Applicants Responsibilities General points regarding the CAO.

Entry Requirements and the Points System.

Making an application. How places are allocated by CAO After submitting the application. Other Options Questions

Research thoroughly all the courses for which she is making an application.

Be au fait with all aspects of the application system used (CAO) for these courses, i.e., procedures, dates, fees, rules, etc.

Publications College Prospectuses – 2009 Entry Student Yearbook and Career Directory 2, 2009

ed. Career Choice 2009 ed., Level Three

Publications Applying to College 2009 ed., by R. Dunne. CAO Handbook 2009 Newspapers The Irish Times

Tuesdays Education Section Early January Special College

Supplement Series of articles - Brian Mooney

The Independent Careers Articles - Mary O Donnell

Internet Qualifax – www.qualifax.ie Irish courses database CAO – www.cao.ie Contains links to course

websites Career Directions – www.careerdirections.ie Careers Portal – www.careersportal.ie College websites (Addresses in CAO Handbook)

People Relatives Past pupils Admissions/Academic staff of colleges

Guidance Counsellor Interest Inventories / Guidance interviews Access to sources of information Appointments for parents

Centralised application system for 43 Irish 3rd level institutions, including 5 fee-paying colleges.

Every 6th year will have a CAO Application Pack which includes:› 2009 CAO Handbook – application and course

information› Paper application form› Application fee bank giro form

Application Dates and FeesPaper Application

Fee Payment Method

Normal €45 Bank Giro Form (BGF)

Late €90 Bank Giro Form (BGF)

Online Application

Fee Payment Method

Normal €35 BGF or Credit/Laser Card

Late €70 BGF or Credit/Laser Card

Change of Mind No Fee

---

There are 3 types of courses students can apply for under the Nat. Qualifications Framework.

These are applied for on 2 separate lists on a single form:

Level 6 & 7 Courses Level 8 Courses

Ordinary Degrees (7) Higher Certificates (6)

Honours Degrees (8)

Up to 10 Course Choices

Up to 10 Course Choices

The courses are clearly labelled in the CAO Handbook

N.B. – Care must be taken with courses marked ‘Restricted’.

These courses cannot be applied for after February 1st due to extra assessments required.

Some courses have interviews/ Aptitude tests/ Portfolio/ Auditions

Medicine –HPAT test February 14th These courses are called restricted

entry Application must be made by the

1st February. Details of all restricted entry courses

are in CAO Handbook

2 HC3 and 4 Passes Different colleges have different entry

requirements Colleges of NUI (UCD, UCC, NUI, M & NUI,

G) Have a Second language requirement There are some exceptions now for

Science, Engineering and Agriculture Science Courses

Pharmacy UCC & TCD

Physiotherapy (TCD)

Human Nutrition

HC3 in Chemistry & A second Science Subject

HC3 in two science subjects

HC3 in Chemistry

Minimum Entry Requirements

E.g. UCD Pass 6 subjects At least 2 HC3 Pass in:

Irish English Another Language Mathematics* Science Subject*

Specific Subject Requirements

E.g.sEngineering(UCD)

HC3 MathsVeterinary

Medicine(UCD) HC3 Chemistry

French Law(UCD) HB3 French

If all Entry Requirements are met applicant is deemed ‘Qualified’ to apply.

5 passes for most level 6 & level 7 courses although some colleges e.g. DKIT require Minimum 200 points

College Prospectuses need to be consulted

Generally in the CAO systemNo. of qualified applicants > No. of course places

--> selection system is needed.Selection system used in Irish 3rd Level

Colleges is POINTS SYSTEM

Points are calculated from ONE sitting of the Leaving Certificate only.

Points total is calculated from SIX best subjects Bonus points are awarded for Honours Mathematics by

› University of Limerick - all courses› DIT - Course DT021, Electronic Eng.

Entry Requirements can be satisfied over more than one sitting of the Leaving Certificate

Grade Honours OrdinaryA1 100 60A2 90 50

B1 85 45B2 80 40B3 75 35

C1 70 30C2 65 25C3 60 20

D1 55 15D2 50 10D3 45 5

Applications can be made online or by paper form – use one method only. (€10 charge if 2 applications sent)

Always keep proof of sending application: online – print screen receipt, paper – obtain certificate of post.

Form is very straight forward to fill out. www.cao.ie

**VERY IMPORTANT** Students must fill out both course lists in:

Genuine Order of Preference They should not put down courses on the basis of

their predictions of next years cut off points or their own points scores.

Why? – Look at how places are allocated.

Science – UCD100 places to be offered

Science – Maynooth100 places to be offered

Course Cut Off Points = 330 Course Cut Off Points = 335*

Random Selection to be used

Last

place to

be filled

ApplicantPosition

PointsScore

1 5602 5353 5254 5205 5106 5107 5058 5009 490-- ---- --15 45516 44517 44018 43519 42020 41021 405-- ---- --98 34599 340

100 335101 335102 335103 315104 310105 305-- ---- --

182 265

ApplicantPosition

PointsScore

1 5602 5353 5254 5205 5106 5107 5058 5009 490-- ---- --15 45516 44517 44018 43519 42020 41021 405-- ---- --98 34099 335

