Subject After Junior Cert

Groe

So guys I think it's getting to the stage where we should be thinking about what subjects we will be taking for the Leaving Cert.

I don't fully know the ins and outs of it but the subjects I'll be taking will be:
1.History
2.Art
3.Chemistry

So what subjects will you guys be taking?

Plus if someone could explain how it actually works that would be great

GO'S

Groe wrote: »

So guys I think it's getting to the stage where we should be thinking about what subjects we will be taking for the Leaving Cert.

I don't fully know the ins and outs of it but the subjects I'll be taking will be:
1.History
2.Art
3.Chemistry

So what subjects will you guys be taking?

Plus if someone could explain how it actually works that would be great

sorry man i dont have a clue how it works but ill be taking business accounting then either biology/geography/economics

spurious

Groe wrote: »

Plus if someone could explain how it actually works that would be great

In most schools, there will be four LC subjects that everyone does, usually English, Irish, Maths and whatever the main 'foreign' language taught in the school is.

Students are then given a choice (usually towards the end of TY or 3rd yr) for the other three subjects for exam. Depending on how many staff are in the school, what subjects are available, how the timetable is made up, this will be either three from a choice of four or more. It very much depends on the size of the school. The bigger the school and the more classes in fifth year, the easier it is to offer students a wider choice. The cutbacks will have affected some schools ability to offer a choice here.

You may well want to do chemistry, but if (for example) your school can offer Biology and Chemistry to a year cohort of 60 students and 54 students choose Biology and 6 choose Chemistry, then Biology will be offered. If your school chooses to run a Chemistry class for 6 students, the slack will have to be made up somewhere else. The bigger the school the easier that is to do. If your school has a permanent Chemistry teacher whose hours must be kept up to avoid them losing their job, then more will be put into Chemistry.

I hope that's clear.

jumpguy

When picking subjects you should really have what you want to do in third level (roughly) in mind. Sciency, make sure there's lots of science. Business, make sure there's business, etc. However, I would recommend at least one science. You're cutting out alot of options for third level by doing none (and I know you have chemistry down so it's okay).

dambarude

jumpguy wrote: »

When picking subjects you should really have what you want to do in third level (roughly) in mind. Sciency, make sure there's lots of science. Business, make sure there's business, etc. However, I would recommend at least one science. You're cutting out alot of options for third level by doing none (and I know you have chemistry down so it's okay).

Jumpguy is right. You don't need to know exactly what you want to do in third level, but if you have a feeling you might want to do pharmacy for example (which requires Chemistry), make sure you actually take Chemistry. When I was taking my subjects Technical Drawing ended up clashing with Chemistry, meaning I couldn't do the two. I ended up doing Chemistry as an extra subject. Don't be disappointed in January of sixth year realising you don't have the subjects you need to take a particular course. Most courses don't have any specific subject requirements, but be aware of those that do.

www.qualifax.ie should be of help with this.

Luno

I'm thinking about Biology, French and Geography and for third level no idea what I want to do.
I've an off topic question but can you do art for Leaving if you didn't for Junior Cert?

CookieMonster.x

I'm doing Maths, Irish, English, French, Business, Biology and Chemistry for my LC and then Music outside of school.
I want to do medicine

M&S*, I'd say you can do it but art is extremely hard to get an A or even a B in, even if you're brilliant at it.

Luno

CookieMonster.x wrote: »

I'm doing Maths, Irish, English, French, Business, Biology and Chemistry for my LC and then Music outside of school.
I want to do medicine

M&S*, I'd say you can do it but art is extremely hard to get an A or even a B in, even if you're brilliant at it.

Thanks for that! Ah I'm the kinda person who is delighted with a D so I'm sure it would be fine:pac:

spurious

M&S* wrote: »

I've an off topic question but can you do art for Leaving if you didn't for Junior Cert?

You can do any subject you want for your LC.
Whether your school will accommodate you is another matter. I would have a lot of sympathy for a class full of people who had done Art to JC and then found themselves redoing the basics for the first half of fifth year because someone fancied taking it up for Leaving.

You can always apply as an external student, though in the case of any project work you'll have to have a teacher who is in a position to sign off on your work.

suitcasepink

Groe wrote: »

So guys I think it's getting to the stage where we should be thinking about what subjects we will be taking for the Leaving Cert.

