[yupder]

Hi

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
I'm really at odds as to what to do, I'm 24 and hate my job! I work in customer services, well enough paid but really not something I want to do for the rest of my life. Decided i'm guna take the plunge and go back to college. I was thinkin about goin for Pharmacy or Dentistry. I do hold a levels but not in the subjects I would need to get in to these courses. I'm considering going part-time in work and sitting the leaving cert.

My questions really are, is it expensive to sit the leaving when you're a mature student (does anyone have any idea how much it would cost?)? Is there any financial help for sitting the lc? Can the grades needed be met while studying in one of the VEC colleges, generally do people make good grades in these schools?

Thanks in advance!:)

[Minitonka]

Since you are over 23, you would be considered a "mature student" and could apply for most courses without doing the Leaving Cert to get the points and meet the entry requirements. If you decide to repeat the Leaving in order to get the number of points needed, you would also be expected to meet the course requirements. However, if you apply as a mature student, they will assess you on your merits including your interest, motivation, suitability, experience, education to date etc. In your case, since you did not seem to have taken any science subjects to Leaving Cert level, then it would be advisable to consider taking at least one, maybe two of those on their own if you could. You should check with the various VEC Colleges within striking distance of you, to see what they have on offer. You can repeat the whole Leaving if you wish, but it is a two year course and you would have to take at least six subjects, with as many as possible at higher level to get the points for what you are considering. It would be very difficult to achieve but not impossible. Have a look at www.pearsecollege.ie/adult_leaving_certificate.html. Ignore the error on the section where it say that you would get the Junior Cert at the end of it! I have contacted them about it. There are other VEC colleges also that offer the repeat Leaving including Rathmines and Plunket College in Dublin. You would have to check with the colleges about the fees but they would not be that expensive for the full-time courses. See www.cdvec.ie for the links. You may be able to take the subjects by night also. The Institute of Education would also offer subjects at various times but would be more costly.