Your questions answered by Brian Mooney

Following our Irish Times helpline service, I received many e-mails from disappointed students who still wanted to pursue courses leading to popular careers even though they had not secured a place in 2005. Here are a few tips for students in the most sought-after areas.

MEDICAL/PARAMEDICAL COURSES

You could consider repeating the Leaving Cert - possibly for a second time in some cases. Fifty-eight students who originally took the exam in 2004 succeeded in securing a medical place in 2005. Four very persistent students got an offer having taken the Leaving Cert in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Alternatively, you might consider proceeding with another undergraduate degree, possibly science, in the hope of entering your desired course through a postgraduate route.

Another option is to study medicine or veterinary medicine in the University of Budapest. Graduates are qualified to the highest international standards. Classes are in English and fees are less than €10,000 per year. The university's Irish representative is Tim O'Leary, veterinary surgeon, Ballydehob, Co Cork. Tel: 028-37180.

However, rather than forcing our young people to spend many years studying abroad, the long-term solution would be for the Government to lift the cap on the number of Irish and other EU students (currently set at 308) by implementing Dr Patrick Fottrell's recent recommendations, which are due to be considered shortly by the Cabinet. This would enable many more of our current Leaving Cert cohorts to get a place in their desired programme.

NURSING

You could also repeat the Leaving Cert. You can still secure a place in a pre-nursing PLC course. This can lead to an offer of a place on one of the nursing degree programmes in 2006. You could also consider pre-nursing training at diploma level in the UK. A number of the colleges interview in Ireland each year and they tend to recruit students from the pre-nursing PLC programmes. Alternatively, you can work as a nurse's aid in a medical environment for a number of years then apply for a mature-entry place in nursing once you are 23.

LAW

Portobello College is still offering places on its three-year LLB (Hons). Graduates of this programme are on a par with law graduates from the National University of Ireland and Trinity College Dublin for entry to solicitors' and barristers' bodies. Students must sit and pass the Law Society's entrance examinations (FE1s) before progressing to an apprenticeship with a solicitor's firm and further examinations (PPC1 and PPC2). Graduates may also proceed directly to the entrance examination of King's Inns degree.

BUSINESS

The options open to those who have not succeeded in achieving a place in their desired business programme are numerous. There are hundreds of courses starting at PLC and at National Certificate and ordinary degree level, which can lead on directly to a higher degree. If you have not received an offer for the course you set your heart on, be open to pursuing your goal through the ladder route described above. Alternatively, as with law, you could also take a business degree at any of the State's private fee-paying colleges.

ART/DESIGN

For many students the work involved in achieving a good Leaving Cert result precludes the time commitment required to complete their portfolio to a sufficiently high standard. For those students there are numerous portfolio-preparation courses offered at PLC level in VEC colleges. Students who have a genuine interest in art/design should consider this option immediately.

PSYCHOLOGY

Students interested in studying psychology who failed to secure the high points requirements of all of the non- fee-paying degree programmes can still apply to either of the two private colleges offering psychology degrees. Psychology is offered by the American College (AC120) and by Dublin Business School (DB562). Both degrees are fully accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland and graduates can proceed to training as psychologists.

Brian Mooney is president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors. E-mail questions to bmooney@irish- times.ie