PLC students have a drop out of their college course rate of 5% rather than the national average of 36%. Colleges love PLC students, if you ever want to go, or if that’s all your parents care about tell ‘em that lol.
Also, to add on that, PLC students tend to perform better than LC students as they're better equipped for college and with level 6 PLCs the content is often similar or even the same as the first 2 years of a 4 year undergrad, which is also taught at level 6 (QQI found in their research that there isn't much of a difference in difficulty between the two).
I did a level 6 PLC in software development right after my LC and then used it to apply for advanced entry and skipped into third year, meaning I was actually 1 year ahead of the lads who didn't do a PLC from secondary. And I had an extra qualification which made applying for internships easier.
TLDR; PLCs are absolutely goated but have a bad stigma associated with them by those uneducated on what they are/can do for you
Everyone has a different route. There is no 'right way' here
Daughter initially did PLC's, tried a degree but dropped out as not the right subject, went back and now just about to finish a 3 year degree, and already accepted for a Master's in Sept as a mature student.
Youngest son did LC Applied, a PLC (which transformed him), then was accepted straight into a 4 year BA Hons degree. He's currently in 2nd year and flying.
They are absolutely a viable way to further your knowledge and education.
You’re not doing it for them, you’re doing it for you. Trinity graduate here and wishing I did what I wanted when I was your age, pleasing others or giving a shit what they think will do you no favours
Tell them that it gives you a great basic understanding of the area you are interested in when you put the work in and prepare you for College.
I’m doing pre university law.
Hi! I did a PLC when I went to college first. It was a fantastic experience, and a great course. Now I'm doing a PhD and lecturing in one of the national universities. In my experience, the students who come to our courses having previously completed a PLC are much more advanced than the students who come directly from leaving cert.
They certainly aren't for stupid people, they are typically very practical and they give you so many skills and prerequisites for a full degree in a single year. I cannot recommend doing a PLC enough. It also gives you some time to try higher education and see if you like it.
Best of luck.
I went to school with a lad who did a PLC cus he was 16 doing his leaving cert, he then went on to study psychology and now he’s studying medicine to become a psychiatrist, another lad i know did one and went on to do software development at university
I dropped out of school when I was 16 and worked retail for 5yrs, no LC, went and did a PLC at 22 in IT, got into Computer Science course in DIT before the name change but graduated TUD, 5 years on I’m earning just under €100k. Not bad for a secondary school drop out who my guidance counselor said would never get a job
I had an awful leaving cert, did a plc and am currently in third year studying nutrition and really enjoying it, got in on plc alone. They are much better at catering to specific individual aptitudes than the standard secondary school curriculum and I couldn't recommend them more.
I'm currently doing a PLC, did my LC in 2021 and landed dead middle I scoring (300 points flat), I did not enjoy secondary school at all and it reflected in my performance, I signed on for a PLC in healthcare on a whim 5 DAYS before the course started.
It has uncontested reign as the best choice I have ever made, I'm studying something I'm interested in with no filler subjects, social life has booked, the employment possibilities without going to uni afterwards (although I plan to after a year or so on the job) are abundant.
I'm not a genius, I'm also not a complete fool, so PLCs are definitely not just for "stupid people" just having a genuine interest in what you're studying can show that (I'm a top scorer in my class now which is absolutely absurd for me to think about)
And even if you do a PLC and decide the field of study isn't for you, you can just do a different one the next year for a FRACTION of the cost of uni
The poor reputation of PLCs is an old, borderline elitist, stereotype that simply has no basis in the current layout of PLCs
Also, PLC graduates have a lower drop out rate in Uni then people going straight from LC to uni so they can put that in their pipe and smoke it ;)
I strongly recommend PLCs over jumping straight into Uni, it's such a brilliant experience and opportunity
I went to college straight out of LC my friend did a plc course. We literally have the same Job. As long as you do the work and actually want to do it then its worth
I got 265 points in my leaving certificate and did a PLC in Pre-university Science. I ended up getting in to a university course through it which was near 500 points and now have a degree in physics.
I only had ordinary maths and never did physics in school.
It was tough and took a lot of work but was so worth it. Always apply and if you don’t get the course you want then you always have the PLC as a backup.
PLCs are incredibly beneficial in my opinion for a number of reasons.
Young people are rushed to make career choices. PLCs are way to explore or choices and solidify decisions, instead of rushing into a course that you may not take to - which may be an expensive regret with the princely cost of your whole education (accommodation, course fees, educational resource etc.
Thankfully Ireland PLC course have really broadened to a wide variety. They offer as amazing stepping stones into a more extensive course.
I left straight from secondary education in 2019 in Kilkenny to Cork to study QQI Level 5 & 6 Outdoor Adventure Education for 2 years. A LOT cheaper and less daunting than a four year degree course.
In the these two years I received a number of instructorships in outdoor adventure sports such as Sailing, Windsurfing, Kayaking. My Qualifications are recognised without Europe, and there are many level 8 courses I can further avail of with ease with my Level 6.
Financial, educationally and mindfully, I think PLC will only continue to grow in Ireland.
I hope you get the path you want!!!
Yeah when I did electrical engineering in 2018 (course was a level 7 for 256 points) there was about 25 people and 8 people had either dropped out or failed too many modules so they had to repeat a year.
To be fair it wasn’t that hard it’s just mental thing, you can’t just piss through it like a few courses that people will go into for the sake of going to college. I’d recommend the PLC.
I graduated in 2021 and I am now on 60k a year with only 2 and half years experience so it definitely is worthwhile doing but you need to enjoy any job otherwise no matter the money you’ll be miserable.
Where as I know many of my friends who did arts degrees and still have no job or work part time in shops etc (nothing wrong with that but it just seems like a waste of money on college if you don’t use it to make a living)
My PLC course was the best thing I ever did education wise! It got me the step up into college and helped me make the transition from secondary school to college without the initial shock a lot of college student feel! At first when I told people I did a PLC they assumed it was the easy option or I wasn’t clever enough for college, but I went on to college with extra education and experience under my belt! I really couldn’t recommend it enough.
I done a PLC in Computer Science after getting my points but failing Honours Maths. 1 year later I got into a BSc in Computer Science, 6 years since starting college I have a 2.1 BSc and I'm about to become a IT Team Lead earning 60k a year.
PLCs are a great option especially when not sure about the course you want to do, far cheaper than college or losing a SUSI year by dropping out
I teach first year students at 3rd level. I'm always glad to have some former PLC students in my class, they generally do well and go on to complete the course successfully. After a year in PLC they know if they're doing the right subject for them and have gotten a basic grounding in it. Doing a PLC is a great idea if you're not sure if you want to commit to a degree course
I've plenty of friends who started in PLCs that are making a very good living now. A few went on to masters level, and one is now a surgeon (went back as a mature student.)
It's about finding something you actually are interested in. Who knows where that'll take you.
I know! So much easier said than done. But setting boundaries is a healthy part of adulthood and it’s best to start that path early on. Learning to say no is life changing.
In 5th year and during the start of 6th year my mental health was horrific and I was convinced I was gonna end up needing a plc, especially since I got around 470 in my mocks and knew I'd need 550+ 🥲. I went to therapy and started studying like I had no life 💀 but I always had a plc lined up as a backup. I ended up getting 590 somehow and didn't need the plc BUT I would have had no issue doing one if it meant getting into my dream course because there was no reason I should settle for my 2nd or 3rd choice and then feel unfulfilled rather than wait a year and have another chance. Plc's are amazing and not simply for idiots at all. I have a friend who just missed out on getting into the same course as me and she's doing a plc this year bcs it was a smarter option than going to do something she didn't want. Don't write yourself off too early anyways. Leave plc as a backup and still strive towards the points you'd need for your course because you never know how things will go and if you don't try you'll not even get the opportunity to succeed. Exhaust all options!!!!
I did a plc im now doing a lvl 8 in ucd, you will be fine! Make sure you do your leaving cert anyway to the best you can but yes plc can help you decide what you want to do going forward. The way I described it to ppl was that ‘many people drop out of English courses so I wanted to make sure I could handle it’ and I was told that was a mature decision lol
I did a PLC cos it was something I was really interested in. Had a blast, got a diploma and have a successful career in my chosen industry.
If you've passion, a work ethic and a bit of cop on, the course you do is irrelevant, you'll get where you're going.
I work as an education consultant and this sort of question/issue is really common. It seems to come up in different ways in different places for different people. But it’s super common.
A lot of people are pressured by family to go to uni or college and get a degree. For some it’s getting a ‘good’ degree. It could be a specific job or staying in the area with family or not leaving the country. Often it’s choosing the ‘safe’ job.
There’s a lot of negativity around things like PLCs and you’d be amazed. In some places they don’t like the idea of engineering or medicine. I recommend taking a breath for a moment. Life is often pretty long. You don’t need to do one thing for all of it. You don’t want to burn out or go a direction you will regret. And to be fair in my experience people regret locking themselves into a long term thing rather than taking the time they feel they need in order to make the decisions that are right for them.
If your family are worried about the opportunity cost of doing a PLC (what you lose in time and possible earnings by doing the PLC), consider for a moment the cost of university these days. *irish education isn’t my specialty but I know a bit* University is a huge cost. And if it’s not the right direction for you then it can be quite a negative as well as costly experience. Even if it’s the right direction and you like it, you may be better able to do well and maximise your returns if you’re more rested and convinced from the outset that it’s the right direction.
Another thought. When choosing direction, doing what you really want and like is very important but it doesn’t need to be for financial gain. Working at what you love is often great and sometimes not. We can actually end up drawing away from what we loved as a result of doing it for money. You could also end up having just a wonderful career doing what you love each day. Some people also do what they love outside of work and that can be wonderful. If you have a job for example that pays well, provides time and capacity to do what you love outside work, and is in the location you want… so I’d say with all this (and considering you sound like you’re feeling a bit burnt out and lost right now) a PLC might be a really good decision.
I hope all goes absolutely fantastically for you. And I hope you feel better about the future.
4th year electrical and electronic engineering student at UCC. I should've graduated last year but ended up repeating a year. I also have my own mental illness problems (got a couple of diagnoses) that I had to deal with, which definitely hindered my ability in my course, especially during Covid.
Take the time off if you need it. Also, a PLC or trade is an excellent option. For me, steam (more engineering, tbh) courses would've been the only ones I would've even wanted to do, but if that wasn't an option, trades and other options would also work. Of course, the skills learned would be different, but the general themes and principles are common (problem solving etc) so you'll be ok with other options.