I don't fully know the ins and outs of it but the subjects I'll be taking will be:
1.History
2.Art
3.Chemistry

So what subjects will you guys be taking?

Plus if someone could explain how it actually works that would be great

Well I dont really have a clue but I'd say something like..
Biology
Buisness or Economics
Geography

EDIT: Oh and French is the language, forgot about that!

WanderingSoul

I'm not sure at the moment, these are the various possibilities I'm considering;

1. French, Biology, Physics, Chemistry.
2. French, Chemistry, Physics/Biology, Geography.
3. French, Chemistry, Physics/Biology, Economics.
4. French, Chemistry, Physics/Biology, Accounting.
5. French, Chemistry, Physics/Biology, History.

I'll probably end up going with number 1.

Evan93

Just a bit of advice,when picking subjects for the LC don't base it on your subjects from the JC.History for the LC is completely different to JC History,same with other subjects.Just get a rough insight into the course first before you actually decide to do it.

WanderingSoul

Yeah, my friend in 5th year got caught out by that. I therefore had a look at her and other older friend's books to see what the subjects are really like.

Closed ac

I think I'll do: Chemistry, Biology, Spanish, Business.

Closed ac

WanderingSoul wrote: »

I'm not sure at the moment, these are the various possibilities I'm considering;

1. French, Biology, Physics, Chemistry.
2. French, Chemistry, Physics/Biology, Geography.
3. French, Chemistry, Physics/Biology, Economics.
4. French, Chemistry, Physics/Biology, Accounting.
5. French, Chemistry, Physics/Biology, History.

I'll probably end up going with number 1.

Planning on being a doctor?

WanderingSoul

I was thinking of Medicine / Pharmacy but I'm not sure at the moment. I absolutely love science though so I can't really see myself doing anything not involving science after school.

knockane_ali09

i think im going to do french ,chemistry,history and accounting
still not too sure though

CookieMonster.x

WanderingSoul wrote: »

I was thinking of Medicine / Pharmacy but I'm not sure at the moment. I absolutely love science though so I can't really see myself doing anything not involving science after school.

Me too, I just couldn't be a teacher, you know? I love science and maths. Although I hate science class
I'd love to be a paediatrician

Closed ac

I also love Science, want to be a gastroenterologist.

WanderingSoul

CookieMonster.x wrote: »

Me too, I just couldn't be a teacher, you know? I love science and maths. Although I hate science class
I'd love to be a paediatrician

I'm lucky because I have a great teacher.

I wouldn't become a paediatrician because although I like kids I'm not sure if I'd want to work with them full time or not. Plus, I'd get annoyed with half the parents.

WanderingSoul

DKZ wrote: »

I also love Science, want to be a gastroenterologist.

Science lovers unite!

Gastroenterologist, that's an interesting/unusual one. How did you come across it?

CookieMonster.x

See I love kids although I'm quite shy so I don't know if I'd be good around them, don't have much practice. Although I would love it, my mums a doctor and she said it's a nice career (she's done literally everything). I'd like to work on a ward or be a consultant called to a ward though.
I love Casualty I'd probably start crying all the time though if I was a paediatrician, I was crying after Casualty on Saturday

WanderingSoul

Deadly. So if you were to be a paediatrician what course would you have to do?

spurious

WanderingSoul wrote: »

Deadly. So if you were to be a paediatrician what course would you have to do?

You train as a doctor and then specialise in paediatrics.

WanderingSoul

spurious wrote: »

You train as a doctor and then specialise in paediatrics.

That would be logical. :pac:

Groe

You guys are all crazy :O All I know is that I want to do something along the lines of music, art, marketing or something. My friend is doing media studies and journ alism and it sounds amazing. You can then branch off and do another course like radio or photoshop and the likes. That's all I know so far. As for the subjects The ones I have chosen are just based on interests and I don't plan on doing history or chemistry when I leave but I've been told to take atleast one science as it leaves options open. The reason I am not taking a business is due to the fact that I love business but I can't see myself sitting at a desk all day. Another possibilty would be a Physiotherapist as it is involved with people and sport, both of which interest me. Or a PE teacher but I don't really know. I've plenty of time

tipperaryguy

i wanna know too i foolishly dropped art in second year and i really liked it ,i was very good too, 92 in summer exam,doh

M&S* wrote: »

I'm thinking about Biology, French and Geography and for third level no idea what I want to do.
I've an off topic question but can you do art for Leaving if you didn't for Junior Cert?