100 330101 325102 315103 310104 305105 295-- ---- --

182 265

Course MeritLists

Two or more candidates on the same points

Random number given to each application Highest random Number gets the place Shown by an * For example 370* means not every

candidate with 370 points got a place but everyone with 375 would have

1

DN077600595590580**********

495480470465460460460455455450450450450445435********

280275275

2

TR032560535525520**********

485480475465460455445440435420410405405405400********

325315310305

3

DN074595595590580**********

475475470465460460460455455450445440435430430********

280275275270

4

LM067560535525520**********

485480460455445440440440435420410405400395395********

335335315310

5

DT025600595590580**********

475475465465460460460455455450450445435430430********

280275275270

6

LC019570535525520**********

485480470465460455445440435420410405405405400********

325315310305

7

CR105600595590580**********

475475470465460460460455455450445440435430430********

280275275270

8

DN003540535525520**********

485480480465460455445440435430410410405405405********

335335315310

9

CK602600595590580**********

475475470465460460460455455450445440435430430********

280275275270

10

DC193555535525520**********

485480470465460455445440435420410405405405400********

325315310305

NO NO NOYES YES YES YES YESYES NO

A Students Course Preferences - Example

Students

Points

Total

= 445

Cut Off Points for Course

All Lower

Preference

Courses

Disappear

From Students

Preferences

2

TR032560535525520

**********

485480475465

460455

445440435420410405405405400

********

325315310

1

DN077600595590580**********

495480470465460460460455455450450450450445435********

280275275

Last place to

be filled - Round 1 Last place to

be filled – Round 1

Last place to

be filled - Round 2

Last place to

be filled - Round 2

ROUND 2

7 round one places not accepted

3 round one places not accepted

Round 2 cut off points - 455

Round 2 cut off points - 460

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

So – what is the best way to fill in the courses?

Dream Courses

Realistic Courses

Banker Courses

Note: The position of a course in a student’s

preference order does not in any way affect their chance of getting a place on that course.

The exact same procedure takes place for both lists on the form, hence students may get get 2 offers in August – one from each list, may accept only one.

Students should think carefully about not accepting one of these offers, as they may not receive any further offers.

Regardless of whether or not they accept a course in round 1, they will still be offered a higher preference course in subsequent rounds if they become entitled one.

Apply directly to CAO Level 8

Five Areas General Integrated (4.5 Years- General & Children) Midwifery Psychiatric Intellectual Disability Nursing

2HC3 and four passes Irish or English Mathematics A Laboratory Science Subject Three other subjects Minimum points 2008 300-365

Receive CAO number and Statement of Course Choices – check this carefully.

Some students may be called for extra assessments.

Receive Statement of Application Record – check details carefully.

Change of Mind facility becomes available – use sparingly and carefully.

Leaving Cert. Results are sent to CAO. Places are allocated and offered by post and online. Students accept, reject or defer offered places. Further rounds of offers are made until all course

places are filled.

1st February, 2009› Closing date for receipt of normal applications

Before/By 21st February, 2009› Receive Statement of Course Choices

1st May, 2009› Closing date for receipt of late applications

Before/By 31st May, 2009› Receive Statement of Application Record

From late May, 2009› Change of mind forms may be sent.

1st July, 2009› Latest date for receipt of change of mind form in

CAO. Late August, 2009

› First round of offers will commence.

This is arranged This is arranged AFTERAFTER an offer is an offer is made. (Read the CAO Handbook made. (Read the CAO Handbook about this.)about this.)

You are recommended to check with the You are recommended to check with the college in advance about their deferral college in advance about their deferral conditions and arrangements.conditions and arrangements.

The CAO Handbook mentions some The CAO Handbook mentions some courses where deferral will be difficult courses where deferral will be difficult or impossible.or impossible.

Non- CAO Options

Apprenticeships Defence Forces Gardaí Fáilte Ireland Direct to Employment Post Leaving Certificate Courses

› FETAC links scheme

Apprenticeships

Find a suitable employer Must be approved by Fás Employer must register apprentice

within two weeks of starting Meet the minimum educational

requirements ie 5 Passes in Junior Cert.

Further Education Training Awards Council

FETAC Links to Higher Education Institutes

Especially Important for Students who may not make the CAO Points

Can begin with a PLC and end up with a Doctorate

Mature Entry to College (age 23 or over)

Other Alternatives UCAS Applying to colleges in UK and

Northern Ireland Closing Date 15th January except for

Medicine, Dentistry, Vet, Oxford & Cambridge closing date 15th October

Fees are applicable. Must apply online using UCAS Apply Personal statement is very important

National Framework of Qualifications

10 Levels Level 4

Leaving Cert

Level 5/6(former Cert./Diploma)

PLC, FETAC, VEC

Level 7Ordinary Degree

I.T.s,NUI

Level 8Honours Degree

I.T.s, NUI

Destination Survey 2008

Destination of Leaving Certificate Students, Loreto College 2008

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Institutions of choice 2008

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Grants Higher Education Grants Applies to Level 8 Courses

Vocational Education Committees Level 6 & Level 7 courses

Post Leaving Certificate All PLC courses

Means Tested HEA - Local County Council VEC – County Dublin Apply to VEC

office in Tallaght PLC- to college attending Applications by 15th July. Late

applications are accepted Log on to www.studentfinance.ie for

further information

Paving the Way

Goal Setting Attendance, Study & Homework Examination Techniques Part-time jobs must go!! Keep up Sporting Activities Relax!

DATES OF INTEREST

Monday 17th November – 6th Year PTM Monday 24th November at 7.30pm - Study

Skills Talk for parents Monday December 15th- Study Skills Seminar February 1st - CAO Deadline January 20th -CAO online‘Early Bird’ – €35 February – Mocks March – Mock Interviews June – Leaving Cert. begins August 12th - Results August 17th - First Round offers

Homework and Study

The recommended amount of time spent by a 6th Year student doing homework and study should be:

3 ½ hours per night six times per week, i.e. 21 hours per week.

The World is Your Oyster

Aim high Match the Goal with

the necessary work Never too late

LIFELONG LEARNING

The journey is only beginning……..