2. notes by guidance team in Banagher College Going to College 2016

3. notes by guidance team in Banagher College Agenda Banagher College Career Service Applicants Responsibilities General points regarding the CAO. Entry Requirements and the Points System. Making an application. How places are allocated by CAO After submitting the application. Questions

4. notes by guidance team in Banagher College Career Service in Banagher College Individual Career appointments Feedback on DAT results Completion of interest inventories (paper and database versions) Individual/Group appointments for UCAS applicants Visiting speakers from colleges/ Universities Attendance at Career Exhibition in Limerick Visited open days at a University and an IT Classroom based career classes.

5. notes by guidance team in Banagher College It is the applicants responsibility to: Research thoroughly all the courses for which he/she is making application. Be au fait with all aspects of the application system used (CAO) for these courses, i.e., procedures, dates, fees, rules, etc.

6. notes by guidance team in Banagher College Useful Resources To assist with course research / application Publications College Prospectuses – 2016 Entry Student Yearbook and Career Directory, 2016 ed. CAO Handbook 2016 Newspapers The Irish Times  Wednesday Education and Living Section  January Special College Supplement Series of articles - Brian Mooney The Independent  Careers Articles –Katherine Donnelly

7. notes by guidance team in Banagher College Internet Qualifax – www.qualifax.ie Irish courses databasewww.qualifax.ie CAO – www.cao.ie Contains links to course websiteswww.cao.ie Careers Portal -www.careersportal.ie College websites (Addresses in CAO Handbook) UCAS -www.ucas.com People Relatives Past pupils Admissions/Academic staff of colleges (corresponding names and phone numbers on inside cover of CAO handbook) Guidance Counsellor Access to sources of information

8. notes by guidance team in Banagher College CAO – General Info. Centralised application system for all Irish 3 rd level institutions, including fee-paying colleges. Every 6 th year should now have a CAO Application Pack which includes: –2016 CAO Handbook – application and course information Application Dates and Fees CAO on line applicatio opens Nov 5 th 2015 All fees are non-refundable. FEE CLOSING DATE Normal application (online or paper) €40 1st Feb 2016 (5:15 pm ) Online discounted rate €25 20th Jan 2016 (5:15 pm) Late online application €50 1st May 2016 (5:15 pm) Late paper application €80 1st May 2016 (5:15 pm) Change of Mind until Nil 1st July 2016 (5:15 pm)

9. notes by guidance team in Banagher College

10. CAO – General Info. There are 3 types of courses students can apply for under the Nat. Qualifications Framework.Nat. Qualifications Framework These are applied for on 2 separate lists on a single form: Up to 10 Course Choices Ordinary Degrees (7) Higher Certificates (6) Level 6 & 7 Courses Honours Degrees (8) Up to 10 Course Choices Level 8 Courses The courses are clearly labelled in the CAO Handbook N.B. – Care must be taken with courses marked ‘Restricted’. These courses cannot be applied for after February 1 st due to extra assessments required.

11. notes by guidance team in Banagher College POINTS SYSTEM Generally in the CAO system No. of qualified applicants > No. of course places --> selection system is needed. Selection system used in Irish 3 rd Level Colleges is POINTS SYSTEM Points are calculated from ONE sitting of the Leaving Certificate only. Points total is calculated from SIX best subjects Bonus points are awarded for Honours Mathematics by –All colleges. Entry Requirements (Not Points) can be satisfied over more than one sitting of the Leaving Certificate (except for Medicine)

12. notes by guidance team in Banagher College POINTS ALLOCATION GradeHonoursOrdinary Bonus Points For Honours Maths A110060+25 A29050+25 B18545+25 B28040+25 B37535+25 C17030+25 C26525+25 C36020+25 D15515+25 D25010+25 D3455+25 LCVP Points Distinction 70 Merit50 Pass30

13. notes by guidance team in Banagher College Making an application Applications can be made online or by paper form – use one method only. (€10 charge if 2 applications sent) Always keep proof of sending application: online – print screen receipt, paper – obtain certificate of post. Form is very straight forward to fill out. www.cao.ie **VERY IMPORTANT** Students must fill out both course lists in: Genuine Order of Preference They should not put down courses on the basis of their predictions of next years cut off points or their own points scores. Why? – Look at how places are allocated.

14. notes by guidance team in Banagher College

16. College & Faculty ENTRY REQUIREMENTS These must be satisfied before “points” are considered. Minimum College Entry Requirements (Level 6/7) Minimum of 5 OD3’s (Level 8) 2 HC3’s + 4OD3’s Pass in:  Irish  English  Mathematics  Foreign Language Specific Faculty Requirements E.g.s HC3 Maths Engineering(NUI Galway) HC3 Chemistry Veterinary Medicine(UCD) HC1 French Law and French (TCD) If all Entry Requirements are met  applicant is deemed ‘Qualified’ to apply.

17. notes by guidance team in Banagher College   

18. notes by guidance team in Banagher College 550500485400320 550400485320195500290  

19. notes by guidance team in Banagher College 550500485400320 550400485320195500290  320 

20. notes by guidance team in Banagher College 550500400320 550400485320198500290  320  290 290 

21. notes by guidance team in Banagher College COURSE 1 COURSE 2 COURSE 3 COURSE 4 COURSE 5 COURSE 6 COURSE 7 COURSE 8 COURSE 9 COURSE 10           

22. notes by guidance team in Banagher College COURSE 1 COURSE 2 COURSE 3 COURSE 4 COURSE 5 COURSE 6 COURSE 7 COURSE 8 COURSE 9 COURSE 10 OFFER 1 NO LONGER CONSIDERED

23. notes by guidance team in Banagher College 

24. notes by guidance team in Banagher College OFFER 2 COURSE 1 COURSE 2 COURSE 3 COURSE 4 COURSE 5 COURSE 6 COURSE 7 COURSE 8 COURSE 9 COURSE 10 OFFER 1 NO LONGER CONSIDERED

25. notes by guidance team in Banagher College 6 7 8 9 10 5 4 3 2 1 So – what is the best way to fill in the courses? Dream Courses Realistic Courses Banker Courses

26. notes by guidance team in Banagher College Places Allocation Note: The position of a course in a student’s preference order does not in any way affect their chance of getting a place on that course. The exact same procedure takes place for both lists on the form, hence students may get get 2 offers in August – one from each list, may accept only one. Students should think carefully about not accepting one of these offers, as they may not receive any further offers. 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.

27. notes by guidance team in Banagher College After Making Application Receive CAO number and Statement of Course Choices – check this carefully. Some students may be called for extra assessments. Receive Statement of Application Record – check details carefully. Change of Mind facility becomes available – use sparingly and carefully. Leaving Cert. Results are sent to CAO. Places are allocated and offered by post and online. Students accept, reject or defer offered places. Further rounds of offers are made until all course places are filled.

28. notes by guidance team in Banagher College This is arranged AFTER an offer is made. (Read the CAO Handbook about this.) You are recommended to check with the college in advance about their deferral conditions and arrangements. The CAO Handbook mentions some courses where deferral will be difficult or impossible.

29. notes by guidance team in Banagher College Complete your application online Pay the fee by credit/debit card or at a bank using an Application Fee Payment Form (Contact CAO and request it to be posted to you) Acknowledgement (by March) Statement of Application Record (by end of May) Change of Mind Facility until July 1st Possible Offers (end August)

30. notes by guidance team in Banagher College And Finally…