CAO Information Evening Patricia Kennedy Guidance Counsellor

CAO – General Info. Centralised application system for 43 Irish 3 rd level institutions, including 7 fee-paying colleges.

National Framework of Qualifications – 10 Levels

Selection of courses Apply for up to 20 courses Level 8 list – Choose 10 Honours Degrees Level 6/7 list – Choose 10 Higher Certificates Ordinary Degrees 4

STAGE 1: ENTRY REQUIREMENTS These must be satisfied before “points” are considered

Level 6 & 7- Minimum Entry Requirement 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

Level 8 – Minimum Entry Requirement Different colleges have different entry requirements NUI colleges (UCD, UCC, NUIM & NUIG)require 2 HC3 and 4 Passes NUI colleges have a second language requirement also- some exceptions e.g. Science and engineering courses TCD requires 3 HC3 and 3 passes CHECK PROSPECTUS

STAGE 2: Faculty Requirements Examples Pharmacy – TCD and UCC – HC3 in Chemistry and a 2 nd science subject 2.Physiotherapy (TCD) – HC3 in 2 science subjects or HC3 in 1 science and higher maths 3.Primary Teaching – HC3 in Irish

If all Entry Requirements and Faculty requirements (if needed) are met  applicant is deemed ‘Qualified’ to apply. THEN “Points” are considered.

STAGE 3: POINTS ALLOCATION Grade HonoursOrdinaryBonus Points A A B B B C C C D D D (Hons Maths)

POINTS SYSTEM  Points are calculated from ONE sitting of the Leaving Certificate only.  Points total is calculated from SIX best subjects  New system of Bonus points are awarded for Honours Mathematics as outlined earlier (Maximum points now 625)  Entry Requirements can be satisfied over more than one sitting of the Leaving Certificate

Example of Points Calculation Irish HC2 English HD1 Maths HD2 French HB2 Biology HC1 Geography OA1 History HB = Total = 425 (leave out 55 point result)

RESTRICTED ENTRY COURSES  Some courses have Interviews/ Aptitude tests/Portfolio/Auditions  Must apply to CAO by February 1 st for these courses  Medicine – HPAT test March 2nd _ apply by January 20 th  Check CAO handbook page 4

So – what is the best way to fill in the courses? Dream Courses Realistic Courses Banker Courses

Making an Application Applications can be made online or by paper form. Always keep proof of sending application. Online-print screen receipt. Paper-obtain certificate of posting. Fill out both course lists In genuine order of Preference- not based on Predictions of next years grades.

Application Dates and Fees Paper ApplicationFeeDates Normal€401 st February : 5.15pm Late€80€801 May : 5.15 pm Online ApplicationFeeDates Early Bird€2520 th January : 5.15 pm Normal€401 st February : 5.15pm Late€501 st May : 5: 15 pm Change of MindNo FeeCloses 1 ST July : 5.15pm

After Making Application  Receive CAO number and Statement of Course Choices – check this carefully.  Some students may be called for extra assessments.  Receive Statement of Application Record (Before the end of May)– check details carefully.  Change of Mind facility becomes available – use sparingly and carefully. (May 5 th - 1 st July)  Leaving Cert. Results are sent to CAO. (14 th August)  Places are allocated and offered by post and online.(19 th August)  Students accept, reject or defer offered places.  Further rounds of offers are made until all course places are filled.

Change of Mind After 5 th May you can register a change of course choices –online, Or Use Change of Mind Form. Print any changes made 18 This facility closes on 1 st of July at 5.15pm

Offer of Places 2 offers may be received: 1 from Level 8 list and 1 from Level 6/7 list. ONLY ONE OFFER MAY BE ACCEPTED When you are offered one of your course preferences on a list, automatically you will be excluded for consideration from all courses below that YOU MAY NOT MOVE DOWN IN YOUR ORDER OF PREFERENCES This is why it is so important to fill in form in your Genuine Order of Preference 19

Offer of places (contd.) By way of example: Let’s say you have 350 points and your course preference on the CAO form is: 1.Physics 2.Business 3.Arts 4. Tourism 20 Order of Preference Course1 st Round Offer Points 2 nd Round Offer Points 3 rd Round Offer Points 1Physics360 2Business Arts Tourism340

Places Allocation  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.

