What is HPAT?

HPAT-Ireland
HPAT-Ireland (Health Professions Admission Test) is the new admissions test selected by the Irish Medical Schools for prospective medical students. Since 2009, regardless of how well you score in their Leaving Certificate, you must reach a required standard in this test to study medicine in Ireland. For more information go to www.hpat.ie Watch for the registration date.

Higher education access route – HEAR

HEAR provides a ‘level playing pitch’ for students from socio-economic disadvantaged backgrounds accessing higher education. It provides academic, personal and social support in the participating institutions – for more information on HEAR go to the dedicated website www.accesscollege.ie

Careers Ireland

Students embarking on their career journey

CAO – Decide on interest not on points

High points courses certainly require high levels of academic ability, but the student who chooses a course based on interest is likely to out-perform those who rank their preference based on entry points. It would be a mistake to rank the quality of dgrees by their entry points. Entry points are, by and large, a consequence of supply and demand. They reflect the number of places available on each course and represent the score achieved by the last student to be offered a place. Large programmes often have lower points, but the standard is much higher.

Arts most popular

Arts courses are the most popular third-level options, with more that a quarter of all applications listing humanities and human science courses as their first-preference. Arts subjects don’t tend to have a clear career path, but HR managers look to employ well-educated graduates who are self-motivators and who demonstrate creative and analytical skills – which are develop while doing an arts degree. Nearly 50 % of art students go on to do post grad studies in areas such as business, law, journalism and creative writing.

How to get the most out of a career exhitition / open day.

Study the prospectus; before going to any career event you must be familiar with the basic course information i.e

· Certification… is the course level 7 or level 8?

· What is the duration of the course?

· Is there work experience on the course?

· What are the typical points required?

· Is there essential subjects?

· What is the Exam structure?

· What do graduates do on completion of the course?

· What are the Employment prospects?

· Is there a web site?

· How do I plan my visit?

· What qualities are required for the course?

· Is there a drop-out rate?

· Is there options at end of the first year?

· What further study options do I have?

Leaving Cert Results

Well done – class of 2009 – Take a break -relax – best of luck with the CAO

Garda Clearance

Garda vetting is necessary for some CAO courses. Anyone who is offered a place in the areas of medicine, health care, nursing, social work or teaching will require clearance from the Garda Vetting Unit when they register. Garda clearance is sought only when a person is accepting a place on a course.

When the HEI is making an offer on a relevant course to an applicant, it will send that applicant a form to complete, where they must give their name, date of birth and all addresses they have lived in since their birth. They will also be asked to disclose on that form any convictions they may have. Each HEI submits all the forms to the Garda Vetting Unit for clearance, and the Garda Vetting Unit returns forms to the college when it has processed them.

Tips for subject choice consideration

Talk to older students or brothers and sisters who are studying same subject.

Try a quick glance at some of the text books.

Talk to the subject teacher.

Read school booklet on subject choice and career links.

Choose subject you like …..not the subject that your friends would like you to do.

Make sure you have the subjects necessary for course requirments in college and university.

Play it cool……..

Stress Management

www.SpunOut.ie

www.headstrong.ie

www.stressandanxietyinteenagers.com