It’s CAO time – 7 steps to making the right choice for a brighter future

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The CAO & university college application systems are now open, marking an important step in your academic journey. If you’re feeling uncertain about your choices, don’t worry—there are plenty of ways to find clarity. This guide offers practical pointers to help you identify your interests, explore course options, and gather the information you need to make an informed decision. By taking these steps, you’ll be better prepared to set a clear and purposeful goal for your future. And remember, if you need extra support, don’t hesitate to reach out for a free 15min consultation.

Here are a few pointers:-

  1. Start with jotting down what you think interests you most, asking it reflects your strengths/talents or maybe what you’d like to be good at and/or skills you’d like to develop – if you’re not sure what you’d prefer just ask your family, friends, take interest questionnaires/aptitude tests.
  2. Decide if you’d prefer a definite/career-focused course, or are you a broad/open-ended/academic learner? Are you more interested in realistic qualifications where the key is to learn how to apply knowledge & skills in specific roles, or are you happy for now just to learn to satisfy your thirst for knowledge and you’ll figure out your career later?
  3. Investigate where you can do what you selected – save yourself online time by being very specific when using CareersPortal & Qualifax (Eunicas for courses in the EU), Unibrowse or OnetOnline
  4. Check out their Open Day/events, online Webinars/videos or local Careers Fair – you can get a full list of these on the Calendar of Events on Qualifax
  5. If necessary organise your own visit for your top few choices, after all you’ll probably be committing 2/3/4 years to it – it’s up to you to find a way to get informed and you know it makes sense
  6. Review the full course details online and jot down anything you’re unsure about – you will want these questions to be answered
  7. Share your findings & experiences with your family & friends – this is the bit that helps you clarify your feelings about these choices before you make a final commitment

Do yourself a favour, get stuck into the task now. Get informed & set yourself a definite goal. You’ll feel better, more purposeful and in control of your own destiny.

If you feel confused or overwhelmed or you feel you just need a bit of help call for a free 15 min initial consultation Book Now

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What are my options after the Leaving Cert?

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The most searched education/career guidance question by school leaving students is “What should I do after the Leaving Cert?”.

It’s a question that many ask themselves as they approach the end of their secondary education and prepare for the next stage of their lives.

There are a number of different options available to students after the Leaving Cert, including:

  • Higher Education & Training HET/HE i.e. going to university: This is by far the most common option for students who wish to pursue a degree. Universities and colleges in Ireland & Europe offer a wide range of academic and applied courses with a broad or definite career focus.
  • Further Education & Training FET i.e. going to a further education college (sometimes called PLC, Post Leaving Cert) or into training to do a craft or modern apprenticeship:  FET covers initial 1-2 year applied courses which can lead to a career start or on to Higher Education certificate/degree courses, and training apprenticeships – a good option for students who wish to develop specific skills for a particular career. Training and apprenticeships are for those who prefer ‘learning by doing’ and most also come with some pay. There are further education colleges/institutions in nearly every large town/city in Ireland with many offering a wide range of courses.
  • Get a job i.e. enter the workforce: Some students may choose to enter the workforce directly after the Leaving Cert because they already have an offer, are not yet ready to commit to a HET/FET qualification or their circumstances dictate this as the best option right now. This is a good option for students who know what they want to do and have the skills and experience to get a job which does not necessitate further or higher education.
  • Taking a gap year: Some choose to take a gap year after the Leaving Cert. This can be a good way to gain work experience and maybe save a bit, travel, volunteer. This break from education gives more time to reflect and investigate future options.

The best option for a student will depend on their individual interests, skills, and goals. It is important for students to do their investigating and consider all of their options before making a decision.

Here are some tips for school leaving students:

  • Talk to your parents, teachers, and friends.  They can offer you support and advice as you make your decision or they may know someone who can help you with some insider information.
  • Do your own investigating & research. CareerPortal is a great, free tool for investigating qualifications and careers in Ireland; Qualifax is dedicated to providing detailed course information; EUNICAS is so handy for finding HET courses taught through English within the EU; & UCAS for the UK. It’s also wise to visit universities and colleges, talk to current students and staff, and attend open days. Or if you focused on a specific career/job read up on it and then try to talk to someone who’s already in that role. This is all about getting informed.
  • Consider your interests, skills, and goals.  What do you enjoy doing? What are you good at? What skills would you like to develop? What do you just love to know about? What’s your greatest talent? What do you want to achieve in your career? What are your priorities?
  • Don’t be afraid to change your mind.  It is normal to be unsure about what you want to do after the Leaving Cert and many students change their preferences – it’s ok and you should allow yourself the option to change your mind later on.
  • Take control of your own destiny. Coming to a decision involves a process of clarifying you vision of yourself and getting informed so you can identify the direction you’ll be taking in the coming years. It’s worth the investment of your time and effort so you can get it right.

