From Leaving CertiFiCate to Leaving SChooL a Longitudinal Study ...

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From Leaving Certificate to Leaving School
points influenced what courses students applied for. Some students noted
that their first choice was beyond what they were capable of and their
second and third choices were realistically linked to their probable
grades. For some students, the decision centred on which college to go
to, with distance from home a factor for many students interviewed.
Many of those interviewed were reluctant to travel too far and had chosen
colleges near their home. This was particularly the case for rural students,
many of whom were reluctant to apply to colleges in Dublin as
they were intimidating or the costs of living away from home were too
high. Some students, particularly those in middle-class schools, were
influenced by the reputation of the college or were attracted to certain
colleges because of their sports facilities or social life.
This chapter has explored young people’s decision-making processes
concerning post-school pathways. In the next chapter, we focus on the
results of these decisions and their plans for the immediate future.