Random Entry 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

You are recommended to check with the college in advance about their deferral conditions and arrangements- some courses where deferral will be difficult or impossible. You are recommended to check with the college in advance about their deferral conditions and arrangements- some courses where deferral will be difficult or impossible. When offered place, contact admissions office of university IMMEDIATELY – mark deferred entry- must be done at least 2 days before REPLY DATE on offer notice – decision will be made When offered place, contact admissions office of university IMMEDIATELY – mark deferred entry- must be done at least 2 days before REPLY DATE on offer notice – decision will be made Read the CAO Handbook about this – page 6.

Grants Online application for grants is available now at Or Register> Complete Application > Decision will follow Applications will be accepted up to 31 st of August

ACCESS SCHEMES: 1 25 DARE – Disability Acess Route to Education 11 Colleges participating A quota of places offered to students with disability on a reduced points basis. Must meet minimum entry requirements See: for list of disabilities eligiblewww.accesscollege.ie

ACCESS SCHEMES 26 HEAR – Higher Education Access Route For students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Quota of places offered on a reduced points basis. Must meet minimum entry requirements Must satisfy 3 of the 6 indicators See for further informationwww.accesscollege.ie

DARE and HEAR Schemes Must apply to CAO by February 1 st Final completion of DARE/HEAR forms due on March 1 st – indicate you wish to apply for the scheme Final date for submission of supporting documentation to arrive in CAO by 1 st April CHECK CAO BOOKLET PAGE 8 AND 9

 5th November, 2012 > CAO Online facility opens at noon 20th January, 2013 >Early Bird offer ends  1 st February, 2013 › Closing date for receipt of normal applications By 15th February, 2013 › Receive Statement of Course Choices  1st May, 2013 › Closing date for receipt of late applications  Before/By 31st May, 2013 › Receive Statement of Application Record  From 5 th May, 2013 › Change of mind facility opens.  1st July, 2013 › Latest date for receipt of change of mind in CAO.  Late August, 2013 – 19 th (expected date) › First round of offers will commence. CAO Timetable

Non- CAO Options Apprenticeships Defence Forces Gardaí 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 i.e. 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)

Post Leaving Certificate courses (PLCs) Courses in very high demand in 2010, 2011 and Apply early to be called for interview in March Contact each college/ check college websites to see when they will start accepting your application. Most PLC courses expect to fill all places in March interviews Requirements – usually 5 passes in your Leaving Certificate. Please consult prospectus for 2013 entry requirements. Importance of Interview and some experience of the career area applying for.

PLC courses continued Remember that PLC courses do not provide an automatic link to Higher Education But a possible pathway to Higher Education through FETAC Links Scheme This is competitive and you must excel in your PLC course to proceed further.

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 Some require aptitude tests. Fees are applicable. Must apply online using UCAS Apply Personal statement is very important All 6th Year students who are interested in applying must have come forward to Guidance Counsellor by now.

Destination Survey 2012

Institutions of choice 2012 Others (1 Student) = NUIG, Marino Institute of Ed, All Hallows, Inchicore College of Further Ed Ballsbridge, Ballyfermot, Killester

Facts 60% of employers seek graduates of any discipline Quality of degree is far more important than the subjects It is better to excel in a subject not in great demand than to be average in one that is.

DATES OF INTEREST Monday 12th November – 6th Year PTM January 20th -CAO online‘Early Bird’ – €25 February 1 st - CAO Deadline January 28 th – February 8th– Mocks February 26th – Mock Interviews June – Leaving Cert. begins August 14th - Results August 19th - First Round offers

Who to talk to?  Relatives  Past pupils  Admissions/Academic staff of colleges Guidance Counsellor  Interest Inventories / Guidance interviews  Access to sources of information  Appointments for parents

Useful Resources Internet  Qualifax – Irish courses databasewww.qualifax.ie  CAO – Contains links to course websiteswww.cao.ie  Career Directions –  Careers Portal –  Grants –  College websites (Addresses in CAO Handbook) College Prospectuses Entry CAO Handbook 2013 Newspapers- Irish Times, Independent Internet 40

 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 Reminders It is the applicants responsibility to………

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. Reminders Contd.

The World is your Oyster Aim high Match the goal with the necessary work Never too late 43

LIFELONG LEARNING The journey is only beginning……..

Thank You 45