patricianhighschool

1st Year Options Powerpoint Show

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Senior Cycle Guidance Information

6TH YEAR GUIDANCE

Guidance and counselling are central to the sixth year programme. The School Guidance Counsellor takes a weekly class with each sixth year class foccusing on Personal/Social, Educational and Vocational aspects of the student's evolving development. In class, a broad range of topics will be covered e.g.

" College updates.
" College drop out - the reasons.
" Second round offers.
" The ladder system to qualification.
" UCAS.
" CAO forms distribution.
" CAO system.
" CAO Handbook.
" CAO form filling.
" Further education courses.
" Educational options in the U.K.
" Procrastination.
" Motivation.
" Memory and memorisation.
" Perfectionism.
" Study skills.
" Exam strategies and techniques.
" Self and time management.
" Reading texts efficiently.
" Answering essay questions.
" Studying maths/science/foreign language tips.
" Multiculturalism.
" Interpersonal skills.
" Stress management.
" CAO offers - what to do.
" Exam rechecks and repeating sixth year.
" Grants and fees.
" School leaving.

All sixth year students will attend the Higher Options conference with the SGC in the first term.
Any sixth year student (with parental permission) will be allowed to attend college open days of their choice.
Sixth year students will avail of talks, lectures and workshops on matters personal/social, educational and vocational both in the High school and in our GEI partner school St Louis Convent, Carrickmacross.
Furthermore, all sixth year studentswill have open access to the SGC on matters of interest and concern to themselves. A student who wishes to make an appointment with the SGC will always be welcomed and afforded a time to talk at the earliest opportunity.

CAO Video Guide
The CAO video guide assists applicants with the CAO process and information on the college experience. It identifies for how the CAO process works, key rules, and how to make the correct choices in your CAO application. The presentation also considers costs of college and how you can make the most of the transition to college life. Click on the bellow link to view this view from Maynooth's Admissions

http://admissions.nuim.ie/

GUIDANCE 17/9/11

If your son is anything like mine, you'll never have seen this list of sites which were given out in class. I don't really blame our lad it's just that boys will be boys.
Interest assessments/tests are a great starting point and a very useful addition to any discussion on course or career choice. Imagine that you are studying something that you're really interested in or studying for a career that really suits your skill set. The following interest assessments may well prove useful.

INTEREST ASSESSMENTS

CAREERSPORTAL.IE (Go directly to Self Assessment)
Click on SCHOOL. Click on LEAVING CERTIFCICATE. Click on SELF ASSESSMENT, Click on INTERESTS/INTEREST PROFILER and proceed. {After answering all 56 questions your Interest Profile will appear outlinig your 3 highest scoring categories e.g. Social, Creative, Linguistic etc. It is then possible to view Explore Careers, Explore CAO courses or Explore Post Leaving Cert courses. Finally it is possible to view Occupation Matching}

QUALIFAX.IE (Go directly to Take an Interest Assessment)
Click on STUDENTS, Click on USEFUL TOOLS, Click on INTEREST ASSESSMENT and proceed. {Answer all 63 questions. When completed the test results appear as a series of seven work or career activities with an emphasis of one over another e.g. Scientific, Practical etc. You may then search for courses that reflect the test results}

CAREERDIRECTIONS.IE
Click on START CAREER DIRECTIONS, Click on CAREER DIRECTIONS MATCHING, Click on USER, Click on NEW USER, Click on GO and proceed.



NB It is essential that you recognise that computer programmes are simply that. They may help your son to view options, narrow down fields and focus on particular areas but they can never be taken as an absolute definitive "The computer says that this is the course for me OR this is the course that I must take". At the end of the day, your son is a far more complex person than these programmes allow for and it is only through discussion with his family, guidance counsellor, and friends that a decision, in the round, can be taken. I will be discussing the following with your son but if you wish to discuss any of the matters above, please feel free to contact me for a quick chat or an appointment at the school number. I'd be pleased to help if I can.



OTHER USEFUL SITES

CAO.IE - Information on and application to 3rd level courses (Higher Certs, Ordinary Degrees and Higher Degrees).
DAYCOURSES.IE - Information on 3rd level courses.
FETAC.IE - Information on Further Education awards and the links to the Higher Education system
HETAC - Information on Higher Education awards.
UCAS.CO.UK - Information on and application to 3rd level courses (Higher Certs, Ordinary Degrees and Higher Degrees) in the UK.
SCOILNET.IE - Useful subject study notes, study skills and exam techniques
SKOOOL.IE - Useful subject study notes, study skills and exam techniques.
STUDYHUB - Part of the Eircom.net suite of online subject study tutorials
UCD/DCU/AIT/NUIG.IE - Useful hints on study skills and exam techniques
EXAMINATIONS.IE - Search for subject Past Papers and Leaving Cert Marking Schemes
MINDTOOLS.COM - Useful hints on Stress Management and Interpersonal Skills
LOCALAUTHORITIES.IE - Information on VEC/County Council Grants for 3rd Level.
STUDENTFINANCE.IE - Information on Bursaries and Grants for 3rd Level.
FÁS.IE - Information on Vocational courses and Apprenticeships
MONSTER.IE - Site for vacant posts
IRISHJOBS.IE - Site for vacant posts
ESRI.IE - Site to view Current Labour Market Trends


SNB - The above information is correct at time of writing. It is, however, the student's obligation to ensure that he checks any and all information for himself as it can and does regularly change.


IS MISE LE MEAS


David McBride
School Guidance Counsellor

The UKCAT University Admissions Tests registration period is now open for candidates.

