Third_Level_Education

{draw:g} {draw:g} {draw:g} The Access 21 is designed to prepare mature students who wish to return to Third Level Education. Select three learning skills acquired on the course and explain why you consider them to be important. Describe the research you have undertaken to select courses for future study. Name one course of your choice and, using your research information, briefly explain why you think it suits your talents and interests. In your opinion, what advantage does this preparation give for successful future studies. Preparing for ones academic life within Third level is both exciting and challenging. Throughout this essay, you will receive an insight into the research and preparation needed to choose the right degree course, through the participation of access 21 and its tutors. Firstly, I will tell you a little about Access 21 and the learning skills it has to offer. From there I will go into a description of the research and planning involved, in selecting the relevant course, which will then lead you onto the course of my choice and why I choose to get involved in that area. Finally, an explanation of the advantages of Access 21 participation will let you know how useful such a course can be. Access 21 is a gateway to Third level education and I feel privileged to receive a second chance at furthering my career prospects. There are many learning skills you would obtain by doing this course as well as enhancing your knowledge to the level expected of an undergraduate student. Study skills, helps students, organise themselves, and provides them with the study skills necessary for academic life. Essay writing encourages regular writing and provides students with different styles required, and Information Technology provides basic skills required to use Information Technology resources effectively for the purpose of study. Your learning experience is enhanced by this spirit of inquiry, as you are taught by academics who are working at the forefront of their subject area, bringing the latest ideas and discoveries into the lecture theatre [Brown, 2009, P.4]. Whoever successfully completes the Access 21 course is eligible to apply for direct entry through the CAO to do the course of their choice within the programme. To sum up, the Access 21 main objectives are to draw in potential mature students and to promote academic learning through outreach strategies and through the learning skills offered, instil confidence and enthusiasm which all students entering Third level, should have. Primarily, I feel that my visit to the institutes, open days, were by far the most benefiting way to research the courses that interest me. Each college had their own prospectus to hand out, in which I also found very useful, and within each book, a detailed description of all the available courses were at hand. There were many tutors to talk to, who made sure you understood what they were saying and I found myself getting excited, thinking about the variety of courses I could choose from. Following my visits to the colleges, the internet provided me with updated relevant information on the courses that interested me. While researching on the internet, I came across the Offaly Independent website in which a piece was quoted from last year Access 21 course, which was no further from the truth. It stated “These college visits were one of the most important parts of the course” [Loftus, 24-4-09 P.6 ]. A lot of what was said in our lessons in Access 21, about how to choose the right course was certainly influential, in the way I selected my course, which was not too long after the visits to the institutes. After talking to the college tutors at open days, reading through each prospectus and following my heart, I finally knew what college and what course i was going to pursue. Venture Management in National University of Ireland, Maynooth,is the course and college of my choice, and how I came to that conclusion consists of two main factors, my talents and my interests. Maths tends to be the area I do best. Yet, doing maths for the remainder of my life does not appeal to me. When I was a young lad at the age of ten, I worked in our local grocery shop and grew fond of the idea of one day owning my own retail outlet. However, as I got older, I found myself developing a keen interest in the way many businesses operate, hence the course of my choice which would involve a certain amount of maths. The degree course consists of a range of business and management subjects to be taken in First, Second, and Third year. In addition to lectures, many courses feature clinical or industrial placements, which offer you valuable practical experience [O Cathain, 2009, P.5], therefore adding a fourth year which converts from a Bachelor of Business Studies (BBS) degree to a Bachelor of Business Administration. This course, in addition to my other seven choices, revolve around finance, business and entrepreneurial skills, which I believe I have to a certain extent and hopefully will excel at in time to come. These beliefs are a result of my present day part-taking in buying and selling anything I can get my hands on which will turnover a profit. On the other hand, the course also consists of areas such as design and creativity, which tends to be a weaker area, but that is why my pursuit for Higher Education continues. In my opinion, the advantage I have gained from preparation and course research, is the fact that one could easily pick the wrong course and end up, either wasting the first year and changing or staying on and disliking what they are doing. At the beginning of my Access course, I was undoubtedly convinced I was to pursue a career path in Accountancy. However, as time went on during the course, my outlook changed and I was beginning to realise I had to follow my passion for business, therefore picking Venture Management as my number one choice was more likely, and that change of direction was the outcome from excellent advice given from the Access course tutors, my father and also the research I have undertook. According to Anne Roundtree my writing skills tutor “many secondary school leavers starting Third Level are unable to construct an essay in the correct manner”, hence, giving mature students a head start in that area. Also, been shown how to study correctly is another advantage mature students have over school leavers. Nevertheless, six years in school would most certainly give you a better edge in tackling exams. During my time in Access, I have become aware of how stimulating learning can be and how it all links to the preparation needed for academic life. You are unable to put a price on the skills acquired during Access 21 and the advantages gained over most CAO applicants. In conclusion, valuable learning and research skills are received on the Access21 course. Furthermore, the development in other areas such as listening, talking, presentations, assignments, projects and the academic subjects required to pass, are all excellent ways in preparing a student for Third level. Choosing the right institution and a suitable degree, in my eyes, is one of the most important decisions one would make throughout their life and thanks to Breege Loftus and her colleagues, my decision was made with clarity and wisdom. Now that I understand the emphasis on self directed learning, when I get to college, I know it will be my responsibility to take care of my academic duties, such as doing research in the library or on the internet, attending lectures and tutorials or doing projects or essays to a deadline. Regardless, I am sure the next four years will be crucial to the development of my personal and academic life. Bibliography