my career guidance councillor broke my heart :(

window_licker

she told me there was no way I could ever do speech and language therapy, i asked was there a roundabout way of doing it, she said absoltuly not. Heartbroken

phasers

If you really have your heart set on it you should carry on trying.

Did she give a reason?

bassy1

Sounds like a great counsellor. NOT! Idiot! When I was in school our counsellor was great, would go to the ends of the earth for all of us. Thats what they should all be like. Its not like they have anything better to do.

window_licker

i wont get the points, which in fairness shes probably right, i only have 5 honours! But not even a bit of encouragement, her exact words where "speech therapy is like medicine, theres no roundabout way to it" Last time I checked, there were roundabout ways into medicine. SHe then told me to do Pre-Arts in Dunboyne :rolleyes: Now, im not the brightest crayola in the art room, but im in no way thick. Everyone Ive spoken to bar one told me she told them to do a PLC.

phasers

:eek: That's a terrible attitude!

Have you considered entering as a mature student, or doing it as a masters?

This could be an option

There are always ways, don't mind her.

RE the PLC thing, I had a similar councellor. She basically told 80% of people to do childcare of beauty therapy :rolleyes:

IronGirl92

There's always a roundabout way! Try and look up any way possible into the course, and maybe e-mail or phone the colleges?
My career guidence teacher isn't great either. Gave out to me for thinking I could do three sciences. 'Er..but I'm not into business miss..' her response was much along the lines of how could I really know... :rolleyes: Glad to say I don't have careers meeting's this year thanks to sorting out my CAO before she got round to us!
But really, look up the colleges and give them a ring. You might have to spend a few extra years in college, but there's always a way into it!!

The___________

The CG counsellor in my school is a joke,his office has stacks of random papers all over the place,he advised my brother not to bother taking a science subject as most Uni's and IT's wouldn't require it,this led to my brother having to take up biology at Christmas in 6th year in order to get the course he wanted.

I don't mind the lack of a CG counsellor as I have brothers and sisters who have bben to college but for others it must be a real annoyance.

jumpguy

IronGirl92 wrote: »

There's always a roundabout way!

Was just about to say, even in medicine there's a roundabout way in. The only drawback is obviously it's longer and more awkward, but where there's a will, there's a way. Work hard, and you can do anything, if you really want it. Don't be put down by your guidance councillor, infact, if your doing your LC this year and have just filled out the CAO, that's a pretty insensitive and retarded thing to say.

If you want it that bad, push yourself and get the points.

partyatmygaff

How are your grades?

I would probably be on her side if you were failing all 7 subjects at ordinary level (Have a few of them at my school :eek:) but you did say you're doing 5 honours so you can't be that bad.

The points are circa 500 yeah?

With 5 honours and 1 ordinary you would probably need to be sitting on 510-520 points for comfort.

You definitley need to get atleast an A2 in your Ordinary subject to have any chance unless you get all A1/A2s in your 5 higher subjects.

Have you considering taking up something like HL biology? It shouldn't be impossible to get a C2 or C1 if you work very hard the next 4 months. That would score you more points than an A1 at Ordinary level.

pathway33

how about a BA in linguistics and psychology from UCD? 360 points usually. Do a postgrad then in speech therapy. Your 'guidance' teacher is an idiot.

in UCD then you could take modules (10 credits per year i think) in anatomy/physiology as part of their horizon programme

IronGirl92

partyatmygaff wrote: »

failing all 7 subjects at ordinary

:eek: How is that even possible?!!

window_licker

this is why i love u guys Thanks so much


awh this ones unreal
Some of her classic lines:

Friend: I did my CAO, all business courses.
G.C: Ok, well i do think ur a bit young for college, ur only 16. Would u be interested in doing a PLC, just so ur that bit older?
Friend: I was thinking the same to be honest!
G.C: OH I KNOW THE PERFECT PLC FOR YOU!
*pause*
G.C: BEAUTY!
Friend: But i want to do business Miss.
G.C: well its beauty and business then!

Another one..

Friend: Im doing a course for a year to build up my portfolio
G.C: I thought u were interested in NCAD?
Friend: I was, but u didnt tell me I had to have a portfolio submitted so I cant apply!
G.C: Well, to be honest, the reason I didnt tell you is because you're really not that good at art, not up to the standard of NCAD, Ms. X showed me some of ur work, not great at all.
Friend: Ms. Y is my art teacher.
*que my friend storming out the door*

Or this haha...

