College Choice: Healthcare courses such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and physiotherapy, tend to dominate the headlines each year when offers are made because of the high points needed for entry.
Medicine is traditionally regarded as the hardest course to get into, but last year it fell from the top spot with Law and French at Trinity (TR018) replacing it after the first round.
Nevertheless points for medicine and the other courses in this area remain high. But it is worth remembering these courses, which distort the whole college entry process, account for only about 2 per cent of all third level admissions.
Medicine
Despite the status of the profession and the appeal of television programmes such as ER, medicine seems to be losing some of its appeal among college applicants.
The number of students putting medicine as their first choice in recent years has been declining. The number putting it further down their list is also slipping.
This is good news for those students who are thinking about doing it this year. Points have been dropping in recent years as well, but they still tend to hover within a small range at the five institutions offering medical degrees.
For example, UCD's medicine course (DN002) dropped 10 points last year to 545. While this drop was significant it just brought the points back to the 1998 level.
Trinity's medicine course (TR051) has also fluctuated between 560 and 570 points. While the indications are that points should fall on most medicine courses this year, nothing is certain and last year UCC's course (CK701) rose five points to 560.
Outside the university system, the only other provider is the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI). Its two options RC001 and RC003 are highly regarded. However tuition fees are expensive, about €7,000 a year.
The job prospects arising from medicine are excellent, although the plight of junior doctors highlighted in recent years - some of them work over 70 hours a week - illustrates how hard the job can be.
Also if you chose medicine be prepared for a long time in college - five or six years training followed by an "intern" year in a hospital. After that there can be up to four years of specialist training.
The dropout rate from medical courses varies, but those who leave often find the workload and constant pressure of exams too much. But the profession still provides the opportunity to earn a very healthy salary, particularly if you reach consultant level.
Also there are several initiatives taking place to reduce the number of hours worked by junior doctors, so those graduating later this decade should come out to a better and less stressful health service.
Pharmacy
This is probably the best year for decades to be applying to a pharmacy school. For years Trinity had the only course (TR072) which required colossal points.
While Trinity expanded its intake recently, each year there is between 300 and 400 students putting the Trinity course down as their first preference. The vast majority of them fail to gain entry and are forced to go to Northern Ireland or Scotland.
In line with this shortage of places, many observers - such as the consultant Dr Peter Bacon - have argued there is a general shortage of pharmacists in Ireland.
As a result of a report by him, the Higher Education Authority held a public competition to set up a new pharmacy school. The RCSI and UCC entered and UCC won. It is currently considering whether to offer its course this year.
However, despite losing the competition, the RCSI is offering its own pharmacy course this year with about 50 places up for grabs. Because it is a new course nobody knows what points will be required, but at least if offers a second chance to those who miss out on the Trinity or UCC courses.
Because it is the RCSI there will probably be large fees to be paid, although the position on that remains unclear at this stage.
The degrees are recognised by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland and take four years to complete. There is a lucrative living to be made as the owner of a pharmacy, but there are other well paid jobs in industry, hospitals and research.
Dentistry
The number of applications for dentistry have been shrinking in the past few years. According to CAO figures, 333 students put the option as their first preference in 1996, but this slipped back to 194 by 2000. The reasons behind this decline are not clear, because dentistry provides secure and lucrative employment.
UCC and Trinity are the only colleges providing the five-year degree.
The points tend to settle at between 530 and 545. The courses are highly regarded and the choice is essentially a geographical one - to study in Cork or Dublin.
Dentists normally work for a health board or in private practice. Private practice is far more lucrative, but the outlay to set yourself up is considerable. The amount of work for dentists is increasing all the time.
Physiotherapy
Employment prospects are particularly good in this area. There are three courses - UCD, Trinity and the RCSI - all offering a four year degree.
The degree is recognised all over the world and physiotherapists from Ireland often spend their first few years abroad.
The points have traditionally been highest at Trinity (530 last year), followed by UCD (525) and then the RCSI (510).
Last year the average points score of those accepting a place on UCD's course was 545. According to figures released under the Freedom of Information Act, over half of UCD's students get a 2:1 degree or higher, so the academic standards appear to be high.
The work involved can be mentally draining, but physical stamina is needed for the job too.
The physiotherapist often has to use their own physical powers to help people recover from injury.
Work is available in hospitals, clinics, rehab centres and of course private practice.
Optometry
The only course in the State is at DIT Kevin Street and last year you needed 505 points. The points tend to hover between 500 and 525, so if you are below that you could miss out. There are about 25 places available and this keeps the points high.
But at least the numbers graduating each year are low and everyone in the area can make a decent living.
The course includes a language in first and second year and students can continue to study them in third and fourth years if they want.
Apart from broad subjects like biology and chemistry, the course also looks at business studies and law. In the final term, students do a period of training in an opticians, although this is unpaid.
The course prepares students to be optometrists or ophthalmic opticians and this means they can dispense treatments but also examine eyes and suggest remedies.
However a clear distinction must be drawn between their role and that of a consultant working in the ophthalmic area.
Work is not always plentiful to begin with and many graduates start their careers initially in Britain.
More females have been taking the course in recent years than males, with most applicants also putting down courses such as medicine and pharmacy on their CAO lists.
Radiography
There are two courses in the Republic at UCD and TCD. The points for UCD were slightly lower last year at 480 (with random selection) than Trinity at 485, but there is normally very little between them.
The Trinity course specialises in therapeutic radiography which is often used in the treatment of cancers.
The UCD course concentrates on diagnostic radiography. Both courses involve periods of training in teaching hospitals.
Rathmines Senior College is holding an open day on January 31st for those interested in post-Leaving Cert courses and repeat courses. Application forms and a prospectus will be available and staff will be on hand to discuss courses with students.