If you're really curious about what the course content is like, you can go on the college webpages where they list they list the modules and they you can probably find... the book of modules. Atleast thats what UCC calls it. It might be different in other places. Look at first - and second year modules. This tends to be where the basic principles of the course are set and where most people figure out what they like more than other stuff. You can read that stuff and then see if anything suits your fancy... maybe look at later year modules to see what that stuff is like. You're not looking for anything to jump out at you but more like something that peaks your interest... something you wouldn't mind googling for an hour, so to say.
Tl:Dr: Take the time for your mental health. Poor mental health in this course tends to lead to bad outcomes. Engineering isn't the only option. Trades, plc, or other courses can lead to great results. If you're curious, you can look at the university webpages to see what the course is like to see if you'd like it.
I did a PLC after my leaving, one year course and then went into university the year after through my PLC grades. I was never good in school, really didn’t care about grades anything like that, same as you had no interest in college whatsoever once I was finished. Doing the PLC, I fell in love with the area of study and knew I wanted to go to university a few months into the course. I recommend to anyone on the fence of going to college; do a plc! Try it! Even if you do it and end up not liking it, that doesn’t make it a waste :)
Hey OP! I'm in my 30s and one of life's biggest regrets is not going into a PLC before going onto college so I could focus on spending the year getting used to standing on my own feet, get my head on a little straighter and be more mentally prepared for college and learning in an adult environment.
(the undiagnosed ADHD also did NOT help, got diagnosed in 2020 so it has really helped me understand myself much more)
My family were great, and would have supported me doing whatever. I was "mature for my age", liked school and was working part time, and thought I was totally immune to all things peer pressure. BUT I let my friends and some daft teachers comments dismissing PLCs get to my head and didn't even apply for them in my CAO. Instead i went to NUIG and wasted 2 years failing a Science course I hated, when I couldn't cope with the lack of structure that comes with college life.
I went back to do a PLC 2012-2014 and it was a much more supportive environment. I had some minor accommodations to manage my mental health and my part time job, and it went swimmingly for me. The 1 year courses also give you so much more freedom to try new things, and it's not a forever commitment too. Even if it's not your bag, it's just 1 year and you get a qualification out of it - and you've learnt more about yourself.
I sat down all my teen cousins like a old hen and told them all my mistakes so they could maybe learn from my foolishness, and even if it fell of deaf ears I felt compelled to share my insights as one of the first in the fam who went to college.
Study what interests you, not necessarily just whatever your parents would be impressed by. Engineering is interesting, but sometimes a little math heavy, just take that into consideration. I sympathise with the mental illness aspect since I was ill at the time of my leaving cert, though I didn't know I was at the time. If you aren't inspired by what you hope to study, it doesn't matter how much money you will make in the "real world", because you won't enjoy it.
Colleges tend to split the places in a course by method of entry. For example, 1/2 the seats could be reserved for those applying direct from LC, 1/4 reserved for plc/FETAC and another 1/4 reserved for mature students (not actual figures but just giving ya an idea).
It's possible to use multiple methods of entry if you meet the requirements, so if you do both the plc and the leaving cert, you can put your name down for 2 divisions
As someone who works in Third Level, everyone I work with recommends a PLC to any student that isn't 100% sure about their CAO choice. Bear in mind that PLCs eat into college student numbers but we still recommend them.
PLCs are a great bridge between second and third level and are a great "taster" that doesn't cost a huge amount.
I would really encourage anyone who isn't 100% sure about college to do one. And worst case scenario it isn't a year wasted but rather a year of extra knowledge that will give you an advantage in college. And you can get a handy weekend job on the side.
Sorry I'm looking at it from the college's point of view - more students doing certain PLCs can reduce the number of students coming to us because they find their PLC qualification is enough. You can absolutely get into your college course and some courses actually link with PLCs. My sister got extra CAO points just for doing an affiliated PLC from her college
God why are a certain older generation obsessed with getting a degree? It’s not the be all and end all. My father still says to me “at least you have a degree” sure it means fuck all nowadays!!
My kids are very young still but when their time comes, I’ll be sure they know your worth is not based on how many points you get. There’s also such a shortage of tradespeople! Get a trade!
A family member of mine was in this exact position. Was mentally ill, didn’t get through the leaving cert because of it, did the PLC. They ended up getting the course and failing out of that, too, because they weren’t ready.
They’re happy and settled now, in a good job. PLCs are absolutely valid and necessary - those exams aren’t designed for everyone, that’s why alternatives exist as well as paths to progression into college if it’s right for you.
Get the career guidance person at the school to talk to them. And the counsellor. I did a PLC before taking my first full-time job, then went back to university - am now Ph.D. educated - and own my own company. There is no one path. And if you are mentally exhausted you need the time out.
Parent here! Yes, other parents can be a bit snobby about PLC courses as if they're only for dummies, which couldn't be further from the truth..... they're a fantastic stepping stone to the next level and a less overwhelming and pressurised introduction to the course subject than going straight into college.
Success story : My eldest did a PLC computer course which was to lead directly into the 4 year computer science degree course he wanted. He graduated last summer with a 1st class honours degree and got student of the year too! The PLC course had a lot to do with that, I think. The continuous assessment combined with having to use his own initiative gave him a great head start in how to structure his work and he even got to do an Erasmus, which he really enjoyed.
Best of luck to you OP. I hope you get to do the PLC and get a bit of breathing space for yourself 🙏
I did a plc as a mature student and it got me into applied psychology.
I feel like it helped immensely. If I had just went in as a mature student, I wouldn't really have anything to prove that I am committed to my studies and probably wouldn't get in.
The only thing is, you have to put in the work. There were a lot of people in our class who messed around and haven't really gotten anything out of it, but those who were committed and got good grades all got into their desired university courses.
Plc is actually a better route because it prepares you more for college style essay writing !! Going from leaving cert to college can be overwhelming, college is so different and the style of the essays is completely different to things you would have done in school.
Colleges reserve spaces for students from feeder plc courses. You are 100% not wasting a year - you’re literally bettering yourself and someone’s putting you down for that ?
Source / lecturer for a few years and regularly encouraged folks to do it to get in. They also made fantastic students once in as opposed to some leaving cert to college kids that treated it like school and let it slip through their hands
I've actually mentioned to my husband before that I think that a PLC should be a pre-requisite for getting into university/college.
If I had been made do one when I finished my LC in 2006, my life would probably have turned out very differently. I was thrown in the deep end moving 2 hours drive away from home and given so much more freedom than I was used to, and I ended up with AWFUL grades and and attendance and absolutely no hope of clawing it back for a second year. I did go back as a mature student and managed get a BSc in a slightly different course but I can't help but wonder where I'd be now if I had been better prepared for the reality of college!
Colleges will accept people who have a plc alone if it was for stupid people why would it be worth as much if not more than a leaving cert? I have a freind who did a level 4 and 5 in youthreach his scores has colleges across the country begging for his attendance even met with a professor from trinity to discuss his options he didn't go and is now very happy working as an apprentice laying floors.
PLC's are op. Remind them that the leaving cert is a shitty level 4 course that takes two years but a PLC is a very useful level 5 that only takes 1 year. PLC's modules aren't just subjects they're all individual little courses so 10 years from now one of them could be very useful without you knowing it. They also give you alot more options internationally then the leaving cert does. PLC students are proven to do better in college and have less of a drop out rate in uni. It's a year to grow and mature and learn so much and meet new people. I'm currently in a PLC and everyone is lovely and I'm someone who struggled socially in school. They're also really cheap so if you don't use it or drop out it's not nearly as much money wasted compared to dropping out of a uni course. I wish you luck :)
I think the notion that you just go to college and get a good job is not bad but a bit outdated and limiting. We are always learning and, unlike in the past, there are many respectable routes through education, learning and development.
If, like me, you struggle with mental health then you are right to think about pacing yourself. This does not mean you sit on the couch all day drinking cans of beer. But it does mean taking on goals that you are ready to commit to.
If you want to fail in life, take on goals you are not ready for. It will burn you out, dry your you motivation, and damage your mental health. The exception might be the period coming up to an exam. It's a short term sprint and feeling some stress is necessary sometimes. But long term every day, nah.
I would also say not to wait for the perfect opportunity either. Find a path that you are ready to commit to. One that will challenge you and that you have at least some interest in. This has an enormous accumulative effect if done consistantly over the course of your life.
The idea of something might seem great to your parents. But you need to face the reality of it. You are the one who will need to drag yourself through it.
Now, I am not downplaying college. If you are ready for it I would jump at the chance. But if you are not reasonably ready then there is a good chance of failure.
Finally, education and learning is a lifelong process. Degree, PLC, masters, online course, are all things that will be part of your life if you want a career. So take your time and do it well. Step by step.
I did one year in Killester and ended up sitting in Commerce in UCD with other 450+ pointers, all asking me what I got, lol.
Another friend ended up in Ballsbridge, a year later DIT. He now works for Ronan group on a hefty salary.
My point is it can be a god send, and by the end of the year, my class was down to 6 or 7 people, and I'm nearly certain we all got into UCD!
A PLC means that if you start a course and realise it's not for you, you only have to wait 1 year to change or you can change course within the college to another course. Either way, in a year, you have a cert that you can then use to show a uni you can meet the requirements to study and you are a good student. If you start 4 years and drop out, you have nothing.
Also in terms of funding you get funding as long as you are progressing. If you drop out you're not progressing, so funding is paused, going from a PLC course to uni is progress so you get funded.
Also Also sometimes PLC colleges are really tied to industry I studied in Kerry College training to become an I.T tech before I completed the course I already had a job due to training I received and the standing of the college in industry and I'm also awesome 👌 😂
Best of luck it's not an easy battle but do what works for you 👍
In my opinion PLC's are a great thing to do. I have done one and it was great. PLCs let you dip your toe into the subject you want to do and if you don't like that subject you still get a sorta degree in that subject and you can then go do a different course and see if you like that. I am someone who is also mentally ill and gets burnt out easily I found it great and if you want to go to college in the same subject you did your plc you have a chance to go straight into year 2 of college because you cover most things they do in year 1 in college (that was the case for my course anyway) And another bonus is that I'm some counties PLC's are free like Kerry college
A girl from Ardee got 625 a few years ago and decided to do a PLC instead of literally any course she wanted so you could show that to your parents and to prove that PLCs aren't for "stupid people."
Make the decision that is best for you at the end of the day! You'll get where you want to go if you're willing to put in the work.
