1. LORETO SECONDARY SCHOOL Parents Information Evening
LETTERKENNY
Parents Information Evening

2. Outline of Presentation
Points System
CAO
HEAR/DARE
UCAS
General Information

3. Points Scale Grade Mark H1/O1 90-100 H2/O2 80<90 H3/O3 70<80

4. Leaving Certificate Points Higher Level
Grade Points H H H H H H H H

5. Leaving Certificate Points Ordinary Level
Grades Points O O O O O O O O

6. Points Scale H1 100 H2 88 H3 77 H4 66 H5/O1 56 H6/O2 46 H7/O3 37/

7. Bonus Points For Mathematics
25 Bonus Points will be awarded at Grades H6 and above.

8. Minimum Entry Requirements (Matriculation Requirements)
Matriculation refers to the minimum requirements for entry to a University. Matriculation has nothing to do with points.

9. MATRICULATION REQUIREMENTS
5 Subjects at O level including Irish/English and Maths for Institutes of Technology(Level 6&7)
6 Subjects, 2 at H level to include Irish, English, Maths and a Language for (Level 8) NUI

10. Matriculation Requirements
6 Subjects, 3 at H level for Trinity College and Primary Teaching (With subject requirements)
PLCs depend on course

11. Other Requirements
Subject Requirements/Specific Course Requirements (HL Irish Primary Teaching, Science Subject Nursing etc)
For some courses you may need to sit additional assessments (e.g.HPAT), provide supplementary information (e.g. a portfolio) or attend for an interview or audition. Results from these are normally added to Leaving Cert points and appear with a #

12. CAO Applications

13. Choosing Courses Consult your Guidance Counsellor
Discuss your options with family and friends
Consult the HEI prospectuses and websites.

14. Making an application Applicants are encouraged to apply online.
The website address is
Applying online is cheaper and it prevents many of the errors commonly associated with completing a paper application form.

15. CAO Application Form
Page 1 – Applicant Details

16. Application Form
Level 8 Choices
Level 6/7 Choices

17. Two Applications on One Form
It is possible to receive an offer on both lists
You may then decide to accept either your Level 7/6 or your Level 8 offer.
Alternatively, you might not wish to accept either offer.

18. The Offer Process
In the week following the release of the Leaving Certificate results CAO will post a communication to all applicants.

19. The Offer Process
If you are entitled to an offer, you will be sent an offer notice. You should check that all of the details on the offer notice are correct and that there are no omissions.
Offers will also be available on the CAO website where they may also be accepted.

20. The Offer Process Your offer notice may contain an offer
Level 8 course
Level 7/6 course
or both
If you receive two offers at the same time you may only accept one of them.

21. The Offer Process
There can be no delays at the offer/acceptance stage.
Any offer not accepted by the closing date for receipt of acceptance of offers in CAO will be offered to another applicant in the next round of offers.

22. How Places are Allocated
We will look just at Level 8 courses, but exactly the same process will take place with Level 7/6 courses, and at the same time.
The importance of you, the applicant, placing courses in genuine order of preference will become apparent in the following slides.

23. How Places are Allocated
If the applicant meets the minimum entry requirements for the course, the applicant’s points are calculated for this course choice.
All eligible applicants are then placed in a list, in order of academic merit, for each course that they applied for.

24. Level 8 Choices DN250 DC215 AS110 LY908 DC216 GY516 GA882 LY918 DN453

25. Level 8 Choices Explained
UCD General Nursing
DCU General Nursing
St. Angela’s General Nursing
LYIT General Nursing
DCU Mental Health

26. Level 8 Choices Explained
NUIG Mental Health
GMIT Mental Health
LYIT Mental Health
UCD Mental Health
UCD Children’s Nursing

27. Order of Preference
Place your course choices in genuine order of preference!

28. Results Day
Student achieved 416 points

29. Points for 2018
Points
DN250
LY908
DC215
AS110
DC216
GY516
GA882
LY918
DN453
DN451
467
420
398
387
369
403
358
327
381
411

30. Round 1 Offers Points 467 420 398 Student offered 3rd choice 387 369
DN250
LY908
DC215
AS110
DC216
GY516
GA882
LY918
DN453
DN451
467
420
Student offered 3rd choice
398
All subsequent choices are deleted.
Must accept or reject offer
387
369
403
358
327
381
411

31. Round 1 Offers
DN250
DC215
AS110
Points
467
420
398
Student accepts 3rd choice
Student can still be considered for her first and second choices in subsequent rounds should the points drop

32. Round 2 Offers
DN250
DC215
AS110
Points
460
415
398
Student now must decide to keep first offer or change to her second offer

33. Important Dates CAO deadline is 1st Feb 2019
Reduced application fee for applications submitted by 20th Jan 2019
CAO operates a Change of Mind facility from Early May-1st July for all courses except those with Restricted Entry

34. Frequently asked Questions
I have sufficient points for my course why did I not receive an offer?
I do not want the course I have been offered. Can I get a place in another course which is lower in my order of preference?

35. FAQ
Can I ever get an offer for a course for which I have not applied for?
Will I disqualify myself from other offers if I accept/refuse this one?

36. FAQ
I do not wish to accept the offer which I have received. What do I do?
What happens if my points change after the appeals?

37. HEAR
HEAR is an admissions scheme which offers places on reduced points and extra supports to students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

38. Benefits of Making a HEAR Application
A student who meets the application criteria may be offered a place even if they do not have enough points for their preferred course.
Each participating college has a number of places to offer eligible students on reduced Leaving Certificate points.

