survival of the fittest

There will be over 71,000 people applying for college courses around the country in 2010/2011. There are only about 50,000 places in total in college, so you don’t need an A1 in honours maths to work out that there are more applicants than places. Almost 20,000 more.

Getting in to college is becoming like trying to get a job. You need a masters in burger flipping to get a job in mcdonalds. And experience. And be willing to work 24/7. That’s because employers have choice. They can pick the best available. If you don’t have all of their ‘superman’ requirements, somebody else will.

photo credit: willgt09

Leaving cert points are the equivilent of degrees and experience to colleges. Get the high points, get the job.

Go in for the job with people who have higher points than you and it’s a ‘thank you, we’ll be in touch’ rejection letter. Colleges also want to select to the best people for the job. They don’t want drop outs or wasters, so naturally they’ll take a 500 pointer over a 400 pointer given the choice. It’s their job to take the student with the least risk value attached.

So it’s down to you to be the guy or gal that’s top of the pile. You have 5 months to prepare… coming 2nd place isn’t good enough, you’re not guaranteed the job if you come 2nd. See all of those class mates around you? They are your competition. Once June comes, whether you like it or not,  it’s a death match between you all. The fittest will survive. For the weakest, it’s the end of the road and you’ll be turfed out of the system like a rowdy drunk in a nightclub and forced to try to get in via back doors.

photo credit: Michael Comeau