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Senior Options in Focus

Updated: Nov 4, 2023

✍🏼 Updated: November 2023 🗞️


Whether you do it in 3rd, 4th or even 5th Year, 🤔 choosing the right option to do for your senior cycle is a 👣 step we must all take. Sure, it’s unfair that we’re expected to have our lives planned out ahead of us and know exactly what we want to do by the age of 15/16, but yet there is an element of strategic planning needed.

Options for picking senior cycle subjects
Picking your senior cycle subjects for leaving certificate

This can make it stressful 😖 for a lot of young people and their parents/guardians when picking out the right subjects.


So, how do you know what to pick? Here’s some general advice:


 

⏱ Take Your Time

This is not a decision to be taken lightly. You need to clear your head and really think this through. Your school will hopefully (and should) give you a couple of days to think about your choice as your future could depend on it. Schools offer different approaches to this process. From recordings of subject teachers offering information on their subject, to detailed presentations and PowerPoints; some even have timetabled career classes or modular Guidance classes with curriculum content designed to allow career and subject exploration. Use this time wisely.

 

☝️ Look out for Number 1

The biggest trap students fall into in their decision making process, is being distracted by ‘who’ is teaching the subject or ‘who else’ might be studying with me. When considering each subject, think ONLY of yourself. For instance, you have no way of being sure who will be teaching a subject in September, teacher timetables change all the time, staff take leave or get promoted etc, so never base a subject on a teacher. You could find yourself disillusioned in September, when you get sent to a different classroom than expected. Similarly, a group of friends in Accounting won’t help you if you find the subject tedious. So go with your own personal interest, ability and experience of the content alone.

 

🛣 Consider what pathways might wait ahead

Although it is two or three years down the tracks, having a sense of career direction could prove useful at this interchange. The secret lies in your interests and existing academic experience; alongside keeping your options open. For instance, if you might have found the Biology sections of your science interesting, but not the Chemistry. Pair this with a love of team sports - maybe a career in Sports Science or Physiotherapy might capture your interest? Maybe you love Art, History and English? An Arts degree or the Humanities might appeal? Why does this matter now? Well, there are a few reasons:

  • Configuration of an early career goal.

  • Possible entry requirements to courses/colleges.

  • Following your interests to boost study experience.

  • Working with your strengths to boost your grades.

  • Being aware of subjects that are likely to be required for matriculation to colleges/courses.

 

📊 Thinking about points?

Now is a good time to inform yourself about courses requiring points for entry. These are the courses accessible via the Central Applications Office (CAO). Subjects studied at higher level have potential higher points value than those carried at ordinary level. See the image below. CareersPortal offers a grade explorer, allowing you to see average performance by subject.

There are other pathways open after school. Recently the NCGE have provided schools access to wonderful resources outlining the many options. Some schools use these materials, or similar with their 3rd years & TY’s Here’s a graphic from their lessons with the options listed in picture format:


The options open to students after school
Options after school

Not every path requires points, but each one requires a magic mix of:

  • motivation

  • organisation

  • goal setting

  • skills development

  • time management

  • researching options

  • study strategies

  • communication

  • self-care

  • focus

  • determination

  • reflection

To get the most out of your senior cycle program, ask yourself -

  1. What do I want to get out of my senior years in secondary school?

  2. What do I want it to look like, when I look back at my 16-18 year old self?

  3. What will make me proud?

  4. What keeps me motivated.

Remember: if you’re not counting ‘points’ after your Leaving Cert., you might be thinking of a gap year, a PLC course (colleges with shorter courses, where application is more interview/reference based) or perhaps a traineeship or apprenticeship. In these instances you are preparing for situations where you might be relying on

  • Interviews

  • Job Applications

  • Aptitude Exams

  • Competition for places against older applicants

  • CV/cover letter

  • References

For each of the above, your school journey is equally as important as for the ‘CAO points race’. The difference is, the value of your experience may not be measured as quantitatively as those cracking out the CAO points calculator. Your focus may be slightly varied, but you still want to be proud of your school journey when it’s presented on an application for a course or a placement interview. So we’re not always ‘thinking about points’, but more so the bigger picture of our skills development.

 

🕵️‍♂️ Do your Homework!

Starting off the process with the CareersPortal Careers Interest Profiler can be a really helpful & fun way to kick off the question of what I might want to do after school?

Here‘s a step-by-step guide:

  1. Create a login with CareersPortal

  2. Go to the tile with ‘CPIP’.

  3. Complete this self-assessment (It takes approx 12-15 minutes)

  4. Follow the steps for ‘Career Matching’.

  5. Spend time browsing the Career Explore tab.

  6. Save any careers of interest to your favourites (Tap the ⭐️).

  7. Are there ‘Related Courses’?

  8. Explore courses a little - to expose yourself to this world but don’t get bogged down, you have time to figure this all out.

  9. Reflect: what are my key take aways?

 

🧑🏻‍🏫 What about the subjects?

CareersPortal has come to the rescue yet again, check out their useful Subject Exploring tool. Here you can delve into each option. Look at the menus to check out these categories:


The arrows indicate particularly useful information. For example, are you wondering “if I don’t get my Engineering option, does this mean I can’t study to be an Engineer?”……..the answer would be NO…… Engineering is not an entry requirement for Engineering courses! Spend time ⌛️ on this stage, become familiar with the options on offer at your school. Score each one out of ten. Then rank them. Ask your teachers too, or seniors who you know. You wouldn’t buy a new pair of trainers without scoping out the market, rival shops and reading the reviews would you? Apply the same level of dedication to this process!

 

🔀 What programs are available?

  1. Transition Year (not available in every school).

  2. Leaving Certificate Established (LCE).

  3. Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA).

Your choices will be as individual as each of you are.

👉 Take your time

👉 Do your research

👉 Consider a possible career focus (optional)

👉 Ask teachers/older students

👉 Make CareersPortal your new best friend (🔗 links above 👆). 👉 Consider the program that offers you the best opportunities for your skill set. 👉 Look out for number 1. 👉 If a program or subject isn’t a good fit, let someone know EARLY 📅. Don’t let September pass by without flagging ⛳️ an issue.

To get in touch by DM or:

📧 pathwaysguidance@gmail.com

🕸 www.pathwaysguidance.ie

📞 0868773289

Marie 🪶




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