Still Not Sure What Course to Choose? Why Easter Is the Turning Point

Every year, I sit down with Leaving Cert students in April and I hear the same sentence over and over again:

“I still don’t know what I want to do.”

If that’s you, you’re not alone.

But here’s the honest truth, Easter is the turning point.

Why Easter Matters More Than You Think

Up to now, there has always been time.

• “I’ll think about it after Christmas”
• “I’ll figure it out after the mocks”
• “I’ll look into it soon”

But now, things start to change.

The Change of Mind facility opens on May 5th, and suddenly your CAO list isn’t just an idea, it becomes something real.

You are now:

• Less than 10 weeks away from the start of the exams
• Within weeks of making decisions that shape your next step

That’s why Easter is so important.

It’s not just about study.
It’s about direction.

The Biggest Mistake Students Make Right Now

A lot of students think:

“I’ll just focus on the exams and worry about courses later.”

That sounds logical, but it’s actually a mistake.

Because:

• Your motivation improves when you have a goal
• Your study becomes more focused when you know why you’re doing it
• Your stress decreases when you have a plan

Students who have even a rough idea of their CAO direction tend to perform better over Easter.

You Don’t Need All the Answers (But You Do Need a Direction)

There’s a myth that you need to have everything figured out.

You don’t.

What you do need is:

• A shortlist of courses that genuinely interest you
• A sense of what areas suit you (business, health, creative, science, etc.)
• An understanding of the routes available

Think of it like this:

👉 You don’t need the exact destination
👉 But you do need to start moving in the right direction

A Simple Easter Plan (That Actually Works)

If you’re unsure, here’s something practical you can do over the next two weeks:

1. Spend 30 minutes a day getting clarity

Not days. Not weeks. Just a focused block.

• Look at courses
• Watch videos
• Talk to someone
• Reflect on what you enjoy

2. Create a rough CAO list

It doesn’t have to be perfect.

Just aim for:

• A few realistic options
• A few ambitious options
• A few safe options

3. Keep it flexible

Remember, you can change this later.

The goal now is not perfection.
The goal is progress.

The Students Who Benefit Most From Easter

In my experience, the students who gain the most from Easter are not necessarily the ones who study the longest.

They are the ones who:

• Take control of their situation
• Make decisions (even small ones)
• Stop avoiding the question: “What might suit me?”

A Final Thought

If you are feeling unsure right now, that’s completely normal.

But don’t ignore it.

Easter gives you something powerful:
👉 Time + space to think clearly

Use it.

Because once May and June arrive, everything speeds up very quickly.

If You’re Still Stuck…

If you genuinely don’t know where to start, getting clarity on your interests can make a huge difference.

That’s exactly why I created FindMyCollegeCourse.ie — to help students:

• Understand what areas suit them
• Discover courses they may not have considered
• Build a CAO list with confidence

Even spending 30 minutes on this over Easter can change how you approach the next few months.

Bottom Line

You don’t need to have your whole life figured out this Easter.

But you do need to take a step.

Because this is the moment where things shift from:
👉 “I’ll think about it later”
to
👉 “I need to start making decisions”

And that’s not something to fear.

It’s an opportunity.