Explore every episode of the podcast Leaving Cert Guidance

Ray Lanigan is a high impact study skills coach and a school motivational speaker.  he joins Donnchadh to discuss his study skills strategies such as the 30 minute study sprint and the whiz grid.  What advice does Ray have for students doing their mocks and advice for parents on this journey also?

Dont forget to follow @leavingcertguidance on Instagram and TikTok.

Substance misuse expert, Sinead Carey, joins the Leaving Cert Guidance podcast to help students stay safe this Christmas.  What do students who are going out this Christmas need to know so they can keep themselves safe, the 5 As that parents should do when their child is out, the best website for information and how schools can assist students also.

Don't forget to follow @leavingcertguidance on Instagram and TikTok.

Over the next few weeks there are important upcoming deadline dates.  Many students will take the opportunity over the Christmas break to prepare for these deadlines.

Donnchadh explains to us what deadlines are fast approaching and what students need to do to get ready for these.

From applying to the CAO, UK, Europe, HPAT and even a course in America, Donnchadh has you covered.

Don't forget to follow us @leavingcertguidance on Instagram and TikTok.

Roisin O'Donohoe is back with Donnchadh this week, this time to discuss the HEAR and DARE application processes and what students need to know and some tips and advice for the application.

Don't forget to follow @leavingcertguidance on Instagram and TikTok

Donnchadh is joined by Ava Rose Gallagher, a 4th year Commerce International student in UCC who talks about her Erasmus experience.  Ava Rose talks about:

• The process of applying to Erasmus
• Applying for the Erasmus grant
• How the Erasmus process works
• Her experience in Germany
• How she settled in
• What her Erasmus has taught her
• And what she intends to do once she completes her degree

Don't forget to follow us @leavingcertguidance on Instagram and TikTok.

This is one of our biggest podcast episodes of the year.  Eileen Keleghan from the CAO joins Donnchadh to give advice for 2025 CAO applicants.

They talk about:

• What applicants can expect from the CAO application
• Key deadline dates
• Genuine order of preference
• Change of mind facility
• Level 6/7 and Level 8 list
• Restricted courses
• Last minute advice

Dont forget to follow us @leavingcertguidance Instagram and TikTok.

Language teacher Katie Lenehan (@mslenslanguages) join Donnchadh on the pod this week to talk about preparing for languages exams for the LC.

Katie and Donnchadh discuss:

• Key challenges for students
• improving oral and listening skills
• practising languages outside of the classroom
• Improving vocab
• Managing your time during exams
• Tips for the oral exam
• And lots more

Dont forget to follow @leavingcertguidance on Instagram and TikTok

Donnchadh is joined by Guidance Counsellor Roisin O'Donohoe to talk effective study methods and how students can get the most from themselves while studying. Donnchadh and Roisin discuss:

• Most common study mistakes
• the importance of active studying
• creating an effective study schedule
• avoiding procrastination or burnout
• the importance of sleep and nutrition for study 
• and tips for handling stress and anxiety leading up to the LC

Don't forget to follow @leavingcertguidance on Instagram and TikTok

There are a number of exemptions that CAO applicants can apply for.  Universities might have matriculation requirements that outline an applicant must have Irish and/or another language.

In this episode, Donnchadh is joined by guidance counsellor from the Institute of Education, Aoife McArdle, to discuss exemptions for NUI universities, Trinity College, UL and Mary Immaculate College.

It is important to note that if you think you are eligible to apply for an exemption that you talk to your guidance counsellor.

Follow @leavingcertguidance on Instagram and TikTok.

Alice Byrne is in 4th year medicine in UCD.  When she sat her HPAT in 2021 she scored in the 98th percentile achieving 197 points.

She joins Donnchadh in this episode to give some tips to potential HPATers.

