CAREER GUIDANCE 6th Year Parents Information Evening 8 th October 2015 Kieran Corcoran & Brid Hughes Guidance Counsellors

Career Planning & Decision Making A career is a lifelong developmental process Not a decision for life Important to get on the right track or into the right sector Not necessary to know EXACTLY what you want to do Important to get as high a qualification as poss Most educational courses are non-vocational

Many employers will take students from any discipline: the quality of the qualification most important as are skills, work experience, contacts There is no such thing as the perfect course or job Important to like most of it There is probably more than one route to what you want to do Do what you want /what you are good and not just follow economic trends

Career Planning & Decision Making (cont’d) Liking what you do is the key to success The longer one can stay in education the better Every decision involves risk Change mindset from ‘JOB’ to developing my skills and experience profile Develop personal qualities and skills

Factors To Consider SELF: (What suits me) - Interests -Aptitudes - Personality - Values CAREER: (What’s out there?) -Opportunities - Training/Education needed

School Guidance Programme 6th Year Based on work done through senior cycle Interest Inventories Talks from Guest Speakers Weekly Careers Classes Computer Guidance College Open Day Visits (4 in school time) One to One meetings with Guidance Counsellor College Applications CAO/ UCAS /PLC Interview Preparation

National Framework of Qualifications Level 8 Honours Bachelor Degree – 4 years Level 5: Fetac Certificate 1 yr Level 6 Higher Certificate - 2years Level 7 Ordinary Bachelor Degree – 3 years

Ladder of Progression Allows students to progress to next level on ladder Caters for gap years, part- time study etc. Caters for undecided students Students with insufficient points can still pursue choices Students must research what progressions are available Students may have to transfer to another college Progression can be very competitive No. of years studying may be longer

CAO/FETAC Courses courses listed in the CAO Handbook are Level are Level 7/6 courses – PLC / FETAC COURSES –NOT APPLIED FOR THROUGH CAO

1. Institutions involved in the CAO Universities Institutes of Technology (I.T.’s) Colleges of Education, Theology & Philosophy (now part of university) Private Colleges- (Fees, Tax Relief)

Awarding Bodies SEC, FETAC, HETAC, DIT & Universities An award from any of these Awarding Bodies shows your friends, family and future employers that you have achieved a high quality qualification!

Stages in the Process Stage 1 – Before You Apply – Research online / Open Days/ Study!! Goal Setting!! Stage 2 – Completing the Application – Online Recommended – Stage 3 - Record of Application from CAO Stage 4 - Change of Mind – until 1st July Stage 5 - Leaving Certificate Results Stage 5 - Offers and Acceptance of Places - August

Course Research. What students Need to Find Out Educational or vocational Subjects studied Optional subjects No. of hours per week 2nd/3rd year choices Work experience Language (optional/ compulsory, loading) Year abroad Qualification (Is there a ladder of progression available?) Recognition Location Duration of course What do Graduates do? Scholarships Accommodation

Where to get the information: Internet & Careers Software (Qualifax) CAO Handbook College Prospectus Books, Newspapers, Contacts Open Days Career Talks Guidance Counsellor

Qualifax.ie Know your options…. Check it out!

Entry Requirements Matriculation or Minimum Entry –Eg 2 HC3s and 4 Passes for most Universities Specific Course Requirements –Eg HC3 in Irish for Primary Teaching Points Other assessments: interviews/ Portfolio –Audition/ Aptitude test ie HPAT

Points System

CAO Points Table Maths L.C. GradeHigherOrdinaryFoundation Level # A A C17030 C26525 C36020 D15515 D25010 D3455 LCVP GradePoints Distinction70 Merit50 Pass30

Bonus Points for Honours Maths 25 extra points being given to students get a D3 or better Has to be included in best six results Makes max points possible now 625 Max points for Medicine from Leaving Cert now 565

LCVP Link Modules GRADEPOINTS Distinction70 Merit50 Pass30

Restricted Courses Courses that require an other assessment HPAT for Medicine Architecture Art and Design Music Drama Photography Cannot be included after Feb 1st

CAO Dates & Fees ONLINE APPLICATIONFEE CLOSING DATE Discounted Rate €2520th Jan 2014 Normal Application€401st Feb 2014 Late Application€501st May 2014 CHANGE OF MINDNil 4th May to 1st July 2014

Fees can be paid by Laser, Credit Card and Bank Giro Offers based on points and can change from year to year Minimum requirements far below points & generally don’t change much

2 APPLICATIONS IN 1 There are 2 course choice lists and applicants may make up to 10 course choices on each list. 10 choices may be made on the Level 8 list. 10 choices may be made on the Level 7/6 list. Your choices on one list do not in any way affect your choices on the other list. They may be considered two separate 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.

ORDER OF PREFERENCE If you learn nothing else from this presentation let it be this... PLACE YOUR COURSE CHOICES IN GENUINE ORDER OF PREFERENCE! To do otherwise is a grave mistake.

How Places are Allocated Best 6 results converted to points First round offers issued one week after Leaving Cert. Results Round two offers in early September Subsequent offers in October Vacant Places

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 pages.

How Places are Allocated When examination results are released in August they are entered into the CAO computer. The computer checks each applicant’s results. For each course the applicant has applied for, the computer first determines if the applicant has the minimum entry requirements for the course.

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.

How Places are Allocated The admissions officers of the Higher Education Institutions tell CAO how many places are to be offered on each course. CAO then makes offers to the required number of applicants on each course starting with the applicant with the highest points and working down until enough places have been offered.

