Leaving Cert Guidance

Katy Anna takes over the hosting duties and puts your questions to Donnchadh and Guidance Counsellor Aoife McArdle from the Institute of Education. Hear what Donnchadh learned from Minister Foley's interview with the ISSU.  What is the best approach to take for the LC exam and Accredited Grades?  Hear Aoife explain how the points system work and if we can predict what will happen this year. ...

What is Genetics and Genomics (GY321)? Dr Derek Morris from NUI Galway joins Donnchadh to discuss the ins and outs of this new course.  What does this course entail?  Where do graduates end up? Law and Criminology and Criminal Justice (GY254) is another new course at NUI Galway.  Dr Conor Hanly joins the conversation with Donnchadh to talk about the first course in Ireland to combine law and crimi...

In the latest episode of LCG Podcast Donnchadh is joined by Dr Therese Moylan, Chair of Teaching and Learning at IADT and Dr Kevin Wallace, Head of Humanities and Arts Management.  We discuss new courses in the college.  How the college is more than just Art and Design.  How the courses here are more project focused than exam centred.  Plus, lots more.

With deadline dates for HEAR and DARE looming, Donnchadh and Brian Comerford discuss what each application involves, the process of the application and the benefits of applying for HEAR and DARE.

There was a snow blizzard in Galway as Donnchadh recorded this podcast with Mona Wise, Student Liaison Officer at GMIT.  Despite this the sound quality is perfect.  Donnchadh and Mona discussed the five campuses that make up GMIT.  What is their University status with LYIT and IT Sligo?  Find out the huge amount of scholarships given out this academic year in the College.  We also discuss the cour...

Donnchadh and Katy Anna chat about the latest news on LC21.

Donnchadh is joined by Sean Kelly, Student Recruitment Officer at St. Angela's Sligo.  We chat about the education courses at St. Angela's, alternative routes into these education courses, their connection with NUI Galway, the relatively new Home Economics degree, General Nursing, ID Nursing and student life at St. Angela's.

Dr. Stephen Ryan from University of Limerick joins me to chat about the three exciting new courses on offer from September 2021.  They are (LM066) Environmental Science, (LM019) Social Science and (LM105) Exercise Health and Fitness Management.  Dr Ryan also chats about UL's world famous Cooperative Education Programme and what it means, plus much more.

Donnchadh is joined by four faculty members from IT Carlow in this latest episode. Director of Sport Donal McNally talks sports scholarships, recent sporting success and the new south sports campus. Dr. David Phelan talks about the very topical course Pharmaceutics and Drug Formulation.  He discusses with Donnchadh the relevant careers for graduates, the different modules in the course and what ty...

This episode is straight from the horse's mouth.  Everything you need to know about the CAO 2021 application is in this podcast episode.  Eileen is the Communications Officer from the CAO who gives a first hand account of what she see with applications.  If you are a HEAR/DARE applicant, a 2020 applicant, a 2021 applicant, a teacher, a Guidance Counsellor or a parent, this episode is a must....

Episode 20!!  Donnchadh is joined by Micheál Dowdican the Schools Liaison Officer for IT Sligo.  They discuss what IT Sligo and Sligo Town has to offer prospective students, new courses for 2021, supports to help students succeed in IT Sligo and the possibility of doing a full time degree from the comfort of your own home.

Professor Lisa Looney, registrar at DCU joins Donnchadh to discuss the five brand new undergraduate courses on offer in DCU in September.  These courses are part of the HCI Pillar 3 Initiative.  What does this mean?  What kind of student is each course looking for?  Why are industry leaders calling these some of the most innovative courses on offer for Irish students? Tune in to find out the answe...

New year, new me.  In episode 19, Donnchadh and Katy Anna talk about New Year's Resolutions to help maximise your performance in the LC.  These aren't just your run of the mill resolutions, they are backed up by science and statistics. Donnchadh and Katy Anna also chat about the latest news stories in the guidance world, including the HPAT going online and the birth of Ireland newest uni...