The most important thing is to make a decision that is right for you. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of what to do after the Leaving Cert.

If you feel confused or overwhelmed or you just feel you need professional help call for a free 15 minute initial consultation BOOK NOW

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Didn’t get the HPAT for Medicine – what are my options ?

While it may feel like a shock and a great disappointment you must quickly bounce back and focus on your CAO choices. So here are a few

– pick a similar degree & come back to medicine

– do a gap year & retake HPAT

– go for a different heath career

– choose something else

Pick a similar Degree & come back to medicine

Identify similar courses to studying medicine and start on one of these degrees. On completion with at least a 2:1 honours degree and successful completion of the GAMSAT you’ll be able to apply for the graduate-entry route to medicine – this is generally a four year degree and open to graduates of any cognate degree subject (yes Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Business, and STEM based areas). However if you do similar subjects in your degree to those in the first years of Medicine then the graduate route will most likely be familiar and easier, and perhaps you may even be able to request exemptions from certain modules if you have covered them in your undergraduate course (eg physiology, microbiology, biochemistry, chemistry, anatomy, etc – check the medicine degrees descriptions). The disadvantage of this route is that it takes a few years longer (probably 8 years in total as opposed to 5/6 years) and the graduate-entry fees, etc make it considerably costlier than the undergraduate option. While this option gives you the opportunity to come back to study medicine later it also offers you other career options.

Do a gap year & retake HPAT

Take a year out to practice and retake the HPAT next year. This will also give you the added advantage of time to seek out health related work experience/s and most importantly personal conversations with professionals about their choices and experiences. It also offers the benefit of focused time to research to better inform yourself about what lays ahead in the study and training required to become a doctor, with the distraction of the leaving cert, CAO & college/university choices and school. These added experiences and information often lead to greater maturity of choice and focus of effort, whatever you choose.

Go for a different heath career

Decide to focus on a different health related career and give-up on studying medicine – most of us are suited to many diverse careers in which we can be successful and very often our choices are just a reflection of our preferences as we try to match our needs, interests, aspirations and strengths. We can be happy in many career directions.

Choose something else

Do a totally different degree type – probably only a good idea if you are well informed and committed to the course. Maybe the year out option might be better if you haven’t researched alternatives or are unsure – see above.

And of course there are other options out there.

Qualifax & CareersPortal will help you list the alternatives but also check out the university’s own degree description section ‘what can you do with your degree in …’ . And of course talk to your loved ones. If you need more then call us for professional help.

So yeah, not alway easy, these are adult choices – pick one, commit yourself to it and make sure you enjoy the journey.

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final CAO choices

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  1. Decision making is a mix of emotion and information – you need to know what you’re letting yourself in for and it has to feel right.cao
  2. Once you decide on your 1st choice be consistent with your 2nd & 3rd preferences, etc – make them similar to your 1st.
  3. There are always alternate routes – use some of the remaining options as alternative routes to your main goal.  In past years too many students with high points were left with no college/university offers because they picked just a few highly competitive courses with no back-up plans.
  4. Remember to check that you meet any special entry requirements – if you don’t have these then choose an alternate route.
  5. Be smart, make sure you also have one insurance option.
  6. Don’t forget you can also look at FE/PLC courses & Apprenticeships – but finish your CAO first.
  7. If you’re stuck then ask for help from family or if you would like to have a chat just give me a call.
  8. Lastly be optimistic and ambitious – identify the challenge you’ll relish the most and choose what feels right for you.
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CAO review time – the bare essentials

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  1. caoDecision making is a mix of information and emotion – you need to know what you’re letting yourself in for and it has to feel right.
  2. Be consistent with your 2nd & 3rd preferences, etc – make them the same or similar to your 1st.
  3. Use the remaining options as back-up’s routes – in past years many students with over 500 points were left with no college/university offers because they’d indicated only a few high points courses with no back-up plans. So make sure you have alternative routes to your main goal – there are always alternatives.
  4. Check that you meet any special entry requirements.
  5. Call if you’re stuck and would like some help.
  6. Remember – Be optimistic and realistic, you live and work with your choices. Choose what’s right for you.
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How can I choose the right CAO course for me? – 7 steps to making the right choice for a brighter future

