Exploring Alternative Options After the Leaving Cert
For the majority of 6th year students who sat their Leaving Certificate, the best summer of their lives is about to come to an end. Soon they will need to start thinking about what comes next. For some, the path will be clearly written in the points they receive in their Leaving Cert results and they will go on to Higher Education in many corners of the country. Nice and simple and if that will be, we send many well wishes your way! For others, it is not as simple as the pressure to pursue traditional third level education looms large.
Well, we are here to tell you that, in this day and age it is important to recognise that the pursuit of a third level education isn’t the only pathway to career success or personal growth. There are many reasons why higher education may not be for you and that is ok. You have many options out there, which will open up a world of diverse opportunity.
Let’s look at some of those opportunities:
1. Apprenticeships:
It is essential to understand that academia isn’t for everyone, but it is also equally important to understand that the majority of training will have some sort of theory or traditional book learning involved. If you are the kind of person who has had enough of books and exams, why not consider an apprenticeship. There are MANY out there from plumbing, electrical studies, hairdressing and mechanics to name a few that will keep you out of the office. Having said that, if you do want an office environment, your apprenticeship can be in hospitality, accounting, ICT and even insurance. The beauty of an apprenticeship is that you also earn as you work, making this a great choice for those of us who cannot afford that high cost of a third level education.
More information can be found on becoming an apprentice can be found here.
2. Gap Year:
Ah yes, the “Gap Year”, no doubt a thought every Leaving Cert student must have had. A great idea for those looking for some personal growth, take a break from education and even in the process of this gap year, you can discover what you want to do with the rest of your life. This year allows you to do many things, it’s not always about travel. You can take time and volunteer, work, upskill with some short courses or even simply just explore some passions you have which you could turn into a career. The options are endless and the experiences gained during this time can lead to a broader perspective on life.
3. Online Education & Progression with QQI courses:
Obviously, we’re going to include this as an option, have you even read our blog, don’t you know how much we love eLearning!?
On a serious note, it is a very viable option for those of you who may not have received the points you needed but also don’t want to repeat 6th year again.
It’s an excellent steppingstone into third level education. With online education, you can do a course that will act as a boost and progression route into the third level course you wanted. It’s very flexible and much more affordable than a degree straight away (although online degrees are also possible). You can also work while you study – best of both worlds really.
For more information on online courses, check out all our courses here.
If we don’t offer what you need, check out the national course database – www.qualifax.ie.
4. Work:
Another popular option amongst Leaving Cert students is not going to college straight away. Many people start college, struggle, hate what they are doing and drop out which results in time, energy and money wasted. Some even struggle through for fear of failure and judgement and eventually do a complete U-turn and in many years’ time, re-train.
Some people opt to work straight out of school, gain the experience they need and eventually, when ready to take that next step in their career, they go back to college for that career boost. Be sure to understand, this is not easy. Going back as a mature student can be difficult, you may have a family or other important commitments which you will need to learn to juggle around a college course but there are also positives here. Many people who go back to college as adult learners have an established personality, know their likes and dislikes well and know what they want out of a career so they end up doing something they really love.
The above 4 points are only some options. Your journey after secondary school doesn’t have to follow a traditional path of pursuing a University Degree. The world offers diverse paths to success and personal fulfilment. Remember, there is no one size fits all approach.
Embrace your unique talents, passions and goals and explore the myriad of opportunities that are available to you. By making informed decisions and staying true to yourself, you can carve a path that aligns with your vision of a successful and rewarding future.
