Paramedical courses exercise a strong fascination on the minds of second-level students, particularly girls.
The number of places available in each career area is usually limited in an attempt to ensure the marketplace is not flooded with graduates. While this is a sensible approach, limited places and huge numbers of applications translate into high points and put the courses firmly in the preserve of the high achievers.
Last year, at degree level, there were six applicants for each pharmacy place, 11 for each physiotherapy place and six for each other health care place. Physiotherapy, pharmacy and radiography all featured in the list of 21 courses which required more than 525 points. Meanwhile, at certificate/diploma level there were a staggering 30 applicants for each health-care place.
Medical Laboratory
Sciences
Medical lab sciences is listed among the certificates and diplomas in the CAO handbook, but, it is, in effect, a five-year degree course. Almost all students progress via the three-year certificate to the final two years of a biomedical sciences degree.
The certificate is no longer recognised by the Department of Health as a valid entry-level qualification to the profession. A degree is now the minimum requirement.
Certificates in medical lab sciences are offered by DIT Kevin Street (425 points in 1997 with a higher C in chemistry required); Cork Institute of Technology (460 points last year) and Galway RTC (435 points last year). The certificate course comprises two years in college and one year in a training hospital.
Follow-on degrees are offered by DIT Kevin Street, CIT in association with UCC, and Ulster University. It is also possible to progress from year two of UCC's biological and chemical sciences degrees into the two-year biomedical option offered jointly by CIT and UCC.
Most graduates will find work in hospital diagnostic labs. The first few years employment are likely to be in temporary or locum positions.
Radiography
There are two radiography courses on offer in the Republic - diagnostic radiography in UCD (525 points in 1997) and therapeutic radiography in TCD (510* points in 1997). UCD usually has a maximum of 20 first-year places while TCD has between 12 and 15 first-year places. The University of Ulster also offers radiography - both diagnostic and therapeutic. UU has 40 first-year places and requires a minimum of two As and four Bs in higher-level Leaving Certificate subjects. All three courses include periods of clinical placement.
Therapeutic radiography is one of the main methods of treating patients with cancer. The radiographer may deal with patients over a long period of time and may be the main patient contact during this time. Diagnostic radiography is concerned with using imaging techniques to diagnose illness or injury. Again, radiography graduates should expect to begin work in a temporary capacity and, from there, find their way into a permanent position.
Dietetics And Human
Nutrition
This is another very popular four-year honours degree, which is run jointly by the Dublin Institute of Technology and TCD. There are 20 to 25 first-year places each year. Under an agreement negotiated last February, the degree is recognised by the American Dietetic Association. It is also recognised in Britain.
A survey of past graduates, carried out by Ms Mary Moloney, course tutor at DIT, shows that 56 per cent are employed in the traditional clinical and community area; 17 per cent are in the academic area (teaching or pursuing postgraduate research); 16 per cent are working in the pharmaceutical and food industries and the remaining 11 per cent are dispersed among various other areas.
Some students will end up working in research while others may counsel people on a one-to-one basis. Communications is an important component of the course.
In their final year, students spend 12 weeks working on a research project and 26 weeks on a placement in a hospital or community setting.
Optometry
There is only one course in the Republic which will allow students to qualify as optometrists (probably better known to most people by the old name of optician). It is a degree programme in Dublin Institute of Technology (1997 points: 515*). There are excellent job prospects. The course includes six months supervised practical work in fourth year. There is also a course in optometry available at the University of Ulster.
Pharmacy
TCD is the only college in the Republic which offers a pharmacy degree. There are 70 first-year places (1997 points: 545). Dr Des Corrigan, head of TCD's School of Pharmacy, says "there is still a shortage of pharmacists. Although we've increased the intake (there were 50 places previously), it will be another four years before these students come into the jobs market. The situation in community pharmacies is extremely healthy jobswise. There is a particular shortage in hospital pharmacies where they are finding it difficult to recruit basic grade pharmacists." Dr Corrigan says it is a professionally rewarding career.
The intake into pharmacy, like most other paramedical courses, tends to be predominantly women. "Over the past 20 years, we would have up to 70 per cent more females than males," says Dr Corrigan. After four years at TCD, graduates must spend a pre-registration year working before they are qualified as professional pharmacists.
This year the School of Pharmacy moved from Ballsbridge to a new state-of-the-art building on campus. Based at the Westland Row end of the college, the building comprises four stories of pharmacy laboratories for teaching and research.
Occupational Therapy
Thirty people are taken on to the occupational therapy course in TCD each year - the only degree programme in the Republic. The University of Ulster, Jordanstown, also offers a course.
Ms Geraldine O'Neill, director of TCD's school of occupational therapy, says job prospects at home and abroad are very good. "The degree is well recognised worldwide and they are ready to work in any area when they graduate. A lot go to Australia, America, English-speaking centres . . . in Ireland they get jobs in hospitals, based in physical therapy or psychiatry or in community daycentres."
Cut-off point was 495 last year. Students spend half of third year and all of fourth year in clinical work-experience practice.
Throughout the course, "the key thing is that the person is reflective and a problem solver", says Ms O'Neill.
Clinical Speech And Language
This year TCD will take 26 on to its clinical speech and language degree course (1997 points were 480*) - the only course in the Republic. Ms Margaret Leahy, head of TCD's school of clinical speech and language studies, says "there is a very strong demand for clinical speech and language therapists as people become more aware of what can be done . . . Although there are good job prospects, the pay scale does not go as high as comparable professions." She says, however, that a pay review has been granted "so there is optimism about". From second year, students participate in clinical placements.
The biggest employers of therapists are health and community care centres but therapists are also employed in special schools, hospitals and in private therapy.
For students willing to travel, the University of Ulster also offers a clinical speech degree.
Your Views On The Points System
The helpline has been hopping as parents, students and mature applicants voice their queries and concerns about applying to college. There are worries about points for school-leavers, about procedures for mature applicants and about the value of various courses and careers. As the CAO closing date looms large on the horizon, another closing date is also in the offing.
The Points Commission which was set up by the Minister for Education and Science last year is seeking submissions from the public. This is your chance to tell the commission how you feel about the points system. Do you feel your son or daughter has been short-changed by the system? Do you think the system is fair and open? Are points alone enough to determine suitability for a course? Are your students under too much pressure? Prof Aine Hyland, who is chairing the commission, says there is no formality involved. Write your thoughts on a piece of paper and send it to the commission.
The commission on the points system can be reached through the real or virtual postal systems:
Website: www.irigov.ie/educ/comm/htm
email: commission@educ.irigov.ie
Address: Department of Education and Science, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1.
Music
The Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin, is holding an open afternoon, today, from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. This should be of interest to second-level students considering studying for the college's BA in music performance, BMus in music education, the access programme or the diploma in music.
USI CAO Day
USI is holding a CAO advice day on Saturday next in the following centres: Dublin area: National Student Centre, Temple Bar, Dublin and the NCIR, Ranelagh Southern area: Carlow RTC, CIT, Limerick RTC, Tralee RTC and WIT
Western area: Athlone RTC, UG, Galway RTC, Letterkenny RTC and Sligo RTC.
USI will offer advice to students on how to complete their forms, college options, grant entitlements and other matters of student welfare. All sessions begin at 12 noon.
Additional research by Catherine Foley