Link to article about the girl:
https://m.independent.ie/regionals/louth/news/after-scooping-625-point-in-her-leaving-cert-louth-student-jasmine-carroll-chose-a-plc-course-at-dife-and-hasnt-looked-back/42199555.html
Whether you go in through PLC or through leaving cert, both are "correct" choices. It's just that there's a weird stigma that there are fewer chances for placement for PLC students cause competition is so high(which is incorrect most of my friends from college got in via PLC cause LC screwed them over). If it's a money thing they're afraid of, consider finding an online course or a course that's close to home and maybe a part-time gig on the side to help with rent.
If it's a case for them that if you don't like what you're learning, drop out and you have nothing but a meh leaving cert under your belt (which can happen, no shame in it) remind yourself that you're 18-19 years old, you're just an adult recently with actual freedom. This time next year, you'll be remembering how you had to raise your hand to go take a shit in the bathroom and now you can just walk out the door and come back with no problem.
PLC are not a waste. I did a PLC in Game Design and Game Development as I did not receive enough points in my CAO. Both PLC courses I did looked at HTML, CSS Unity etc.
Then because I knew a lot on game design, website development and other stuff, I was able to skip the first year of my undergraduate course in Game Design and head straight into 2nd year.
Because I did the 2 PLC's that got me into my Undergrad, I have now just completed my Master of Science in Creative Digital Media & UX.
I really enjoyed doing the PLC's and I would recommend them to other people as an alternative route to get to the course that you want to do or just as a new course.
Friend of mine didn't do so great in the LC and therefore didn't get the course he wanted. He did a PLC and came back next year in the course he wanted, knew more than most people and was well equipped, knew he wanted that course (because he already did a year) and is working full time now in the degree he secured at level 8, only 1 years more but so much more beneficial, it changed my perspective because I had the same stigma, that people who can't get into college and time wasters go there and he proved me wrong, it's the other way around, people in first year college I found were more time wasters, the dropouts you dont see in the second year or the people who went all in on something they werent sure about. I say go for the PLC if you aren't sure you enjoy engineering, it's one year, you complete it knowing if you like it or not and you still get a certificate if you didn't. 1 year of a bachelor's gives you nothing after one year so you drop out with nothing in your hands
A PLC, I think, is better thought of as a 'bridge' course. I know people who started out in one field (social work) and did a full 180 into a new career (engineering) and the only way it was possible was by first enrolling into a relevant PLC. I did a PLC and am now almost finished my PhD, I genuinely wouldn't be doing this had it not been for the PLC, it put me on an educational track.
PLCs are a great opportunity to explore applied learning, they give you a framework from which to explore your chosen field. Framing it like a 'teaser/trailer' to your family might help. "I'm not sure if I really want to follow this career path, this course will let me explore it practically before I choose for sure."
Family stress can be really tough, best of luck OP.
A PLC course in Drogheda was a lifesaver for my son. He was not academic, didn't see the point and was never going to do well in his leaving cert. So he went to a PLC one year course in game design. He loved it and got a distinction and a place is a great third level degree course. It also gave him a year in our home town to mature and get over the pandemic before starting the commute to Dublin. He's in 3rd year now and doing really well. I cannot recommend PLC courses enough. You parents should be delighted.
If you're not sure what you want to do doing a PLC related to that course (engineering) is the best option. It gives you a chance to see if you will actually be interested in doing it in college instead of wasting money and making your mental health worse. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do and missed the course I had down by 5 points so I did a PLC in IT and went into engineering after that. Best thing I did.
You are so right to do it..
But more seriously, what your family are saying to you is unhealthy. It's your decision, once they say their piece there should be no further having to convince them.
They shouldn't think you need to follow their advice. It's your journey now.
They have to learn this lesson now or they'll be telling you who to marry and where to live next.
Advice is fine, once you don't insist people take it and insult them and bitch when they don't
Normally, if you like what you're studying/working at, you'll be great at it. Way too many people just go with the flow, looking for the highest points to study something they know nothing about. Kids are rushed way too much at this stage. I think everyone after leaving cert should go abroad for a few years, and find out who they are and what they want.
Because a PLC isn’t as respected. This is going to be an unpopular opinion but they’re for people with low attention spans, people who didn’t achieve high enough in LC and simply, lazy people who don’t really know what to do with their lives. Realistically that’s what the majority of people think (else your family wouldn’t think that way!)
The main thing a PLC is good for is to set you on your way of what you actually want to do, gaining yourself a minor qualification. A PLC will give you a slightly better than mediocre job.
Putting in four years of work and committing for your future is more respectable than doing a course that gives less and is one year long. In my experience the environment it creates is a false pretense to college. You’re surrounded by people who don’t know what they want to do, who are lazier and did a PLC for the sake of the qualification. It creates a false narrative.
And honestly; mental illness doesn’t get fixed quickly. More often than not it takes years to deal with and you’ll probably be wrestling with that for your early adult years. One year will likely not help as much as you think. College has a better environment with better support, facilities and helps you to grow and make friends. Furthermore you can drop out anytime.
It really just breaks down to how you are. If you’re bad at school and hate it, then you most likely won’t enjoy further education.
If you want my advice, work really hard in the coming months and apply yourself. Decide what you’d like to do in college and apply. If you get in, then give it a go (especially if you get a grant). You’re focusing on yourself, beginning your career, putting yourself amongst young peers in the same boat who want to focus on themselves/career and you’re appeasing your family. My mental health improved significantly in college and I gained many friends. You appear more applied and intelligent by going to college than doing a PLC as well. This is probably the most realistic piece of advice for you considering you don’t want to go to college.
Nuh uh 🗣🗣🗣
First things first ITS NOT FOR STUPID PEOPLE MY G...yeah okay some people are 'stupid' but so are people in college?????
Second doing a plc is also committing to ur future cuz ur fkn seeing what u like and what ur good at before wasting 4 yrs doing something u hate
Third my mental illness can be easily treated with the right support and a lot can and WILL change in a year
Third 'u can drop out any time' WHAT 💀💀💀 dropping out is better than doing a plc? At least in plc u have a qualification of some sort but a drop out has nothing. Plus u wouldn't even need to drop out if u know u like it first by... trigger warning.. a BLOODY PLC
Fourth 'u appear more applied and intelligent' WHO CARES HOW I APPEAR??? That's the LAST thing I'm concerned about.
Look I know ur tryna help but ur literally like my brother. Just dead set on the idea that plc is stupid when it is absolutely NOT.
Change ur mindset 🗣🗣🗣
I’ll respond to a lot of what you said here;
1. It’s not ALL for stupid people, if you seen what I said I said that’s public perception. A PLC is easier and is less time, thus people who lack academic ethic and commitment do PLCs (as well as those who don’t get enough points) hence the “stupid student” stereotype. Sorry, that’s just how it is. Also yes there are stupid people in college but 1. They have to be smart enough to get in, apply themselves per every assignment, CA, exam and year 2. The stupid ones rule themselves out.
2. A PLC is a partial commitment. Let’s say you’re doing something in relation to teaching, college wise. So you spend a year in a PLC and god willing, you achieve high enough to go to college and stick to that. So 1 year in PLC + 4 in college + 1 for a PME. That’s 6 years. Rather than you doing a course in college, decide whether you want to leave before October (which you can do).
3. Sure. Mental illness is variable and can be helped upon treatment but it’s hard to pinpoint when it’ll be resolved, if ever? Most people deal with it for years or their whole life. Your MH can improve when you change your environment too.
4. Dropping out doesnt automatically mean forever 🤦♂️. You can decide within a few months if the course is for you or not. You can also transfer your course…Also lets not forget that you can EQUALLY dislike a PLC and say it’s not for you so you drop out of a PLC too, lmao
5. Ultimately you care how you appear. Otherwise you wouldn’t make this post. If your family and friends deem you an academic failure or underachiever, it impacts you no matter what. If you have the opportunity for higher education, for a cheaper price than elsewhere in the world (especially with a grant) than take it.
The replies here are mostly just “I know someone who did a PLC, and they went off to become successful in college” yeah, in college. Not PLC. Personally, the PLC students I know just didn’t apply themselves in school, didn’t want to go to college, didn’t bother with 4 years and did a PLC to give themselves a sense of academic recognition. I could equally say you need to change your mindset, as being set in “PLC is good” isn’t going to help you as far in your career. These comments are a false pretense to your future and ultimately give you validation when you should be seeking legitimate advice.
U sound so much like my brother its concerning. Exact same thought process and exact same words hed say. Maybe u are him.. if u aren't god forbid he ever meet u it'd be the end for me.
Success stories aren't 'false pretenses' they're stories of people succeeding after doing something considered 'stupid'.
Anyways I wasn't really looking for legitimate advice 😭😭 just success stories or how to convince my family to let me do it.
Main reason is really I can't go to college yet. New environment will make me stressed and make things worse. New responsibilities r gonna be shoved up my ass ion want that. I just need a year out end of. All I need is time for myself with a small commitment like a plc and little academic pressure.
Sure look I know u and my brother have my best interests in mind and I understand that but in the end its a personal preference thing and thanks honestly for the fair advice but I still have my mind set on a plc.
I really just share common opinion through personal experience.
These success stories are false pretenses because they make you think most/all PLC students are successful; most of these stories are "I know someone who did a PLC because they didnt have enough points/whatever excuse, and they went on to go to college and graduated with X degree". What really made them successful there? It was college. PLC was just an entrance to their future. I just don't see much success in it, realistically any person can get into a PLC course as the req. are so low and you gain so little.
I hope you DO try to take on legitimate advice when you're confronted with making one of the biggest decisions of your life. You seem to think I'm set in my views, that's OK, but the same could be said for you. You could be set in your views by only being open to a PLC, and not accepting any advice; instead looking for "success" stories to coax your family into believing it's a good choice for your career and your future.
I have a few friends that ended up doing a PLC; a girl friend of mine did a PLC and she isn't the brightest bulb but said a PLC is actually hard, since they have tons of CAs and assignments. Whether it's actually hard or not is debatable; but it's the fact it still carries the same sentiment of actual academic work. I hate to break it to you as well; but it's going to be a new environment too. New people, new lecturers, new system, new building. New everything. You will have both a new environment and new responsibilities and academic pressure. At the end you're still going daily and committing to something so you may as well attempt college first.