With the UCAS deadline fast approaching, Donnchadh is joined by GC Ciara Campbell to discuss the UCAS 2021 application process.  In this rapid fire Q&A Ciara informs us about, the personal statement, deadlines, student finance, tuition fees, teacher references and lots more.  If you are applying for UCAS or still considering applying this episode is a must.

2fm radio DJ, documentary film maker and TV star, Stephen Byrne joins Donnchadh and talks about his documentary Leaving Again .  Stephen returned to sit his Leaving Cert 10 years after shredding his original LC results.  They talk about Stephen's Leaving Cert experience(s), what he would change about the Leaving Cert and advice Stephen would give to Senior Cycle students.

Donnchadh is joined by Sinead O' Mahony Carey, author and substance misuse expert.  Sinead details drug trends among adolescents, their side effects, how they affect school life and what to do if you need help.

This week Donnchadh is joined by Robbie Irwin, Student Engagement Officer for Marino Institute of Education.  Robbie and Donnchadh discuss the connection with MIE and Trinity College, their Education courses and what they entail, the complete definition of a 'Gaeltacht Applicant', bursaries given to those who study through Irish and so much more.

In episode 14 Donnchadh is joined by Kim and Anna from University College Utrecht.  They discuss why Irish students will be attracted to study there, the variety on offer, the tuition fees and cost of living.  You will also hear how stunned Donnchadh is by the price of a pint of Heineken in the student bar here! First though, Donnchadh answers the 10 most frequently asked questions by Leaving Cert...

Do you have a motivation to study? But, you are not sure how to go about the process?  Donnchadh chats with Guidance Counsellor, Brian Comerford, about the different types of learning, the learning curve, setting goals, the process of study etc. If you are a JC, 5th or 6th year student, this episode could be very valuable to you.

If you are considering a career in education this episode is a must.  MIC offer a number of different courses in Primary Education and Post Primary Education at their Limerick and Thurles campuses.  Donnchadh chats with Dr. Patrick Cosgrove who is Head of Student Recruitment at MIC about all the opportunities the college has to offer including a BA in Contemporary and Applied Theatre Studies, Earl...

In roles reversed, Donnchadh is interviewed by two sixth year students.  Aoife and Lauren are studygrammers on Instagram who asked their followers for their CAO questions to put to Donnchadh.  This is a fast-paced episode of the Leaving Cert Guidance Podcast.

In the 10th episode of the Leaving Cert Guidance Podcast, Donnchadh is joined by Gobnait O Shaughnessy and Deirbhle O Reilly from Trinity College Dublin.  They discuss why there has been a rise in applicants for Trinity College, courses on offer there, plus a brand new course for 2021.  Also, how to the Hist and Phil Societies get such famous guests to come to the College? In the second half of th...

Donnchadh is joined by Lynda Young, school liaison officer for TUD.  We discuss a number of courses on offer at the University and what graduate's typically do with these qualification after graduation.  Lynda also talks about the brand new Grangegorman Campus and what it has to offer at present and in the future Dr Gene Carolan lectures in LLB Law. He joins Donnchadh to examine the details o...

Epsiode 8, I chat with IADT (1:50) about the creative hub they have developed at their college.  What is a degree in Entrepreneurship?  What is the paper clip challenge and how would you do in it? How is creativity in areas such as Business and Marketing nurtured in IADT? Ever wondered what an undergraduate in Psychology entails? Or even what prospects there are after you graduate? Are employers l...

On Episode no7 I chat with Helen Maher, Vice President of Carlow College and their School Liaison Officer, Orla Kerwin (0:58) about their undergraduate courses available and what they entail. I also chat with Leanne Donovan (19:06) founder of The Irish Graduate website. We chat about Leanne's college experiences and how her Graduate Stories section on her website could help 5th and 6th year s...