Alice discusses:

• The importance of the HPAT
• How she prepared for it with specific strategies and resources
• Balancing the LC and the HPAT
• Importance of timing and pacing during the exam
• Advice for students who are anxious about the HPAT
• Tips for students sitting the HPAT in February

Connect with Alice via email alice.byrne2@ucdconnect.ie

Follow us @leavingcertguidance on Instagram and TikTok

Donnchadh is joined by two 625 points students this week.  Juliet and Jessica chat about:

• How they structured their study
• What study techniques worked best for them.
• Subjects they had to prioritise
• The lead up to the exams
• Balancing school and life
• Staying motivated
• What advice they wish they had known in 6th year

Follow @leavingcertguidance on Instagram and TikTok.

Conan Meehan joins Donnchadh to chat about Irish applicants applying to UCAS in 2025.  Conan has been helping ROI students apply to UCAS since 2019.  In this podcast they talk about:

• What is UCAS
• How to make an application
• Deciding on a course to study
• What the 15th October deadline means
• The new entry criteria for Health Science courses in UU
• How to guarantee accommodation in Ulster University
• Free courses in the North of Ireland
• and much more.

Dont forget to follow @leavingcertguidance on Instagram and Tiktok.

Ella Deasy joins the podcast this week to talk about her meteoric rise on TikTok, advice she would give to content creators starting out, how she found the LC and CAO processes, where she is going to be studying next year and advice she would give to current 6th years.

Follow @leavingcertguidance on Instagram and TikTok 

The LC results come out on Friday 23rd August at 10am.

On this episode Donnchadh runs through what LC candidates can expect on the day and why the Candidate Self Service Portal is so important.

Follow on Instagram @leavingcertguidance

There are so many important dates and deadlines upcoming.  So, Donnchadh and guidance counsellor Joe Farrelly, chat you through the most important ones got to do with the CAO, UCAS, HPAT, Tertiary degrees and PLC courses.

Make sure to follow @leavingcertguidance on Instagram and TikTok

Donnchadh is flying solo this week in the podcast as he gives his top tips for preparation for the mocks.  Donnchadh talks about

• Study schedules
• Topics to learn
• Active study vs passive study
• Using nerves to your benefit
• Elite preparation
• Using the mocks as a positive
• Assessing post mocks
• Mocks vs HPAT

The very best of luck to all in their preparations for the mocks and dont forget to follow our socials in the lead up to a very important month for applications.

Follow us @leavingcertguidance on Instagram and TikTok.

Guidance counsellor Deborah Galbraith joined Donnchadh this week to discuss how students can make the most of their Christmas break.  How can students use the break in terms of relaxation, academic preparation and college research? Deborah outlines to students the type of studying they should be doing over the break and the self care practices they should be doing.

Follow @leavingcertguidance on Instagram and TikTok.

If you are a HEAR/DARE applicant for the CAO 2024 applications or you just want to find out more about these access programmes then this episode is a must.  Colm Downes who is the Access Programme Manager for the Irish University Association joins Donnchadh to tell us what these programmes are, how CAO points work for them, what and application involves, important dates and lots more.

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok on @leavingcertguidance

On today's episode, Dr Fiona Maloney, the Director of the National Tertiary Office, joins Donnchadh to discuss the new Tertiary degrees.

Fiona talks about the new tertiary degrees that are being launched on Wednesday. Find out the entry requirements, how to apply for these degrees, getting a preliminary offer before your LC, how you can use your SUSI grant for the degrees, how to apply, locations and lots more.

This episode is a must for students, parents and guidance counsellors.

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @leavingcertguidance.

Guidance counsellor, Brian Comerford from classroomguidance.ie joins me this week to discuss what careers will be popular in the future.  How can students future proof themselves from AI? How can students contribute to climate change, in what careers and courses? What skills can students learn that will be invaluable? What courses should students be looking at.

Follow us @leavingcertguidance on Instagram and TikTok

Donnchadh takes a deep dive into how to pick your college course with guidance counsellor Aoife McArdle from the Institute of Education.

Where can a student start? What resources are there? What role to a guidance counsellor or parent play in the process plus lots more.