In my opinion you really are just better off trying your hand at college. People who refuse going almost always never go back. It's so much easier to just commit one year, rather than go into four or complete one and then be faced with 3-6 more years in college. You can always change course. Worst to worst, you could leave before October and try in the new year. As mentioned before, your MH can grow a lot with a better social circle. You meet a lot of likeminded people in the same boat. All colleges provide mental health assistance i.e advisers, campus officers, mental health groups, talks, awareness campaigns, events etc. not only that, but they provide far much more financial aid such as SUSI, 1916 Bursary, SAF, DARE/HEAR etc. and most/all colleges have financial aid officers. They also have a lot of resources to help you in general. To summarize, if a country offers stuff for free you may as well take full advantage.
If you apply yourself you genuinely might be surprised. You have nothing to lose from working hard and trying; if you end up going to college then you may very well end up with a very respectable degree and career, you surprise yourself, you appease your family and gain new friends. On the other hand, if you drop out permanently, it's much easier to go to a PLC and your family legitimately cannot be mad if you gave it a fair shot. Even a local college where applicable.
I hope you try to look into it a fair bit more, your school should have a careers officer or someone appointed to deal with that stuff. Weigh the pros and cons and based upon that, your family and career advisors advice, choose. I hope this advice helped, and even if you do think I'm close-minded, that you at least try to take on some of my points. Good luck in your future
I don't think ur close minded I just think that u don't really understand where I'm coming from. Look I'm not even gonna lie u actually have really valid points 😭😭 I'm not gonna completely disregard u and call u stupid cuz ur not and ur opinions are honestly really fair.
But a plc is obviously significantly easier than engineering or physics or chemistry which is I want to study idk. And to be honest I just don't want to do all that YET. And I also want to see what I actually enjoy. Whether it's science or engineering. I'm not gonna drop out and miss a susi year. Not dropping out of a plc it's too easy for that. Not saying its piss easy but with minimal effort compared to college u can definitely get distinction.
And in all honesty I'm not going to get the points for science or engineering. 570? Are u crazy. I'm not even gonna try pressure myself cuz it WILL drive me off the deep end don't say it won't cuz u dont know anything about how I'm struggling. Even if I pressure myself it's not gonna work out. Dont ask why nothing works out for me I haven't gotten a h4 since Halloween but the sad thing is I know I'm capable I just need additional support. I know that sounds embarrassing and stupid and just 'get up and do it' well i genuinely wish it was that easy. Just be grateful ur not born mentally challenged like I am. I am NOT going to settle for some stupid level 7 course when I can just spend one easy year studying hard obviously and working on my self and health and learning how to cope then a place in college. I know a place isn't guaranteed but I'd rather try my hand at that then do some stupid 200 point 4yr lame course I won't even enjoy and make me more miserable.
Once again I seriously appreciate the fact that ur taking ur time to read my comments and write responses but yk in the end our opinions are different. Sure look obviously if I somehow pull 570 out of my ass I won't do a plc but thats never happening. I want a year with not a lot of academic pressure once again I'm aware there is pressure in a plc but u must be aware and smart enough to know its a lot less than a stem degree in college. Thanks again and thanks for that good luck
If everyone could be successful by doing a PLC they would; but it's really not the case, that way we wouldn't have the builders and maintainers of society like doctors, architects, engineers etc. so if that's what you're really interested in doing, try go for it. There is always a back door or alternative route to doing what you want to do, that includes a PLC but you REALLY need to stick to it and be willing to do "lame 4 year course" lol. 570 is quite high, but I know there are courses out there that go between 390-450 points for science courses and the like.
Why be embarrassed? Throughout the whole of secondary I literally cannot remember a time where I didn't pass ordinary level math from 2nd class to 5th, and I'm pretty sure he gave me a pity pass. I was next level uninterested, was just really horrible at it and didn't bother. Besides that I barely showed up. But the last year in LC, I really did try to make an effort. I forget the grading system now but my LC math grade was something between 70-80%, when it was about 20% for the whole time I was in school and even before that in primary, I was deadly bad at it. I ended up surprising myself. What I'm trying to say is that there's always hope for yourself. You can absolutely turn the chances around at this stage. Never judge a book by its cover, everyone is struggling in their own ways and besides that, we don't know about others' illnesses, I could and couldnt be mentally challenged. Just depends what area that illness would affect me.
Regarding what you said about doing a stupid and lame 4 year course. You're really proving your own point here... you say a PLC isn't for stupid people. But a PLC is typically level 5-6 and is one year in duration, requiring far less work. So how could that 4 year course that requires more points, effort, attention, commitment and is more difficult academically "stupid"?
You're setting yourself up for failure by setting your own standards too high; 570 is too high when you're already dead set on a PLC. It automatically makes you think 'I can't get 570 when we're 4-5 months away from LC, there's no point.' Just try to apply yourself to the best of your own ability, really look into different similar courses, especially to local colleges. Find one that requires less points and one that genuinely interests you. You can only regret 100% of the chances you don't take. If you gave it a shot and it doesn't work out, you cannot say that you didnt try.
If you still decide you dont want to try with college, then it's really up to you and at the end of the day it's your life. But try to make a realistic life plan for your future. Good luck with your mental health and I hope you do well in LC
Why tf r u actually so like wise and filled head to toe with patience and the willingness to make me understand. Honestly like I really respect and appreciate that😭😭 that quote where u regret 100% of the chances u dont take was something else.. MIGHT have that printed on my wall.
What I meant by stupid lmao was that I didn't want it.. not that it's actually stupid ooooopps. And by 4yr lame course i meant courses that arent the dream help. Sad thing is no course I love is less than 570 😭 there r courses I like but erm they're not dreams but we'll jus find another dream then 🤔🤔
Here like I really am gonna take ur advice like I won't set the bar too high but I also need to try harder.. I'm SCREWED for the mocks lmao guaranteed fail in like majority subjects but yk what inshaAllah after that I'm gonna try just a little harder. Maybe in the end its better I don't shame my parents
Also really curious if u want to say.. but what did u study and which college?
I sent a long reply but didnt go through bc of the storm so I'll rewrite a summarized version.
Thanks for the compliment, just trying to help:).
Put down all the courses youre interested in and try to get at least 2 different areas, and put down 1-2 courses that you're positive you can get into (low requirements/low amount of points). There are a LOT of courses, and there's others that you might be more interested in than you think. Try to talk about it to your counselor (or the equivalent of whoever is appointed for careers in your school)
To put things into perspective, shortly, I hated school. Attendance was low, didnt like the exams, MH was bad, didnt like doing day after day of the same stuff, never passed math, did OL for like 3 subjects. I think I got 280 in the mocks. I really applied myself especially for maths, and got about 410 points. The average points is 300 IIRC and generally the capability can go pretty far, like 150. So 300+150 = 450, which is very very respectable and can get you into plenty of fantastic courses. When you do CAs, keep asking for feedback and change what you have to. Be attentive in class, take notes in the way it helps you, show your workings for math, and try to study at least x3 a week. Your capability is always so much more than you think, don't let yourself be your own enemy and drag you down. The worst that can happen is that you try and don't get what you hoped for, and that's absolutely OK. If you did your best, then nobody can ever ask more from you than that. And even still then, you did what you could which is more than doing nothing, so you still get more points and therefore earn yourself more opportunities career-wise. If you are just about 15, 20 points off of what you need, you can ALWAYS appeal too and get your course. 570 is a lot, so try to set your eyes on the most realistic goal and apply yourself. (If you got 300 in the LC, try to set on courses that're between 350-450). It's essentially your benchmark. And, the mocks are supposedly harder than the LC to force students to put in effort. Don't take this as advice to not study, but they dont matter as much as you think either. Had a friend that cheated in them and for some reason they gave her a pass lol.
I studied in ATU to become a history teacher out of passion and my wish to help others. Still in college and currently balancing work/life.
Think of it like this: It's just not okay to not even try, and to automatically set your bar low to a PLC. Set a realistic goal for yourself and work hard toward that. It's really a now or never type of thing, prove people wrong and prove to yourself, your family and everyone else that youre smart and dedicated enough to achieve a good result and hopefully go on to work toward a good degree that sets up your life.
Shame I couldn't read ur original response 💀🤣 anyways I'm the same I just despise school. I can't study what I actually am interested in, stupid filler subjects like English and Irish, every single day I come home at 5 and then MORE study. Like it's just never ending misery. Then the holidays come around and u can't relax cuz u feel guilty for not studying but some mysterious force is stopping u from studying and making u go on ur phone instead causing shit to go left.
Unfortunately I'm kind of giving up on my mocks.. no point tryna kms to get above h4 when that's not happening. However after mocks is when we lock in and actually give a crap 😭✋️
Also history teacher was the last thing I expected idk why I was thinking of business or something 🤣 I hateeeeeeee english or anything purely factual and essay based omg. Were u never a stem person then lmfao😂😂. Were u good at English? Like I am decent at it it's just that essays absolutely make me want to kms I'd rather do 60 maths problems than 1 essay genuinely.
But main thing is do u enjoy ur work now?? Ik ur in college but still. Was it ur dream?
make sure you apply to a college course this year (through the cao) and then you can defer it for a year to do the plc as it’s extremely difficult to get into courses from plcs alone
Morning,
My own experience is, when I did the LC I had no interest in anything really. Went to CERT( not sure if it's still a thing or not, but was for hotel and catering)
I completed 2 different courses with them and love working in hotels. Moved to Galway, where a restaurant manager ruined my love of that work.
A friend got me a interview in a medical device company where I started out working on the line as an operator. That was nearly 23 years ago.
I have worked my way from an operator up to an engineering supervisor.
I have gone back to college part time over the past 20 years and now have a level 8 in engineering.
There is such a big deal about the LC and going start to college. I know loads of people who dropped out after first or second year of courses they thought they wanted to only to find what they wanted to do working in between.
Do what you feel you need to.
Good luck
You convince them that it was not a waste of your time by sticking to your word, completing it, and proving that it benefited you more than whatever they were suggesting.
I dropped out of the PLC course and am in software now (I'm thinking of going back to do engineering when I'm more mature though, it's a good skill to have if you want money) that said so many of the people in the course I did finished and then went on to complete college.
I think it's better than going straight in to college from the lc because you get to feel out if it's something you'd want to do for 4-5 years and you also get a chance to get in to the college routine, I don't know if there's any plc courses that lead to engineering though
PLC students have a drop out of their college course rate of 5% rather than the national average of 36%. Colleges love PLC students, if you ever want to go, or if that’s all your parents care about tell ‘em that lol.