Closed ac

WanderingSoul wrote: »

Science lovers unite!

Gastroenterologist, that's an interesting/unusual one. How did you come across it?

Ah, it was a joke. Gastroenterology is the study of the bowel. :P

I would like to be a GP of course, easiest job going, but takes years to qualify.

WanderingSoul

DKZ wrote: »

Ah, it was a joke. Gastroenterology is the study of the bowel. :P

I would like to be a GP of course, easiest job going, but takes years to qualify.

That bit is so true!

Bigrob

If you want to do a real subject, pick physics;)

WanderingSoul

Bigrob wrote: »

If you want to do a real subject, pick physics;)

My favourite part of science.

CookieMonster.x

DKZ wrote: »

Ah, it was a joke. Gastroenterology is the study of the bowel. :P

I would like to be a GP of course, easiest job going, but takes years to qualify.

It's actually not, my mum is a part time GP (like she works for another GP but does the work, the other person owns the practice) and when she's working it's not easy. It's really tiring and it's not cheap to run the place and it's really expensive to get locums in when your away etc.
It's really tiring.

WanderingSoul

CookieMonster.x wrote: »

It's actually not, my mum is a part time GP (like she works for another GP but does the work, the other person owns the practice) and when she's working it's not easy. It's really tiring and it's not cheap to run the place and it's really expensive to get locums in when your away etc.
It's really tiring.

I won't deny it can be tiring but GP's have a safety net; other professions don't.
Anyway I don't want to get into that in this thread; we are going off topic.

suitcasepink

deise_girl wrote: »

Well I dont really have a clue but I'd say something like..
Biology
Buisness or Economics
Geography

EDIT: Oh and French is the language, forgot about that!

I'm now considering French, biology, economics and chemistry.

I really hate science but if i want to do equine science I kinda have to :P

Laauren

I was thinking of doing music:D, geography and a business subject..

Music has always been something i wanted to do but would it matter if i didnt pick any science subject?

WanderingSoul

Laauren wrote: »

I was thinking of doing music:D, geography and a business subject..

Music has always been something i wanted to do but would it matter if i didnt pick any science subject?

It's totally up to you, but a science subject opens a lot of doors.

Laauren

WanderingSoul wrote: »

It's totally up to you, but a science subject opens a lot of doors.

Okay thanks:) i not great at science so id say ill just stick to the other ones:P

WanderingSoul

Laauren wrote: »

Okay thanks:) i not great at science so id say ill just stick to the other ones:P

Fair enough, no point on doing something if you dislike it.
What business subject are you thinking of doing?

Laauren

WanderingSoul wrote: »

Fair enough, no point on doing something if you dislike it.
What business subject are you thinking of doing?

Economics Id say.!Im not really sure yet but Im doing TY so I have another year to decide anyway:D

WanderingSoul

Laauren wrote: »

Economics Id say.!Im not really sure yet but Im doing TY so I have another year to decide anyway:D

I was thinking of doing economics too. I'm doing TY too so I'm not under pressure to choose yet either.

RML

WanderingSoul wrote: »

I was thinking of doing economics too. I'm doing TY too so I'm not under pressure to choose yet either.

Me toooo. I am also doing TY and i luv science but Biology is the one i a good at.
i am thinking of doing medicine like my mum[theatre nurse] probably......

soccymonster

I'm a few months into biology, chemistry, ecomonics, french etc. so if ye want to know any bits about them, i'll try and help if ye want

WanderingSoul

Please and thank-you, soccymonster. So basically what are Biology, Chemistry and Economics like? How do they compare to their counterparts in junior cert?

And to do with your sig:you may have won, but you were then disqualified

soccymonster

Starting with Biology, the first thing that I must say is that it is a hugeeeee course. Theres so much to learn and my class have finished 15 chapters already this year. My teacher is aiming for 26 to be covered by the end of the year. It involves alot of learning and goes into huge detail compared with the junior cert. You'll end up studying it every night, learning definitions etc if you have a good teacher. In my textbook, it is split into 3 units. 1) the study of life like ecology, food, the characteristics of life. 2) the cell. Goes into huge detail on cell structure in both humans and plants. You learn about enzymes, DNA/RNA, Photosynthesis etc. 3) the organism. Possibly my favourite unit. You learn about all the organ systems of the body and the classifications of organisms such as bacteria, fungi, protista. Also plants comes into it too (major yawn!).