Follow @leavingcertguidance on Instagram and TikTok

Clinical Psychologist, Dr Laura Buckley, joins Donnchadh to discuss dealing with exam stress and anxiety.  Laura discusses the importance of stress to humans, why it is so common among teenagers, how students can deal with stress using the TIPP method and physical soothing.  Dr. Buckley also gives tips to parents on how they can help their children deal with stress as best they can using the 'Bigger, stronger, kinder, wiser' approach.

Follow us on @leavingcertguidance on Instagram and TikTok.

On this episode Donnchadh is joined by Eileen Keleghan from the CAO.  This episode is a must from CAO 2024 applicants because Eileen outlines what applicants can expect from the CAO application, important dates, top tips for applicants, using the CAO handbook, the personalised CAO handbook.

Follow @leavingcertguidance on Instagram and TikTok to stay up to date.

Did you know that 55,330 CAO applicants had an arts degree on their CAO list last year?

Dr John McGinnity, Guidance Counsellor at the Institute if Education, joins me this week to discuss the importance of an arts degree, the different types of arts degrees, what students can do when they graduate with an arts degree, Erasmus and Study Abroad opportunities and much more.

This week's podcast episode is brought to you my Maynooth University.  Check out mu.ie/opendays for information on visiting the campus.

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@the_LC_team Leaving Cert Business expert and secondary school Business teacher, Ciara Long joins Donnchadh on the podcast to chat about her experience studying Business at third level, her unique route to Business, and tips and advice for LC Business students.

This episode of the @leavingcertguidance podcast is brought to you by The University of Galway.

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok on @leavingcertguidance

This episode of The Leaving Cert Guidance podcast is brought to you by The University of Galway.

On today's show I am joined by Emma Ronan (@leavingcertbiology.ie) and Lena Kadri (@chemistryschoolofgrowth).  Both are part of The LC Team on Instagram as the Biology and Chemistry experts respectively.

Emma and Lena chat to Donnchadh about their experiences studying science in third level and what advice they would give to students studying Biology and Chemistry for the LC.

Follow us @leavingcertguidance

What is an Open Day and how can students make the most of their experience?

Guidance Counsellor from the Institute of Education, Aoife McArdle, joins me for tips and advice for students embarking on their first open days.

This episode is brought to you by the University of Galway.  Their Open Day in the 5th and 6th October.

Follow us on @leavingcertguidance

Muireann Carey is a medicine undergraduate in Trinity College.  She scored over 200 in her HPAT. Muireann talks about her preparation for the HPAT, how she juggled it the LC and the mocks while doing her prep.  She talks about when is a good time to start prepping and what the exam itself is like.  Finally, Muireann tells us why she chose Trinity and what her degree is like.

Follow us @leavingcertguidance

You might know Danielle McFadden from Instagram or Tiktok, but Danielle is a very accomplished student having gotten 613 points in her LC.  Danielle talks about her approach to the exams, the study methods she used, how she set goals, the CAO process and her transition into college.

Dont forget to follow us on @leavingcertguidance.

You can follow Danielle on @daniellemcfaddenn

Did you know that almost 5,000 Irish students apply to UCAS every year?
Holly Smith from The University Guys outlines the difference between the CAO and UCAS, key dates to know, how to write a personal statement, how the reference has changed this year and much more.

Don't forget to follow @leavingcertguidance on Instagram and TikTok.

The Leaving Cert results are out so students are now turning their attention to the CAO offers out Wednesday 30th August at 2pm.

Donnchadh is joined by Aoife McArdle, guidance counsellor at the Institute of Education as they discuss how offers work, how the different rounds work, available places, private college and direct entry courses, what if you don't get an offer, what can you do?

This podcast episode is brought to you by DBS.

Friday 25th August at 10am.

Aoife McArdle, Guidance Counsellor at the Institute of Education joins Donnchadh for this episode to chat about the upcoming results.  What will students expect on the day? When do students get a chance to see their marks? How can students view scripts?  What does the appeals process look like? What can I do if the results did not go well.

