There are lots of courses out there for everyone

With four out of every five applicants receiving at least one offer of a college place last week, most students were happy.

In all, 49,993 of this year's 63,145 applicants were offered places in round one. Sadly, though, this leaves more than 13,000 youngsters without offers - and a whole lot more dissatisfied with their offers.

They have been awaiting this morning's post, which delivers the CAO's second round of college offers. Some students have been lucky and got what they want. Others, though, have either received no offer or one in which they have no interest. For many, the college offers season is a time of great anxiety and stress.

Students who feel they've failed to achieve a place on a particular course can feel despondent. At this stage, they can start to believe that there are no other avenues open. The situation may look gloomy, but there is a bright side. For any student keen to continue in education, rather than embarking on paid employment, there exists a wealth of excellent opportunities. In fact, with careful thought, they could well end up making far more successful choices.

Just because you haven't got the course of your desires, or you did less well than you hoped in your exams, it's vital to remember that this is not the end of your educational road.

What can you do? Well, for a start, you can consider whether you want to repeat your Leaving Cert. On the other hand, you could examine possibilities at third-level institutions in Britain and Northern Ireland, you could opt for a place in one of the private colleges or you could consider doing a PLC here at home.

And then, of course, there are dozens of courses in the CAO system - both degrees and certs/diplomas - which still have vacant places. You can find a up-to-date list on the CAO website (www.cao.ie) and see if any of them appeal. (Matriculation and essential-subject requirements still apply.)

Repeating

There was a time when almost everyone who failed to get sufficient Leaving Cert points to lead them to a particular course opted to repeat. Back in 1996, more than 8,000 students chose to repeat their Leaving Certs. Numbers have been declining since then. This year the Department of Education and Science received only 3,889 repeat entries.

According to experts, much of this reluctance to repeat is due to the fact that school-leavers now have so many more opportunities.

Repeating may sound like an easy option but if you are considering repeating, you need to take careful stock and ask yourself some searching questions.

How well did you do first time round? How hard did you work? Did you give it your all? Are you convinced that, with a bit of extra effort, you will maximise your points? Remember, you could even end up doing less well than you did first time. Then, too, the points for your desired course could rocket next year - leaving it still beyond your grasp. You'd be wise to seek the advice of your teachers and guidance counsellors on this one.

If you decide that you are willing, and have the capacity, to make the extra effort required to repeat and improve on your Leaving, you then have to decide where you're going to do it. Do you want to remain in your school, for example, or go to one of the repeat colleges in either the State or the private sector?

Most repeat colleges interview students to ascertain whether they will benefit from the experience. If you are considering a particular college, make sure that it offers all the subjects you need and the time-tabling will allow you to take all your subjects.

Most students who repeat say they gain immensely from the year. It gives them time to mature in an environment where, unlike school, they're forced to stand on their own feet.

They're treated like adults and, importantly, they learn how to study effectively. This, they say, stands them in good stead when they go to college.

PLCs

The aim of Post Leaving Cert programmes is to bridge the gap between work and school and to ensure that young people enter the work place with suitable vocational skills. For the most part, PLCs, which are of one, two or three years' duration, lead to NCVA level 2 awards. In some instances students with NCVA level 2 certificates are able to progress to third-level courses.

Under the Higher Education Links Scheme, places on selected courses in the ITs are allocated on the basis of grades achieved in the NCVA level 2 awards. Some PLC colleges, too, have direct links with third-level colleges in Britain, enabling students to study for degrees there.

Traditionally, PLC courses have had a good record on jobs. Even when the economy was in the doldrums, it was estimated that 80 per cent of those entering the jobs market with Leaving Cert and a vocational qualification found jobs within 12 months. Nowadays, the big concern about PLC courses is the high dropout rate, which, according to the Department of Education and Science, is running at 23 per cent.

However, according to the Minister for Education and Science, Dr Michael Woods, half of those who drop out of PLC courses do so to take up jobs or go into other areas of education.

There are currently more than 1,000 PLC courses on offer in 200-plus centres. The range of courses is extensive, from art and design through pre-nursing and community care to applied languages and teleservices, and includes areas of study not available in the higher education sector.

PLC students, too, are now eligible to apply for annual maintenance grants.

Private Colleges

For students who have missed being offered a third-level place in the State sector it's worth investigating the options offered by the private colleges. In the past, the private colleges offered programmes validated by British universities. Increasingly, though, they are offering courses validated by the NCEA. This year, seven fee-paying institutions offered places through the CAO system.

For most of these colleges, the entry points are relatively low and students with the minimum third-level entry requirements have a good chance of gaining access to courses. Annual fees in private colleges are now running at around £3,000. Students are ineligible for higher education maintenance grants, but fees for NCEA-validated courses are subject to tax remission at the standard rate.

Britain and Northern Ireland

The good news for anyone considering opportunities in colleges in Britain and Northern Ireland is that there are still thousands of vacant places there. Every year at this time, the British colleges advertise their un-filled slots. The UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admission Service) clearing system, a huge operation, swings into action once the A-level results have been published.

If you haven't obtained the grades you need for the course you want to do at home, or if you have received no offer you want to accept, you should check the list of vacant places. This is published regularly in the London Independent until September 12th, and on the UCAS website (www.ucas.ac.uk).

At this stage you need to act quickly to secure a place, as they tend to be snapped up. However, the advice from the experts is not to make hasty decisions - be sure to put some thought into your choice.

Decide which courses interest you and phone the colleges. Talk to the course tutor and find out as much about the course and what it entails as you can. Inform the tutor about your Leaving Cert grades - she or he may be able to tell you on the spot whether you merit a place.

Instead of a degree course you may well be offered a place on a HND course. Think about this carefully. In many cases, students can transfer to degree programmes later. If you don't have one already, you'll need to contact UCAS and get a Clearing Entry Form (CEF).

The downside of going to college in Britain is that the British government has introduced means-tested tuition fees, £1,050 this year. In Scotland, however, third-level fees have been abolished.

For further information contact the British Council: (01) 6766943.