Cracking the College Code
In association with Derg Credit Union
An evening with educationalist and author
Catherine O’Connor
‘Exploring the possibilities, pitfalls and costs of third level.’
Educationalist and author Catherine O’Connor is to give a series of workshops to senior cycle students, parents and teachers in Killaloe and Scarriff on making the leap from secondary school through first year in college.
Ms O’Connor’s best selling book, ‘Cracking the College Code’, has helped many parents and students map this journey and survive the pitfalls.
Fresh from addressing ‘Zeminar’, a national careers and life choices seminar for young people held in the RDS this week, Catherine is spending Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 of October in Killaloe and Scarriff sharing her thoughts and offering advice.
Cracking the College Code is written from Catherine’s own experience and reflection, “I am the parent of two college graduates, my qualifications are in education and I work in student services in Trinity College. I have seen the third level world from every side,” she said.
From filling the CAO form to surviving first year her book is a veritable handbook for prospective students, current students and for parents.
Catherine is a firm believer in planning, “I am convinced that many of the 7,000 first year students who drop out of third level colleges each year might tell a different story if more preparation, thought and planning had been undertaken by the students and their parents,” she said.
Ms O’Connor will talk to fifth year and leaving certificate students during class time in St Anne’s Killaloe on Tuesday, October 17 and in Scarriff Community College during class time Wednesday, October 18.
Parents are invited to attend a workshop given by Catherine at St Anne’s Killaloe at 8pm on Tuesday October 17. This event is open to all parents of the area whether or not they have children in St Anne’s. Ms O’Connor will meet parents at Scarriff Community College at 6.30pm on Wednesday, October 18. This latter event is confined to parents with children at the school, as it is part of a broader school event.
Planning how to pay the bills is a vital consideration when thinking about college. In this regard Derg Credit Union, the sponsors of Catherine O’Connor’s visit, will be on hand during and after the workshops to talk about funding third level education and suggest ways Derg Credit Union can help.
For more information contact Catherine at Siobhán Durack, Derg Credit Union at (061) 921383 or Catherine O’Connor at 086 6017036