G.C: So, what do u want to do in college?
F: I really dont know, I did a CAO and everything, but Im after applying to do a make up course for the year, just so im more sure of what I want to do!
G.C: I wouldnt recommend that at all, u cant make a career out of a make up course
F: Well, its not a career, its so I can have extra time to think about what I want to do in college
G.C: But MAKEUP?! No, NO, I think you should just stay at home for the year.
hahahahaha

or my personal favourite:

F: I applied to go to college in England to do PE teaching!
G.C: Oh, your very young
F: Im not doing a PLC!
G.C: Well then let me suggest doing it over here
F: I wont get the points, Im not even doing enough honours subjects!
G.C: Well, you see, you've red hair, the minute u get off that plane there going to know that ur Irish, and the English are vicious when it comes to us, they'll give you an awful time, Very vicious people the english, very vicious, you wont last a day.
F: I am english.

hahahhahahaha

and i swear to god, not a word of it is a lie, the womans a joke!

phasers

window_licker wrote: »

G.C: Well, you see, you're ginger, the minute u get off that plane there going to know that ur Irish, and the English are vicious when it comes to us, they'll give you an awful time, Very vicious people the english, very vicious, you wont last a day.
F: I am english.

IronGirl92

Sounds alot like what our one was like!
That and ANY question asked would be responded to with 'QUALIFAX.IE I CAN'T DO ALL THE WORK FOR YE!!'


Our school got new computers at the start of the year, ''these are worth more than your lives..'' cheers for that.. Ahh she's a tool..:cool:

The___________

IronGirl92 wrote: »

:eek: How is that even possible?!!

We have a few of these in my school as well i.e no interest in school whatsoever,hardly in class never do homework e.t.c

paddykell

If I've learned 1 thing from school, that's don't listen to Career Guidance teachers. They all think that the only way into these courses is by doing a degree straight away. With most things there is a way of getting into them. There are PLC courses for a lot of stuff, and if you wait until you're 23 then you can do whatever you like anyway. My career guidance teacher is an idiot, she just tells everyone to do pharmacist stuff or to be a doctor or a nurse. Very very close minded.

window_licker

pathway33 wrote: »

how about a BA in linguistics and psychology from UCD? 360 points usually. Do a postgrad then in speech therapy. Your 'guidance' teacher is an idiot.

in UCD then you could take modules (10 credits per year i think) in anatomy/physiology as part of their horizon programme

i dont understand how boardsies now information like this^ and this woman tells my friend not to go to england because she has red hair? seriously like. thanks a mill guys u realy cheered me up

pathway33

window_licker wrote: »

No, NO, I think you should just stay at home for the year.

:eek:

IronGirl92

I suppose..I just can't understand people like that though, who seem to have zero ambition in life and just want to plod along through life..

window_licker

partyatmygaff wrote: »

How are your grades?

I would probably be on her side if you were failing all 7 subjects at ordinary level (Have a few of them at my school :eek:) but you did say you're doing 5 honours so you can't be that bad.

The points are circa 500 yeah?

With 5 honours and 1 ordinary you would probably need to be sitting on 510-520 points for comfort.

You definitley need to get atleast an A2 in your Ordinary subject to have any chance unless you get all A1/A2s in your 5 higher subjects.

Have you considering taking up something like HL biology? It shouldn't be impossible to get a C2 or C1 if you work very hard the next 4 months. That would score you more points than an A1 at Ordinary level.

the grades are ok, above average i guess, but i can push em up, defo. Just not having anything to work towards gave me no motivation whatsoever!

paddykell

I forgot to mention the career guidance teacher in my school is totally against PLCs, she hates the idea of someone leaving school and not doing sometihng involving medicine or Arts or teaching or something like that.

partyatmygaff

IronGirl92 wrote: »

:eek: How is that even possible?!!

Pretty easy...

Taking days off when you feel like it
Never bothering to do homework
Constantly messing around
Skipping classes and mitching
Laziness

It really isn't that hard. About 10 people in my year got 0 points in their Christmas exams. It's a bit of a joke tbh, if you can't be bothered to work a tiny bit then you shouldn't be allowed take up a space in school.

phasers

Yep I know of a guy that came out of the leaving cert with something like 35 points due to sheer laziness

IronGirl92

Agree with the idea that they shouldn't be aloud take up space!
Have to say I must be lucky though, only have two classes where people like that are a problem.
Chemistry; This really annoying polish guy who refuses to do anything in any subject. Likes to mutter away to himself alot aswel..
Irish; Have about 8 people in the class that are exempt that study at the back of the room, all they do is talk though :mad: Rage.
Maybe I'm just a bit simple thinking that everyone should want an actual job after school :rolleyes:

window_licker

yeh i know a girl who came out with 85. and to be honest she didnt even deserve that, bit of a muppet in all aspects of the word

window_licker

IronGirl92 wrote: »

