Tips for Choosing a 3rd Level Course
Self-Assessment
Before you begin researching 3rd level courses, it is important to understand yourself first. In other words:
- What type of person are you…what are your personal qualities, what do you love doing, and what do you prefer to avoid?
- What skills do you have and what are your strengths?
- What subjects do you like or dislike in school?
- What are your hobbies and interests?
- What type of learner are you, e.g. do you learn by doing or can you easily take in information from books?
Tip: Ask your school Guidance Counsellor about the different learning styles and find out which one you are!
- Alternatively, check out www.literacynet.org/icans/chapter03/index.html and click on “How Do You Learn Best?” and “Learning My Way”.
- Also try out the interest test on the Career Directions website; www.careerdirections.ie
Once you know more about yourself; your preferences, strengths, and abilities, researching courses will be easier to do and you will be able to make a more informed decision.
Remember
The normal closing date for applications (online or paper) is February 1st by 5.15pm. After the 1st May and until the 1st July you may, if you wish, register a change of course choice. (However, you cannot add a restricted-application course for the first time using the Change of Mind process). You should retain a record of your application information as well as all correspondence with the CAO.
