HELP! I need advice!

PhantomLimb

Hey everyone,
I'm more than likely going to come across as quite simple and pathetic, but i'm stuck in a rut. I'm 23, 24 next April. I was in college for 1 year back when I was 18 but was unsuccessful. I've worked for the last 5 years, and have just come back from abroad. I know myself it's time to give college another go, but i'm lost, have no idea what I want to do, or where I want to go to do it. Has anyone been in this situation or can anyone advise/help me.
Thankyou.

P.s, My email is, <snip>

sachamama

what are your interests?

PhantomLimb

Well, I know it probably doesn't bode well with an educational side of things but i'm a very fond of music. You could say i'm a bit obsessed with it. I'd love to do something quirky, but I honestly don't think of myself as being smart enough.

sachamama

smart enough to write music or to get into a music course in college?

lookit theres a recession on so you might as well go study something you are interested in as there is no guarantee that you will get a job.

PhantomLimb

I don't write music or play. So when you say "Music course" do you mean, a course that requires you to play an instrument?

sachamama

yes because you started this thread asking about what course you should do in college. but you would need to be able to play an instrument and play it very well in order to do a music course.

you'll need to tell us a bit about yourself, your interests, your life goals, if you want helpful feedback as to which course to study.

PhantomLimb

You see thats my problem, I don't know what it is I want to do. I like lots of things but when I look at courses, nothing really says its for me. I sometimes taught of writing music, in a journalist side of things...reviews...gig reviews etc. At this moment when I think of a life goal, nothing hits me. All my friends are sucessfull in their respective degrees etc and are now heading here and there to follow up on them, have I missed the boat?

Larianne

It is tough when you come back from being away and seeing everyone settled and getting on with their lives etc. You feel a bit lost. But not to worry, you'll sort yourself out!

So you want to go back to college but don't know what to do. What are you're interests? Do you want to build on what area you've been working on in the last couple of years? Is there anything that you've thought of as interesting as a career but didn't think you'd be up to it.

Have a look at some uni/college websites and see if there is anything on there that interests you. It's too late to apply for this year so maybe also have a look at part-time/night courses which may increase your area of interest and give you a taste of a subject.

If you're still not sure about a course by 1st February, I'd look at doing a PLC or something like that as there is no point in wasting your own time and others in applying for a course and then having no interest in it.

You'll sort something out.

tootyflutty

You should drop into your local V.E.C office, they often can give you a name and number of a career guidance coucillor, they will also direct you on any grants that may be available to you as a mature student.
Depending on the work and course you have and will be doing, it might be advisable to do a return to learning course. A one year course where the fundamentals of coping with essays, assignments and applications are taught here.
You are neither simple nor pathetic to be asking, my brother is about the same age as you and left school at 16, but has decided this year that he is going to give college a go.
As you are a mature you may not have to apply through the CAO, it depends on the course you wish to do. But a guidance councillor should be able to direct you on this also.
Best of luck!

chave

PhantomLimb wrote: »

Hey everyone,
I'm more than likely going to come across as quite simple and pathetic, but i'm stuck in a rut. I'm 23, 24 next April. I was in college for 1 year back when I was 18 but was unsuccessful. I've worked for the last 5 years, and have just come back from abroad. I know myself it's time to give college another go, but i'm lost, have no idea what I want to do, or where I want to go to do it. Has anyone been in this situation or can anyone advise/help me.
Thankyou.

I was in a similar boat to yourself. If you dont know what to do its very difficult for me to give advice because i dont know your interests or skill set. But what i would say is to think hard about it and go for a course that will provide you with a route into a particular job. For example if you want to work for a bank do commerce or economics etc practical jobs looks towards engineering etc I think at your age doing a degree in ancient civilisation and greek would be a waste of time although it can be a good degree i think a more job specific degree would be more appropriate in your situation.


What do you work at abroad?
What are your interests in?

Answers to these Questions will help you get better advice!

kaneda187

Im in pretty much the same boat, been working the past few years and goin nowhere fast, 23 now and come October 24:( time to get back to college or do a course or something some advice would be great!

PhantomLimb

Exactly straight to it! It is tough. Well i've been working retail spots for 5 years, liked it. I know someone who works in AIT and suggests doing a management course, to follow up on what i've been doing. I taught it was a good idea and it made sense not to jump into something completely different. I'm too old for that now and not worth the chance...maybe I should follow up on it?

dyl10

I had a brother in the same situation.
He came back from abroad and did nursing at around the same age as yourself.
He loved and has had a very successful career in that field since.

PhantomLimb

Thankyou so much I really appreciate the advise! I will do just that.

Larianne

Well it is up to you! You'll be studying the course for 4years and then working (hopefully) in an area related to your course. It's not uncommon for people to do something completely different to their previous career. Me for example I did Art, now I'm going to do Health Science.

I'm not saying don't go into management but have a look around at what's a available out there and see if anything takes your fancy. There are so many different courses available out there. Think ahead and have an idea where you would like to see yourself in 10 years time.

PhantomLimb

Thanks, Well I've been working in retail and have been doing very well in that field for the last 5 years. I've been advised and it made sense to follow up on this, maybe the likes of a management course/frontline management etc would make sense. I liked it and as you say it doesn't make much sense going into an entirely different field now, i'm a little beyond that. I need to get myself sorted in a sense!

shellyboo

It just sounds like you don't want a cut-out career. Not everyone has to do a dedicated degree and then into that designated career... not everyone has to do a degree at all.

If you don't know what you want to do, but you want to get back to education, an Arts degree is a good option, because you can pick and choose what to study and get ideas that way and learn what interests you, while getting involved in college activites that give you experience in fields like music or writing.

