Where there's a will, there's a way
Why is it that some students from disadvantaged backgrounds excel while others don't? Sometimes, according to a study, it's the parents who can make all the difference
David Costelloe is the first of his family to go to college
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With recent talk of the possibility of third level fees being re-introduced, the focus has been on what a hardship it would be for middle-class families.
But even under the current free-fees system, there are students for whom a college degree seems a distant dream.
Those from low-income families who want to study at third level often find that there are barriers in their path that have to be overcome.
While there are assistance programmes in place for these students, navigating their way through the system can be challenging.
David Costelloe, who is set to graduate from University College Cork (UCC) this month, is the first in his family to go to college.
David showed academic potential early on in school and he placed first in the entrance exam to his secondary school, Nagle Community College in Mahon, Cork.
"I always did fairly well in school and got things quickly," says the 21-year-old. "I suppose, as with any child in primary school, my mum would have had a look over my shoulder to check that I was doing OK with my homework, but I was doing alright just by going to class," says David, who is from a single-parent family.
"The idea of going to college first came up after I did the Junior Cert and realised that I'd need a qualification to get a career."
Mahon, where David is from, is predominantly a working-class area and doesn't have a high rate of students going on to third level education. But David's school had formed links with the UCC Access Programme (now called UCC Plus).
"As far back as second and third year, I remember people from the Access Programme coming into the school," he says. "They explained that there were schemes in place to help anyone who wanted to go to college and had an aptitude to do a course. They held things like Easter computer courses and invited students to come and visit the college campus.
"I was hitting good marks in school and my mum said if I wanted to go college, then she'd be happy for me to go."
David had his heart set on studying law at UCC, but unfortunately didn't get enough points to get a place through the CAO system.
He had already applied to the college under the Higher Education Access Route (HEAR), which not only took his academic ability into account, but also considered markers such as his family's income level.
"Once I started the course, I got a maintenance grant and was given a bursary from the college. I lived at home, so that cut down on my costs," says David. "I still needed to work part-time, but I was able to get my study done and enjoy college life."
He's now studying for entrance exams at Blackhall Place in order to become a solicitor.
"I definitely see the merit in getting a degree. There is the temptation when you're leaving school to get a job and then go to college after a year or two, but you might get used to having the money and then the years just pass by.
"I've had a few younger lads from my area ask me how I was getting on," he says. "I've told them how I got to college and what I'm doing now."
There are a number of reasons why young people from low-income backgrounds and disadvantaged areas don't progress to third-level education.
Lack of finances is undoubtedly one of the biggest factors, but there are more pervasive social and familial reasons.
"In terms of the maintenance grant, it's nowhere near adequate, but there's a lot more support available that students aren't aware of," says Cliona Hannon, Access Officer with Trinity Access Programme.
"Students are also navigating a lot of complex issues to get to the point where they get into college. Some of that is around their own expectations of their abilities and of what college entails. Often parents are supportive, but sometimes you find that young people are trying to break through a lack of understanding on the part of their parents, particularly about the currency of having a degree."
Olive Byrne, Programme Manager for UCC Plus, says that parental support is often key to a student from a disadvantaged background getting into college.
"Many parents don't have a good understanding of the education system and, therefore, they feel ill-equipped to discuss this with their children," she says.
"Having role models is also very important -- if there are not enough peers from school or from within the community who have progressed to third level, it might not be on the student's radar to apply to college."
Marianna Vlas (21) is halfway through her law degree at Trinity College. She has faced more than her fair share of challenges in her journey to university.
Marianna moved to Dublin with her mother from their native Moldova in 1999 and her father followed later.
Neither of her parents have a college degree, but they've always encouraged her to study and go on to third level.
"After I moved to Ireland, I did really well academically," she explains. "At one stage, I was moved up a couple of years because I had already covered a lot of the material. In sixth year, I was planning to do honours level in all my subjects.
"Then some family problems started. They had so much of an effect on me that by January, I dropped three subjects to ordinary level and then in the Leaving Cert, I dropped another subject to ordinary level. I did ok in my Leaving Cert -- around 480 points -- but I knew I could have done better."
Marianna had already heard about the Trinity Access Programme (TAP) through her school's career-guidance counsellor.
"Before the Leaving Cert had begun, I had applied to TAP for both its Foundation Course and the Higher Education Access Route. I knew that my results weren't going to be enough to get to study law."
Marianna was given a place on the Foundation Course, a one-year preparation course for college that doesn't guarantee a place but gives participants a much better chance of acceptance.
Everything seemed to be in position for Marianna to enter college, but soon afterwards she had a child, Eugene. This extra responsibility could have proved to be another barrier to her going to college, but Marianna decided to defer starting Trinity.
"I put in the application again and I got the news in August 2006 that I had a place studying law. I was so excited and I called my mother and my father to tell them."
Marianna isn't entitled to free fees or a maintenance grant because she has residency here on the basis of being the parent of an Irish-born child. However, the Trinity Access Programme is giving her some financial assistance and she also receives some State benefits.
"I'm a student so we're not supposed to be rich," she smiles. "But I've learnt to juggle my money. I don't like to go out and drink, so that saves me money."
After graduation, Marianna plans to work for a litigation company so she can do some further study and get paid at the same time.
"I have had some big problems in the past with getting into college but I've benefited from the access programme so much. I really wanted to go to college. I see that it not only prepares you to get a great job, but it's also an education in life."
- Lisa Jewell
