Q&A

Q: I'D like to become a hotel manager but, I'm doing three honours subjects only in French, home economics and accounting. At best I will get C2 grades here and about the same in my other ordinary subjects. I don't think I'm going get points for degree courses. Should I repeat my Leaving Cert?

- Monaghan student

A: You must realise that you will have a very good Leaving Cert if you get C2 across the board in all the subjects you listed and as well as that you will have all the necessary subjects for college entry to hotel management courses. While you can never be sure of points, the 270 points you expect would certainly put you in the running for the hotel and catering management diplomas in the institutes in Athlone AL018 (260 points), Galway GA018 (290 points) or DIT DT402 (315).

All of these lead to degree level once you get a credit/ distinction. You may even do better in the Leaving Cert than you think or points may fall in 1998. You should apply for the degree courses in hospitality management at DIT F401 (375) or Galway's hotel and catering management degree GA019 (325 points).

Another option is the diploma in hotel management at Shannon College of Hotel Management (061 475075) which requires just two higher Cs and four ordinary level subjects to include English and maths. Applications should be in by NEXT SATURDAY - interviews in March/April and places offered in May.

This four-year course has two years varied international experience. Students abroad are paid by their employers. Since this college is not in the free fees scheme, tuition fees qualify for standard tax relief.

Scholarships and loan guarantees are available from the college. While all students qualifying get an NCEA national diploma in business studies, suitably qualified students can take a B Comm at NUI Galway by following a modified course.

Related PLC courses are available near you at the Monaghan Institute of Further Education and Training (047 84900). Apply now.

Forget about repeating, concentrate on study and reconsider when you see what courses you are offered in August.

Q: My son is doing the Leaving Cert this year and wants to do history in TCD. He is doing all honours. What can he do with a history degree? He doesn't want to teach. I'd like him to do something else.

- North Dublin mother

A: This matter rears its head every year as the CAO application season comes round. Your son is right to go for history if this's what he's interested in - he'll be doing the degree, not you. I understand your concern about employability of arts graduates but, if he's as bright as you say, he will achieve a first or a high second-class honours degree and employers generally go for good graduates of any discipline. Up to 50 per cent of Irish and multinational employers go for this policy and usually the young graduate is sent on a graduate training programme.

History as a Leaving Cert subject has been dropping in popularity in recent years but as a third-level subject it's quite the reverse. This indicates the regard in which the subject is held by employers in areas as diverse as accounting, banking and finance, archival and research work, librarianship, marketing, tourism, museum work, the civil service, law and the Garda Siochana and, of course, in teaching at second and third level.

Strangely enough the Higher Education Authority survey of 1996 graduates found that the biggest employers of arts and social science graduates were the insurance, financial, business and commercial computer services sectors. When the survey was completed at the end of April 1997, 34.6 per cent of arts/social science graduates were employed full-time in Ireland or overseas.

An arts degree, history especially, will train your son to think and work for himself. TCD offers a single honours degree in history (TR003) as well as history and political science (TR012) - and also a two subject moderatorship (TR001) in history and any one of 19 other subjects as diverse as economics, languages, geography, philosophy. Only four arts subjects can not be combined with history for this course - drama, mathematical science, psychology and history itself.

He may include any of the 19 options in the preference order one to 10 on the CAO degree list. However, he should consider history courses in other colleges because they too have very interesting combinations.

Q: I've just finished a business studies degree and would like to travel but my parents won't fund me any more. They feel I will get the travel bug and find it hard to settle in a job at home. I'd like to develop my language skills. Any suggestions?

- Donegal graduate

A: Travel is an education in itself and, because you have an excellent business studies degree with good language skills, you should be able to get employment easily. One option could be a training course before the summer holidays in teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) - then get a job with one of the summer camps here for foreign students and start your travels in the autumn. I can understand your parents saying that after four years they want you to become independent but maybe with some help from them and a part-time job you could fund the TEFL course before June. Before deciding on which course check that it is recognised by the Department of Education and Science, held in a TEFL school and lasts at least 70 hours. You should check this with the Recognised English Language School Association (RELSA) - phone (01) 475 3122. It's important to verify that class size is about 20 so that individual assessment and attention can take place; that the qualification is internationally recognised such as the Royal Society of Arts (RSA/CELTA) certificate or a RELSA qualification and that teaching practice takes place in a real situation with proper supervision and tuition. This qualification would certainly get you started on your travels as these recognised schools also run extensive job placement services abroad. The Advisory Council on English Language Schools (ACELS) which has representatives from various government departments will also be able to advise you - phone (01) 676 7374.

Queries can be answered only through this column and not by phone or post. Write to Sile Sheehy, Education & Living, The Irish Times, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2 - or by email to education@irish-times.ie