An Irish view on the prospects of further education.
36 replies, posted
With it being the time of year that it is and everybody getting ready or already started back at school, college, uni or whatever and with this comes the various ramblings of people who didn't make the cut, can't afford it, hate the education system on the whole, think getting a job is better(Not saying its not) or people who got in and would like to know how the next level of education in their lives works.
Well depending on where you live/where you would like to go its going to be pretty different from here on out.
In Ireland we work on a final exam system where your best 6 subjects are graded and those grades turn into points which each each Degree/Course has a minimum points requirement and the more people apply for that course the higher the points thus, Its all down to inflation. This system is PURE SHIT but its the best we have and one of the best systems I know of because nearly everybody can go to college if they choose and because on low tuition fees, Ca$h is rarely an issue. €2000 tuition a year with books of about €200-€500 depending on course.
UK have the UCAS system with is also a very good system working on A-Levels basis but I don't know much about just the ramblings of my Northern Irish friends.
The american System seems to be the most fucked up system I have ever encountered but not for the reason of how people gain the availability to get to college because one of my friends sat his SATs and he told me that the only problem in accessing college was funding which was in the area of $35000 a year including books + food etc. When I was told this I honestly could not see the point in going to college if your going to be in debt $140000 with a very poor prospect of getting a job when finished!
Sure college can be a great time to socialise and all that but people seem to forget that college, uni all those things are just a stepping stone to get too the career you want to pre sue and remember that practical experience is rated way above a piece of paper. But for those looking to college to try make the gates of success easier, remember that a college degree does not guaranty you of a job and depending on which system of further education you use will have a radical effect on your life.
So I say go to college and fulfil you're dreams but if you're not 100% sure on if its for you, then for the love of all you hold dear DON'T GO! Because college may open doors but it will certainly close them!
What route are you going to take and have you already?
I'm gonna go to college in one of those less popular schools in Limerick or something, thanks to inflation
Is it true by leaving the country you will not have to pay your debts but will be denied access back into the country?
[QUOTE=Bytecry;32255708]Is it true by leaving the country you will not have to pay your debts but will be denied access back into the country?[/QUOTE]
Not too sure but Debt forgiveness is not very popular!
[QUOTE=i-am-teh-sex;32255701]I'm gonna go to college in one of those less popular schools in Limerick or something, thanks to inflation[/QUOTE]
You sure about Limerick? I mean, it's Limerick.
[QUOTE=Deaver;32255855]You sure about Limerick? I mean, it's Limerick.[/QUOTE]
Hence the 'or something' :v:
[QUOTE=Bytecry;32255708]Is it true by leaving the country you will not have to pay your debts but will be denied access back into the country?[/QUOTE]No
Gonna do my leaving cert in June. Still getting into the habit of revising for at least an hour everyday. Will be increasing the study load to like 2 hours within the next month. This year's gonna suck, but Uni will be good, hopefully. Ofc that all depends if I have the money...
Oh hey John, I've started College in NCI by the way :dance:
[QUOTE=Chickens!;32256215]Oh hey John, I've started College in NCI by the way :dance:[/QUOTE]
Ah cool! Beeped going by ya the other day but don't think ya saw me!
[QUOTE=Justtin;32256176]Gonna do my leaving cert in June. Still getting into the habit of revising for at least an hour everyday. Will be increasing the study load to like 2 hours within the next month. This year's gonna suck, but Uni will be good, hopefully. Ofc that all depends if I have the money...[/QUOTE]
I'm in the same boat. Slowly wading through the endless sea of homework and revision. Such is life in exam years.
[QUOTE=johnkane46;32257230]Ah cool! Beeped going by ya the other day but don't think ya saw me![/QUOTE]
I didn't recognise you until you were gone. :(
Got my first college choice, starting properly tomorrow.
Sweet... I'll be finding out if i get to go into 2nd year because I had swine flu at christmas and had to repeat so lets wait and see huh :-)! how ya getting in?
If ya want a life as far as tallaght 2mo give me a call!
[QUOTE=Rizzey;32257271]I'm in the same boat. Slowly wading through the endless sea of homework and revision. Such is life in exam years.[/QUOTE]
Tbh, teachers are being more than generous on the homework, however, a couple of teachers are giving a test each week, which I love, because it forces me to study.
