• Click here to download details on CAO Offer dates for 2010.

Choosing a career

The task of choosing a career or course is a daunting one for most Leaving Certificate students. There is a vast array of choices available to students. Many applicants have great difficulty in knowing where to start. Maryfield College offers a comprehensive Guidance and Counselling service which helps students to make choices.*

  Research

Students are encouraged to do individual research into their choices as well as visiting the Guidance Counsellor in the school. There are many sources of information available such as web sites, career books, college leaflets etc.

  Open Days

Another way of adding to the student's knowledge about courses and related careers is by attending College Open Days. There are hundreds of these events hosted by the colleges throughout the year. Students must be selective in the open days they attend as they could not possibly attend all of them. They must seek the permission of their parents and of the school to attend selected open days.A form is available in the school for this purpose. This form must be signed by a parent and returned to the school at least two days before attendance at the event.

  Information re open days

Lists of open days are displayed on the school notice board. They are also available through the CAO website or individual college websites.

  Value of open days and making the most of them:

• Open days are very important in the process of career exploration and planning.

• Visiting a college for an open day should be regarded by the student as a hard- working day.

• It should be a good learning experience enabling the student to look behind the title of the courses.

• The focus should be on understanding what courses are about, rather than on what jobs they may lead to, or how much they will earn in the future.

• Students think they know what is involved in subjects that are familiar, such as English or Geography or Business, but these are often very different at third level, therefore they should discover the differences when visiting the college.

  Planning for the open day

• Visit the college web site and read the prospectus before you go

• Get a map/guide of the college

• Decide beforehand which departments in the college you intend visiting

• Make a list of the courses/subjects in which you are interested

• Plan your time well and leave time for lectures, demonstrations, and or/ visits to laboratories etc

• Will you take an organised tour of the college? This may be very useful in giving you an overall “feel” for the particular campus.

• Plan the questions you will ask. In order to get answers you must ask questions.

Remember, as with everything in life, what you put in to the visit is what you get from it!

*Details outlined in the School Development Plan incorporating the Guidance and Counselling Plan .

Email Maryfield Guidance Department here

Click on the links below for further information:

• Binge Drinking and the Rutland Centre

• Study Skills

• Subject Choice