Agree with the idea that they shouldn't be aloud take up space!
Have to say I must be lucky though, only have two classes where people like that are a problem.
Chemistry; This really annoying polish guy who refuses to do anything in any subject. Likes to mutter away to himself alot aswel..
Irish; Have about 8 people in the class that are exempt that study at the back of the room, all they do is talk though :mad: Rage.
Maybe I'm just a bit simple thinking that everyone should want an actual job after school :rolleyes:

maybe u should be a guidance councillor

IronGirl92

window_licker wrote: »

maybe u should be a guidance councillor

Lol have actually been told that before! :rolleyes:
Nawh, Dublin and Science are my calling.

partyatmygaff

IronGirl92 wrote: »

Lol have actually been told that before! :rolleyes:
Nawh, Dublin and Science are my calling.

The science of guidance counselling?

IronGirl92

partyatmygaff wrote: »

The science of guidance counselling?

:cool: Maaaaybe.......

EvilLlamaThingy

Career Guidence Counsellors are just there for peace of mind most of the time imo. A lot of the time they don't know what they're talking about..
A Career Guidence Counsellor suggested my cousin doing his 4th year of business should be a fish trawler.. mind she was getting a bit old and retired soon after that..

partyatmygaff

With all respect, anyone who can't be bothered even trying to get 100 points in their LC shouldn't have even bothered continuing after the JC. Fair enough if you tried and did your best but tbh most of the people who get less than 100 points in their LC are just too damn lazy.

amazingemmet

window_licker wrote: »

this is why i love u guys Thanks so much


awh this ones unreal
Some of her classic lines:

Friend: I did my CAO, all business courses.
G.C: Ok, well i do think ur a bit young for college, ur only 16. Would u be interested in doing a PLC, just so ur that bit older?
Friend: I was thinking the same to be honest!
G.C: OH I KNOW THE PERFECT PLC FOR YOU!
*pause*
G.C: BEAUTY!
Friend: But i want to do business Miss.
G.C: well its beauty and business then!

Another one..

Friend: Im doing a course for a year to build up my portfolio
G.C: I thought u were interested in NCAD?
Friend: I was, but u didnt tell me I had to have a portfolio submitted so I cant apply!
G.C: Well, to be honest, the reason I didnt tell you is because you're really not that good at art, not up to the standard of NCAD, Ms. X showed me some of ur work, not great at all.
Friend: Ms. Y is my art teacher.
*que my friend storming out the door*

Or this haha...

G.C: So, what do u want to do in college?
F: I really dont know, I did a CAO and everything, but Im after applying to do a make up course for the year, just so im more sure of what I want to do!
G.C: I wouldnt recommend that at all, u cant make a career out of a make up course
F: Well, its not a career, its so I can have extra time to think about what I want to do in college
G.C: But MAKEUP?! No, NO, I think you should just stay at home for the year.
hahahahaha

or my personal favourite:

F: I applied to go to college in England to do PE teaching!
G.C: Oh, your very young
F: Im not doing a PLC!
G.C: Well then let me suggest doing it over here
F: I wont get the points, Im not even doing enough honours subjects!
G.C: Well, you see, you've red hair, the minute u get off that plane there going to know that ur Irish, and the English are vicious when it comes to us, they'll give you an awful time, Very vicious people the english, very vicious, you wont last a day.
F: I am english.

hahahhahahaha

and i swear to god, not a word of it is a lie, the womans a joke!

Its post like this that make staying up at night surfing boards worth it:pac:

the_syco

http://www.careerdirections.ie/CDW3C/AccessDBAllCareerDetails.jsp?id=241

Also check out: http://www.qualifax.ie/

Orlaladuck

My god this is Awful! I think with career guidance teachers you should Only see them if you know Exactly what you want. I had to go to one because I was considering apply to UCAS so I literally just went in, got the ucas map and said I wanted to do animation in the greater london nowhere outside it and MUST be hand-drawing, not computer animation. She couldn't steer her way out of it.
Though I swear if one more person says 'Tipperary Institute?' to me I'm going to scream!

spurious

partyatmygaff wrote: »

With all respect, anyone who can't be bothered even trying to get 100 points in their LC shouldn't have even bothered continuing after the JC. Fair enough if you tried and did your best but tbh most of the people who get less than 100 points in their LC are just too damn lazy.

Nice sweeping statement there - have you considered Career Guidance?:)

paddykell wrote: »

I forgot to mention the career guidance teacher in my school is totally against PLCs, she hates the idea of someone leaving school and not doing sometihng involving medicine or Arts or teaching or something like that.