How Places are Allocated Should some applicants decline to accept their offers these places become available in the next round of offers. They will be offered to the next applicants on the order of merit list. This process continues until all the places on the course are filled or until all the eligible applicants on the order of merit list have been offered places

Allocation Example These are the applicants for CK101 Arts in UCC. The examination results have not yet been released, so these applicants are in no particular order. We are going to trace the progress of the applicant marked in red

Allocation Example Applicants are placed in a queue for each course they applied for, their position in the queue is determined by their points. The applicant with the highest points is placed at the top of the queue. The points achieved by the applicant in red determines her position in the queue for each course she applied to.

Allocation Example The applicants marked in GREEN have enough points to be offered places. The applicant marked in RED has enough points for her second preference.

Allocation Example The applicant in RED is offered her second preference, the highest preference course that she has enough points for, and she will now disappear from the queue in all her lower choices. Placing DN201 as her second preference meant that she would prefer to receive an offer on DN201 than on any other course except CK101 - which is her first preference.

Allocation Example Having been offered her second preference she must now decide to accept it or to do nothing. If she does not accept the offer the place will be offered to another applicant in the next round of offers. Regardless of whether she accepts or not she will still be considered for an offer on her first preference if a place becomes available. In the second round, one more offer was made on CK101 and our applicant is now at the top of the queue.

Allocation Example In the third round of offers two more offers are made on CK101 and our applicant, who was at the top of the queue, now receives an offer. She may do nothing and remain in DN201 or she may accept the offer and begin in CK101.

Allocation Example You do not need to guess what the points are going to be for the courses you are interested in. Simply list your courses in genuine order of preference from the highest preference 1, to the lowest preference 10. If you are entitled to an offer, you will be offered the highest preference that you are entitled to.

Viewing of Scripts & Re-checks Students can view exam scripts No fee. Apply after results August/September Viewing of Scripts Students are permitted to have one person to view script with them Scripts cannot be viewed if student is absent Students can appeal their results (rechecks) €40 per subject Grades can be upgraded or downgraded Results released in beginning of Oct If upgraded, can transfer in most cases

Things to Do Fill form out carefully Completing it is a process not all done in one sitting Put down choices in order of preference Do disclose disability Check form is completed correctly & that codes are correct printout online receipt Keep CAO No. safe & use in all correspondence Portfolios, Auditions, assessment, interviews for restricted courses: Feb/March/April

Make sure your daughter is around from mid August to September All applicants will receive notice from CAO Applicants may be offered ONE course from each list The offer will be the highest on the list to which they are entitled Apply for deferral if desired Accept offer. Pay student services charge if necessary €3000 Meet all deadlines

Studying in the UK Good option for some if Don’t have requirements here Willing to travel Can afford itFees from 3500 up to 9K Paramedical Courses free in Ulster Maintenance €800-€1000 per mth No fees in Scotland

Studying in the UK Popular courses –Eg Medical/ PE Teaching/ Nursing/ Primary Teaching We typically have applicants a year 2-4 actually go

P.L.C.’s Post Leaving Certificate courses 22,000 (approx.) available places Prepare for skilled employment Offer opportunity to test a subject area Offer alternative routes into Higher Education (Higher Education Links Scheme) Course content: vocational, academic & work experience Offer courses not available in CAO colleges

FETAC (1000 places held in I.T’s) FETAC Advanced Certificate (previously HND) Students must check : i)Does the course have FETAC or other certification? ii) Is there a ladder of progression available? (Higher Education Links)

Application Procedure No central application system, application is made directly to the college Interview/ Portfolio/ Specific subject requirements may be necessary Application dates vary from institution to institution (usually November-March)

studentfinance.ie Tuition Fees are paid for by the state for now (excluding Private Colleges) Single Student Grant scheme replaced old scheme in 2011 (SUSI) Rates have reduced over the last couple of years Apply to SUSI through studentfinance.ie

Cost of living for Students living at home Monthly (€)Annual (€) Contribution to Utilities33297 Food65585 Travel Books & Class Materials Clothes/Medical45405 Mobile32288 Social Life Student Contribution charge Total’s

SUSI Student Universal Support Ireland ”Please note that information on when and how to apply for a student grant for the 2015/16 academic year will be announced at a future date.”

Maintenance grant rates for Levels of GrantNon-adjacent RateAdjacent RateStudent Contribution Paid? Special rate of maintenance grant 5,9152,375√ Standard rate-100% maintenance 3,0251,215√ Standard rate-75% maintenance 2,270910√ Standard rate-50% maintenance 1,515605√ Standard rate-25% maintenance √

4. Means Test Closing date for completed applications is 31st August 2013 Means Test is based on: - Gross income of both parents (or income of parent with whom the child resides) - Number of Dependent Children

Higher Education Access Route HEAR 3 rd level admissions scheme for students economically / socially disadvantaged All main colleges participate Can compete for courses on reduced points Documentary evidence is required Detailed online application form and more information on CAO website

Disability Access Route to Education DARE Access route for students with disability physical/ intellectual or learning Can access courses on lower points Receive learning supports in college Promotes equality of access to higher ed Report from psychologist no more than 3 yrs

CONCLUSION Students should approach “Careers” as an extra subject Do indepth Research Consider all routes apply at all levels Balanced Lifestyle Organisation Motivation (Goals/Rewards) Be familiar with New Framework of Qualifications and ladders of progression Apply at all levels