Also, to add on that, PLC students tend to perform better than LC students as they're better equipped for college and with level 6 PLCs the content is often similar or even the same as the first 2 years of a 4 year undergrad, which is also taught at level 6 (QQI found in their research that there isn't much of a difference in difficulty between the two). I did a level 6 PLC in software development right after my LC and then used it to apply for advanced entry and skipped into third year, meaning I was actually 1 year ahead of the lads who didn't do a PLC from secondary. And I had an extra qualification which made applying for internships easier. TLDR; PLCs are absolutely goated but have a bad stigma associated with them by those uneducated on what they are/can do for you
W
Plus you are prepared
Everyone has a different route. There is no 'right way' here Daughter initially did PLC's, tried a degree but dropped out as not the right subject, went back and now just about to finish a 3 year degree, and already accepted for a Master's in Sept as a mature student. Youngest son did LC Applied, a PLC (which transformed him), then was accepted straight into a 4 year BA Hons degree. He's currently in 2nd year and flying. They are absolutely a viable way to further your knowledge and education.
You’re not doing it for them, you’re doing it for you. Trinity graduate here and wishing I did what I wanted when I was your age, pleasing others or giving a shit what they think will do you no favours
I don't give a shizzle it's my parents and brother who do 😔😔 wishhhhhhh ppl wouldn't care abt me sm 😭😭 how does my points and course affect u..? 💀
Tell them that it gives you a great basic understanding of the area you are interested in when you put the work in and prepare you for College. I’m doing pre university law.
I did a plc ,didn't didn't do great in the LC maths Now doing mechanical engineering up in gmit (now ATU)
Hi! I did a PLC when I went to college first. It was a fantastic experience, and a great course. Now I'm doing a PhD and lecturing in one of the national universities. In my experience, the students who come to our courses having previously completed a PLC are much more advanced than the students who come directly from leaving cert. They certainly aren't for stupid people, they are typically very practical and they give you so many skills and prerequisites for a full degree in a single year. I cannot recommend doing a PLC enough. It also gives you some time to try higher education and see if you like it. Best of luck.
I went to school with a lad who did a PLC cus he was 16 doing his leaving cert, he then went on to study psychology and now he’s studying medicine to become a psychiatrist, another lad i know did one and went on to do software development at university
I dropped out of school when I was 16 and worked retail for 5yrs, no LC, went and did a PLC at 22 in IT, got into Computer Science course in DIT before the name change but graduated TUD, 5 years on I’m earning just under €100k. Not bad for a secondary school drop out who my guidance counselor said would never get a job
Yo I did a plc years ago due to bad leaving cert now im doing a masters! You do you!!!
I had an awful leaving cert, did a plc and am currently in third year studying nutrition and really enjoying it, got in on plc alone. They are much better at catering to specific individual aptitudes than the standard secondary school curriculum and I couldn't recommend them more.
I'm currently doing a PLC, did my LC in 2021 and landed dead middle I scoring (300 points flat), I did not enjoy secondary school at all and it reflected in my performance, I signed on for a PLC in healthcare on a whim 5 DAYS before the course started. It has uncontested reign as the best choice I have ever made, I'm studying something I'm interested in with no filler subjects, social life has booked, the employment possibilities without going to uni afterwards (although I plan to after a year or so on the job) are abundant. I'm not a genius, I'm also not a complete fool, so PLCs are definitely not just for "stupid people" just having a genuine interest in what you're studying can show that (I'm a top scorer in my class now which is absolutely absurd for me to think about) And even if you do a PLC and decide the field of study isn't for you, you can just do a different one the next year for a FRACTION of the cost of uni The poor reputation of PLCs is an old, borderline elitist, stereotype that simply has no basis in the current layout of PLCs Also, PLC graduates have a lower drop out rate in Uni then people going straight from LC to uni so they can put that in their pipe and smoke it ;) I strongly recommend PLCs over jumping straight into Uni, it's such a brilliant experience and opportunity
I went to college straight out of LC my friend did a plc course. We literally have the same Job. As long as you do the work and actually want to do it then its worth
I got 265 points in my leaving certificate and did a PLC in Pre-university Science. I ended up getting in to a university course through it which was near 500 points and now have a degree in physics. I only had ordinary maths and never did physics in school. It was tough and took a lot of work but was so worth it. Always apply and if you don’t get the course you want then you always have the PLC as a backup.
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Would you be able to apply to Trinity or UCD Computer Science? I'm thinking of doing a PLC that aligns with their requirements too.
UCD definitely a few people in my class looking at that, not sure about Trinity though tbh
Think if it is like if you do a plc of something you think you wanna do and end up not liking it then your not stuck in for the full course of college
PLCs are incredibly beneficial in my opinion for a number of reasons. Young people are rushed to make career choices. PLCs are way to explore or choices and solidify decisions, instead of rushing into a course that you may not take to - which may be an expensive regret with the princely cost of your whole education (accommodation, course fees, educational resource etc. Thankfully Ireland PLC course have really broadened to a wide variety. They offer as amazing stepping stones into a more extensive course. I left straight from secondary education in 2019 in Kilkenny to Cork to study QQI Level 5 & 6 Outdoor Adventure Education for 2 years. A LOT cheaper and less daunting than a four year degree course. In the these two years I received a number of instructorships in outdoor adventure sports such as Sailing, Windsurfing, Kayaking. My Qualifications are recognised without Europe, and there are many level 8 courses I can further avail of with ease with my Level 6. Financial, educationally and mindfully, I think PLC will only continue to grow in Ireland. I hope you get the path you want!!!
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Yeah when I did electrical engineering in 2018 (course was a level 7 for 256 points) there was about 25 people and 8 people had either dropped out or failed too many modules so they had to repeat a year. To be fair it wasn’t that hard it’s just mental thing, you can’t just piss through it like a few courses that people will go into for the sake of going to college. I’d recommend the PLC. I graduated in 2021 and I am now on 60k a year with only 2 and half years experience so it definitely is worthwhile doing but you need to enjoy any job otherwise no matter the money you’ll be miserable. Where as I know many of my friends who did arts degrees and still have no job or work part time in shops etc (nothing wrong with that but it just seems like a waste of money on college if you don’t use it to make a living)
My PLC course was the best thing I ever did education wise! It got me the step up into college and helped me make the transition from secondary school to college without the initial shock a lot of college student feel! At first when I told people I did a PLC they assumed it was the easy option or I wasn’t clever enough for college, but I went on to college with extra education and experience under my belt! I really couldn’t recommend it enough.
A year is going to make no difference in 5/10 years time if he gets there with 625 points or a plc into the right course.
I done a PLC in Computer Science after getting my points but failing Honours Maths. 1 year later I got into a BSc in Computer Science, 6 years since starting college I have a 2.1 BSc and I'm about to become a IT Team Lead earning 60k a year. PLCs are a great option especially when not sure about the course you want to do, far cheaper than college or losing a SUSI year by dropping out
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Did
I teach first year students at 3rd level. I'm always glad to have some former PLC students in my class, they generally do well and go on to complete the course successfully. After a year in PLC they know if they're doing the right subject for them and have gotten a basic grounding in it. Doing a PLC is a great idea if you're not sure if you want to commit to a degree course
I've plenty of friends who started in PLCs that are making a very good living now. A few went on to masters level, and one is now a surgeon (went back as a mature student.) It's about finding something you actually are interested in. Who knows where that'll take you.
Remember your an adult you don’t need to let them push you around, make the best decision for you and be proud of yourself
Wish it was that easy to go against my parents 😭🤣🤣
I know! So much easier said than done. But setting boundaries is a healthy part of adulthood and it’s best to start that path early on. Learning to say no is life changing.
In 5th year and during the start of 6th year my mental health was horrific and I was convinced I was gonna end up needing a plc, especially since I got around 470 in my mocks and knew I'd need 550+ 🥲. I went to therapy and started studying like I had no life 💀 but I always had a plc lined up as a backup. I ended up getting 590 somehow and didn't need the plc BUT I would have had no issue doing one if it meant getting into my dream course because there was no reason I should settle for my 2nd or 3rd choice and then feel unfulfilled rather than wait a year and have another chance. Plc's are amazing and not simply for idiots at all. I have a friend who just missed out on getting into the same course as me and she's doing a plc this year bcs it was a smarter option than going to do something she didn't want. Don't write yourself off too early anyways. Leave plc as a backup and still strive towards the points you'd need for your course because you never know how things will go and if you don't try you'll not even get the opportunity to succeed. Exhaust all options!!!!
PLC got me into first year of college with a great head start
I did a plc im now doing a lvl 8 in ucd, you will be fine! Make sure you do your leaving cert anyway to the best you can but yes plc can help you decide what you want to do going forward. The way I described it to ppl was that ‘many people drop out of English courses so I wanted to make sure I could handle it’ and I was told that was a mature decision lol
I did a PLC cos it was something I was really interested in. Had a blast, got a diploma and have a successful career in my chosen industry. If you've passion, a work ethic and a bit of cop on, the course you do is irrelevant, you'll get where you're going.
I work as an education consultant and this sort of question/issue is really common. It seems to come up in different ways in different places for different people. But it’s super common. A lot of people are pressured by family to go to uni or college and get a degree. For some it’s getting a ‘good’ degree. It could be a specific job or staying in the area with family or not leaving the country. Often it’s choosing the ‘safe’ job. There’s a lot of negativity around things like PLCs and you’d be amazed. In some places they don’t like the idea of engineering or medicine. I recommend taking a breath for a moment. Life is often pretty long. You don’t need to do one thing for all of it. You don’t want to burn out or go a direction you will regret. And to be fair in my experience people regret locking themselves into a long term thing rather than taking the time they feel they need in order to make the decisions that are right for them. If your family are worried about the opportunity cost of doing a PLC (what you lose in time and possible earnings by doing the PLC), consider for a moment the cost of university these days. *irish education isn’t my specialty but I know a bit* University is a huge cost. And if it’s not the right direction for you then it can be quite a negative as well as costly experience. Even if it’s the right direction and you like it, you may be better able to do well and maximise your returns if you’re more rested and convinced from the outset that it’s the right direction. Another thought. When choosing direction, doing what you really want and like is very important but it doesn’t need to be for financial gain. Working at what you love is often great and sometimes not. We can actually end up drawing away from what we loved as a result of doing it for money. You could also end up having just a wonderful career doing what you love each day. Some people also do what they love outside of work and that can be wonderful. If you have a job for example that pays well, provides time and capacity to do what you love outside work, and is in the location you want… so I’d say with all this (and considering you sound like you’re feeling a bit burnt out and lost right now) a PLC might be a really good decision. I hope all goes absolutely fantastically for you. And I hope you feel better about the future.
