IF you are interested in studying music, art and design, architecture, furniture technology, drama and theatre studies, or any other restricted application course, next Saturday is your deadline.
Applications for restricted courses must be with the CAO by February 1st. No late applications will be accepted. This is because these courses have additional admissions requirements as well as the Leaving Cert. You may have to present a portfolio, perform a piece of music or sit an aptitude test.
But, for those who leave everything until the last minute you can wait until Friday to post your application - provided you get your proof of posting at the back of the CAO book stamped.
If you are in doubt about any of the courses you are applying for, turn to page 10 of your CAO handbook and check if any of these courses fall into the restricted application category. There are 16 degrees and 32 certs and diplomas listed here. We have already dealt with the application procedures for art and design courses (this category includes courses as diverse as fine art, make up for TV/film/ theatre, commercial photography and model making).
This column will now take a look at some of the other restricted application offerings and the type of additional assessment you will have to undergo.
Furniture design and technology
This certificate course, which is the only one of its kind in Ireland, is a partnership venture between Galway RTC and a community development company, Connemara West. It is held in the furniture college in the beautiful isolated village of Letterfrack in Co Galway.
Students learn about manufacturing quality furniture in a commercial situation as well as how to apply conceptual, practical and sensitive" design systems to the manufacture of furniture. Employment prospects are excellent. An added bonus is the possibility of continuing your studies for a further two years to complete an add on BSc degree in furniture technology.
Applicants for the cert in furniture technology will be asked to go to the college in Letterfrack in April or May for an assessment. Places are awarded on the basis of Leaving Cert points combined with assessment points.
Marine engineering and nautical science
This year, Cork RTC's department of nautical science is offering a three year diploma in marine engineering and a 3 1/2 year diploma in nautical science. (The next intake for the cert in navigational studies (seananshi) will be in 1998). Applicants must pass assessment, medical fitness and eyesight tests.
Cork RTC is the only third level institution in Ireland which provides training for careers at sea - it trains about 65 students per year. It is the national centre for nautical studies and it operates its own training ship.
The college reports 100 per cent employment in well paid employment on graduating.
Architecture
Architecture is a profession which has always attracted school leavers so points are high. There are only two degrees on offer - at DIT Bolton Street and UCD. Both courses are five years in duration and they prepare students to work as professional architects.
Employment chances are good due to the buoyancy in the building trade but, as with any profession linked to the building trade, job prospects are cyclical.
Prof Dermot O'Connell, associate professor of architecture in UCD, is cautious about the ability of the profession to continue absorbing the 80 or so graduates who qualify every year. The length of the architecture course makes it difficult to second guess what the scene is going to be like in five years time, he says.
Points were high last year at 495. In UCD, third year students have the option of taking French or German.
Mr James Horan, head of DIT Bolton Street's school of architecture, says that graduates from there have all found employment in the past few years; most students go into private practice but the semi state sector is still a major recruiter. Students are expected to spend their summers in architectural practices.
Points for DIT Bolton Street were 557 last year but this includes points allocated for a suitability test (maximum 100 points) and an interview (maximum 100 points). Students must pass the suitability test, which is usually held at Easter, and, if they are successful, they are called for an interview, which is usually held in mid May. Usually more than 1,000 candidates sit the suitability test (which involves visual awareness tests - it is not something you can study for) but only about 300 are interviewed.
At interview, candidates are asked about their motivation and most students bring a portfolio, although it is not compulsory.
It is common for architectural students to take a year out in an architect's, office, bringing the total training to six years.
Music
Many students do not have the opportunity of studying music to Leaving Cert. This is acknowledged by the colleges which offer music courses and a variety of assessments have been put in place to test candidates' ability. Each course has a slightly different emphasis - from performance to composition to education and history. You should at least read through the various college prospectuses to find out which programme might suit you best. Talk to your guidance counsellor. Do you want to teach music, to perform or to compose? You may also wish to get in touch with the music faculties at the various colleges.
In addition to pure music programmes, it is possible to study music through arts in a number of colleges. This can be quite a good choice if your are interested in teaching music as you will have two subjects you can teach at second level (after you have completed the HDip - these are not concurrent teaching programmes).
Listed below are some of the options (concurrent teaching options were dealt with in a previous column):
UCC
Applicants for UCC's BMus and BA in music must pass a music test which will satisfy the academic council that the applicant is capable of completing the course successfully.
In the BA in music, students take music and musicianship along with two other arts subjects. In second and third years, students may take music as a major subject in a single honours programme or as an equal subject in a joint honours programme. If you take the single honours programme, you may be eligible to complete the BMus in one further year. The BMus itself is a four year programme offering the student a wide range of specialisms.
BMus at UCD
There are about 20 places offered each year for students wishing to study pure music at UCD under the four year BMus programme. Students should expect a B3 at higher level in Leaving Cert or grade six in the Associated Board exam. This is a general guideline not a requirement.
Applicants are called for an entrance assessment which includes an aural test and a basic harmony test. Students should also send a letter of recommendation from their music teacher.
UCD also offers a Bachelor of Arts in music which allows students to combine their study of music with another arts subject.
BA in music at Cork RTC
This is a four year programme which allows students to specialise in third and fourth year in music performance and applied musicianship or historical studies, music therapy or music education; music education; applied musician ship and historical studies.
Applicants must sit an entrance test which involves a performance test, aural tests and a written paper dealing with rudiments, harmony and general music knowledge. A sample paper is available on request.
BMus at Maynooth
There are 25 places on the BMus each year. Selection is on basis of an interview, which may include a simple harmony test. To be called for interview, applicants must submit, by April 1st, two pieces of written work which may take the form of harmony exercises, essays, original compositions, or any combination of these. This should be accompanied by a letter of recommendation from your music teacher.
Music may also be studied in arts at Maynooth.
TCD
Music may be studied as a single honour course or as one of two subjects in an arts degree. If you list music on your CAO form, you will be called for an entrance test in March. This will include a simple harmony paper, an ear test, a paper on general musical knowledge and background. Some applicants will be called for interview in early May when the final selection will be made.
Within the single honour programme third and fourth year students can choose freely from a wide range of options within their main specialisations musicology or composition.
Regional Technical Waterford.
The college offers a BA in music which is rooted in practical musicianship and performance. Composition also features prominently.
In addition to Leaving Cert requirements, applicants are required to attend for written and aural music tests and to demonstrate a performance standard equivalent to grade seven of a recognised music examining body. All applicants must attend a written examination and aural tests. Some will be exempted from the performance test on the basis of documented past achievements.
DIT music performance
This four year course is aimed at gifted instrumentalists and singers seeking a full time third level course which will train them to a professional level as performers and instrumental/ vocal teachers. Applicants are called for an audition and interview in April and, if successful, they must sit a written and aural musician ship test in May. A maximum of 100 points is allocated to the interview/audition and this is added to Leaving Cert points.