CAO Information Night Thursday 12th Nov 2015 Guidance Counsellors: Ms Catherine Slattery. Mr. Diarmaid Fahy St Francis College Rochestown St Francis College, Rochestown Co. Cork. Tel: Fax:

Career decisions-What next?? National Framework of Qualifications Requirements for Third Level Leaving Cert Points Grid CAO Timetable The CAO System The CAO Application Process 2 Overview of Presentation

Options after School 30/11/09Ms.Geraldine Mulvey3

Third Level Is a Challenge Independent study – nobody pushing, checking or watching Freedom – go to lectures, study or drink coffee Accommodation – work and study away from home without any of the normal supports Learning Challenge – study in depth at a much higher level than in secondary school Are you ready for all this? 4

It is a process which requires hard work Be aware of all the options For many – which course of study rather than what career 5 CAREER DECISIONS

What course to choose?? Interests? Subject preference? Style of learning? Aptitude Research 30/11/09Ms.Geraldine Mulvey6

RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH! Research the course on offer Don’t assume you know a course by its title Consider the lecture and teaching methods What options are within the course Is there work experience or internship Is there mentoring of first years? Career implications Cost –fees, private colleges, accommodation 7

How to get the Information College prospectuses Check the colleges’ websites Read career publications Go to Open Days and Career Exhibitions Talk to students and friends Discuss it with your Guidance Counsellor Try to know as much as you can 8

National Qualification Framework 9 All qualifications link up in a 10 level scale You never reach a “dead end” in study but can move on to the next level Leaving Cert is at Level 5 Higher Certificates level 6, Ordinary Degrees level 7, Honours Degrees level 8

UNIs and ITs Universities provide Level 8 courses. These are 3 or 4 year courses leading to an Honours Degree ITs provide Level 6 Certificate courses, Level 7 Ordinary Degree courses as well as Level 8 Courses. ITs provide add-on years to progress from one level to the next. 10

LADDER SYSTEM 11

3 rd Level Course Requirements  The College (or Basic) Requirements. 5 OD in Leaving Certificate for level 6 & 7 courses 6 subjects (2 at HC and 4 at OD) for level 8 courses  The Faculty (or Course) Requirements e.g. HC in Irish for Primary Teaching, HC in Maths for level 8 Engineering, 2 science subjects for Medicine.  Points *Best six subjects in one sitting of the Leaving Certificate

SPECIFIC COURSE REQUIREMENTS Since 2009 the following courses do not need a third language (e.g. French, German, Spanish etc) All Science & Engineering courses in UCC, CIT and all NUI Colleges Nursing However many courses in NUI’s (UCC, UCD, UCG & Maynooth) still require students to have a third language as minimum requirement for entry.

Core Subjects - MATHS  Fewer than 20% of Leaving Certificate students take this subject at higher level (nationally)  If you are capable of studying this subject at higher level, there are tremendous career opportunities  Higher Level Maths (C3) is a requirement for Level 8 Engineering Degree Courses and Mathematical Science in CIT and NUI’s  Since 2012: BONUS points (25 pts for achieving D3 in HL maths) where students have an honour in higher level maths – now awarded in all the NUI’s, UL,CIT, DIT, teacher training colleges plus WIT

Irish Leaving Certificate Examination Points Calculation Irish Leaving Certificate Examination Points Calculation 15 L.C. Grade Higher Level Ord. Level Maths H/L Points * Maths Foundation ** A A B B B C C C D D D Table 1.8 HEI Common Points Scale

Other Useful researching tools

The Application Process CAO distributes to schools and individuals an application pack containing an Application Form and a Handbook containing instructions and information about the application process. Every applicant should be familiar with the contents of the CAO Handbook 17

Accompanying conditions: The six best results, in recognised subjects, in one Leaving Certificate Examination will be counted for points computation. One sitting only of the Leaving Certificate Examination will be counted for points purposes. 18

Timely Action In order to be fair to all applicants, closing dates are strict and therefore action should be taken in good time. Do not leave everything to the last minute. 19

Application Form: Part A Part A of the Application Form is mostly self explanatory. Information which identifies you is of the utmost importance. Carefully enter details such as your name, address, date of birth, schools attended etc. 20

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30/11/09Ms.Geraldine Mulvey22

