1. To the Leaving Cert and Beyond
Brid Hughes and Kieran Corcoran
Guidance Counsellors

4. We’re Here to Help

5. Agenda The Context: Making a Career Decision
St Wolstan’s Careers Programme
National Framework of Qualifications
Colleges in the system
New Leaving Cert Grading System and CAO Points System
Grants and Scholarships (SUSI)
HEAR and DARE
Viewing Scripts and Rechecks
Motivation.

6. The Context Improving Economy and Prospects
Students looking beyond Ireland
Best job prospects in STEM Careers

7. The Context: So Much Choice
In 1977– 5 Colleges with 69 courses
In 2017– 49 Colleges with 1448 courses
The Internet of Things, Cloud Computing, Bioveterinary
Science, Forensic Toxicology,Smart Technology for
Business, Citizenship & Community Studies, Pilot
Studies, Aero Engineering, Digital Marketing, Sport &
Exercise (Rugby), Popular Music (Electric Bass
Guitar), Building Energy Systems, Marine
Electrotechnology, Craft Technology, Crimology,
Government, Law (Clinical), Public Health, Earth &
Envirornmental Sciences, Theology & Psychology,
Film Studies, Global Business (USA), Genetics & Cell
Biology, Law & Society, Marketing, Innovation &
Technology, Politics & Media, Nutraceuticals in Health
& Nutrition, Timber Product Technology, Baking &
Pastry Arts Management, Animation, Web Engineering,
Cyber Security, DNA & Forensic Analysis, Visual
Culture, Political Science & Geography,

8. Making a Career Decision
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 possible

9. Making a Career Decision
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
Keep eye on the job market but do what you love and what you are good at

10. 6th Yr Careers Programme
Based on work done through senior cycle on REACH
Talks from Guest Speakers
Interest Inventory
Weekly Careers Classes
College Open Day Visits (4 in school time)
One to One meetings with Guidance Counsellor
College Applications CAO/ UCAS /PLC
Interview Preparation

12. St Wolstan’s LC Class of 2016
Number progressed to Higher and Further Ed %
University %
Institutes if Technology 18%
Colleges of Further Education 22%
Private Colleges ` 2%
Others 10% Year out/ Deferral/ Working/ unknown

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

14. Where to get the Information
Internet & Careers Software (Qualifax)
CAO Handbook/ Website
College Prospectus Books, Newspapers,
Contacts
College Open Days and Open Evenings
Career Talks
Guidance Counsellor

15. Know your options….
Check it out!

17. Ladder of Progression

18. Types of Colleges Universities: Institutes of Technology:
Colleges of Further Ed (PLCs)
Private Colleges:

19. CAO / FETAC Courses. 900 + courses listed in the CAO Handbook
550 + are Level 8
350 + are Level 7/6 courses
PLC / FETAC COURSES
NOT APPLIED FOR THROUGH CAO

20. College Entry Requirements
Matriculation Requirements: Basic Requirements
Specific Course Requirements: ie Honour in Higher Level Irish
CAO Points

21. Changes to the LC Grading System
Reducing the number of grade bands from 14 to 8
Candidates receiving Leaving Certificate results in August 2017 will have their results expressed in the following new Leaving Certificate grades:

22. Changes to the Common Points Scale
The HEIs developed a new common points scale, aiming to minimise the need for random selection and catering also for applicants presenting sittings of the Leaving Certificate from years prior to the introduction of the new grading scale in 2017.

24. Bonus Points for Higher Level Maths
25 extra points being given to students get a H6 (40%) or better
Has to be included in best six results
Makes max points possible still 625

25. Matriculation requirements from 2017
Changes to basic matriculation requirements from 2017

26. CAO: 2 Applications on One
There are TWO course choice lists

27. Completing the CAO List

28. ONLINE APPLICATION FEE CLOSING DATE Discounted Rate €30 20th Jan 2018
CAO Dates and Fees
ONLINE APPLICATION FEE CLOSING DATE
Discounted Rate €30 20th Jan 2018
Normal Application €45 1st Feb 2018
Late Application €60 1st May 2018
CHANGE OF MIND Nil
4th May to 1st July 2018

29. The CAO Schedule
Nov 6th:   CAO Open for Applications:     Set up your Account
20th January:    Early Deadline for Application €30
31st January:     Deadline for making free changes to existing                                         accounts
1st February:      Deadline for making on time Applications €40
                                  CAO CLOSES
4th May:                   CAO Re-Opens for change of Mind
1st July at 5.15pm:   CAO CLOSES:  Final Deadline

30. 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.

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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.

35. 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.

36. 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

37. 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.

38. 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

39. 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.

40. ORDER OF PREFERENCE
If you learn one thing from this presentation let it be this:
PLACE YOUR COURSE CHOICES IN GENUINE ORDER OF PREFERENCE!
To do otherwise is a grave mistake.

41. Colleges of Further Education and FETAC Links
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) up to 400 CAO Points
Course content: vocational, academic & work experience
Offer courses not available in CAO colleges

42. Colleges of Further Education
FETAC Certificate 1 Yr Level 5 (1000 places held in I.T’s)
FETAC Advanced Certificate Level 6 : years
Students must check :
Does the course have FETAC or other certification
What higher education courses does it link into.

43. Financing College DIT Annual Survey findings:
Living at home: Per Month Per Year
€766 €6897
Living Away from Home:
€ €11.000

44. Student Grants
SUSI Student Universal Support Ireland
Also see

45. Susi Grant Two parts to Grant: Fees Paid €3000
Maintenance: money to live on
Two rates of Maintenance:
Adjacent: if living less than 40k from College
Non Adjacent if living more than 40k from College
Note: Fees not paid for PLCS

46. Grant Means Test
Closing date for completed applications was 8th July 2017
Means Test is based on:
Gross income of both parents (or income of parent with whom the child resides) and Number of Dependent Children

47. Scholarships Various scholarships available: Apply to the colleges:
Academic
Sports
Subject
Socially Disadvantaged.
Naughton Scholarship
All Ireland (JP McManus Scholarship)
Company scholarships ie INTEL

48. Higher Education Access Route HEAR
3rd 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

49. Disability Access Route to Education DARE
Access route for students with disability
physical/ psychological 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

50. HEAR and DARE Process 
On CAO Form Indicate that you wish to apply for HEAR  or DARE 
Complete Supplementary Information Form SIF Part A  by March 1st.
Download SIF Part B (Educational Impact) and both student and school will complete and you return to CAO by 1st April . 
Download SIF Section C and complete by Medical Practitioner or accompany with psychological report of ANY AGE along with school test results.

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

52. What is my Daughter capable of achieving

53. Grinds?
Things to ask:
Is she making her best effort at school? How do we know?
Grinds have a role as a compliment to school work but not as a replacement.
Not a magic wand.
Too can cause unnecessary negative stress.

54. Conclusion Students should approach “Careers” as an extra subject
Take Responsibility for their future
Do in-depth 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
Attend School Every day

55. The Good News
In 2017  80% of applicants to the CAO got one of their top 3 choices.
50% got their No 1.
Thank you and Good Night

56. Cracking the College Code: By
Recommended Reading
Cracking the College Code: By
Catherine O’Connor TCD