If you have decided that going to third level is the right path for you, then there are two important decisions you need to make next:

• Which undergraduate course to study
• Which university/college you would like to go to

When it comes to deciding on what course to pursue it’s perfectly common to feel anxiety. Before you begin researching what courses exist at third level, you need to understand yourself first and ask yourself a few questions:

• What type of person are you?
• What are your personal qualities?
• What skills do you have?
• What do you love doing?
• What are your strengths?
• What do you prefer to avoid?
• What subjects do you like or dislike in school?
• Do you have a flair for writing, music, technology, sport, creative media or science?
• What are your hobbies and interests?
• What type of learner are you, e.g. do you learn by doing or can you easily take in information from books?

Once you know more about yourself; your preferences, strengths, and abilities, researching courses will be easier to do and you should be able to make a more informed decision. It may also be worth seeking help from a professional such as a guidance counsellor or a careers advisor.

Researching Courses
It is important to thoroughly research the courses in which you are interested. Follow the steps below to get the most out of your research.

1. For courses in Ireland search through the Qualifax website;
   www.qualifax.ie and the CAO website; www.cao.ie.
   You can also go directly to each of the college or university websites.
   For courses in DkIT please visit our website www.dkit.ie
   
   
2. Location is a major factor when choosing a course. Would you be happy about moving away from home and have you thought about the cost of this?
   
   
3. Be clear on the CAO application processes for your chosen course, i.e. how do you apply and when are the deadlines?
   
   
4. Understand the entry requirements for the course:
   a What are the basic admission requirements for the course?
   b What were the CAO for entry last year? Check www.cao.ie for last year’s points.
   c Do you need to have studied specific second level subjects for entry to the course?
   d Do you need to make additional submissions (e.g. a portfolio) or complete an interview (e.g. in Applied Music, Performing Arts, and Community Youth Work) as part of the entry requirements?
   e If you have a disability or specific learning difficulty you are encouraged to indicate this in your CAO application as it will facilitate the College in addressing any specific support needs you may have.
   
   
5. Look at the subjects or modules for each year of the course, not just 1st year (DkIT list these within their Undergraduate Handbook and updated information is also available on the college website www.dkit.ie). You need to make sure that your expectations and the actual reality of the course are in line with each other.  The objective is to enjoy the course throughout your time in college.
   
   
6. Also consider the following when you are researching the courses:
   a Will there be work placement during the course?
   b Will you need to pick a specialism as the course progresses, e.g. after first or second year?
   
   
7. During your research contact the relevant college and/or department with specific questions about the course.
   Visit the College on Open Days and Information Sessions so that you are fully informed about the courses available.

If you take these factors into account when choosing which degree to undertake, hopefully you will find it easier to make the right decision and you’ll be happy with your choice once you’ve started your course. It’s important to try and pick the right course first time, otherwise you could end up wasting thousands of pounds on a degree that you won’t even use in your career once you’ve graduated. If you already have a career path in mind, such as Games Development, Engineering, Accountancy, Public Relations, Hospitality or Nursing, then this should make your decision much easier. However, if you’re still undecided, it’s probably worth taking a subject that you enjoy doing and/or are quite good at. At least this way you will be enthusiastic about it and feel like you can stick with it until the end.