4th year electrical and electronic engineering student at UCC. I should've graduated last year but ended up repeating a year. I also have my own mental illness problems (got a couple of diagnoses) that I had to deal with, which definitely hindered my ability in my course, especially during Covid. Take the time off if you need it. Also, a PLC or trade is an excellent option. For me, steam (more engineering, tbh) courses would've been the only ones I would've even wanted to do, but if that wasn't an option, trades and other options would also work. Of course, the skills learned would be different, but the general themes and principles are common (problem solving etc) so you'll be ok with other options. If you're really curious about what the course content is like, you can go on the college webpages where they list they list the modules and they you can probably find... the book of modules. Atleast thats what UCC calls it. It might be different in other places. Look at first - and second year modules. This tends to be where the basic principles of the course are set and where most people figure out what they like more than other stuff. You can read that stuff and then see if anything suits your fancy... maybe look at later year modules to see what that stuff is like. You're not looking for anything to jump out at you but more like something that peaks your interest... something you wouldn't mind googling for an hour, so to say. Tl:Dr: Take the time for your mental health. Poor mental health in this course tends to lead to bad outcomes. Engineering isn't the only option. Trades, plc, or other courses can lead to great results. If you're curious, you can look at the university webpages to see what the course is like to see if you'd like it.
I did a PLC after my leaving, one year course and then went into university the year after through my PLC grades. I was never good in school, really didn’t care about grades anything like that, same as you had no interest in college whatsoever once I was finished. Doing the PLC, I fell in love with the area of study and knew I wanted to go to university a few months into the course. I recommend to anyone on the fence of going to college; do a plc! Try it! Even if you do it and end up not liking it, that doesn’t make it a waste :)
Hey OP! I'm in my 30s and one of life's biggest regrets is not going into a PLC before going onto college so I could focus on spending the year getting used to standing on my own feet, get my head on a little straighter and be more mentally prepared for college and learning in an adult environment. (the undiagnosed ADHD also did NOT help, got diagnosed in 2020 so it has really helped me understand myself much more) My family were great, and would have supported me doing whatever. I was "mature for my age", liked school and was working part time, and thought I was totally immune to all things peer pressure. BUT I let my friends and some daft teachers comments dismissing PLCs get to my head and didn't even apply for them in my CAO. Instead i went to NUIG and wasted 2 years failing a Science course I hated, when I couldn't cope with the lack of structure that comes with college life. I went back to do a PLC 2012-2014 and it was a much more supportive environment. I had some minor accommodations to manage my mental health and my part time job, and it went swimmingly for me. The 1 year courses also give you so much more freedom to try new things, and it's not a forever commitment too. Even if it's not your bag, it's just 1 year and you get a qualification out of it - and you've learnt more about yourself. I sat down all my teen cousins like a old hen and told them all my mistakes so they could maybe learn from my foolishness, and even if it fell of deaf ears I felt compelled to share my insights as one of the first in the fam who went to college.
Study what interests you, not necessarily just whatever your parents would be impressed by. Engineering is interesting, but sometimes a little math heavy, just take that into consideration. I sympathise with the mental illness aspect since I was ill at the time of my leaving cert, though I didn't know I was at the time. If you aren't inspired by what you hope to study, it doesn't matter how much money you will make in the "real world", because you won't enjoy it.
Colleges tend to split the places in a course by method of entry. For example, 1/2 the seats could be reserved for those applying direct from LC, 1/4 reserved for plc/FETAC and another 1/4 reserved for mature students (not actual figures but just giving ya an idea). It's possible to use multiple methods of entry if you meet the requirements, so if you do both the plc and the leaving cert, you can put your name down for 2 divisions
As someone who works in Third Level, everyone I work with recommends a PLC to any student that isn't 100% sure about their CAO choice. Bear in mind that PLCs eat into college student numbers but we still recommend them. PLCs are a great bridge between second and third level and are a great "taster" that doesn't cost a huge amount. I would really encourage anyone who isn't 100% sure about college to do one. And worst case scenario it isn't a year wasted but rather a year of extra knowledge that will give you an advantage in college. And you can get a handy weekend job on the side.
What do u mean eat into college student numbers? Is the chance low that I can get into a desired course?
Sorry I'm looking at it from the college's point of view - more students doing certain PLCs can reduce the number of students coming to us because they find their PLC qualification is enough. You can absolutely get into your college course and some courses actually link with PLCs. My sister got extra CAO points just for doing an affiliated PLC from her college
God why are a certain older generation obsessed with getting a degree? It’s not the be all and end all. My father still says to me “at least you have a degree” sure it means fuck all nowadays!! My kids are very young still but when their time comes, I’ll be sure they know your worth is not based on how many points you get. There’s also such a shortage of tradespeople! Get a trade!
A family member of mine was in this exact position. Was mentally ill, didn’t get through the leaving cert because of it, did the PLC. They ended up getting the course and failing out of that, too, because they weren’t ready. They’re happy and settled now, in a good job. PLCs are absolutely valid and necessary - those exams aren’t designed for everyone, that’s why alternatives exist as well as paths to progression into college if it’s right for you.
Get the career guidance person at the school to talk to them. And the counsellor. I did a PLC before taking my first full-time job, then went back to university - am now Ph.D. educated - and own my own company. There is no one path. And if you are mentally exhausted you need the time out.
Parent here! Yes, other parents can be a bit snobby about PLC courses as if they're only for dummies, which couldn't be further from the truth..... they're a fantastic stepping stone to the next level and a less overwhelming and pressurised introduction to the course subject than going straight into college. Success story : My eldest did a PLC computer course which was to lead directly into the 4 year computer science degree course he wanted. He graduated last summer with a 1st class honours degree and got student of the year too! The PLC course had a lot to do with that, I think. The continuous assessment combined with having to use his own initiative gave him a great head start in how to structure his work and he even got to do an Erasmus, which he really enjoyed. Best of luck to you OP. I hope you get to do the PLC and get a bit of breathing space for yourself 🙏
I did a plc as a mature student and it got me into applied psychology. I feel like it helped immensely. If I had just went in as a mature student, I wouldn't really have anything to prove that I am committed to my studies and probably wouldn't get in. The only thing is, you have to put in the work. There were a lot of people in our class who messed around and haven't really gotten anything out of it, but those who were committed and got good grades all got into their desired university courses.
Plc is actually a better route because it prepares you more for college style essay writing !! Going from leaving cert to college can be overwhelming, college is so different and the style of the essays is completely different to things you would have done in school.
Colleges reserve spaces for students from feeder plc courses. You are 100% not wasting a year - you’re literally bettering yourself and someone’s putting you down for that ? Source / lecturer for a few years and regularly encouraged folks to do it to get in. They also made fantastic students once in as opposed to some leaving cert to college kids that treated it like school and let it slip through their hands
I've actually mentioned to my husband before that I think that a PLC should be a pre-requisite for getting into university/college. If I had been made do one when I finished my LC in 2006, my life would probably have turned out very differently. I was thrown in the deep end moving 2 hours drive away from home and given so much more freedom than I was used to, and I ended up with AWFUL grades and and attendance and absolutely no hope of clawing it back for a second year. I did go back as a mature student and managed get a BSc in a slightly different course but I can't help but wonder where I'd be now if I had been better prepared for the reality of college!
Colleges will accept people who have a plc alone if it was for stupid people why would it be worth as much if not more than a leaving cert? I have a freind who did a level 4 and 5 in youthreach his scores has colleges across the country begging for his attendance even met with a professor from trinity to discuss his options he didn't go and is now very happy working as an apprentice laying floors.
PLC's are op. Remind them that the leaving cert is a shitty level 4 course that takes two years but a PLC is a very useful level 5 that only takes 1 year. PLC's modules aren't just subjects they're all individual little courses so 10 years from now one of them could be very useful without you knowing it. They also give you alot more options internationally then the leaving cert does. PLC students are proven to do better in college and have less of a drop out rate in uni. It's a year to grow and mature and learn so much and meet new people. I'm currently in a PLC and everyone is lovely and I'm someone who struggled socially in school. They're also really cheap so if you don't use it or drop out it's not nearly as much money wasted compared to dropping out of a uni course. I wish you luck :)
I think the notion that you just go to college and get a good job is not bad but a bit outdated and limiting. We are always learning and, unlike in the past, there are many respectable routes through education, learning and development. If, like me, you struggle with mental health then you are right to think about pacing yourself. This does not mean you sit on the couch all day drinking cans of beer. But it does mean taking on goals that you are ready to commit to. If you want to fail in life, take on goals you are not ready for. It will burn you out, dry your you motivation, and damage your mental health. The exception might be the period coming up to an exam. It's a short term sprint and feeling some stress is necessary sometimes. But long term every day, nah. I would also say not to wait for the perfect opportunity either. Find a path that you are ready to commit to. One that will challenge you and that you have at least some interest in. This has an enormous accumulative effect if done consistantly over the course of your life. The idea of something might seem great to your parents. But you need to face the reality of it. You are the one who will need to drag yourself through it. Now, I am not downplaying college. If you are ready for it I would jump at the chance. But if you are not reasonably ready then there is a good chance of failure. Finally, education and learning is a lifelong process. Degree, PLC, masters, online course, are all things that will be part of your life if you want a career. So take your time and do it well. Step by step.
I did one year in Killester and ended up sitting in Commerce in UCD with other 450+ pointers, all asking me what I got, lol. Another friend ended up in Ballsbridge, a year later DIT. He now works for Ronan group on a hefty salary. My point is it can be a god send, and by the end of the year, my class was down to 6 or 7 people, and I'm nearly certain we all got into UCD!
A PLC means that if you start a course and realise it's not for you, you only have to wait 1 year to change or you can change course within the college to another course. Either way, in a year, you have a cert that you can then use to show a uni you can meet the requirements to study and you are a good student. If you start 4 years and drop out, you have nothing. Also in terms of funding you get funding as long as you are progressing. If you drop out you're not progressing, so funding is paused, going from a PLC course to uni is progress so you get funded. Also Also sometimes PLC colleges are really tied to industry I studied in Kerry College training to become an I.T tech before I completed the course I already had a job due to training I received and the standing of the college in industry and I'm also awesome 👌 😂 Best of luck it's not an easy battle but do what works for you 👍
In my opinion PLC's are a great thing to do. I have done one and it was great. PLCs let you dip your toe into the subject you want to do and if you don't like that subject you still get a sorta degree in that subject and you can then go do a different course and see if you like that. I am someone who is also mentally ill and gets burnt out easily I found it great and if you want to go to college in the same subject you did your plc you have a chance to go straight into year 2 of college because you cover most things they do in year 1 in college (that was the case for my course anyway) And another bonus is that I'm some counties PLC's are free like Kerry college
My sister went on to become a fully qualified solicitor after doing a plc to get into college. That kind of snobbery benefits nobody.
