meant to hurt you by the comment but I think she realises that you probably needed a bit of a kick up the a***. As another poster said just pull the finger out now. it's only March, you still have lots of time to study. I know it's hard to get down to it but just think if you put in a few hard months of study now it'll stand to you for the rest of your life. Best of luck

LegacyUser

Everyones different, depends how how the pressure is effecting you,

I personally dont feel parents putting pressure on is a good thing, i think it can make you do the opposite of what their intention is.

As i said everyone is different putting pressure on may work for one child and not the other, both ways should be respected.


You have many options if you dont get the course you want, i failed my leaving cert because of difficulties at home, i ended up doing a plc, and fas course and both got me into third level college as a mature student i was 23 at the time, i now have a 2-1 honours degree from a top college, but a sh!t leaving- who would know now?


As i said everyone learns differently, the pressure you are under could be really effecting you, my advice would be to do your leaving cert as best you can, if its not good you can try again or do some further education, but if your repeating you know the drill and you will probably do better than you think.


Take the pressure off by seeing there are no failures in life, becoming an adult also means taking control of your own life, dont let your mothers put downs hold you back, follow your dreams, do it your way and best of luck xxxx

CDfm

It is only March - get off your ass and apply yourself

the first thing is to see where you went wrong- in each subject.

also get the study guides for each subject -Less Stress More Success and put a plan together - you divide the subjects into exam related chunks and decide what you are going to study - this allows you to concentrate on the exam and strip out the parts of the exams you may not answer

go to town studying your strpped down course

get lots of paper - i found years ago that writting down stuff in summary makes it sink in and summarize your summaries-itgives cyou loads of practice on exam stuff and makes you quicker

Now stop mopeing and get studying.

get lots of chocolate etc for snacks

Zangetsu

Unregistered wrote: »

These are the words my own Mother uttered too me as she has just seen and heard how poorly I've done in my Mock's , she beleave that I'm just a waste and that I've wasted a whole year repeating for nothing, and that I'll amount to nothing.
It's really gotten me down, anytime i try study i constantly procrastinate and do other thinks and hearing my mother tell me she doesn't beleave in me has just shot my confidence down to zero, I don't know what to do anymore !!! I need help, I really want to go to college and I want to prove her wrong. What do i need to do!!!

Do the work and you will... Don't forget that the LC isn't as important as its made out to be... There are many different paths into college. I used a PLC course to get into my degree, worked out perfectly, was ahead of everyone in my year when I joined too...

My mother used the same encouraging words on me while I was doing the LC, she still says it the odd time, I just tune it out...

LegacyUser

Unregistered wrote: »

These are the words my own Mother uttered too me as she has just seen and heard how poorly I've done in my Mock's , she beleave that I'm just a waste and that I've wasted a whole year repeating for nothing, and that I'll amount to nothing.
It's really gotten me down, anytime i try study i constantly procrastinate and do other thinks and hearing my mother tell me she doesn't beleave in me has just shot my confidence down to zero, I don't know what to do anymore !!! I need help, I really want to go to college and I want to prove her wrong. What do i need to do!!!

OK to be honest you sound exactly like my brother:o!!! I guarantee the harsh words your mother has been using are not to put you down. At the end of the day your mother wants the best for you. Think of it this way, she has had to watch you already sit the leaving and probably knows your potential is far greater than what you actually do.

My brother is naturally is wonderfully intelligent and articulate and it really upsets my parents when they see him on the various social networking sites, bebo/facebook/msn. I have little influence and my advice is met with empty promises of "i'll try".
He goes out every weekend and sees nothing wrong with this!! Constantly on the phone, mind is distracted and any time he should be studying he is doing something else.

To be honest I think it is up to you at the end of the day. As previous posters have said, prove your mother wrong. I bet she is genuinely worried for you and wants the best for you. Cut the internet, tell your friends to stop calling and make sure you stick to a study timetable. I always found making time for myself was just as important as study time. The time you have off you should play sport, go for a coffee, listen to music. Avoid computer games/bebo. You will just get more distracted.

You have only 2 MONTHS until exams!!! Make the most of them!!! Think of why you are studying, not for your mother but for your own future...............

I bet if your anything like my brother you arent exactly the easiest to live with. Your mother wants the best for you. Make sure you don't prove her theory right. Best of luck

*Honey*

Deleted User wrote: »

You can apply untill May as far as I know, although you have to pay extra.

Not always, some courses are restricted entry and have one deadlind date of 1 February. They usually have other application procedures such as portfolio assessment etc.

To the OP, I agree that your Mum is probably try to motivate you (not that well to be fair) and you have the time now to do something about proving her wrong! So get off the net reading this and get studying!!!!

CDfm

Zangetsu wrote: »

My mother used the same encouraging words on me while I was doing the LC, she still says it the odd time, I just tune it out...