You'd have to be willing to study it every night tbh to keep up with the workload but its a very interesting subject and I absolutly love it (but i just love science in general too).

Chemistry, well jumpguy if he's around can fill you in on some bits because i believe he has done some organic chemistry which i havent started yet. Possibly my favourite subject. It requires you to understand it though. You can't just learn certain parts off like in biology. Theres also abit of maths thats needed but don't be worried because its all basic stuff tbh, nothing hugely complicated. You learn about atoms and different laws that are attached to them. (i'll have to get my book from school and check up for more detail). But it can be abit hard at times but if you like the subject, its so much easier to study.

economics, well i chose this subject as a business choice so i could balance out my sciences. And i also heard that its a short, easy enough course. How wrong was I... Its straight forward in areas but there are areas in it that require alot of thinking and the marking scheme is so hard!! economics deals with how firms work (demand, supply, revenue etc)

soccymonster

It also deals with inflation, taxation, the role of the govt in the economy, factors of production. I'm more into science but if you like business, you'd surely like this as it is all theory based upon the workings of a firm and the government. But the marking scheme (and my teacher corrects our tests straight from the exam marking schemes as he gives us exam questions for tests) is a b*tch. I'm not trying to put you off the subject btw :P Its just that maybe because i'm a science nerd that i just can't get the hang of economics as much!

my chemistry yoke is kinda bad so i'll update it when i find out about bits i've not done. Jumpguy can come to the rescue with all his 3 science subjects

and wandering soul, we did win. It's just the others were jealous of how close me and deise were so decided to disqualify us..

WanderingSoul

Thank you so much soccy.



Still cheated though

/joke

Fad

My 2 cents about Chemistry. It's not easy, but it is no way deserving of the rep that it has gotten.

Some of it can be very difficult to understand (Atomic Theory-Chemical bonding was something I found quite trying).

Some of it is poorly explained (I dont learn things particularly well unless I understand it, and some LC Chem doesnt make a massive amount of sense sometimes, because it is so simplified at times*)

Some of it can be tedious, Bohr's theory just isnt exactly that stimulating......

Some of it is really really interesting, I LOVED organic chemistry. I also enjoyed Oxidation and Reduction quite a bit. Equilibrium an pH are also pretty interesting.

The experiments towards the end are really interesting.

Basically, if you are in any way motivated as a student, you can do very well, it requires a good bit of work and a good bit of patience. Aside from that.

*Not belittling it, you have to start somewhere! But if you go on to study it, you will have to unlearn a lot of stuff!

Physics is also pretty interesting (Lenses drove me insane and I refused to learn anything to do with them they are that boring.....). Particle Physics especially, you do a good bit on that.

Biology is a nice subject, it's not that difficult, just requires constant work! (I dont like macrobiology.....love microstuff like Respiration and Stuff), some of the experiments are pretty fun (Like extraction of DNA and enzyme immobilisation).

WanderingSoul

And thank you Fad.

I'm guessing you did all 3 sciences? That's what I'm hoping to do (with economics as a back-up).

Fad

WanderingSoul wrote: »

And thank you Fad.

I'm guessing you did all 3 sciences? That's what I'm hoping to do (with economics as a back-up).

3 Sciences, French and Religion (for some unknown reason.....).

Professional Griefer

WanderingSoul wrote: »

And thank you Fad.

I'm guessing you did all 3 sciences? That's what I'm hoping to do (with economics as a back-up).

Economics is a fantastic choice for everyone. Been doing it for the last year and half, never did business before, I know its different but I only did it cause I heard it was a nice subject and didn't want to do anything else that I could have choosen from. If you're good at learning loads of stuff then it'll be very easy. I'm hoping for a A1 in June, and a B2 at least.:D

Luno

I've to decide on my subjects before the 10th of Febuary ?
No idea what to do yet though, I hate science as a subject but it does open doors for colleges and that,