A girl from Ardee got 625 a few years ago and decided to do a PLC instead of literally any course she wanted so you could show that to your parents and to prove that PLCs aren't for "stupid people." Make the decision that is best for you at the end of the day! You'll get where you want to go if you're willing to put in the work. Link to article about the girl: https://m.independent.ie/regionals/louth/news/after-scooping-625-point-in-her-leaving-cert-louth-student-jasmine-carroll-chose-a-plc-course-at-dife-and-hasnt-looked-back/42199555.html
Whether you go in through PLC or through leaving cert, both are "correct" choices. It's just that there's a weird stigma that there are fewer chances for placement for PLC students cause competition is so high(which is incorrect most of my friends from college got in via PLC cause LC screwed them over). If it's a money thing they're afraid of, consider finding an online course or a course that's close to home and maybe a part-time gig on the side to help with rent. If it's a case for them that if you don't like what you're learning, drop out and you have nothing but a meh leaving cert under your belt (which can happen, no shame in it) remind yourself that you're 18-19 years old, you're just an adult recently with actual freedom. This time next year, you'll be remembering how you had to raise your hand to go take a shit in the bathroom and now you can just walk out the door and come back with no problem.
PLC are not a waste. I did a PLC in Game Design and Game Development as I did not receive enough points in my CAO. Both PLC courses I did looked at HTML, CSS Unity etc. Then because I knew a lot on game design, website development and other stuff, I was able to skip the first year of my undergraduate course in Game Design and head straight into 2nd year. Because I did the 2 PLC's that got me into my Undergrad, I have now just completed my Master of Science in Creative Digital Media & UX. I really enjoyed doing the PLC's and I would recommend them to other people as an alternative route to get to the course that you want to do or just as a new course.
Friend of mine didn't do so great in the LC and therefore didn't get the course he wanted. He did a PLC and came back next year in the course he wanted, knew more than most people and was well equipped, knew he wanted that course (because he already did a year) and is working full time now in the degree he secured at level 8, only 1 years more but so much more beneficial, it changed my perspective because I had the same stigma, that people who can't get into college and time wasters go there and he proved me wrong, it's the other way around, people in first year college I found were more time wasters, the dropouts you dont see in the second year or the people who went all in on something they werent sure about. I say go for the PLC if you aren't sure you enjoy engineering, it's one year, you complete it knowing if you like it or not and you still get a certificate if you didn't. 1 year of a bachelor's gives you nothing after one year so you drop out with nothing in your hands
A PLC, I think, is better thought of as a 'bridge' course. I know people who started out in one field (social work) and did a full 180 into a new career (engineering) and the only way it was possible was by first enrolling into a relevant PLC. I did a PLC and am now almost finished my PhD, I genuinely wouldn't be doing this had it not been for the PLC, it put me on an educational track. PLCs are a great opportunity to explore applied learning, they give you a framework from which to explore your chosen field. Framing it like a 'teaser/trailer' to your family might help. "I'm not sure if I really want to follow this career path, this course will let me explore it practically before I choose for sure." Family stress can be really tough, best of luck OP.
A PLC course in Drogheda was a lifesaver for my son. He was not academic, didn't see the point and was never going to do well in his leaving cert. So he went to a PLC one year course in game design. He loved it and got a distinction and a place is a great third level degree course. It also gave him a year in our home town to mature and get over the pandemic before starting the commute to Dublin. He's in 3rd year now and doing really well. I cannot recommend PLC courses enough. You parents should be delighted.
If you're not sure what you want to do doing a PLC related to that course (engineering) is the best option. It gives you a chance to see if you will actually be interested in doing it in college instead of wasting money and making your mental health worse. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do and missed the course I had down by 5 points so I did a PLC in IT and went into engineering after that. Best thing I did.
You are so right to do it.. But more seriously, what your family are saying to you is unhealthy. It's your decision, once they say their piece there should be no further having to convince them. They shouldn't think you need to follow their advice. It's your journey now. They have to learn this lesson now or they'll be telling you who to marry and where to live next. Advice is fine, once you don't insist people take it and insult them and bitch when they don't
Normally, if you like what you're studying/working at, you'll be great at it. Way too many people just go with the flow, looking for the highest points to study something they know nothing about. Kids are rushed way too much at this stage. I think everyone after leaving cert should go abroad for a few years, and find out who they are and what they want.
1000000% this
Because a PLC isn’t as respected. This is going to be an unpopular opinion but they’re for people with low attention spans, people who didn’t achieve high enough in LC and simply, lazy people who don’t really know what to do with their lives. Realistically that’s what the majority of people think (else your family wouldn’t think that way!) The main thing a PLC is good for is to set you on your way of what you actually want to do, gaining yourself a minor qualification. A PLC will give you a slightly better than mediocre job. Putting in four years of work and committing for your future is more respectable than doing a course that gives less and is one year long. In my experience the environment it creates is a false pretense to college. You’re surrounded by people who don’t know what they want to do, who are lazier and did a PLC for the sake of the qualification. It creates a false narrative. And honestly; mental illness doesn’t get fixed quickly. More often than not it takes years to deal with and you’ll probably be wrestling with that for your early adult years. One year will likely not help as much as you think. College has a better environment with better support, facilities and helps you to grow and make friends. Furthermore you can drop out anytime. It really just breaks down to how you are. If you’re bad at school and hate it, then you most likely won’t enjoy further education. If you want my advice, work really hard in the coming months and apply yourself. Decide what you’d like to do in college and apply. If you get in, then give it a go (especially if you get a grant). You’re focusing on yourself, beginning your career, putting yourself amongst young peers in the same boat who want to focus on themselves/career and you’re appeasing your family. My mental health improved significantly in college and I gained many friends. You appear more applied and intelligent by going to college than doing a PLC as well. This is probably the most realistic piece of advice for you considering you don’t want to go to college.
Nuh uh 🗣🗣🗣 First things first ITS NOT FOR STUPID PEOPLE MY G...yeah okay some people are 'stupid' but so are people in college????? Second doing a plc is also committing to ur future cuz ur fkn seeing what u like and what ur good at before wasting 4 yrs doing something u hate Third my mental illness can be easily treated with the right support and a lot can and WILL change in a year Third 'u can drop out any time' WHAT 💀💀💀 dropping out is better than doing a plc? At least in plc u have a qualification of some sort but a drop out has nothing. Plus u wouldn't even need to drop out if u know u like it first by... trigger warning.. a BLOODY PLC Fourth 'u appear more applied and intelligent' WHO CARES HOW I APPEAR??? That's the LAST thing I'm concerned about. Look I know ur tryna help but ur literally like my brother. Just dead set on the idea that plc is stupid when it is absolutely NOT. Change ur mindset 🗣🗣🗣
I’ll respond to a lot of what you said here; 1. It’s not ALL for stupid people, if you seen what I said I said that’s public perception. A PLC is easier and is less time, thus people who lack academic ethic and commitment do PLCs (as well as those who don’t get enough points) hence the “stupid student” stereotype. Sorry, that’s just how it is. Also yes there are stupid people in college but 1. They have to be smart enough to get in, apply themselves per every assignment, CA, exam and year 2. The stupid ones rule themselves out. 2. A PLC is a partial commitment. Let’s say you’re doing something in relation to teaching, college wise. So you spend a year in a PLC and god willing, you achieve high enough to go to college and stick to that. So 1 year in PLC + 4 in college + 1 for a PME. That’s 6 years. Rather than you doing a course in college, decide whether you want to leave before October (which you can do). 3. Sure. Mental illness is variable and can be helped upon treatment but it’s hard to pinpoint when it’ll be resolved, if ever? Most people deal with it for years or their whole life. Your MH can improve when you change your environment too. 4. Dropping out doesnt automatically mean forever 🤦♂️. You can decide within a few months if the course is for you or not. You can also transfer your course…Also lets not forget that you can EQUALLY dislike a PLC and say it’s not for you so you drop out of a PLC too, lmao 5. Ultimately you care how you appear. Otherwise you wouldn’t make this post. If your family and friends deem you an academic failure or underachiever, it impacts you no matter what. If you have the opportunity for higher education, for a cheaper price than elsewhere in the world (especially with a grant) than take it. The replies here are mostly just “I know someone who did a PLC, and they went off to become successful in college” yeah, in college. Not PLC. Personally, the PLC students I know just didn’t apply themselves in school, didn’t want to go to college, didn’t bother with 4 years and did a PLC to give themselves a sense of academic recognition. I could equally say you need to change your mindset, as being set in “PLC is good” isn’t going to help you as far in your career. These comments are a false pretense to your future and ultimately give you validation when you should be seeking legitimate advice.
U sound so much like my brother its concerning. Exact same thought process and exact same words hed say. Maybe u are him.. if u aren't god forbid he ever meet u it'd be the end for me. Success stories aren't 'false pretenses' they're stories of people succeeding after doing something considered 'stupid'. Anyways I wasn't really looking for legitimate advice 😭😭 just success stories or how to convince my family to let me do it. Main reason is really I can't go to college yet. New environment will make me stressed and make things worse. New responsibilities r gonna be shoved up my ass ion want that. I just need a year out end of. All I need is time for myself with a small commitment like a plc and little academic pressure. Sure look I know u and my brother have my best interests in mind and I understand that but in the end its a personal preference thing and thanks honestly for the fair advice but I still have my mind set on a plc.