Theres a lot of snobbery in Irish education.
The VEC isn't good enough for some people at twelve but they fall over each other to get on a VEC course at 18.
Most people who are against PLCs have no idea what they are.

seanaor

Theres a roundabout way around everything, so dont worry. My career guidance teacher shot down all of my suggestions (''sure theres no jobs anyway''), its what they do. go for what you want to do, and dont listen to every word your c.g says.

Healium

I think every career guidance counselor is a disaster. Ours is, anyway.
Brought all of 6th year into a classroom 2 weeks before Higher Options to talk to us. Basically, she kept spouting lies until practically everyone left the room.
"Higher Options is just for British universities, there will be NO Irish colleges/universities there"
"Not a single student from this school has gone to a British university in the last 10 years. You're NOT going to Britain, lads. You're NOT!"
etc. etc.
By now, half the class had walked out. At this stage, she started going through each student, one by one, in front of everyone
"James, what are you interested in going for? You're definetily not going to be going to university"
"Darren, you're not allowed go. You're a bad student"
"Emmet, you're a great student, you're allowed go"

By now, most of the class had stormed out in disgust. I think 6 people went in the end

Wow, I never knew career guidance was this bad elsewhere! Mine is great, really knows her stuff...

Orlaladuck

'Your not allowed to go, you're a bad student?'

That's retarded..

xoxyx

partyatmygaff wrote: »

With all respect, anyone who can't be bothered even trying to get 100 points in their LC shouldn't have even bothered continuing after the JC. Fair enough if you tried and did your best but tbh most of the people who get less than 100 points in their LC are just too damn lazy.

LC is bad enough. We had a guy in our degree course and for every single exam, he'd write for about ten minutes and then go to sleep. Actual drooling, twitching sleep.

And yet, year after year, he stayed with us. Never failing.

Some people have the knack of scraping by with the skin of their teeth to a fine art.

felic

Your guidance councellor told you that? Bloody hell! Have your parents report them to your principal and tell your mates to do likewise if they have similar experiences.

Thats downright out of order. Their job is not to tell you what you can and cant do! Thats ridiculous. How the hell are they going to know what you will be good at or more importantly what you will LIKE doing? Their job is to be there as a point of reference to whom you take your questions. They are meant to advise you on ALL the options and research courses on your behalf!!!!
This sounds like a classic example of some aul biddy on a power trip who probably has kids around the Leaving Cert age all stuck in grind schools 24-7 and going for the 600 pointer courses!

My advise? Dont go to her again!
yes getting 500 or more points isnt the easiest thing in the world to do and for Speech Therapy, it is a popular and very much sought after course. BUT!!!! If thats what you really want to do, and you feel is the career thats most appealing to you... by all means... you work ur butt off to get those points! 5 higher subjects and then ordinary levels is not reason to think you cant attain those grades...
And if you dont get a place this year... its not the end of the road... not by a long shot!

You can...
1. Reapeat your leaving next year and drop the long demanding courses like Irish and English that would require so much work on your part to catch up. Unless of course you love these and are getting A1's in them. You would only have to do 6 subjects so assuming you can keep your current higher levels, either take a new one up or else try see if you can upgrade your strongest ordinary to a higher level paper. Subjects like Geography, Chemistry, even History are totally manageable to pick up and complete in one year if you really focus on them and work at them.

2. Apply to do it in the UK. If you havent applied for this year, then you would be looking at applying for next year, so that would mean you could take a year out to try get some real experience in the field. With that experience, even if you decide to take another degree, you could always go back in later years and have that experience on your application to apply as a mature student.

So bandage up your broken heart, weigh up your options here and do your best. Never let go of your dreams however impossible they seem!

kev9100

window_licker wrote: »

or my personal favourite:

F: I applied to go to college in England to do PE teaching!
G.C: Oh, your very young
F: Im not doing a PLC!
G.C: Well then let me suggest doing it over here
F: I wont get the points, Im not even doing enough honours subjects!
G.C: Well, you see, you've red hair, the minute u get off that plane there going to know that ur Irish, and the English are vicious when it comes to us, they'll give you an awful time, Very vicious people the english, very vicious, you wont last a day.
F: I am english.

hahahhahahaha

and i swear to god, not a word of it is a lie, the womans a joke!

That last one can't be true. Surely no teacher would be that thick to say something like that?

window_licker

kev9100 wrote: »

That last one can't be true. Surely no teacher would be that thick to say something like that?

