Clongowes Wood College

1
Clongowes Wood College

• Humanities Guidance Programme
• 2008

2
Subject Choice

• The norm will be 7 subjects for Leaving
  Certificate (8 in exceptional agreed
  circumstances by consultation with Mr. Nugent,
  but only after all students have been allocated
  their 7 subjects).
• For most students these will include
  Maths.,Irish, English and either French or German
• So in reality the boys are choosing only 3
  subjects in most cases. It is strongly suggested
  that all students take at least one science
  subject, thus effectively reducing the choice to
  2.

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What criteria should I use when choosing subjects
?

• 1. What are the required subjects/levels for the
  college courses I wish to pursue ? (Consult
  summary entry requirements brochures for 2008,
  Qualifax or IGC Directory).
• Remember you must have both the matriculation
  requirements of the college and the specific
  course requirements.
• 2. What subjects am I best at and most likely to
  score high points in ?
• 3. What subjects am I interested in ?
• 4. What do my teachers advise?

4
Some Key Entry Requirements

• Courses requiring Higher Level Maths. include
• Level 8 Engineering Courses
• Economics and Finance UCD
• Actuarial and Financial Studies UCD
• Computer Science TCD
• Management Science and Information Systems TCD
• Theoretical Physics UCD/TCD
• Quantitative Finance DCU
• Financial and Actuarial Maths DCU

5
Two Myths

• You need Higher Level Maths. to gain entry to
  the professional Architecture courses.
• No you dont !
• You do however need Higher Level Maths. for
  Structural Engineering with Architecture in UCD.
• Geography counts as a Science subject for entry
  to TCD.
• This applies only to entry for Science (TR071),
  Medicinal Chemistry (TR075) and Pharmacy (TR072).

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Science Subjects

• Some courses requiring Science Subject(s)
  include
• Architecture UCD
• Medicine (1 in some colleges, two in others).
  Chemistry and Biology recommended
• Veterinary Medicine UCD Chemistry required
• Physiotherapy (1 normally, 2 sciences in TCD but
  they will accept Maths. RCSI only 1 science and
  it can be Maths.
• Dentistry TCD/UCC (2 sciences to include
  Chemistry for UCC)
• Pharmacy Chemistry required 1 other (UCC).
  TCD is also two sciences but the other can be
  Maths. or Geography. Only I science required for
  RCSI and it can be Maths.
• Psychology through Science NUIM
• Many Science Degree courses
• Many Engineering courses

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To Help You

• To help determine suitability to career areas
  please make use of
• DATs Profile
• Career Interest Inventory (Centigrade)
• One to one Guidance Interviews
• Work Experience
• Parental knowledge-you know your own son best!

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Where to go for further information

• For details of all courses available in the
  Republic of Ireland go to www.qualifax.ie
• For details of British courses visit
  www.ucas.com (when checking entry requirements
  choose Other tariff Qualifications)
• For US courses visit www.collegeboard.com
• A good summary booklet of entry requirements for
  Irish courses can be found at www.igc.ie if
  you select Directory of LC entry requirements 08
  entry

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Language Requirements NUI

• Many NUI courses require a Third Language in
  addition to Irish and English.
• Exceptions include Engineering, Nursing and some
  Science and Agricultural courses.
• If you suffer from Dyslexia you may be exempt
  from Irish and the Third language requirement

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Other Language Requirements

• Although most Business and Law courses have
  no specific course requirements some degrees
  involving them do. Examples include
• Commerce International UCC/UCD
• BCL Maitrise and Law with French Law UCD
• Law and French/German TCD/UCC
• European Business, Journalism and Communication
  studies DCU

11
The Subject Choice Process

• Parents information meeting Fri. 8th Feb.
• Individual guidance interviews for students and
  for parents by appointment
• Distribution of Subject Choice pack Fri.Mar. 14th
  .
• Return of completed initial subject preference
  forms, whereby students indicate the six subjects
  they would most like to study, by Mon. 31st March
  at latest.
• Computer modelling and rationalisation of
  preferences.
• Issue of actual subject choice form in mid-April
  whereby students actually choose their subjects.
  This will be due for immediate return.
• Notification to parents and students of subject
  allocation.

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No need for concern

• Every effort is made to ensure that each student
  will get the subjects that he wants
• Sometimes a student will enter Fifth year and
  find that a subject is not working out
• There may be the opportunity to change subject
  but this is quite rare
• Hence it is vital that the utmost care is put
  into choosing subjects in the first place

13
Subject Choice 2007

• Students were asked, as a norm, to select a
  language from Group 1 and three subjects from
  Groups 2 to 5 but no more than one subject to be
  selected from any group.
• Group 1. French or German.
• Group 2. Chemistry, Economics, Music.
• Group 3. Physics, Business, Art.
• Group 4. Biology, Accounting, History.
• Group 5. Geography, Religion,
  App.Maths.,Latin

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Keep in touch

• It is important that all students and parents
  maintain contact throughout the subject selection
  process
• My direct line is 045-902340
• My e-mail is jconway_at_clongowes.net
• John M. Conway
• Guidance Counsellor