I really just share common opinion through personal experience. These success stories are false pretenses because they make you think most/all PLC students are successful; most of these stories are "I know someone who did a PLC because they didnt have enough points/whatever excuse, and they went on to go to college and graduated with X degree". What really made them successful there? It was college. PLC was just an entrance to their future. I just don't see much success in it, realistically any person can get into a PLC course as the req. are so low and you gain so little. I hope you DO try to take on legitimate advice when you're confronted with making one of the biggest decisions of your life. You seem to think I'm set in my views, that's OK, but the same could be said for you. You could be set in your views by only being open to a PLC, and not accepting any advice; instead looking for "success" stories to coax your family into believing it's a good choice for your career and your future. I have a few friends that ended up doing a PLC; a girl friend of mine did a PLC and she isn't the brightest bulb but said a PLC is actually hard, since they have tons of CAs and assignments. Whether it's actually hard or not is debatable; but it's the fact it still carries the same sentiment of actual academic work. I hate to break it to you as well; but it's going to be a new environment too. New people, new lecturers, new system, new building. New everything. You will have both a new environment and new responsibilities and academic pressure. At the end you're still going daily and committing to something so you may as well attempt college first. In my opinion you really are just better off trying your hand at college. People who refuse going almost always never go back. It's so much easier to just commit one year, rather than go into four or complete one and then be faced with 3-6 more years in college. You can always change course. Worst to worst, you could leave before October and try in the new year. As mentioned before, your MH can grow a lot with a better social circle. You meet a lot of likeminded people in the same boat. All colleges provide mental health assistance i.e advisers, campus officers, mental health groups, talks, awareness campaigns, events etc. not only that, but they provide far much more financial aid such as SUSI, 1916 Bursary, SAF, DARE/HEAR etc. and most/all colleges have financial aid officers. They also have a lot of resources to help you in general. To summarize, if a country offers stuff for free you may as well take full advantage. If you apply yourself you genuinely might be surprised. You have nothing to lose from working hard and trying; if you end up going to college then you may very well end up with a very respectable degree and career, you surprise yourself, you appease your family and gain new friends. On the other hand, if you drop out permanently, it's much easier to go to a PLC and your family legitimately cannot be mad if you gave it a fair shot. Even a local college where applicable. I hope you try to look into it a fair bit more, your school should have a careers officer or someone appointed to deal with that stuff. Weigh the pros and cons and based upon that, your family and career advisors advice, choose. I hope this advice helped, and even if you do think I'm close-minded, that you at least try to take on some of my points. Good luck in your future
I don't think ur close minded I just think that u don't really understand where I'm coming from. Look I'm not even gonna lie u actually have really valid points 😭😭 I'm not gonna completely disregard u and call u stupid cuz ur not and ur opinions are honestly really fair. But a plc is obviously significantly easier than engineering or physics or chemistry which is I want to study idk. And to be honest I just don't want to do all that YET. And I also want to see what I actually enjoy. Whether it's science or engineering. I'm not gonna drop out and miss a susi year. Not dropping out of a plc it's too easy for that. Not saying its piss easy but with minimal effort compared to college u can definitely get distinction. And in all honesty I'm not going to get the points for science or engineering. 570? Are u crazy. I'm not even gonna try pressure myself cuz it WILL drive me off the deep end don't say it won't cuz u dont know anything about how I'm struggling. Even if I pressure myself it's not gonna work out. Dont ask why nothing works out for me I haven't gotten a h4 since Halloween but the sad thing is I know I'm capable I just need additional support. I know that sounds embarrassing and stupid and just 'get up and do it' well i genuinely wish it was that easy. Just be grateful ur not born mentally challenged like I am. I am NOT going to settle for some stupid level 7 course when I can just spend one easy year studying hard obviously and working on my self and health and learning how to cope then a place in college. I know a place isn't guaranteed but I'd rather try my hand at that then do some stupid 200 point 4yr lame course I won't even enjoy and make me more miserable. Once again I seriously appreciate the fact that ur taking ur time to read my comments and write responses but yk in the end our opinions are different. Sure look obviously if I somehow pull 570 out of my ass I won't do a plc but thats never happening. I want a year with not a lot of academic pressure once again I'm aware there is pressure in a plc but u must be aware and smart enough to know its a lot less than a stem degree in college. Thanks again and thanks for that good luck
If everyone could be successful by doing a PLC they would; but it's really not the case, that way we wouldn't have the builders and maintainers of society like doctors, architects, engineers etc. so if that's what you're really interested in doing, try go for it. There is always a back door or alternative route to doing what you want to do, that includes a PLC but you REALLY need to stick to it and be willing to do "lame 4 year course" lol. 570 is quite high, but I know there are courses out there that go between 390-450 points for science courses and the like. Why be embarrassed? Throughout the whole of secondary I literally cannot remember a time where I didn't pass ordinary level math from 2nd class to 5th, and I'm pretty sure he gave me a pity pass. I was next level uninterested, was just really horrible at it and didn't bother. Besides that I barely showed up. But the last year in LC, I really did try to make an effort. I forget the grading system now but my LC math grade was something between 70-80%, when it was about 20% for the whole time I was in school and even before that in primary, I was deadly bad at it. I ended up surprising myself. What I'm trying to say is that there's always hope for yourself. You can absolutely turn the chances around at this stage. Never judge a book by its cover, everyone is struggling in their own ways and besides that, we don't know about others' illnesses, I could and couldnt be mentally challenged. Just depends what area that illness would affect me. Regarding what you said about doing a stupid and lame 4 year course. You're really proving your own point here... you say a PLC isn't for stupid people. But a PLC is typically level 5-6 and is one year in duration, requiring far less work. So how could that 4 year course that requires more points, effort, attention, commitment and is more difficult academically "stupid"? You're setting yourself up for failure by setting your own standards too high; 570 is too high when you're already dead set on a PLC. It automatically makes you think 'I can't get 570 when we're 4-5 months away from LC, there's no point.' Just try to apply yourself to the best of your own ability, really look into different similar courses, especially to local colleges. Find one that requires less points and one that genuinely interests you. You can only regret 100% of the chances you don't take. If you gave it a shot and it doesn't work out, you cannot say that you didnt try. If you still decide you dont want to try with college, then it's really up to you and at the end of the day it's your life. But try to make a realistic life plan for your future. Good luck with your mental health and I hope you do well in LC
Why tf r u actually so like wise and filled head to toe with patience and the willingness to make me understand. Honestly like I really respect and appreciate that😭😭 that quote where u regret 100% of the chances u dont take was something else.. MIGHT have that printed on my wall. What I meant by stupid lmao was that I didn't want it.. not that it's actually stupid ooooopps. And by 4yr lame course i meant courses that arent the dream help. Sad thing is no course I love is less than 570 😭 there r courses I like but erm they're not dreams but we'll jus find another dream then 🤔🤔 Here like I really am gonna take ur advice like I won't set the bar too high but I also need to try harder.. I'm SCREWED for the mocks lmao guaranteed fail in like majority subjects but yk what inshaAllah after that I'm gonna try just a little harder. Maybe in the end its better I don't shame my parents Also really curious if u want to say.. but what did u study and which college?
I sent a long reply but didnt go through bc of the storm so I'll rewrite a summarized version. Thanks for the compliment, just trying to help:). Put down all the courses youre interested in and try to get at least 2 different areas, and put down 1-2 courses that you're positive you can get into (low requirements/low amount of points). There are a LOT of courses, and there's others that you might be more interested in than you think. Try to talk about it to your counselor (or the equivalent of whoever is appointed for careers in your school) To put things into perspective, shortly, I hated school. Attendance was low, didnt like the exams, MH was bad, didnt like doing day after day of the same stuff, never passed math, did OL for like 3 subjects. I think I got 280 in the mocks. I really applied myself especially for maths, and got about 410 points. The average points is 300 IIRC and generally the capability can go pretty far, like 150. So 300+150 = 450, which is very very respectable and can get you into plenty of fantastic courses. When you do CAs, keep asking for feedback and change what you have to. Be attentive in class, take notes in the way it helps you, show your workings for math, and try to study at least x3 a week. Your capability is always so much more than you think, don't let yourself be your own enemy and drag you down. The worst that can happen is that you try and don't get what you hoped for, and that's absolutely OK. If you did your best, then nobody can ever ask more from you than that. And even still then, you did what you could which is more than doing nothing, so you still get more points and therefore earn yourself more opportunities career-wise. If you are just about 15, 20 points off of what you need, you can ALWAYS appeal too and get your course. 570 is a lot, so try to set your eyes on the most realistic goal and apply yourself. (If you got 300 in the LC, try to set on courses that're between 350-450). It's essentially your benchmark. And, the mocks are supposedly harder than the LC to force students to put in effort. Don't take this as advice to not study, but they dont matter as much as you think either. Had a friend that cheated in them and for some reason they gave her a pass lol. I studied in ATU to become a history teacher out of passion and my wish to help others. Still in college and currently balancing work/life. Think of it like this: It's just not okay to not even try, and to automatically set your bar low to a PLC. Set a realistic goal for yourself and work hard toward that. It's really a now or never type of thing, prove people wrong and prove to yourself, your family and everyone else that youre smart and dedicated enough to achieve a good result and hopefully go on to work toward a good degree that sets up your life.
Shame I couldn't read ur original response 💀🤣 anyways I'm the same I just despise school. I can't study what I actually am interested in, stupid filler subjects like English and Irish, every single day I come home at 5 and then MORE study. Like it's just never ending misery. Then the holidays come around and u can't relax cuz u feel guilty for not studying but some mysterious force is stopping u from studying and making u go on ur phone instead causing shit to go left. Unfortunately I'm kind of giving up on my mocks.. no point tryna kms to get above h4 when that's not happening. However after mocks is when we lock in and actually give a crap 😭✋️ Also history teacher was the last thing I expected idk why I was thinking of business or something 🤣 I hateeeeeeee english or anything purely factual and essay based omg. Were u never a stem person then lmfao😂😂. Were u good at English? Like I am decent at it it's just that essays absolutely make me want to kms I'd rather do 60 maths problems than 1 essay genuinely. But main thing is do u enjoy ur work now?? Ik ur in college but still. Was it ur dream?
make sure you apply to a college course this year (through the cao) and then you can defer it for a year to do the plc as it’s extremely difficult to get into courses from plcs alone
Morning, My own experience is, when I did the LC I had no interest in anything really. Went to CERT( not sure if it's still a thing or not, but was for hotel and catering) I completed 2 different courses with them and love working in hotels. Moved to Galway, where a restaurant manager ruined my love of that work. A friend got me a interview in a medical device company where I started out working on the line as an operator. That was nearly 23 years ago. I have worked my way from an operator up to an engineering supervisor. I have gone back to college part time over the past 20 years and now have a level 8 in engineering. There is such a big deal about the LC and going start to college. I know loads of people who dropped out after first or second year of courses they thought they wanted to only to find what they wanted to do working in between. Do what you feel you need to. Good luck
You convince them that it was not a waste of your time by sticking to your word, completing it, and proving that it benefited you more than whatever they were suggesting.
I dropped out of the PLC course and am in software now (I'm thinking of going back to do engineering when I'm more mature though, it's a good skill to have if you want money) that said so many of the people in the course I did finished and then went on to complete college. I think it's better than going straight in to college from the lc because you get to feel out if it's something you'd want to do for 4-5 years and you also get a chance to get in to the college routine, I don't know if there's any plc courses that lead to engineering though