Q: GEOGRAPHY is considered to be a science subject for some courses and I would like to know what these courses are?
- Dublin student
A: GEOGRAPHY is considered to be a science subject for entry to TCD's science and pharmacy courses where two sciences are necessary from the following Leaving Cert group of subjects: physics, chemistry, biology, maths, physics and chemistry, applied maths, agricultural science or geography. Geology may be included but it can be taken only as a TCD matric exam subject.
Two higher Cs are essential from the group but there are certain combinations of Leaving Cert subjects which are not allowed: physics and chemistry with either physics or chemistry; agricultural science with biology or maths with applied maths.
NUI colleges do not consider geography to be a science subject and for entry to the faculties of science, food science and technology, medicine (including dentistry), engineering and architecture, veterinary medicine and general agriculture, you must have a laboratory science subject from the group of physics, chemistry, biology, physics and chemistry or agricultural science.
Q: MY SON has to make his subject choice by Easter of this year but he won't actually be starting these subjects until September 1998 because he will be in Transition Year. What advice - would you give to cover as many options as possible because he really hasn't a clue what he'd like to do?
- Tipperary parent
A: THE FIRST thing you should do is to get the school to defer subject choice until Easter 1998. The whole point of Transition Year is that students should have a chance to sample all sorts of subjects and develop skills for coping with life later on.
As a result of this year, they often choose subjects and careers that they would not have thought of before. Your son may know by then what exactly he would like to do after school and he should pick his subjects accordingly.
If he is still unsure a good package is made up of the following: Irish (to cover NUI entry and also because most students have to take it to Leaving Cert level), English (essential for almost every course/training), a third language (again essential for NUI colleges only), maths (essential for almost all college courses), a laboratory - science (to keep options open for science, engineering, agriculture, medicine, nursing etc.) The remaining two could be another science or a business subject, art, music, history, geography, home economics, technical drawing, another continental language/Latin etc.
Essentially this means you have to take the first five as outlined above if you want to keep the maximum number of courses/training options open and the last two should be what the student enjoys most and is usually best at from among the subject groupings available in the school.
Q: I'VE been looking for the pharmaceutical technicians diploma course in the CAO Handbook but can't find it. Where is it and what are the points for it? Can I get a grant if I go on this course? What is the course like?
- Monaghan student
A: THE reason you can't find the course in the CAO handbook is because you have to apply directly to the admissions office in TCD by June 1st of the year in which you want to do the course. You must pass the Leaving Cert in six subjects including English, maths or applied maths and one of the following sciences: chemistry, biology, physics, physics and chemistry.
A minimum of two higher Ds is required and one of these must be in a science subject. As regards points, if the number of applicants exceeds the available places admission will be granted to those with the best examination results.
The maximum number taken on is SO and the number of applicants is generally about three times that. In 1996, the points required was 250. Job prospects are excellent - most qualified technicians work in areas such as hospital or community pharmacies.
The on the job nature of the course provides students with valuable work experience and practical skills.
The course consists of three elements: a basic science and business management course at Colaiste Ide, Finglas, Dublin, which includes one day per week in a pharmacy followed by six months work experience under the supervision of a tutor pharmacist; and two academic terms at the school of pharmacy in TCD where instruction is given in aspects of dispensing and the mode of action and use of drugs.
This is a two year course and the award is made by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.
You pay a charge of about £100 to Colaiste Ide to cover materials, exams etc - not fees, strictly. You pay £1,300 - in fees to TCD for the two terms there because it doesn't come under the free fees scheme.
Q: I'M very worried about my son's progress at secondary school. While he was at primary school, I had no difficulty getting access to his teacher and we like regular parent teacher meetings which were an enormous help to me in keeping up with his progress. Now I find myself in a position of not being able to monitor his progress satisfactorily. What can I do?
- Kildare mother,
A: THERE are many things you can do. In most second level schools, there is a good system where parents can meet the class teacher and the subject teachers at one meeting. You should have all your questions ready for the individual teachers as time is fairly limited at these meetings.
If you feel that you can't wait until then, you should ask the tutor or class teacher to get a report from all his subject teachers. You have probably had a Christmas report by now.
Although this may give you his grades, it may not give you the kind of information you require as to his application to study, ability levels, etc.
You must keep in mind that each teacher at second level will have a student for only one or two subjects and so is not in a position to get to know your son as well as the teacher in national school.
It takes each child a different length of time to settle in a new school environment and accept the fact that there are so many teachers. You may be anxious but you will find that as this second term goes on, he will do quite well and that you are both adapting to the new system.
