Too late?

lukep13

Hi,

Perhaps someone can advise.. My girlfriend would like to go to college, im kind of confused with the system as i went through US education. Looking for some clarification.

From the research it seems like deadline for most schools is February and then the latest in May..She would like to get a Bachelors in Public Relations or similar...

I assume i have the right information regarding the deadlines...Is there anything she can do part time/take couple of courses or anything so she doesnt waste time, waiting for next semester/year?? Are there any schools that still might accept her?! We're in Dublin...thx

pathway33

keep an eye on the vacant places list http://www.cao.ie/index.php?page=vpl_enter

www.qualifax.ie lists all courses

kenon

Could possibly do a one year fetac course like this and then progress to a university next year.

Moonbeam

The courses with free places will be advertised during the cao offers.
If she does it part time she can apply directly to the colleges.

lukep13

Thanks alot guys for your answers. Im much clearer now..I guess the best thing is to go for a certificate ex:fetac, she will gain some skills, get familiar with topics..

I assume she will be able to transfer credits/points she earns during the first year, for further program to get a Bachelors Degree, meaning the Certificate holds some value, and she wont have to start all over. So say to get a Bachelors is three years, she will have to do 2 more years instead of three, since she gained already some qualification during the fetac 1 years stage. Am i correct?!

kenon

I would assume she'd still have to do the full 3 years. The fetac course would most likely act as a head-start though.

pathway33

lukep13 wrote: »

So say to get a Bachelors is three years, she will have to do 2 more years instead of three, since she gained already some qualification during the fetac 1 years stage. Am i correct?!

I wouldn't think this would be the case. There are situations where if you do a 2 year diploma you can enter the 2nd year of a degree. I've never heard of someone getting straight into 2nd year of a Bachelors after doing a 1 year FETAC.

Perhaps is she had experience in the industry that would be counted as credit against modules. Again it may not lead to a full year exemption. That would depend maybe on whether she was entering as a mature student (23+) or based on previous exam results (Leaving Cert / A-levels etc)

clarke1991

lukep13 wrote: »

Thanks alot guys for your answers. Im much clearer now..I guess the best thing is to go for a certificate ex:fetac, she will gain some skills, get familiar with topics..

I assume she will be able to transfer credits/points she earns during the first year, for further program to get a Bachelors Degree, meaning the Certificate holds some value, and she wont have to start all over. So say to get a Bachelors is three years, she will have to do 2 more years instead of three, since she gained already some qualification during the fetac 1 years stage. Am i correct?!

No thats not the case. I just did a FETAC course and am hoping to start a bacholers degree course next year. you still have to do the full course, it's just a different way of qualifying for it, like the leaving cert, and you will have to do the CAO. but you do have a head start if you do a FETAC course and you get an idea if you like the course enough to study it for a further 3/4.. years. hope this helps

Noodleworm

In my experience PLC courses are MUCH easier than college courses. I took a 1 yeah PLC course and then went to college to study the same subject, it only took us about 3 weeks on college to cover everything I had learned in the PLC