The National Parents and Leaving Cert Helpline will open to students on Friday at 10am on 1800 265 165.

This episode is sponsored by The University of Galway.

One the most prestigious undergraduate scholarships to receive at Irish 3rd Level in the Quercus Talented Students Programme in UCC.

Michele Power, Programme Manager and Elaine O'Mahony, Admistrator on the programme join the podcast today to outline the different categories for the programme, how to apply to the programme, tips for a successful applications, the AMAZING benefits of the scholarships and examples of past scholarship recipients.

There is a 2nd February deadline for the scholarship.  Make sure to tune in for this one.

Follow UCC on Instagram @ucc_cao

For us @leavingcertguidance on Instagram and TikTok

Colette O Beirne from DCU tells us about the upcoming CAO Online Information Evening happening on Tuesday 17th January.  Students can register at dcu.ie
Colette also gives advice to CAO applicants.

Dr Ciaran Dunne is the Transversal Skills Director at DCU.  He talks about skills necessary for undergraduates to incorporate in order to make themselves more employable for the future.  Learning 'human skills' that AI cannot replicate.

Check out the DCU instagram page @team.dcu

Follow us on instagram to stay up to date @leavingcertguidance

What are the most common mistakes on the CAO application that can prohibit applicants from an offer?
Where should applicants be at this stage in the CAO journey?
What is Genuine Order of Preference and how significant is it?

Eileen Keleghan from the CAO answers these questions and lots more on this week's podcast.

This podcast is a must for anyone who is applying to the CAO.

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @leavingcertguidance

This week's episode is a jam packed show with guests from the University of Limerick.

Firstly Stephen Ryan gives on updates on changes to courses at UL.  Dr Patrick Healy from the AI and Machine learning department chats about this course and the benefits of students graduating with this degree.

Jan McCarthy, Course Director for Midwifery also joins on to discuss this course in UL and what type of students they are looking for.  Jan also chats about alternative entry routes to this course.

Finally, Dr Ruth Ryan from the School of Nursing talks about their offerings in General Nursing, Mental Health Nursing and ID Nursing.

Follow UL @universityoflimerick

Follow us @leavingcertguidance

This week UCAS expert, David Hawkins from the University Guys,  joins me on the podcast to discuss what Irish students need to know about the UCAS applications, writing a personal statement,  understanding entry requirements, how to pick a university and a course, and tips for teachers and guidance counsellors on how to write references and give predicted grades, plus lots more.

Follow David on @theuniversityguys

Follow Donnchadh on @leavingcertguidance

Happy College Awareness Week.  On this week's episode I am joined by John McGinnity, Admissions Officer at MU.  John and I talk about the upcoming open day, developments at MU in the last number of years, new courses starting in 2023, Arts in MU plus lots more.

The MU open day takes place on 25th and 26th November.  See mu.ie/opendays for more details.

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @leavingcertguidance

The IADT Open Day happens this Saturday 19th November.  Find out about the new courses starting there in 2023, portfolio requirements, project days, Erasmus, work experience and lots more.  Michele Murphy joins me this week to chat about all of the above.

I am also joined by @teachwithtadgh to talk about planning out your study and the best approach.

Find us on Instagram and TikTok @leavingcertguidance

Lynda Young from TU Dublin joins me on today's podcast to chat about the upcoming Open Day for all TU Dublin campus in Grangegorman.  Lynda also talks about the courses on offer there, the type of students that were taken in last year, progression routes, and what the college has in store for the future.

Tadgh is back! We are talking about procrastination when studying and some tips for dealing with that.

Follow us on @leavingcertguidance on Instagram and TikTok.

Dr. Patrick Cosgrove, Student Recruitment Officer at MIC, talks education courses (potential new post primary course in Thurles), non education courses, scholarships, accommodation and lots more on this weeks episode.  Don'f forget the MIC Limerick Open Day 20th and 21st October.  See www.mic.ie/cao for more details.

@teachwithtadgh joins me again this week and we give out our tips on making the best of your Open Days.