39. Reduced Points
Applicants must meet the minimum entry requirements and any specific course requirements before being considered for a reduced points offer.
The amount of points a course is reduced depends on:
The overall number of places on the course,
The number of reserved HEAR places,
The number of eligible applicants competing for these places.

40. Extra College Supports
Orientation Programme
Extra tuition
One to one meetings with student advisers
Social gatherings/mentoring
Extra financial assistance when available

41. Who Should Apply
Applicants must meet a range of financial, social and cultural indicators:
Income
Medical/GP Visit Card
Means Tested Social Welfare
Socio-economic Group
DEIS School Attendance
Area Profile
(Income plus 2 other indicators)

42. Who Should Apply
Socio-economic Group is a measure of social background. A students (SEG) is determined by:
Parent’s/Guardian’s Employment Status
Parent’s/Guardian’s Type of Employment
Parent’s/Guardian’s Occupations
Applying to Participating Colleges

43. Making a HEAR Application
Apply online at as part of the CAO application process by 1 February 2019
Indicate you wish to be considered for HEAR
Complete questions relating to family’s financial situation, employment status of parents etc.
Submit supporting documentation (e.g. P21, Notice of Assessment etc) by 1 April 2019

44. DARE Disability Access Route to Education
DARE is an alternative admissions scheme for students whose disabilities have a negative impact on their second level education
Apply online as part of CAO Application

45. Who Should Apply Autism Spectrum(including Asperger’s Syndrome)
ADD/ADHD
Blind/Vision Impaired
Deaf/Hearing Impaired
DCD – Dyspraxia/Dysgraphia
Mental Health Conditions
Neurological Condition
Significant Ongoing Illness
Physical Disability
Specific Learning Difficulty
Speech & Language Communication Disorder

46. Benefits of Making a DARE Application
Reduced Points Offer
College Supports may include-
Orientation Programme
Learning Support
Assistive Technology
Exam Accommodation
Education Support Worker

47. Where Can I Find Information?
Full details on all aspects of the HEAR & DARE schemes can be found on
Application Advice Clinics Nationwide on Sat. Jan. 19th . Donegal Clinic in Villa Rose Hotel, Ballybofey from 10am-2pm.

48. Apply system for Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.
UCAS
Apply system for
Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.

49. Deadlines For Receipt Of Applications :
15th Oct 2018 – Medicine / Dentistry / Veterinary Medicine / Veterinary Science. All courses in Oxford and Cambridge.
15th Jan 2019 – All other courses

50. Choosing Courses UCAS offers thousands of courses in hundreds of universities and colleges. Students need to choose their courses for the right reasons and do plenty of research before deciding where to go.

51. Applying
Students apply for courses using the online application system.
The application is divided into 5 sections:
Personal Details
Student Finance
Course Choices
Education
Employment
Personal Statement

52. Reference
Applications are then sent by the student to their centre, which is the school.
When we receive completed applications we attach a reference and the students predicted grades. Once this is complete we forward the application to UCAS.
Applications are then forwarded to the chosen universities and colleges by UCAS.

53. To facilitate this we ask our students to complete their application by Oct 26th 2018 so as we can work on the references and ensure all applications are with UCAS before the Christmas break.

54. Other Requirements
For some courses students need to sit additional assessments (e.g. HPAT Ulster, UKCAT), provide supplementary information (e.g. a portfolio), or attend for an interview.
This is a vital part of the selection process.

55. Offers
Universities and colleges will decide whether to offer a student a place.
Applicants can check if they’re accepted on the UCAS online tracking system, Track. This shows their choices and any decisions made by the universities and colleges.
If they are accepted students must reply to their offers.

56. Conditional Offer Offers made are conditional on obtaining certain grades or points. (UCAS Tariff Points) Two of these maybe accepted. The Firm acceptance should be the students 1st Choice, the Insurance acceptance is the students 2nd Choice.

57. Results Leaving Certificate results are automatically sent to UCAS.
Students who meet the requirements of the conditional offer are accepted and will receive a letter from UCAS that explains what happens next.

58. Money Matters The cost of applying is £13/£24
Tuition Fees – Vary between location, courses and colleges (£1,820/£4,160/ £9,250)
EU Nationals are eligible to apply for Tuition Fee Loan
Must be repaid once the student is earning £25,000(Eng & Wales) £18,330(NI&Scot)
Scholarships
Students can apply for Maintenance Grant

59. Money, Money, Money Annual student contribution or registration fee.
fee approx. 3,000 Euro

60. Maintenance Grant
Higher Education Grants cover all institutions in CAO and UCAS with the exception of private institutions.
Means Test – Eligibility for grant is assessed on the basis of parents income.
Consists of maintenance and payment of registration fee. (Reg Fee RoI only)
SUSI administer the Grant Application which is made online at

61. Other Applications St. Mary’s Belfast NWRC – Limavady/Derry
Cavan College
PLC’s – Errigal College
Others

62. Preparing for Life at College
Accommodation Hunt
Costs & Budgeting
Health/Personal Safety

63. Being Exam Wise LC Candidate Information Booklet
Exam Paper - Marking Process
- Viewing Process
- Appeals Process

64. Finally
Remember we are always available to assist your daughter in this next stage of her life.
If you ever need to talk to us you may make an appointment through the main office.
Thank you for your attention and interest.