Lost leaving cert student

Kathyelli

Don't really know where to begin.....
Basically, I have thrown away my future because I have failed most subjects in my leaving cert.
It's hard to explain how exactly this happened. I used to always get A's, B's and C's in my exams and acheived 545 points in my Fifth year summer exams. My parents think I'm going to do okay (at least okay enough to get into college but it's not going to happen!)
I let all the revision and class work get on top of me and I couldn't keep up in the end. We got hardly any class tests this year as teachers were just trying to get the courses covered and so no1 (including me!) really noticed how behind I was getting.
I thought I had studied enough until the exams actually rolled around and I realised I really knew NOTHING. It sounds ridiculous, I know. I guess I was in denial as I was spending long hours up in my room but I was only staring blankly at books as I had gotten so exhausted by time February rolled around. I completely burned myself out and I didn't follow a regular healthy sleeping pattern as I would try and just cram but I wasn't actually learning anything, I was like a zombie. I, therefore would procrastinate aswel as the thought of looking at books made me even more tired. On average, I guess I was only able to get an hour of real study in every 2 days. I regret it all so much and I feel like everyone is going to be so disappointed in me. I'm hardly going to get 200 points the way I'm performing in these exams. I can't focus, remember things and am skipping whole questions as I can't even keep up timewise. I've just made a mess of everything.
Anyway, I have Law and French down on my CAO (530 pts) which should've been acheviable for me but it's completely out of my reach now. I also have similar law courses that would've made me happy with the lowest at 395 pts. I'm not even going to get that though
Law with French is something I know I would be really passionate about and I've been set in this idea for a while. I don't think a PLC course can get me there and I haven't heard of any law courses in Institutes.
Ive done terrible in all the subjects I used to be good at (I'm predicting D's and E's) including honours Maths 😰 All my family and teachers will be so confused and disappointed that I've messed up my future. I'm considering to just repeat because I want to fulfill my potential and to actually be able to say I did a decent Leaving Cert. But I can't repeat in a fancy grinds school as my parents could not afford it. Also my own school doesn't let students repeat sixth year. I'm at a loss right now really and I just don't know how I can fix this utter mess. Thoughts and opinions would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Bazinga_N

Kathyelli wrote: »

Don't really know where to begin.....
Basically, I have thrown away my future because I have failed most subjects in my leaving cert.
It's hard to explain how exactly this happened. I used to always get A's, B's and C's in my exams and acheived 545 points in my Fifth year summer exams. My parents think I'm going to do okay (at least okay enough to get into college but it's not going to happen!)
I let all the revision and class work get on top of me and I couldn't keep up in the end. We got hardly any class tests this year as teachers were just trying to get the courses covered and so no1 (including me!) really noticed how behind I was getting.
I thought I had studied enough until the exams actually rolled around and I realised I really knew NOTHING. It sounds ridiculous, I know. I guess I was in denial as I was spending long hours up in my room but I was only staring blankly at books as I had gotten so exhausted by time February rolled around. I completely burned myself out and I didn't follow a regular healthy sleeping pattern as I would try and just cram but I wasn't actually learning anything, I was like a zombie. I, therefore would procrastinate aswel as the thought of looking at books made me even more tired. On average, I guess I was only able to get an hour of real study in every 2 days. I regret it all so much and I feel like everyone is going to be so disappointed in me. I'm hardly going to get 200 points the way I'm performing in these exams. I can't focus, remember things and am skipping whole questions as I can't even keep up timewise. I've just made a mess of everything.
Anyway, I have Law and French down on my CAO (530 pts) which should've been acheviable for me but it's completely out of my reach now. I also have similar law courses that would've made me happy with the lowest at 395 pts. I'm not even going to get that though
Law with French is something I know I would be really passionate about and I've been set in this idea for a while. I don't think a PLC course can get me there and I haven't heard of any law courses in Institutes.
Ive done terrible in all the subjects I used to be good at (I'm predicting D's and E's) including honours Maths 😰 All my family and teachers will be so confused and disappointed that I've messed up my future. I'm considering to just repeat because I want to fulfill my potential and to actually be able to say I did a decent Leaving Cert. But I can't repeat in a fancy grinds school as my parents could not afford it. Also my own school doesn't let students repeat sixth year. I'm at a loss right now really and I just don't know how I can fix this utter mess. Thoughts and opinions would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Okay well look don't start to panic yet! You won't know how you did until August. You might surprise yourself.

It's no harm trying to sort some back-ups now though. You could do a PLC course for a year and head onto College from there. I think you're aiming for Cork (Law&French in UCC is 530), if so Cork College of Comerce have a course in Legal Adminstration and Colaiste Stiofan Naofa have a course in Law & Politics. Both are only a year long and have progression links with UCC. It might be worth having a look into them as a back-up.

rainbowtrout

Wait until August and see how you get on and what offers you get before you make any decisions.

If nothing but to ease your stress, find out about other schools in your area who do take repeat students, some secondary schools have a repeat class.

adam240610

Make sure you put some level 7's down on your CAO form, you'll be able to progress from a level 7 onto an 8 the following year. Try thinking of the things you did right rather than something you think you messed up on. You probably did better than you thought you did.

naughtysmurf

Don't stress yourself out, there is every chance you have done a lot better than you think, my eldest is doing LC this year, the general consensus is that the paper's are fair so you may be pleasantly surprised by your results, what's the worst that can happen????? You can repeat if needed, it's not the end of the world

Subcomandante Marcos

Look, worst case scenario you did as terribly as you think and you repeat the year or do a level 5 is a related field to that which you want to do in university and progress that way.

