Chemistry In Leaving Cert?

MarieAsh

Hey! So Im a fifth year student and have a big interest in doing dietetics after school. I only recently came to the realisation this is what I wanted to do and the problem is I don't do chemistry in school which is a requirement for the college course. There is only one chemistry class in my school which is the same time as my Home Economics class and I cant drop that as it would also by useful for nutrition and dietetics.

My only option is to get weekly grinds outside of school but would that be enough to see me through the leaving cert with at least a higher C3. How hard is chemistry for leaving cert?

Also wondering does anyone know someone who would give chemistry grinds in the Monaghan/Cavan area?
Thanks.

krd

You could probably do the chemistry yourself if you're really interested. Read the books, and practice the exam questions.

Or you could drop the home economics and do the chemistry class, and then read the home economics books and practice the exam questions.

Remember the exams are exams, and there's no law says you can't read the books if you're interested. If you're really interested in studying something in the future, get as many books on the subject as you can find and read - don't worry about being bamboozzled, it will show you the gaps in your knowledge you need to fill.

It depends a lot on your school. It depends, it depends, it depends. Which do you think would be of more value to your, home ec or leaving cert chemistry.

Chemistry is just extreme cooking.

amen

Sorry if Home Economics is not a requirement for entry to the dietetics course is then drop Home Economics and take Chemistry.

If you don't have Chemistry then not matter how good a grade you get in Home Economics you won't be doing the course.

MarieAsh

MarieAsh wrote: »

There is only one chemistry class in my school which is the same time as my Home Economics class and I cant drop that as it would also by useful for nutrition and dietetics.

I replied to your post over in the TCD forum, but I'm going to reply here too as you've explained more about your situation here.

You say you can't drop Home Ec as it would be useful for dietetics. I did Home Ec for the Junior cert in 2006, and looking back, the secondary level Home Ec course has some scarily inaccurate nutrition information in it. I didn't do it for the Leaving but I can't imagine it being much better. So there's a good likelihood that Home Ec isn't as useful as you think it'd be for dietetics. On top of that, chemistry isn't just useful for dietetics, it's essential, because it's a course requirement.

Is there any way you could join the chemistry class just for practicals, but study the content in your own time?

debsw

If you can change I would recommend changing to chemistry as alot of students struggle with chemistry initially (reactions, calculations etc) and need guidance whereas home ec would be easier to study by yourself. That's just my experience

Galwayguy20

There's a load of practical work in the leaving cert chemistry course that as far as I know you have to do. I think that you have to do it and have a teacher sign off that you did do it in order to complete the course. I'd talk to the chemistry teacher about it if I were you.

krd

Galwayguy20 wrote: »

There's a load of practical work in the leaving cert chemistry course that as far as I know you have to do. I think that you have to do it and have a teacher sign off that you did do it in order to complete the course. I'd talk to the chemistry teacher about it if I were you.

The teacher sign off may be the case these days. But I do know there were lots of schools where the kids weren't allowed do experiments, and had the teacher just demonstrate - elf and safety.

Idir talamh s speir

I am a chemistry teacher. There are a lot of mandatory experiments in Leaving Cert chemistry that you are obliged to actually do, similarly to the mandatory experiments you did in the Junior Cert. Regulations require you to do these experiments, something you won't be able to do if you try to study chemistry on your own with or without grinds. In addition to the mandatory experiments you would have to do there are also a range of specified experimental demonstrations your teacher would have to demonstrate to you. You can not register to sit the LC chemistry paper if you have not done the practicals. The same applies in the other LC science subjects. It's unfortunate the way subjects when timetabled end up aganst each other. I dont know what you can do, perhaps speaking to the teachers involved they may be able to offer a solution, the principal and the guidance counsellor may also be able to help.....worst case scenario if you really need to do both chem and HE would be (if it was possible) transfer to a school where it was possible to do both subjects?