For example, I went to UCD to do Arts and got involved in the college paper there - I'm now a journalist. Lots of people who were involved in the paper are working as journalists now, and none of them have journalism degrees.

You're never going to know "this is what I want to do" until you're doing it. So get out there and try things you think you might like until something sticks.

PhantomLimb

What have you been working at, would you like to follow up on it and progress or try something new?

pathway33

www.qualifax.ie details most of the courses in ireland

PhantomLimb

Thanks, excellent advice!

chave

PhantomLimb wrote: »

Thanks, Well I've been working in retail and have been doing very well in that field for the last 5 years. I've been advised and it made sense to follow up on this, maybe the likes of a management course/frontline management etc would make sense. I liked it and as you say it doesn't make much sense going into an entirely different field now, i'm a little beyond that. I need to get myself sorted in a sense!

Well it looks like you should probably go for a business course. There are plenty of those around obviously since you posted on UCD's forum you might be interested in coming here. Commerce is a good course which you can specialise in management in i believe. Also there are many other business/management courses in DCU/DITs etc so dont feel limited to UCD although its a very good program i hear so it wouldnt be a bad choice.

A word of caution you may or may not need to factor in to returning to full time education depending on your situation, but i would say that fees for study will be returning shortly id imagine so if that is the case you would be looking at 6-7 grand a year course fees/travel etc more 10 grand a year plus if you want to stay on campus. Just to bear that in mind. Obviously this is not for certain but is highly probable IMO.

So do as much research on courses around the country and find the one that suits you the best an apply for it through the CAO next year. If you dont have the points for a course you want you can still get in as a mature with work experience but will have to go down a different road in applying depending on the institution. But you should also look into that carefully also.

Last piece of advice is start early with you application procedure so your not doing it all last minute and it looks better too especially if you have to go for interviews. But if you have the points from a previous leaving cert sitting theres nothing to worry about.

best of luck with your studies.

lasair

You should contact Rita Donaghue/ Mary liddy in the mature students office in the uni, they will give you all the info you need. there is an access course you can do that will help build you up to scratch for uni again...

go to the uni web page and search access course and you will get all info...

best of luck.

BuffyBot

PhantomLimb, please don't post the same thread across different forums - it's spammy and annoys people. I've just cleaned them all up and merged it into one thread, in one forum

Gazza22

Don't be so hard on yourself, you're not coming across as either. Considering third level options can be be daunting for most people, especially when you have been working for a period of time. It's a big commitment to make and a big life style change etc. My advice would be to sit down, relax and make a list of:

-Your interests.
-What subjects you enjoyed in school.
-What course you did in college last time, did you enjoy it? Why/why not?
-What type of career appeals to you, do you consider a certain profession from time to time and say "oh that would be a cool job" etc
-Lifelong ambitions
-Does any particular third level field appeal to you? Arts, Science, Engineering, Social/Human Science, Business etc
-Does any third level institute appeal to you in particular?

Read through all the various third level Prospectuses in your free time. This is the best way of finding the right course for you. Even if a certain faculty doesn't appeal to you straight away, just look at what courses they offer, something might catch your eye that you never thought would interest you before.

*Also, you probably already know this but as you are deemed a mature student now (over 23) you are entitled to apply to any course in any college irrespective of your leaving certificate results.

To help you, here is a few links to various third level prospectuses across the country.

DIT
UCD
TCD
NUIM
UCC
NUIG

ditmature

Hey PhantomLimb,

You're in a good spot to be honest because you're getting all your thinking done now with view to entering 3rd level in September 2010 (as you're a tad too late to enter in 2009).

If you're interested in retail, I would suggest the DT343 Retail & Services Management (more details here: http://www.dit.ie/media/documents/study/undergraduate/undergraduatecourses/dt343.pdf).

When fees come back (and they will), right now the fees in DIT are very competitive compared to others. I'm just saying.

But either way, here's what you need to do NOW in order to find yourself in the best financial position for next year.

1) Move out of home. Do this before October 2009, as when you go to apply for a grant next year, you'll be considered an Independent Mature Student if you do. Get a utility bill in your name ASAP in your new place and keep it and all other utility bills as proof of residence. If you don't move out of home, you'll be means tested based on your income for 2009 combined with your parents, which may hurt your chances of getting the grant.

Student Grants

2) If you cannot get work, sign on the dole ASAP. If you are unfortunate enough to remain on the dole for between 9 and 12 months consecutively (depending on a few criteria), you should be eligible for the Back To Education Allowance. Yes, I realise that this situation encourages people to stay on the dole rather than look for work. That's how the system works unfortunately.

Back To Education Allowance

Go back to college - it'll be the best move you ever made.

Bob

9wetfckx43j5rg

Hi there.

Don't feel bad about any of this. As 6th year students we were given career classes and tonnes of advice.

I see you mentioned that you wouldn't consider doing something completely different. You don't need to rule this out. Think about the tonnes of people working in It when all they really wanted was to be a painter or a teacher ect. If you think you could keep a normal job (not career) down and make enough money to support yourself then why bother with this sense of being beyond something. Chase the Dream, not the job as I say.

They are several personality tests we did in school, all free and online, that recommend areas of intrest you are suited to. Also consider your hobbies, likes and dislikes. If you liked horse riding why not become an instructor ect. If you would like the address, pm me and I will find them for you.

Do not worry about being a mature student either. I just started college and there are many, many mature students.

There are also several websites I can recommend particulary www.careerdirections.ie that list every possible job in every sector available. I believe they may also have personality tests on there too!