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The CAO & university college application deadlines are here. And perhaps you’re already into exams mode …

If you’re still undecided here are a few pointers;

  • Start with jotting down what you think interests you most, asking how it relates to your strengths/talents – what you’d like to be good at and/or skills you’d like to develop – if you’re not sure what you’d prefer just ask your family, friends, take interest questionnaires/aptitude tests, or book a consultation https://caseycareers.ie/contact/
  • Decide if you’d prefer a definite/career-focused course,  or are you a broad/open-ended/academic learner?
  • Investigate where you can do it – save yourself time by being very specific when using CareersPortal & Qualifax (Eunicas for courses in the EU), Unibrowse or OnetOnline
  • Check out their Open Day/event, Higher Options or local Careers Fair – you can get a full list of these on the Qualifax Events Calendar
  • Organise your own visit for your top few choices if your school isn’t doing one – it’s up to you to find a way to get informed
  • Review the full course details online and jot down anything you’re unsure about – you will want these questions to be answered
  • Share your findings & experiences with your family & friends – this is the bit that helps you clarify your feelings about these choices before you make a final commitment

Do yourself a favour, get stuck into the task now. Get informed & set yourself a definite goal. You’ll feel better, more purposeful and in control of your own destiny.

And don’t worry, if you’re not applying for any restricted courses then you can always change your preferences once the system wakens up on the 1st of May.

If you feel confused or overwhelmed or you feel you just need a bit of help call for a free 15 minute initial consultation  051436029 / 0863107356 / 012820966

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Get your head out of the sand – 7 steps to making the right choice

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Don’t wait, act now. It will be Christmas before you know it.
The university college application deadlines follow quickly after that.
And then you’re into exams mode …

Open Day season is now running so;

  • Start with what you think interests you most (asking how it relates to your strengths/talents), what you’d like to be good at and/or skills you’d like to develop – if you’re not sure what you’d prefer just ask your family, friends, take interest/aptitude tests, talk to your Guidance Counsellor
  • Decide if you’d prefer a definite/career-focused/applied   or  a broad/open-ended/academic course
  • Find out where you can do it using Qualifax, Eunicas & CareersPortal
  • Check out their Virtual Open Day or specific Career Fair – you can get a list of these on the Qualifax Events Calendar
  • Organise your own visit for your top few choices if your school isn’t doing one – it’s up to you to find a way to get informed
  • Review the full course details online and jot down anything you’re unsure about – you will want these queries to be answered
  • Share your insights & experiences with your family & friends – this is the bit that helps you clarify your feelings about these choices before you make a final commitment

To help you do this there are many course & career websites – save time by being very specific when researching on  unibrowse, qualifax, eunicas, & careersportal, onetonline, etc

Do yourself a favour, get stuck into the task now.  Get informed & set yourself a definite goal.  It’s time to get ready.

You’ll feel better, more purposeful and in control of your own destiny

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You can’t enjoy life without skills

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SONY DSC

 

There’s immense pleasure to be had from acquiring skills,

in learning how to do anything well.

Life is enhanced & fulfilling by learning the discipline of a skill, even though it often takes a lot of time & effort.

To be happy,

is to be able to develop your skills, talents & intelligences

in a endeavour based on the learning that interests you most.

To Identify your preferences & strengths and make smarter choices  BOOK NOW

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Need guidance but going nowhere?

If you feel confused or overwhelmed or you feel you just need a bit of help call for a free 15 minute initial consultation BOOK NOW

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CAO choices bothering you, with exams about to start

If your teen can’t resolve their choices by this Saturday, that’s ok and it’s quite normal.

It’s time for them to be uni-focal by ignoring all distractions, limiting/excluding social-media usage and just concentrating on the task at hand. Get them to set the whole issue aside until the exams over – by then everything will look differently and they’ll have time to focus on college and career preferences.

Now is the time to be single-minded about preparation for the exams. To do this they must focus on work and block out anything that’s not essential to the task at hand – prioritize their time for study, but do include some exercise, a little socialising, and enough sleep.

When the exams are over then they should focus solely on finalizing their choices by researching and talking through their preferences with whoever is helping them (most need hands on help). And remember it’s not for ever, it’s only for the next phase of their life.

It’ll all be over soon and hopefully the sun will arrive for a good summer

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