Q & A

Q I'D like to take a year out before starting college. I'll be doing Leaving Cert in June 1999. Should I wait and see what I get in my exam first? Would I be foolish to opt out for the year - maybe I'd be find it harder to get back to study?

Monaghan student.

YES, it's a big decision. First of all, if you're thinking about this now, you should plan for the year out well in advance. Maybe you see it as a break from study before going on to college, a time to travel and gain new experiences. But you could also use it to gain work experience or interpersonal skills or save some money for the student years!

You will have about 15 months from June 1999 to September 2000 and, though you might find it difficult if you are pursing a scientific or vocational degree because of the length of time away from study, it is generally felt that the difficulties encountered in the first few months back are far outweighed by new maturity and experience or a more focused approach.

However, you may find it hard to give up a steady income, even if it's small. It's also difficult to return to the study routine and student life. But compare what those with Leaving Cert only earn in comparison to those with higher qualifications - you will see that it's well worth while studying for a few more years and getting in on a higher starting point also.

If you don't plan your year, you could end up looking for a job for the first few months and neither travelling nor working. You could avoid this by doing voluntary work abroad to start off and searching out some paid work while there.

You could enhance your work prospects by taking short courses in computing skills, languages, getting your driver's licence etc. If you're unsure about career choice, you could firm up by working in a related industry or gaining some unpaid work experience.

At any rate you should go ahead and apply for whatever courses you wish through CAO or the UCAS system. Once you are offered a place, however, you will need to defer this for each of the systems independently and follow the deferral instructions for those courses.

If you intend changing from your deferred course, you must also notify the colleges/systems which have accepted you. In the CAO system, this means that you lose your deferred place if you rank another course ahead of your deferred choice.

The following organisations have information on programmes suitable for the year out:

Leargas, Avoca House, 189 Parnell Street, Dublin 1

Voluntary Service International, 30 Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1

Academic Year in the USA and Europe, 46 High Street, Ewell Village, Surrey KT17 1RW

CESA Languages Abroad, Western House, Malpas, Truro TR1 1SQ

GAP Activity Projects, GAP House, 44 Queen's Road, Reading RG1 4BB

And your local youth information centre

Q MY daughter is keen on radiography. How long is the course and where can she do it? What kind of subjects does she need? Are entry points very high?

Waterford father

THE two branches of radiography - diagnostic and therapeutic - both involve personal qualities such as good communication skills and a caring and compassionate personality.

UCD offers a four-year course in diagnostic radiography. Diagnostic radiography entails the production of high quality images using x-rays, radioisotopes, ultrasound and magnetic fields, which are used to diagnose disease or injury and to monitor progress.

From the first semester in first year, students start on over 2,000 hours of clinical training and these plus hospital placements continue beyond the normal semester dates and into summer in all of the four years. So, your daughter would need accommodation beyond the usual term times as well as uniforms and the usual texts. She must also pass a medical exam to ensure that she is fit and able to help lifting patients and equipment.

She is advised to spend some time in the x-ray department of a local hospital.

Entry requirements are a pass in Irish, English, a third language, maths, one lab science subject (physics is highly recommended but not essential) and one other subject. Points were 505 in 1998 and 525 in 1997.

There is an Erasmus / Socrates exchange programme for three months (January to March) in third year. There are usually 20 places for this course.

The four-year course in therapeutic radiography in TCD has 15 places and points in 1997 were 510* (random selection) and 520 in 1998. Entry requirements are six subjects, a minimum of three HCs, a pass in English, a pass in maths and another language and a higher C in a science subject.

The therapeutic radiographer is a member of the oncology team working with the oncologist and physicist in the treatment of patients with cancer and some non-malignant diseases. The radiographer is responsible for the day-today accurate application and evaluation of treatment and is in very close daily contact with patients.

Your daughter should consider applying through UCAS before December 15th. Courses in most colleges in Britain last three years, but in the University of Ulster both diagnostic and therapeutic courses are four years. UU has 40 places in first year and has set a minimum requirement of two As and four Bs in higher level Leaving Cert subjects or six Bs to include one higher level science and passes in maths, physics and biology or chemistry.

Other colleges in Britain providing radiography are the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, University of Bradford, University of Wales (Bangor) and University of Wales (College of Medicine, Cardiff), University of Leeds, Queen Margaret College, University of Liverpool, City University London, University of Teesside.

Entry requirements vary from two HBs and four HCs to the six HBs at UU. There are 23 colleges offering radiography in Britain. All require a minimum of one science, some two and, for all, the minimum age on commencement is 17 years.

The Society of Archivists, referred to in a reply last week, has changed address. The new address is 40 Northampton Road, London EC1R OHR

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