Unsure what to do next year.

Manc Red

Hi

I have no idea what I want to do next year. I have applied for to do law and have discussed it with my careers teacher but I don't think I'm ready at the minute. I am not 100% sure a law degree is useful and I am unsure about other courses.

I have wanted to law (preferably business law) since around 3rd year but I am unsure of the usefulness of a law degree nowadays. Seeing a few solicitor offices in my area getting rid of staff is kinda worrying to say the least. From what I have studied, it's tough to get into and make a name for your self.

Is taking a year out worth it? Whats my options if I do take a year out? I have not got a clue since it's not something a I have thought about doing really. I know the are PLC's that I can do but are they really of any benefit? If I done a PLC course would it affect doing a level 7 or 8 course the following year?

I also have the disadvantage of not having a 3rd language in the leaving cert so how would I go about attaining that? Would I need to go to a specific school or back to my old school?

I done the following in the LC:

(OL) Math,
(OL) Irish,
(HL) English,
(HL) Business,
(HL) Geography,
(HL) History,
(HL) Biology.

sarah.

I think you should do what you want to do regardless of job prospects, it'll be at least 3 years until you're out of college and there are very few jobs out there at the moment in any area! Go for what you want to do and if you're unsure of what you want to do maybe a year out would be best although I have no experience of taking a year out so best to get advice on that off someone else! Whatever you end up doing, make you sure your doing it for the right reasons, i.e you have an interest in it Good luck with whatever you do!

Manc Red

sarah. wrote: »

I think you should do what you want to do regardless of job prospects, it'll be at least 3 years until you're out of college and there are very few jobs out there at the moment in any area! Go for what you want to do and if you're unsure of what you want to do maybe a year out would be best although I have no experience of taking a year out so best to get advice on that off someone else! Whatever you end up doing, make you sure your doing it for the right reasons, i.e you have an interest in it Good luck with whatever you do!

Thank you.

What I fear is that I will take the wrong course and end up dropping out. If I take a year out I am stumped on what I could do for the year. Jobs, courses and funding etc. Don't have a clue to be honest.

If I take a year out there would be no way I would do it and not do another language in the LC. Did French right up until the Junior cert then dropped it cause my teacher was terrible. I don't know how I would go about doing it tho.

._.

sarah. wrote: »

I think you should do what you want to do regardless of job prospects, it'll be at least 3 years until you're out of college and there are very few jobs out there at the moment in any area! Go for what you want to do and if you're unsure of what you want to do maybe a year out would be best although I have no experience of taking a year out so best to get advice on that off someone else! Whatever you end up doing, make you sure your doing it for the right reasons, i.e you have an interest in it Good luck with whatever you do!

That really isn't the best of advice... Job prospects are important, something which IMO you need to carefully consider before going to college.
What's the point in slaving away in a course for 4 years and then not being able to get a job?

conlufc

._. wrote: »

That really isn't the best of advice... Job prospects are important, something which IMO you need to carefully consider before going to college.
What's the point in slaving away in a course for 4 years and then not being able to get a job?

thats true, but i also wouldnt recommend doing a course that isnt in intresting to the person doing it just so they had a job in that field after college.
they will more than likely drop out

fatalll

Cant believe im giving a manc red :-( some advice lol

conlufc is right in some of what he says

Do what you want, you wont be able to tell what you like until you are actually doing the course.

Also you cannot tell what jobs will be about in 4-5 years time... I imagine Software Development graduates and Bio-Tech will still be looking for people...after that its just guess work really.

Sometimes you can change course with the college you start in if places available(through other people in similar situation dropping out or changing course) if you have the entry requirements.

Also make sure you travel for a year after college..or during...its a good life experience.
Good luck in whatever you do anyway....

Framble

No matter what ya do you'll probably have to get a masters anyway to get a good job so that's like 6 or 7 years away! Who knows where the jobs will be then?

sarah.

._. wrote: »

That really isn't the best of advice... Job prospects are important, something which IMO you need to carefully consider before going to college.
What's the point in slaving away in a course for 4 years and then not being able to get a job?

Yes, considering that is important but it's downright stupid to do something purely because there are jobs available in that field! People need to go to college and do something they have an interest in or they'll end up hating their course and possibly failing it or dropping out of it! In my opinion it's better to get a degree in something you like and enjoy, rather than doing one that might lead you directly to a job after graduating, but that you've no great interest in! That's all I'm saying.

._.

sarah. wrote: »

Yes, considering that is important but it's downright stupid to do something purely because there are jobs available in that field! People need to go to college and do something they have an interest in or they'll end up hating their course and possibly failing it or dropping out of it! In my opinion it's better to get a degree in something you like and enjoy, rather than doing one that might lead you directly to a job after graduating, but that you've no great interest in! That's all I'm saying.

And it's impossible to find something you like, do research on it and see job prospects?

macskanadrag

To the OP:
I also say do what you would enjoy doing. Arguments like "there are no jobs out there" are simply not true. There are jobs and there are always options, especially if you are interested in what you are doing and are willing to go the extra mile. You will know more about how to get a job when you have the knowledge required in your field.
I have a degree in what i loved doing (English and Linguistics - translating and languages in general fascinate me big time) then i went on to working in a few different areas, then came to Ireland, lived my life, working in different areas again and slowly realised that what i want to do is completely different Now i'm pursuing that and i can't say that i regret having a degree in something that i don't use directly in a job.

I'm not saying that my way is the best way, just giving you my story and why i think that you are absolutely fine with taking a year off or going to the college you are interested in despite your fears that you won't have a job.

Education doesn't directly translate into only your degree's economical value - horrible attitude towards education i think.
What you study is something you will incorporate in your life and no matter what you study, you will benefit from it. Travelling too
As ._. said, if you are lucky enough to have an interest in something that you can get a job out of, happy days. But there ARE jobs and you don't know what the case will be when you graduate.

The only thing i'd consider about law is that it's quite specific to the country you are studying it in. I think there are specialisations such as international (business) law which might be useful if you decide later on that you'd travel and work a bit somewhere else.