My main problem now is concentration in a couple of subjects, and ofc the fact that I have to force myself to study at home. What I find to be the best idea on weekends is to get up early in the morning, do some study for a few hours and not look back for the rest of the day and just do what ever you want.
I think the CAO system is great to be honest. It's definitely the fairest that I've heard about. I did my Leaving Cert last year, and I got enough points to do basically whatever I want to do. I won't be going to Uni until I'm 21, but it's comforting to know that I have what I need. It sucks that it's looking fairly likely that fees will be re-introduced though :(.
Everybody's too drunk to worry about education
[QUOTE=IdiotStorm;32258083]Everybody's too hatless to worry about education[/QUOTE]
fixed
Why is Chickens the only irish person that gets a flag in here :v:
What doors could college possibly close?
I am personally reconsidering attending university at this moment in time, I figure I'll have a fake nervous breakdown or something so I can actually start doing what I want to do as opposed to what I think is expected of me
[QUOTE=Bytecry;32255708]Is it true by leaving the country you will not have to pay your debts but will be denied access back into the country?[/QUOTE]
Depends where you go, most countries such as those in the EU will take extra taxes then send them back to the UK govt, however if you go to a country at war with the UK then no you won't have to pay them and I think after so many years they default your debt (might be 6-10 I can't remember)
I'm american, but I'm thinking about going to another country for college, would that cost less?
[QUOTE=i-am-teh-sex;32255701]I'm gonna go to college in one of those less popular schools in Limerick or something, thanks to inflation[/QUOTE]
Limerick has UL, one of the best and most attended Universities in Ireland next to Trinity, NUIG, UCC and UCD. I find it funny that despite the fact we have it "good" (in a sense) payment wise you get all sorts of Student Union and other groups constantly bitching about it, then they get hammered on the grant money the government gives them. Such is life in third level eduction.
[QUOTE=Contag;32284684]What doors could college possibly close?[/QUOTE]
College can close doors if by the time you finish you are in debt so much that you have to spend the next... lets say 4-7 years paying ever cent back including the 4.5%-9% interest depending on the bank, country etc you are attending college in, And all that is assuming you get a job... If not, you're just getting deeper into debt but if you do get a job when you finish and have enough money after income tax, food and all the other expenses associated with life.
It seems like I'm being extremely morbid but these are some of the things that can happen and I wish it upon no one person on this earth and I'm pro-college, I just think that when you decide to take that step you should know every possible out come and effect its going to have on your life. But this case is really only an american phenomenon but at the same time it could happen to anybody!
I'm one of the only people I know that actually likes the points system, as long as you put in the work, you'll do fine. The only problem I have with the Irish education system as a whole is the continuous dumbing down of higher maths and how shockingly bad Irish is taught in general.
Started my 2nd year of College, first day back and my Form Teacher tells me that going to Uni is a waste of time, I shouldn't do it because it isn't worth the debt and I probably won't get a good job out of it.
Educational Inspiration, yay!
[QUOTE=strayebyrd;32284707]I figure I'll have a fake nervous breakdown or something [b]so I can actually start doing what I want to do as opposed to what I think is expected of me[/b][/QUOTE]
You should do that anyway.
[QUOTE=Zeke129;32294113]You should do that anyway.[/QUOTE]
I want to but I've got this pressure of being the first ever person in my family to even get A-Levels, and pretty much my entire extended family expects me to be this amazing uni-student and shit when all I want to do is write. I know I can get a job which could be able to keep me afloat while writing, but I get this really shitty feeling in my stomach every time I think about dissapointing my dad like that. I figure if they think that university is adversely affecting my mental health, which it actually does for many people, then I'll be off the hook.
[QUOTE=strayebyrd;32294175]I want to but I've got this pressure of being the first ever person in my family to even get A-Levels, and pretty much my entire extended family expects me to be this amazing uni-student and shit when all I want to do is write. I know I can get a job which could be able to keep me afloat while writing, but I get this really shitty feeling in my stomach every time I think about dissapointing my dad like that[/QUOTE]
If a dad is disappointed in his son for doing what he loves, then he's a terrible father.
Your life bro, not theirs.
[QUOTE=Zeke129;32294195]If a dad is disappointed in his son for doing what he loves, then he's a terrible father.
Your life bro, not theirs.[/QUOTE]
I know this is true, and I am going to do something substantial about it, I just have to get over this People-Pleasing complex and make a real play for what I want
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