Your Application Number If you apply online your application number will appear on your Receipt of Online Application. ◦ This number is private and it will be used in every correspondence between you and the CAO for the rest of the year. ◦ If you apply online you may change your course choices free of charge until January 31 st. 23

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Details of Qualifications and Assessments. Irish Leaving Cert Exams ( ) Name and Address of school and Years attended. No examination number?? 30/11/09Ms.Geraldine Mulvey25

Adding your courses There are two course choice lists and applicants may make up to ten 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 26

Restricted Courses Additional requirements needed such as portfolio, interview, apptitude test (Hpat for Medicine) audition, music test etc Must be applied for by the 1 st of Feb Cannot put restricted courses on CAO when filling out change of mind later. 27

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Order of Preference Use your genuine order of preference The first choice is the one you want to do most If not that course your second choice is… Then your third choice and so on Rule of Thumb; When listing your courses Ignore the points go for what you want most! (But include a dead cert all the same!) 29

Statement of Application Record. Check the following carefully, if there is any error or omission, amend the Statement and return it to CAO. ◦ Are all the courses shown and in the correct order? ◦ Are all the codes correct? ◦ Are the exam numbers correct? ◦ Are all exams mentioned? ◦ If you do not receive a Statement by 1 st June contact CAO immediately. 30

Statement of Course Choices End of May The Statement of Course Choices lists the courses that you have applied for. The Statement is important for many reasons: 1. Courses – correct order? 2. Course codes – Correct? 3. Examination Numbers- correct? If you have made any mistake or omission in your course choices then now is the time to rectify your error. Pay particular attention to restricted courses. 31

Application Form: Part B Most applicants will not be required to complete Part B of the application form. For example, if you are a first-time Leaving Certificate candidate under the age of 23, you will not be required to complete Part B of the form. 32

Supplementary Application Form (SIF) The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR): A 3 rd level admissions scheme for school leavers from socially economic disadvantaged backgrounds. (see pg. 9 of CAO Handbook) Must provide supporting additional info/documentation (income revenue forms, social welfare benefits..... by 1 st of April 2016 DARE: Disability Access Route to Education Asperger’s, Autism, ADD. Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Physical Disability.... Submit evidence of Disability and second level Academic Reference to CAO by 1 st April

Change of mind ◦ It is safer to use the Change of Mind Facility on the website than to use a paper Change of Mind form. 34

Change of Mind 5th Nov to 1 st Feb (17:15) – no fee 5 th of Feb (12:00) to 1 st March - €10 charge 5 th of May (12:00) to 1 st July (17:15) – no fee Late application to CAO not later then 5pm, 22 nd July – extra fee = €50 35

Offers and Acceptances Made one week after Leaving Cert results Made by post and online You can get an offer from both lists (levels 6 &7 and Level 8) You can only accept one Accept online or by post No need to pay any money Start looking for your accommodation! 36

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. 37

Deferring a Place Some courses can not be deferred, check beforehand Once the offer comes DO NOT ACCEPT IT Write IMMEDIATELY to the college concerned They will let them know if the offer will be deferred 14/12/2010Guidance Department. St. Francis College 38

The Following Year Reapply the following year with that course as their only choice They will then get an offer in Round Zero If they put any other courses on the form they will lose their deferred place They then compete for places with all other applicants 14/12/2010Guidance Department. St. Francis College 39

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. 40

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. 41

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. 42

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. 43

Science – UCD 100 places to be offered Science – Maynooth 100 places to be offered Course Cut Off Points = 330Course Cut Off Points = 335*  Random Selection to be used  Last place to be filled Applicant Position Points Score Applicant Position Points Score /12/ Guidance Department. St. Francis College

NO YES NO A Students Course Preferences Students Points Total = 445 Cut Off Points for Course All Lower Preference Courses Disappear From Students Preferences 14/12/201045

 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 - 455Round 2 cut off points /12/

Genuine Order of Preference 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. 47

Timetable Jan 20th Closing date for online cheaper applications - €25 Feb 1st Closing date for applications May 1st Closing date for late applications July 1st Closing date for change of mind Round One Offers –one week after Leaving Cert results Round Two Offers –early September After Round Two –as necessary 48

49 Finally Get lots of information Read the instructions Be on time Courses in YOUR order of preference Include one “dead cert”

Questions? 30/11/09Ms.Geraldine Mulvey50