The date for applying for the CAO is looming (1st February) but for many young people, they have no idea what they want to study. So if you're wondering how to find the best CAO courses for you, we have all the information you need.
1. Think about your passions
What do you enjoy doing? And we're not talking about playing sports or going on Instagram. What do you find yourself doing in your spare time? Do you like taking photos, or writing? Maybe you like fixing computers or watching crime shows. These are all career paths.
2. Ignore what your parents say or even what they do for a job
Some school leavers have a tendency to just apply for a course that their parents say they should do. "Be an accountant/lawyer/doctor, they earn lots of money", your ma or da will say. But the reality is that anyone, in any career can make money but at the end of the day you need to have a career you are passionate about. Don't just do something because it'll be lucrative!
3. Ask yourself "If money wasn't a problem, what would I want to be?"
Money should not factor into why you have chosen a course. Your future happiness is at stake here. The old saying "If you love your job, you never have to work a day in your life" is so true.
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4. Don't place too much pressure on finding the ideal course right now
Take it from someone who went to college straight out of school and found their passion during their first degree: you have time. And if you're really stumped on what to study, take a year off! Go travelling, earn some money and go anywhere. Don't study something you don't want to and then drop out.
5. Take our quiz for some inspiration
6. Research, research, research
Sites like UniBrowse are really easy to navigate and give you option of browsing by college, course and type of degree.
7. See what different colleges offer around the country
Don't just go to the college up the road or in Dublin - there's plenty of excellent universities around the country that offer courses for everyone.
8. Consider studying abroad
See our guide here for some advice.
