1. CAO and Career Information Evening
Guidance Counsellor – Brian Kearney
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

2. BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney
Presentation Outline
Key Dates - Handout
3rd Level System
CAO System
Applicant’s Responsibility
Non-CAO Options
Current Career Information
Finance
Employability
HEAR/ DARE Schemes
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

3. BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney
Qualification Levels
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

4. BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney
Types of Colleges
Colleges of Further Education
Level 5 & 6
Institutes of Technology
(CIT & LIT)
Level 6, 7 & 8
Universities
(UCC & U.L)
Level 8
Entry = Subjects + Interview
PLC colleges include Colaiste Stiofain Naofa, College of Commerce & St. Johns College.
Practical one and two year courses with work experience
Don’t need points
Most apply online
Rounds of interviews from March
Entry = Entry Requirements + CAO Points
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

5. BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney
Entry to CAO Courses = Entry Requirements + CAO Points (+ test/ interview/ portfolio/ audition) CAO Points = Supply and Demand
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

6. Points Rise – Ag. Science UCD 310 to 470 CAO Points
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

7. Points Drop: Construction Mgmt. 400 to 260 CAO Points
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

8. BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney
Engineering UCD
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

9. CAO - Application Form – Part 2
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

10. BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney
Sample List of Courses
H. Degrees Level 8
O. Degree and H. Cert. L6/7
Business Information Systems 485
Commerce UCC 455
Finance UCC 440
Food Business UCC 335
Arts UCC 395
Software Development CIT 340
Computer Science UCC 380
Computer Applications 335
Business UL 420
Business 435
Business Studies CIT 365
Office Information Systems CIT 345
Tourism CIT400
Computing CIT 320
Business Studies WIT
Commercial Computing WIT220
Physics/Instrumentation CIT 270
Business Studies ITT 200
Office Information Systems ITT 210
Computing ITT170
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

11. A Students Course Preferences - Example
All Lower Preference Courses Disappear From Students CAO application
Student
Points
445
Cut Off Points
Min Requirements = opening door; Points = ticket in queue NO NO
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney
YES
Brian Howard - Newbridge College
Brian Howard - Newbridge College 11

12. BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney
Course Preferences 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1st Preference Courses
2nd Preference “Plan B” Courses
Least preferred- but good match Courses
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney
Brian Howard - Newbridge College
Brian Howard - Newbridge College 12

13. BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney
Place Allocation
Students will always be offered their first preference where they meet the points cut off and minimum requirements
2 Different lists-
2 Different offers
1 Course to accept
Same procedure
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.
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

14. Applicant’s Responsibility
Research thoroughly all the courses which they are applying for
Become familiar with all aspects of the application system used (CAO) for these courses, i.e., procedures, dates, fees, rules, etc.
Springboard research from BGS Guidance Website
Trust no single source (CAO handbook/site/alerts)
CAO application in Dec/ Jan
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

15. BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney
New CAO Points System
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

16. BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney
Peer Guidance
What would you have done differently?
Stop complaining about how awful studying is and just do it! Make sure to take lots of time off to relax and don't give up doing things you enjoy in favour of studying.
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

17. Further Education Courses (Post Leaving Cert courses )
Full time & part-time
Very practical – include work experience
No points requirements; main selection based on interview
Wide range of courses -Creative/multimedia/IT/Social/Business
Act as
A qualification in their own right
A stepping stone to Higher Education through FETAC links
Foundation/preparation for other third level options
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

18. BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney
F.E.T.A.C. Links Scheme
Another route to get a degree
Apply direct to FETAC colleges
FETAC course information on
Check FETAC links and course requirements Website
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

19. BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney
BGS Career Guidance
Personal Guidance Interviews
Guidance Classes
CAO Demo
Tutorials
Guest Speakers: CIT, UCC, UL, UCAS, Study Abroad etc.
Seminars: Study Skills/ Time & Stress Mgmt.
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

20. BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney
Cost of Accommodation
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

21. College Costs – Living Away from Home
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

22. SUSI: Some Key Messages
Check the website: (Use Eligibility Reckoner)
CAO form: Tick the SUSI option to share your college acceptance
Apply early: April 2017
Return requested documentation: complete and on time
Self employed: Early tax returns in 2017
Contact SUSI
Website:
Facebook.com/susisupport
Twitter.com/susihelpdesk
Telephone helpdesk:

23. BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney
Finance
ONLINE ONLY grant applications system
Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) through
Finance Section of BGS Guidance
Documention
• Birth Cert. • Residency & Proof of Address. • DSP (Social Welfare) or HSE cert of income for the previous tax year. • P60, P45, P21 PAYE Balancing Statement. • Pension entitlement info • Income from employment including self –employment • Details of pension or redundancy lump sums. • Gifts, Inheritances, Income from Land or other property. • Any other source of income
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

24. BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney
Employability
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

25. What are Employers looking for?
VERBAL COMMUNICATION
TEAMWORK
COMMERCIAL AWARENESS
ANALYSING & INVESTIGATING
INITIATIVE/SELF MOTIVATION
DRIVE
WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
PLANNING & ORGANISING
FLEXIBILITY
TIME MANAGEMENT
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

26. and cannot be foreseen yet.”
Tomorrow’s Jobs
“Many of the jobs in 2015 and
most of the jobs in 2030
do not currently exist
and cannot be foreseen yet.”
Expert Group on New Skills for New Jobs – report prepared for the European Commission (February 2010)
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

27. BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

28. BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney
Today’s Jobs
Let’s look at the industries in Ireland:
8 of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies.
9 out of the top 10 global ICT companies.
5 of the top global software companies.
15 out of the top 25 medical devices companies.
More than 50% of the worlds leading financial services firms.
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

29. BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

30. Powerful combinations
IT and language (cloud computing +German)
Finance, quantitative modelling + IT
Logistics and language
Statistics + Chemistry/Pharma (clinical trials)
Architecture/engineering + advanced CAD
Electrical/mechanical + green technology
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

31. How do I apply? Review your DARE Handbook with parents or guardians.
Apply to CAO at by 1 February 2017.
Review your DARE Handbook with parents or guardians.
Complete Section A of the Supplementary Info Form and apply to DARE by answering Yes to Question 1 by 1 March 2017.
Submit Educational Impact Statement and Evidence of Disability to CAO by 1 April 2017.

32. Disabilities eligible for consideration
Autistic Spectrum Disorders (including Asperger’s Syndrome)
ADD / ADHD
Blind / Vision Impaired
Deaf / Hard of Hearing
DCD – Dyspraxia/Dysgraphia
Mental Health Conditions
Neurological Conditions (incl. Brain Injury & Epilepsy)
Speech & Language Communication Disorder
Significant Ongoing Illness
Physical Disability
Specific Learning Difficulty (Dyslexia & Dyscalculia)

33. BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney
HEAR Scheme
The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a college and university admissions scheme which offers places on reduced points and extra college support to school leavers
HEAR applicants must meet a range of financial, social and cultural indicators to be considered for a reduced points place and extra college support
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney

34. Should I apply? 1.
Was your household income on or below €45,790 in 2016? 2.
Do you or your family have a Medical Card/GP Visit Card? 3.
Did your parents/guardians receive a means-tested social welfare payment for at least 26 weeks in 2014? 4.
Is your parents’ or guardians’ employment status under-represented in Higher Education? 5.
Have you attended a DEIS second level school for five years? 6.
Do you live in an area of concentrated disadvantage?

35. Application Advice Clinics

36. BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney
DARE Scheme Workshops
Accesscollege.ie: Events
DARE Clinic: Check details on UCC DSS website.
Monday 10th Oct, 24th October, 14th and 28th November, Western Gateway G08
UCC 6-8pm
BGS Guidance Mr. B. Kearney