The grades I can expect are:

Higher Level

English   B2                   80 points
Physics   C3                  60 points
French    C2                  65 points
History   B1                  85 points
Art          A2                  90 points

Ordinary Level

Maths   A2                   50 points
Irish      C3                   20 points (not counted)

Total Points:  430

As you can see from above, for each grade there is a corresponding amount of points. The Irish Leaving Certificate, which I am sitting, is based on points. You can get a maximum of 600 points, which is a total of 6 A1s. You can do however many subjects you want, but only your six best are counted.

The colleges then select the students that have the most points out of the ones that have applied for their courses, so basically the more points you get the bigger the chance you have of being accepted onto the course.

The trouble is, I don't know what I want to do. I'd like to study Graphic Design, but I will have to do a portfolio preparation course, which means another year at home, and I don't think I can bear that without going into detail. Also financially I wouldn't manage it.

Graphic Design appeals because I met a woman on a plane who had degree I it; she was 27 and had just been accepted to work in an office just off Tottenham Court Road in London. She had a Higher Diploma, which enables her to teach art at second level. She had travelled the world when she left college, and did freelance work when she needed money. And that's what I'd like to do. I also like the idea of not being tied down to a single job for the rest of my life. I'd like contract work, where I might work somewhere for 6 months and then move on to something else.

But another year at home for a portfolio prep course....I'm also looking at a History degree and a degree in Journalism.

A history degree would be interesting, but I'm not sure about the job opportunities. I wouldn't mind teaching, because it's such a female dominated workforce, but then I'd be trapped into it for the rest of my working life. I could do archaeology, but then that wouldn't be the exotic archaeology everyone thinks about in the jungles and deserts digging up dinosaurs, it would more than likely end up being a shitty Time Team style thing - out in the wind and the rain digging up ceramic pots.

Journalism would be interesting, I've always enjoyed writing, but I don't have a huge amount of confidence in my ability at writing. Anyway, I've ever only been good at writing personal essays really, and imaginative compositions, which Id imagine wouldn't be much use in the world of Journalism, i.e. "Communication is an important aspect of relationships".

There is a slim chance that I could get into an art college in September. I applied to NCAD (National College of Art and Design), the best art college in the country, and they work separately from the points system above, and base points on portfolios out of a 1000. I didn't get accepted out rightly with my 5 month portfolio, but I've been placed on a waiting list. I got 447.5 points, out of 1000. Last year the lowest accepted was 515 points. However, this year they said that once the offers come out and people reject their offer from NCAD for somewhere else, the points will drop lower that 515, because there are more places on offer and the standard of portfolios wasn't as high as in 2007.

I really don't know how you can help me. I just wish someone could come along and magically give me the right decision that will sort out the rest of my life and not leave me regretting the decision I am going to have to make. Just please leave your thoughts on my position. Please don't let this one go without any replies, because it is a major issue for me. Just knowing people have read it would help.


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This I know, and yet I know
Doubts that will not be denied.
For if the soul be not in place,
What has laid trouble in her face?

It's ok that you're not sure of what you want to do just yet. It took me a long time to decide on studying history, and even with that, I'll go on and study something else when I'm done with that to open up further job opportunities and whatnot.

What do you see yourself doing? What's your gut feeling about all of this?

I also wouldn't worry too much right now about the possibility of having to take a year out to work on a portfolio. Honestly. It's NOT a bad thing to have to do that - it's all experience, and experience is essential in life. It's not a bad thing. Taking a year out would also provide you with the chance to work and save for whatever you go on to do after that.

I can't tell you what to do. This is a huge decision for you, but it has to be YOUR decision. Have a good think about what you want to do, what you're willing to work for, and where you see yourself in the future. The answers will come eventually, and if you have to take some time out in between, or if you find that half way through a course you've made a mistake and want to do something else, that's ok. It really is.

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has nobody asked you how you are?
you look like you might not last the day