Your questions answered by Brian Mooney.
I have recently completed the Leaving Cert and have been left five points short of my first preference - architecture in UCD. I am currently doing engineering in Trinity, however I would still prefer to be studying architecture. I have considered the option of repeating. However, the courses of many of my Leaving Cert subjects have changed and I feel it would be a difficult and risky option. I am aware that next year I can apply to England and elsewhere abroad. I was simply wondering if you have any advice regarding my situation.
You are wise not to consider repeating the Leaving Cert. I would advise you to continue your first-year engineering programme in Trinity and apply to both the CAO and UCAS, in Britain, in 2006. The University of Limerick introduced a new architecture degree programme (LM009) during the summer, and it offered places to some students on 525 points in the second round of offers. This is five points lower than UCD's (DN001) second-round offers of 530 points. You might consider applying to the three architecture degree programmes in the Republic, the two already mentioned, plus (DT101) in the DIT.
Regarding applications to colleges in the UK and Northern Ireland, there has been an increase in the number of students from the Republic studying architecture over the last three years. There are two categories of applicants - those who succeed in securing a place following their Leaving Cert and those who, having completed the Leaving Cert, have accepted a place in a PLC, certificate or degree course, prior to being offered a place in architecture through UCAS. Students in the second category will not necessarily have completed their course of studies at the time of being offered a UCAS place. The numbers succeeding through both routes have been similar for the last three years: 2002 - 37/39, 2003 - 55/66, 2004 - 60/57.
In 2004, almost a third of successful applicants (19/18), secured places in either of the two architecture degree programmes in Northern Ireland, (K100) in Queen's University and the University of Ulster in Belfast. A further third of the successful applicants secured places in degree programmes in Scotland (24/15), in the universities of Edinburgh (E56), Dundee (D65), or Robert Gordon (R36) in Aberdeen. A small group of Leaving Cert applicants and a larger group of those who pursued further studies secured places in Merseyside programmes (3/11), in the university of Manchester or Liverpool. The last cluster of successful Irish applicants (10/7), secured places in London or the south east of England.
The fact that you are studying engineering at Trinity will strengthen your application to UCAS. Remember, that you are not required to list courses in order of preference. You simply select the six colleges you wish to apply to and send off your application. I would advise you first to research, and then contact the various universities referred to earlier to see if they are willing to take into account your first-year engineering studies alongside your Leaving Cert. Following that process, you will be able to narrow down your target universities to the six allowed on the application form.
One further word of advice. A number of admissions tutors from British colleges have indicated that many Irish applicants perform poorly in both their personal UCAS statements, which outline the reasons they want to study a particular programme, and in their personal reference - supplied by a teacher or lecturer. When writing a personal statement for a UCAS application, you must communicate why you have chosen architecture and explain how you have manifested this interest in the things you have done during your life to date. Colleges want to hear about your architectural interests and skills, and how you have been expressing them.
Finally, a personal reference from an educational source must give the reader a clear picture of your personal strengths and how they have been expressed, through academic work and other activities. When choosing a referee, draw up a list of guidelines you would like the referee to address.
Brian Mooney is president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors. E-mail questions to bmooney@irish- times.ie