To be honest, doing the level 5 would be the easier option, most are continuous assessment meaning the exams are spread over both semesters and the specialisation of subjects means less exams over all and not having to worry about the subjects you don't like holding you back.

Lost of universities also have access programmes which offer a 1 year course which allows you to progress to a level 8.

Kathyelli

Thank you everyone for well thought out suggestions. I will be doing research but I would also like to find out about applying next as an external candidate.
Would I be able to repeat all 7 subjects?:
Maths HL
English (I would take pass this time around)
Irish HL
French HL
Chemistry HL
Business HL
History HL
I think the cost would be about 300 euro and I could deal with that.
I know with History I need a project, would I be able to use the one I submitted this year?
Also just any information in general would be much appreciated. Thank ye all so much

adam240610

Kathyelli wrote: »

Thank you everyone for well thought out suggestions. I will be doing research but I would also like to find out about applying next as an external candidate.
Would I be able to repeat all 7 subjects?:
Maths HL
English (I would take pass this time around)
Irish HL
French HL
Chemistry HL
Business HL
History HL
I think the cost would be about 300 euro and I could deal with that.
I know with History I need a project, would I be able to use the one I submitted this year?
Also just any information in general would be much appreciated. Thank ye all so much

You can't reuse projects I'm afraid

derb12

Hi, I second what all the other posters have said (I'd steer you more to the plc route - it's a definite step forward, and you've no idea how soul destroying it can be to be rehashing over proof by induction and sraith pictiuri for another year while your pals are moving on and you should be studying stuff that you have a passion for - and I'm speaking from experience here).
The main thing I'd add: I urge you to talk to your parents and tell them what you wrote here. Don't have this simmering under the surface all summer.
And you never know how things will go in the end. It might turn out fine and either way, you've learned a valuable life lesson about life balance and facing up to difficulties. Best of luck!

Kathyelli

derb12 wrote: »

Hi, I second what all the other posters have said (I'd steer you more to the plc route - it's a definite step forward, and you've no idea how soul destroying it can be to be rehashing over proof by induction and sraith pictiuri for another year while your pals are moving on and you should be studying stuff that you have a passion for - and I'm speaking from experience here).
The main thing I'd add: I urge you to talk to your parents and tell them what you wrote here. Don't have this simmering under the surface all summer.
And you never know how things will go in the end. It might turn out fine and either way, you've learned a valuable life lesson about life balance and facing up to difficulties. Best of luck!

Thank you. I can understand how that would probably be a better option, however, I don't think I even passed Maths. Doesn't that prevent me from applying to PLC courses even?

StanleyOllie

Please dont be so worried. Many years ago I was heading for a good leaving cert but due to a death and illness basically barely passed. Didnt go to collage as planned but there are different roads to get to where you want. Ended up going to college in evening a few years later. I am now a manager with a successful career.
Please sit down and tell your parents how you are feeling. You dont have to tell them the extent of it but believe me they would not want you stressing. We are all aware that this is a HUGELY stressful time. They will understand. They would not want you to let this build up in side.
At the end of the day its only an exam. It can be repeated. You can do a different course and take a different route to the qualification you want. Things end up working out... they just do. Stressing isnt going to make the out come any different. Tell your parents... just sit down and say you dont think you are doing as well as you had hoped and let it flow from there. The support and advice will make it all seem better. All you can do is your best on the day.

AilishNi

Please don't fret over the Leaving Cert! I know it may seem like the end of the world, but there are lots of avenues for you to pursue into third level.

I strongly recommend doing a FETAC Level 5 course. I'm sure there are colleges of further education in your area that will do this. I would pick a University Access Course as they will have links to all the universities and this will help you to progress into Uni.

I did the leaving cert on my own as I left school when I was 16 and it was one of the hardest things I've had to do; it was daunting and by the end of it, I was completely disillusioned. I had no idea that there were PLC courses that would get you into University and when I did find out I had already put myself through repeating the LC again!

PLCs are becoming more and more popular lately. These courses are very easy, once you put in the effort and are focused - nowhere near as tiring as studying for the Leaving Cert!

I just finished a Level 5 and came away with 8 distinctions (most universities only require you to have 3 or 5 distinctions, but having 7 or 8 will give you a far better chance of getting in as you are competing with other FETAC applicants for whichever course you want).

That being said, the university access course is going to be the best course to do - mostly you are being graded on a gradual basis doing assignments that can range from 1500 to 6000 words, some presentations and then at the end of the course you'll have to do some exams but again they wouldn't be anything like the LC, they are usually very manageable and easy enough. They usually give you between an hour - 2 hours and when I did mine most of my class were done in an hour.

Also the University Access course is linked with The trinity access programme, incase you were interested in going there.

I'm currently waiting to hear from the CAO in August like yourself and am hoping for either UCD or Maynooth, so fingers crossed!

I hope this helps, but you never know you may get what you need in the CAO! Good luck