Make your choice
Natasha Drew, Head of the Guidance and Counselling Department at Blackrock College, Dublin, gives her expert advice on selecting the right course on the CAO
Choosing the right college course is crucial. Your future career and the next three or four years of your life depend on the choices you make. But more and more students are choosing the wrong course. According to the latest data from the Higher Education Authority, the number of third-level students who did not progress from first to second year has risen to 15pc.
Natasha Drew, who has nearly three decades of experience in education and guidance and also runs a private practice in South County Dublin, says there are misconceptions about choosing courses, but try to have a clear mind about your choices.
“Do not follow your friends,” says Natasha. “You can stay connected with them and also make new friends. Freshers’ Week and joining any of the many committees is an easy way to get involved and meet new people. Also, do not listen to hearsay – only make your CAO list according to your preference and not based on the number of points you think you might attain.”
Understand yourself
Before you even start looking into your options, understanding your interests and strengths is the first and most critical step.
“You may have completed an aptitude and/ or interest assessment in the senior cycle of secondary school,” says Natasha. “If not, there are some free basic ones online you could try as a guide to pointing you in the right direction. If you would like a comprehensive interest assessment, I would suggest you contact a qualified guidance counsellor and ask them about this service.”
Natasha has some top tips for how you can find a course suited to you:
◊ Explore the ‘Why’ of the subjects you chose in school, your extracurriculars, hobbies and motivations. Try to list your top five values and discuss them with family and friends and gain their perspectives too. Gather the information and see if any patterns in this data can steer you in a particular direction.
◊ Once you have established a general field of study you are interested in, research it. careersportal.ie is an excellent resource that I use to create a list of courses in a particular field. Using the filter tools on the website will help you narrow down the selection of courses by location, course level, and so on.
◊ Check the entry requirements and points for the courses you have chosen. Do you have the subjects they are looking for and do you have the points? Place your courses in genuine order of preference – ALWAYS ‘Favourite First’.
◊ Do not be afraid to put in your dream course, followed by realistic courses and finally, safety net courses. If you get the points for the dream course, you will be annoyed with yourself for not having listed it. Seek advice from parents and counsellors; it is important to get this list right.
Making decisions
When selecting a course, practical considerations such as location, costs, and employment opportunities can’t be overlooked either.
Natasha says to consider how you will commute to college and the financial implications of living away from home. She also suggests thinking about the broader skill sets provided by a course.
“The world of work is changing rapidly with IT and AI,” says Natasha. “College can give you invaluable transferable skills if you are flexible and open-minded. Choose modules that allow for critical thinking, soft skills, creativity, and IT skills, the list is endless. “These transferable skills can be adapted to many career paths and are what employers of the future are seeking. futurewise.ie is an excellent resource to learn about the future world of work.”
Careful consideration
COLLEGE CAN GIVE YOU INVALUABLE TRANSFERABLE SKILLS IF YOU ARE FLEXIBLE AND OPEN-MINDED. CHOOSING MODULES THAT ALLOW FOR CRITICAL THINKING, SOFT SKILLS, CREATIVITY, AND IT SKILLS, THE LIST IS ENDLESS.
Making the right choice is critical, but for those who end up on a course they don’t like, what can they do?
Natasha advises, “Look at why the course was on your CAO list in the first place and why you want to change the course now. There are support services available in all colleges. I would visit them and discuss your options before you leave.”
But she also says that what you choose does not have to limit your career options, “I have a friend who studied History at Trinity College Dublin and now works in finance in Dubai. The title of your degree does not have to define you.”
Parents also play a crucial supportive role during this journey and there are several ways parents can help. “Parents can assist in alleviating some of the stress and assist in making informed decisions.
“Help your child find a Leaving Certificate/ CAO-free zone, away from the noise. Minimise that chatter, and maximise the hugs.”
Visit natashadrewcareerguidance.ie