I can give u some telephone numbers if ud like to clarify lol

Lawliet

felic wrote: »

Subjects like Geography, Chemistry, even History are totally manageable to pick up and complete in one year if you really focus on them and work at them.

I wouldn't be advising people to take up chemistry in a year, unless they need it as a requirement. It's one of the tougher courses on the leaving cert, very hard to get an A1 in.
Courses like geography, business and or lesser extent biology are much better choices for picking up in a year.

felic

Hardest subjects to get an A1 in? Are you kidding me? Have you looked at the 2009 paper? Its a joke. Now if it were the same exams that were being given 10 years ago or earlier, I would fully agree with you. But the Higher Level paper now is on par with the Ordinary paper back then.

Ok, speaking as someone who did Chemistry at uni, its easy for me to say this, but really... it is very doable in a year. A lot more doable than say for example the Irish Higher Level course or the English one.

Orlaladuck

Lol never ever do chemistry. Worst subject choice ever :L.

Also I really can't believe a woman would actually say english people are vicious =/. Especially towards the irish, as well as going by such a retarded stereotype of 'red hair'.

Making It Bad

Lawliet wrote: »

I wouldn't be advising people to take up chemistry in a year, unless they need it as a requirement. It's one of the tougher courses on the leaving cert, very hard to get an A1 in.
Courses like geography, business and or lesser extent biology are much better choices for picking up in a year.

Huh? An A1 in chemistry is very doable, something like 15% get one. Not really much to the course once you get the basic concepts. A lot of the course can be left out as well as they are very rarely examined.

felic

Is Chemistry really this unpopular? Wow! I understand why people might not like it but honestly... if you grasp whats actually happening, its really one of the EASIEST subjects and shortest too on the LC course!!! Maybe its unpopularity is why the exam has been dumbed down so much. Oh well...

And yeah.. that woman with the comment on the red hair has issues! She should be seeing a counsellor for that, not giving counsel herself!!! Nutcase!

implausible

OP, while your Guidance Counsellor (why can nobody spell today?) sounds like a bit of a nutter, she has a point in telling you straight that your chances of getting into Speech & Language therapy are slim. There are too many counsellors (and parents) out there who urge students to go follow their dreams, regardless of (or in spite of) the student's ability to either get into or complete the course.

Sometimes a reality shock is no harm. She has completely shot down option one for you, so now you know that you can concentrate on alternative ways around it (even though she should be the one recommending the alternatives). Have you looked at the course content? It may be your dream job but do you think you would be able for the various modules if you did get in?

She may have broken your heart, but in a way, she has probably done you a favour. Get cracking on researching the alternatives if this is truly what you want to do and have a plan B ready in case it doesn't work out.

gemxpink

IronGirl92 wrote: »

:eek: How is that even possible?!!

There are about 20 in my year doing so. Don't even ask me how they manage. Think spending everyday out on the streets might be a cause though..

LostinBlanch

Hi OP sorry to hear about your experience with your guidance counsellor.

Whatever she says I'd try and talk to some speech therapists and get their views. Maybe google to see if there are any speech therapists forums and ask advice. I found one here, but you can always look for more.

As someone already said, there are always ways around it. It might take you longer, but you can still get there if you are really set on it. Work hard and give the leaving your best shot. Try using learning techniques like mindmaps, they really helped me in college and I'd love to have known about them when I did the leaving.

Even if you don't get the right points in the leaving, there is the option of repeating or of going to college as a mature student i.e. 23 years of age or more. Colleges are encouraged to keep a number of places for mature students each year and the entry requirements aren't so points based. But if you had shown a strong interest and experience in a related area that would stand to you.

Now it may be that your guidance counsellor is correct and speech and language therapy isn't for you, and if that's the case then it's no bad thing. At least you know now before investing a lot of time and effort into getting there and finding out that you aren't as into it as you thought you were. I take it that you weren't given any aptitude tests or anything like that? If you were, then that would point to where your strengths lie. If you weren't then a good book to get is called What Colour Is Your Parachute by a guy called Richard Boles. It's primarily aimed at jobseekers but there are sections that test your strengths and weaknesses and can help you in your career choices. Check if your local library has a copy. If they have, get it out immediately, if not spend 50c and reserve a copy, they'll let you know when it's reserved and will keep it for you.

Just remember that whatever you do now doesn't define the rest of your life. It might seem like that now, and loads of people will be leading you to believe it, but it's not true. If that was the case why do so many people change careers?

You may have guessed that this information isn't specific to speech therapy, it's the kind of thing that can be used for whatever courses people choose. Basically, it's what I'd expect a career guidance counsellor to do! :rolleyes:

Anyway, whatever you choose. Good luck.