Newbridge College

CAOInformation

EveningMr. Brian Howard

Guidance Counsellor

Agenda 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. FETAC Link Schemes Questions

It is the applicants responsibility to:

Research thoroughly all the courses for which he/she is making application: Course code, content, requirements, fees,

duration, award, options, etc. Be au fait with all aspects of the

application system used (CAO) for these courses: Procedures, instructions, dates, fees, etc.

Give time in their busy schedule, on a regular basis for the above.

Useful ResourcesTo assist with course research / application

Publications College Prospectuses – 2010 Entry Student Yearbook and Career Directory 2, 2010

ed. Career Choice 2010 ed., Level Three Publications CAO Handbook 2010 Directory of L.C. Entry Requirements - 2010 Entry

Newspapers The Irish Times

Tuesdays Education Section January Special CAO College Supplement

Series of daily articles-Brian Mooney

The Independent CAO Articles - Mary O Donnell

Internet Qualifax – www.qualifax.ie Irish courses

database CAO – www.cao.ie Contains links to course

websites Careers Portal – www.careersportal.ie College websites (Addresses in CAO Handbook)

People Relatives Past pupils Admissions/Academic staff of colleges

Guidance Counsellor Course Investigation Forms Access to information & advice

CAO – General Info. Centralised application system for 45 Irish 3rd level

institutions, including 8 fee-paying colleges. Every 6th year should now have a CAO Application Pack

which includes: 2010 CAO Handbook – application and course information Paper application form Application fee bank giro form

Application Dates and FeesPaper Application Fee Closing Date

Normal €45 1 February 2010 (5.15pm)

Late €90 1 May 2010 (5.15pm)

Online Application Fee Closing Date

Early Discounted €35 20 January 2010 (5.15pm)

Normal €45 1 February 2010 (5.15pm)

Late €70 1 May 2010 (5.15pm)

Change of Mind No Fee 1 July 2010 (5.15pm)

CAO – General Info. Since 2005 there are now 3 types of courses students can

apply for under the National Qualifications Framework.

CAO – General Info. These are applied for on 2 separate lists on a

single form:

Level 6 & 7 Courses Level 8 Courses

Ordinary Degrees (7) Higher

Certificates (6)

Honours Degrees (8)

Up to 10 Course Choices

Up to 10 Course Choices

The courses are clearly labelled in the CAO Handbook

N.B. – Care must be taken with courses marked ‘Restricted’.

These courses cannot normally be applied for after February 1st due to extra assessments required.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

These must be satisfied before “points” are considered.

Minimum Entry Requirements

E.g. UCD Pass 6 subjects At least 2 HC3 Pass in:

Irish English Another Language Mathematics* Science Subject*

Specific Subject Requirements

E.g.sEngineering(UCD)

HC3 MathsVeterinary

Medicine(UCD) HC3 Chemistry

French Law(UCD) HB3 French

If all Entry Requirements are met applicant is deemed ‘Qualified’ to apply.

POINTS SYSTEMGenerally in the CAO system

No. of qualified applicants > No. of course places --> selection system is needed.

Selection system used in Irish 3rd 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

University of Limerick - all courses DIT - Course DT021, Electronic Eng.

Entry Requirements can be satisfied over more than one sitting of the Leaving Certificate

POINTS ALLOCATIONGrade Honours OrdinaryA1 100 60A2 90 50

B1 85 45B2 80 40B3 75 35

C1 70 30C2 65 25C3 60 20

D1 55 15D2 50 10D3 45 5

LCVP Points

Distinction 70

Merit 50

Pass 30

Application to Medicine

New system applies to all undergraduate medicine courses.

In new system students must: Achieve at least 480 points and meet the

course minimum entry requirements in the same sitting of the Leaving Certificate.

Complete the Health Professionals Admissions Test (HPAT).

Application for HPAT and sample questions are online at

www.hpat-ireland.acer.edu.au

HPAT Cost - €95 Only one test date in 2010. Valid for 2010 & 2011 Dublin centres may include

UCD & RDS. Places allocated on

combined score for LC and HPAT.

LC Points: Up to 550: 1 1 new pt. 550 to 600: 5 1 new

pt. LC max score = 560 HPAT max score = 300 Combined max score = 860 Contact colleges for details.

Important dates:

4 November Registration opens

18 January Final date for normal

registrations 1 February

Final date for late test registrations

27 February Test Date

28 June Test results to students

18 to 22 August Collation of new scores

23 August (provisional) Round 1 CAO offers

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 courses screen, paper – obtain certificate of post.

Now 2 steps: (a) Create Application Account, (b) Log in and enter details.

www.cao.ie Apply & My Application

**VERY IMPORTANT**Students must fill out both course lists in:

Genuine Order of Preference They shouldn’t put down courses on the basis

of predictions of next years cut off points or their own points scores.

Science – UCD100 places to be offered

Science – Maynooth100 places to be offered

Course Cut Off Points = 330 Course Cut Off Points = 335*

Random Selection to be used

Last

place to

be filled

ApplicantPosition

PointsScore

1 5602 5353 5254 5205 5106 5107 5058 5009 490-- ---- --15 45516 44517 44018 43519 42020 41021 405-- ---- --98 34599 340100 335101 335102 335103 315104 310105 305-- ---- --182 265

ApplicantPosition

PointsScore

1 5602 5353 5254 5205 5106 5107 5058 5009 490-- ---- --15 45516 44517 44018 43519 42020 41021 405-- ---- --98 34099 335

100 330101 325102 315103 310104 305105 295-- ---- --182 265

Course MeritLists

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

So – what is the best way to fill in the courses?

Dream Courses

Realistic Courses

Banker Courses

Places AllocationNote: 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.

After Making Application

(Paper) Receive CAO number and Statement of Course Choices – check this carefully.

(Online) Students receive CAO number online and use ‘My Application’ to check all their application details.

May make changes to courses up to March 1st - €10 fee 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, especially after exams. (email confirmation) 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.

CAO TIMETABLE 2010 ENTRY

20th January, 2010 Closing date for receipt of early online applications

1st February, 2010 Closing date for receipt of normal applications

5th February to 1st March, 2010 Courses may be changed online including ‘restricted’,

€10 Before/By 15th February, 2010

Receive Statement of Course Choices (paper applicants) 1st May, 2010

Closing date for receipt of late applications Early May, 2009

Change of mind forms may be sent. (online - May 3rd) Before/By 31st May, 2010

Receive Statement of Application Record 1st July, 2010

Latest date for receipt of change of mind form in CAO. ~23rd~ August, 2010

First round of offers will commence.

In Summary

Research courses thoroughly Apply by January 20th Apply online Pay by debit/credit card Put courses in order of preference Obtain / retain proof of

application Be careful with change of mind

PLC Courses

2 schemes which allow PLC students progress to 3rd level CAO courses.

Higher Education Links Scheme (11 colleges) Small number of reserved

places. Pilot Scheme (18 colleges)

Open competition for all places.

Questions ??