Students who wish to study Medicine or Dentistry at 26 UK Universities should register as soon as possible, so that they can book the test on their preferred date and location.

The number of UKCAT Universities has increased from 23 to 26 Universities and now includes Queen's University, Belfast, details can be found at http://www.ukcat.ac.uk/home/aboutus/who-ukcat/

We are very keen to ensure students in the Republic of Ireland have the most up-to-date information on this year's UKCAT test and are prepared in good time to register and book their test in a testing centre that is convenient for them. There are now testing centres located in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Waterford and Wexford. For details of the key test dates and deadlines, please visit http://www.ukcat.ac.uk/home/aboutus/key-dates/

Key Dates NB

THESE DATES ARE FOR 2011/12 ALONE. THEREAFTER THE RESPONSIBILTY FOR RELEVANT DATES WILL BE
RESPONSIBLITY OF THE STUDENTS.

Registration opens: 3 May 2011

Bursary applications processed from: 3 May 2011

Testing begins: 5 July 2011

Registration deadline: 23 September 2011

Bursary application deadline: 23 September 2011

Exemption application deadline: 23 September 2011

Last testing date: 7 October 2011

UCAS application deadline: 15 October 2011
Please see below the details of the Health Professions Admission Test (HPAT). This is a 3 hour aptitude test comprising 3 papers. The fee for the test is £100. The test is run by an outside agency - ACER. Students register for the test online at www.hpat.org.uk, The webpage also has an information booklet and sample questions.

HPAT 2011 - Basic Information
What is HPAT-Ireland?
The admissions test selected by the Irish Medical Schools is called HPAT-Ireland (Health Professions Admission Test-Ireland). The test measures a candidate's logical reasoning and problem solving skills as well as non-verbal reasoning and the ability to understand the thoughts, behaviour and/or intentions of people.
It is designed to complement academic achievement, by providing assessment of skills in the areas of reasoning understanding and working with people, HPAT-Ireland has a strong focus on general skills and personal abilities. These skills have been identified as important for a competent health professional. It does not test academic knowledge and candidates do not require special understanding of any academic discipline.

This test is independently administered by ACER (Australian Council for Educational Research).
If you are applying to one of the following medical schools, then you need to sit HPAT-Ireland:
" National University of Ireland, Galway
" Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
" Trinity College Dublin
" University College Cork
" University College Dublin

Registration Period

Registrations for HPAT-Ireland 2012 will open in early November 2011. Standard registrations cost €95 and will close at 5.15pm GMT on 20 January 2012. Late registrations will be accepted until 5.15pm GMT on 1 February 2012 on payment of a late fee of €65 in addition to the registration fee. Exceptional late registrations will be accepted until 5.15pm GMT on 3 February 2012 on payment of the exceptional late fee of €100 in addition to the registration fee. An exceptional late registration will only be accepted from candidates who have submitted their application to the CAO by 5.15pm GMT on 1 February 2012. It will NOT be possible to register for HPAT - Ireland after registrations close at 5.15pm GMT on 3 February 2012.

HPAT-Ulster

You should sit HPAT-Ulster if you are applying to The University of Ulster, please go to http://hpat-ulster.acer.edu.au for more information.

The fee to sit HPAT-Ulster is £97.50 (all taxes and charges included). Payment is by credit card (Mastercard or VISA) and must be made at the time of registration.
Registrations for 2012 HPAT-Ulster will open at 9a.m on Monday 3 October 2011 and close at 5pm (GMT) on 11 January 2012.
Late registrations will open from 5pm (GMT) 11 January 2012 at an additional late fee of £30 and close at 5pm (GMT) on 18 January 2012. No further registrations will be accepted after this deadline.

The 2012 sitting of HPAT-Ulster will be held on Saturday, 28 January. This will be the only opportunity to sit HPAT-Ulster for 2012 admission to the University of Ulster's Allied Health Profession courses.

Courses covered by test: BSc Hons Dietetics
BSc Hons Occupational Therapy
BSc Hons Physiotherapy
BSc Hons Podiatry
BSc Hons Radiography
BSc Hons Speech & Language Therapy

Venues for test: UU Coleraine
UU Jordanstown
UU Magee

Test website: www.hpat.org.uk

Full information at :- http://www.qualifax.ie/UKCourses/British%20Medical.html

5TH YEAR GUIDANCE

Guidance and counseling are central to the fifth year programme. The School Guidance Counsellor takes a weekly class with each fifth year class focusing on Personal/Social, Educational and Vocational aspects of the student's evolving development. In class, a broad range of topics will be covered e.g.

" Career planning.
" Career categories.
" Career internet sites.
" Rothwell Miller blank.
" Job hunt.
" Interviews and interview techniques.
" Curriculum Vitae preparation.
" Employment.
" Wages.
" Trade unions.
" Welfare benefits.
" Leaving cert. options.
" LCVP.
" Leaving cert. subject requirements.
" Study skills.
" Exam technique.
" Apprenticeships.
" Training and employment schemes.
" Aptitude tests.
" World of work.
" FAS opportunities debriefing.
" Further education courses.
" Third level courses.
" Qualifax.
" Career directions.
" CAO.
" Points system.
" Study abroad.
" Grants and scholarships.

All fifth year students will have open access to the School Guidance Counsellor on matters of interest and concern to themselves. A student who wishes to make an appointment with the SGC on a personal/educational/ vocational matter will always be welcomed and afforded a time to talk at the earliest opportunity.

Subject Choice 3rd Year Powerpoint Show.

Download here.

Teacher: D McBride