Record demand hits college points hopes

Todays headline in the Irish Independent on the eve of the Leaving Cert Exams

A RECORD number of applications for college places has hit hopes of a dramatic fall in entry points for major courses.

A total of 68,300 students are chasing about 40,000 places in the autumn, according to new figures from the Central Applications Office (CAO).

The figures were disclosed as more than 50,000 students prepare to sit their Leaving Certificate examinations on Wednesday.

The final total will represent an increase of 2,500 on last year and will sharpen competition for some high-points courses such as law, medicine and dentistry.

The numbers taking the Leaving are up by more than 1,000 on last year and most have applied to the CAO for college places.

Apart from more Leaving Cert applicants, there are also extra applications from adults this year. And more students are applying from Further Education colleges with Post Leaving Certificate qualifications. There is also a small rise in the number of overseas applicants.

But John McGinnity, assistant registrar with the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, said students should not be alarmed by the effect on points of the 2pc rise in Leaving Cert applicants.

"It's hard to predict," he said. "But the increase is a reminder to students not to take it for granted that points will be lower this year. They should put in the effort and do the best they can."

The CAO reports 67,810 applications to date and a further 500 or so are expected by the end of the 'offer season'.

These will come from existing college students who want to transfer to another college course and from new applicants for late vacancies which inevitably arise in hard-to-fill courses.

The CAO system has been operating since 1977 and the previous highest number of applicants was four years ago, when 66,222 people applied for places.

Older

Among this year's applicants is a high number of older adults, including people who have retired. Statistics obtained by the Irish Independent show that last year there were 265 full-time and 474 part-time students in our universities and teacher training colleges over 60 years of age -- up from 236 and 418 the previous year.

In the Institute of Technology sector, there were 84 full-time and 81 part-time students in the 60-plus age bracket. While many are in their 60s, there are groups of students in their 70s and even into their 80s taking courses at present.

The most popular subject choices tend to be history, fine arts, archaeology, religion and English. The Higher Education Authority said that there are 10,500 people aged 30 and over studying full-time in our higher education institutions. Many are returning to education to boost their career prospects.

- John Walshe Education Editor

Ten easy ways to alleviate stress - by Ann Bracken

Lowering our stress levels helps us feel healthy and have a positive outlook on life.

• 
  Organize your time and write a list. By keeping a wall planner or diary, you can prevent double booking appointments.


• Do unimportant routine tasks when you have less energy and the most demanding jobs when you are more energetic. Do not over plan and allow yourself time to complete tasks.


• 
  Dedicate some daily time to ‘being’ instead of ‘doing’. Many of us feel guilty for taking necessary time out.


• Surround yourself with Mother Nature. Taking a 30 minute walk at lunchtime clears the mind and all exercise releases natural endorphins, which lifts the mood. Other tension taming exercises include yoga, swimming and pilates.


• 
  Visualisation is a very effective self-help technique for stress. Find a quiet space where you know you will not be disturbed. When sitting comfortably or lying down, close your eyes. Breathe slowly and visualize a calm, beautiful scene. Use your senses to make it real. Imagine the sounds you would hear and the smells you would experience in such a place. Repeat to yourself “I am relaxed and happy”.


• 
  Aromatherapy can be used to relax the mind. Burn a few drops of a relaxing essential oil, or add four drops to your bath. Bergamot, Camomile, Clary Sage, Jasmine or Lavender are all calming oils. Juniper, or the citrus oils, such as orange and lemon uplift the spirits and get your day off to a good start.


• 
  Use colour therapy daily. Wear blue or black to feel relaxed, green to promote harmony, red to feel energised, orange for happiness and yellow for concentration. Not altogether of course!


• 
  When you experience muscle tension or headache, ask a friend or work colleague to massage you head, neck and shoulders. Ideally, allow yourself to benefit from a relaxation therapy weekly. Reflexology, massage, shiatsu and reiki all relax the body and balance energy flow.


• 
  Drink plenty of water. Still water, stills the mind. It is recommended to drink a litre of water per day. Tap water can contain high levels of copper, iron, chlorine and fluoride (which contrary to widespread belief is harmful in excess) and other pollutants. It is advisable to drink bottled or filtered water.


• 
  Adding foods with a high source of Iron is an excellent way to avoid physical exhaustion. Lentils and Soya beans contain a high source of Iron. Wholesome grains are very grounding such as brown rice, oats and millet. Cut down on your intake of coffee, white sugar and processed or refined foods. Apart from having no nutritional value, stimulants create mood swings.


• 
  If you find you are a ‘yes’ person, try saying ‘no’ sometimes. It is impossible to be all things to all people and actually not agreeing to every request of your time and energy allows you time to relax and focus on your own needs. When you are rested, your outlook will be positive and once again you can reach out with the hand of friendship.


• 
  Laughter helps to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol - so as John Cleese so famously sang, “always look on the bright side of life”.

Courtesy of Irish Institute of Nutrition & Health