Follow us @leavingcertguidance on Instagram and TikTok.

Caroline Duggan, Student Recruitment Officer from University of Galway, and Adrian Larkin, Innovation Officer at the Business School in the University of Galway join me on the podcast this week.
Caroline chats about the University's name change, the upcoming Open Day  and accommodation at the university of Galway for 2023.
Adrian discusses the Commerce and Business undergraduate offerings and the difference between each.
@teachwithtadgh and I give out out study tips to 5th and 6th year students and of course, Tadgh takes on the 5,4,3,2,1 challenge.

On this episode I am joined by Emma Coss.  Emma completed her PLC in Nursing Studies in Portlaoise Institute before moving to Canterbury Christchurch in England to begin her degree in Adult Nursing.
Emma talks about her PLC and how it benefitted her in her degree, how she applied for the UK through UCAS and how she decided on Canterbury.
@teachwithtadgh is back with me this week talking about healthy habits in school, particularly for senior students.  Tadgh also takes on the 5,4,3,2,1 challenge to see if he can do it in 30 seconds.

On this week's episode, I am joined by Luc Culliton.  Originally Luc went the CAO route until he realised it wasn't for his, so he applied for an apprenticeship in Accounts Technician.  How do you apply for this?  What is involved in the day to day? How did Luc complete the apprenticeship in one year and how much do apprentice accounts technicians make?

@teachwith Tadgh and I chat about starting the new academic year and how goal setting is a must for senior students. Tadgh also tried to break the 30 second mark on the 5,4,3,2,1 quiz.

The Leaving Cert results are out and CAO offers are coming out this Thursday.

I am joined by Eileen Keleghan from the CAO (8:22) to talk about how the points system works, accepting offers, deferring places, random selection, available places and lots more.

Tadgh O' Donovan (0:55) @teachwithtadgh joins me first to talk about Going to College and we give some advice on how to best settle in.  Tadgh also plays the 5,4,3,2,1 game for the first time.

A must episode if you are Going to College or waiting on a CAO offer.

It is the FIRST episode of the third season of the LCG podcast and of course as always we are starting off with the LC results.

Available this week, Donnchadh chats about:

• Accessing your results
• How you might feel
• Tips for prepping for the results
• The Candidate self Service Portal
• Getting your marks
• Viewing your scripts
• Appealing your grade

Next week's episode is all about the CAO with Eileen Keleghan from the CAO so make sure to tune into that episode too and don't forget to follow @leavingcertguidance on Instagram.

Student Recruitment Office, Carol Veiga, and first year Arts student, Killian, join Donnchadh to discuss life at UCC.  Did you know UCC had over 160 clubs and societies to pick from?  Killian talks about his experience with these as well as his experience of being an undergrad student there. There are so many important initiatives being led by UCC including the very timely Bystander initiative.  Did you know there are Quercus scholarships for entrepreneurs and active citizens?  Make sure to give this episode a listen and hear why you should choose UCC as your no1 CAO choice.

Campus tours are on offer for prospective students.   Tours take place on Wednesday and Saturdays at 3pm.

Harry Dickinson, Senior Lecturer at ICHAS, joins Donnchadh to talk about the CAO undergraduate courses on offer at the college.  They also discuss, fees, placement, accreditation, graduate opportunities and lots more.

Instagram: ichascollege
website: ichas.ie

Admissions Officer at Maynooth University, John McGinnity, talks us through the new courses that they are offering for Sept 2022.  John also discusses the flexibility at MU within their courses and Erasmus and Study Abroad opportunities.

Alannah Carroll is a final year student at MU and she tells us what life for an MU student is like and why she picked Maynooth University.

Instagram: @leavingcertguidance

Sinead Carey joins Donnchadh this week on the Leaving Cert Guidance Podcast.  Sinead is a substance misuse and drug education expert.  How can younger people stay safe while enjoying themselves on a night out?  How can parents help with this?  Find out the answers to these questions plus lots more on this week's episode.