My son says my ex does the same -Dads are much cooler

Seriously - tell her less of the negative attitude and if she cant say anything positive at least make you a sandwich

the point of the plan and study guides is to wotrk thru the stuff methodically and practice it - you are studying to do well at the exam on the sections in the exam and not relly to get a deep u7nderstanding of your subject

Eric Cartman

Unregistered wrote: »

200

thats not that bad, i got that in the mocks, got 380 in the actual leaving without doing much, failed lc maths and still got into engineering in college. My mother was the exact same, always putting me down, just grow a thick skin and dont listen to her. If it helps focus on the negative parts of her life when shes arguing with you, my mother didnt go to college so that invalidated her opinion in my mind instantly, focus on things like that and it gets better

just ask yourself :

did she go to college ?
did she do well in her leaving cert ?
how has her life panned out ?

edit : i do reccomend actually studying though, but to deal with the abuse use my tips above

banshee_bones

I think what some posters are referring to is the CAO change of mind option, which is coming up soon i think, possibly May and it doesnt cost any extra.

Alanstrainor

banshee_bones wrote: »

I think what some posters are referring to is the CAO change of mind option, which is coming up soon i think, possibly May and it doesnt cost any extra.

Once you've applied in the first place, you can change your mind right up until the 1st of July.

CDfm

OP - you will get no study done if you keep on boards and wqill end up as poorly educated as your mother;)

b3t4

I'll never forget how my chemistry teacher spoke to me when I was in 5th year of school. She basically told me how I would make nothing of my life.

I was getting a similar vibe from home.

Oh, and to add to that one, I loaded a huge amount of pressure on top of myself.

I was an emotional wreck due to home and school. All I needed was someone in my life to be positive and not a single person was.

Right, so I hope I can be a slice of positively for you.

The upsides:
1) You've done this all before (you say you're repeating)
2) You know what you have to do. (albeit becoming a professional procrastinator at present)
3) If you get past this LC malarky there is a college degree awaiting you. A degree in something which you really want to study.
4) It's not too late to turn it all around. Seriously, it isn't, no matter how overwhelming it might seem.

My education story in a snapshot:
1) I failed an exam in my moc's (the only exam I've ever failed) and did pretty badly points wise.
2) Managed the LC and got the points I needed doing pretty ok but definitely not upto what I was capable off. But c'est la vie.
3) Started my degree and finished with a first class honours degree.

It's possible and you can do it

Now stop making plans on how you're going to do this studying business and get to it. The best tip I can give you is study the papers. Do as many as you possibly can (over and over and over again) Find patterns in them (there generally always is)

A.

CDfm

b3t4 wrote: »

Now stop making plans on how you're going to do this studying business and get to it. The best tip I can give you is study the papers. Do as many as you possibly can (over and over and over again) Find patterns in them (there generally always is)

OP the message is study

STUDY

and chemistry teachers are evil:mad:

miss_shadow

It's a fact that praise and recognition for the tasks one does is crucial for the progression and consistency of that task (mia pringle theorist) without it,it is an uphill battle regarding the emotional aspect of study/stress so the op needs support, i sure as hell didn't get any support growing up regarding school so i had to support myself,had no option. Your mother seems like she isn't giving you adequate support, have you got older siblings that you can talk to or i suggest you tell your mum how your feeling and how it is upsetting you. I would think it'd be best to ignore her,if she isn't going to put any real positive input. Study classes after school are a great help too.

Dave!

I failed nearly all of my mocks but got 410 points in the LC...

The mocks are a bad reflection of how you will do in the real thing IMO, but they are good practise for doing exams, learning the format, etc.

200 points is grand for the mocks if you ask me

zedhead

Unregistered wrote: »

These are the words my own Mother uttered too me as she has just seen and heard how poorly I've done in my Mock's , she beleave that I'm just a waste and that I've wasted a whole year repeating for nothing, and that I'll amount to nothing.
It's really gotten me down, anytime i try study i constantly procrastinate and do other thinks and hearing my mother tell me she doesn't beleave in me has just shot my confidence down to zero, I don't know what to do anymore !!! I need help, I really want to go to college and I want to prove her wrong. What do i need to do!!!

My mother did the same thing to me, and you know what i did, i ignored her. It didnt help me! I got just over 250 in my mocks, and went on to get 425 in my leaving. And you know what my mum said when i told her my results "oh, i thought you would have got better" It was only after talking to her friends did she realise she should have congratulated me more. I got a lot more points then my older sister and went on to become te first girl, and second person in my family (aunts uncles cousins etc) since my grandmother to get a degree. Still didnt seem good enough for her. I was the "smart" one so had be brilliant.

Dont get me wrong i have a very close relationship with my mother, but sometimes she thinks the way to improve someone is to put them down (point out flaws so you'll work on them) she does it about other things too, and i have explained that it hurts, but it is just the way she is.

Now what i didnt do was ignore her and do no work and just hoped for the best. What you need to look at is that yes your mum does love you and is trying to help, but her putting you down is not what you need to be hearing now, so ignore that part. Focus on the exams, but for yourself and not for you mother. Once you know what you want, and that you are putting in your best effort for yourself to get it. You have loads of time to get the study in, and you just need to get focused for the right reasons!

ArphaRima

I thought thats what everyone gets? A massive roasting, a big scare, and then settle into the cram for the leaving cert properly?

I have to say I failed most of my mocks, as did most of my class, nay year. Then we went on to get some of the best results in Dublin that year out of any school.

I did feck all study, but plenty of night before cramming! I honestly studied biology once: from one of those revision books the night before. A B3 isnt bad for a few hours work.
A teacher threatened me with OL French a few times so I studied it. Got an A.
Another teacher said nobody got A's in HL English. So I did.

Tough love works!