CAO Patricia Kennedy Guidance Counsellor - Loreto College Swords

CAO
   Patricia Kennedy
Guidance Counsellor

CAO – General Info.
Centralised application
 system for 44 Irish 3rd
   level institutions,
including 11 fee-paying
        colleges.

Applying for
CAO/PLC/UCAS/DARE/HEAR/SUSI...
It is YOUR choice
It is YOUR responsibility
It is YOUR decision

National Framework of Qualifications – 10
               Levels

Selection of courses
 Apply for up to 20 courses

 Level 8 list – Choose 10
   Honours Degrees

 Level 6/7 list – Choose 10
   Higher Certificates
   Ordinary Degrees

                               5

3 stages to getting into CAO
                 courses
 1. Minimum Entry Requirement or Course
  Requirement
 2. Faculty Requirement- grade needed in a specific
  subject
 3. Points Requirement

 All must be fulfilled in order to receive an offer of a
  place (unless there is no specific faculty requirement,
  then it is not looked for).

STAGE 1:
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

These must be satisfied
  before “points” are
     considered

Level 6 & 7- Minimum Entry
           Requirement
5 passes for most level 6 courses
Level 7 courses = 5 O6/5 H7 or a
 minimum number of points e.g.
  DKIT require Minimum 300
              points
College Prospectuses need to be
            consulted

Level 8 – Minimum Entry Requirement
  •Different colleges have different entry
               requirements
 •NUI colleges (UCD, UCC NUIM &
 NUIG)require 2 H5 and 4 O6/H7
 •NUI colleges look for Irish, English, Maths
 and a Second language in your six
 subjects.
 •Some courses in NUI colleges e.g. Science
 and engineering courses do not have a
 second language requirement

Level 8 – Minimum Entry Requirement
 TCD requires 3 H5 and 3 O6/H7 to include
  English, Maths and another language
 Institutes of Technology and TU Dublin
  require 2H5 and 4 O6/H7 to include Maths and
  English or Irish
 DCU requires 2H5 and 4 O6/H7 to include Maths
  and English or Irish
 CHECK PROSPECTUS

STAGE 2:
   Faculty Requirements..examples
1. Pharmacy – TCD and UCC – H4 in
   Chemistry and a H4 in a 2nd science
   subject/geog/maths/computer
   science
2.Physiotherapy (TCD) – H4 in 2
   science subjects or H4 in 1 science
   and higher maths
3.Primary Teaching – H4 in Irish

If all Entry Requirements and
Faculty requirements (if needed)
are met →
 applicant is deemed ‘Qualified’
to apply.

          THEN and only then are
           “Points” considered.

POINTS SYSTEM
❖ Points are calculated from ONE sitting of the Leaving
  Certificate only.

❖ Entry/Faculty Requirements can be satisfied over more
  than one sitting of the Leaving Certificate.

❖ Points total is calculated from SIX best subjects.

❖ New system of Bonus points are awarded for Honours
  Mathematics– must achieve a H6 to gain the bonus
  points. (Maximum points still 625)

❖ Students will now be rewarded 37 points for a H7 (30-39%
  in their exam) for first time.

Example of Points Calculation
 Irish H4                 66
   English H2             88
   Maths H6               46 +25=71
   French H3              77
   Biology H5            56
   Geography O2           46
   History H3             77
   TOTAL                 435 points (we’ve excluded the
    46 points as only the best 6 are chosen)

RESTRICTED ENTRY COURSES
▪Some courses have Interviews/ Aptitude
tests/Portfolio/Auditions
▪ Must apply to CAO by February 1st for
these courses

▪Medicine – HPAT test February 2021
(possibly 20th)
-apply from early November to January

20th
▪ Check CAO handbook

TCD Feasibility study 2021
 Law, History or Ancient and Medieval
  History (10, 10 and 5 places)
 Enter via the normal CAO route
 Alternatively- CAO + School Ranking +
  Supplementary Form (including a written
  essay)
 Other HEIs are watching it as a possible
  alternative entry route to 3rd level

Please Note....
 If you are exempt from Irish and/or another language
 you must complete an NUI exemption form in order
 to be eligible for course in UCD, Maynooth, Galway or
 Cork, NCAD and St Angela’s Sligo.

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

           1
                           Dream Courses
           2
           3
           4
           5
                           Realistic Courses
           6
           7
           8
           9               Banker Courses

          10

Making an Application

•Applications can be made online.
•Always print screen receipt.
•Any documents sent by post-
***obtain proof of posting.
•Fill out both course lists in genuine order
of preference- not based on predictions of
next years grades.

Application Dates and Fees
    Online Application         Fee                Dates

Early Bird               €30         20th January : 5.15 pm

Normal                   €45         1st February : 5.15pm

Late                     €60         1st May : 5: 15 pm

Change of Mind           No Fee      5th May - 1ST July : 5.15pm

Change of Mind
After 5th May you
can register a
change of course
choices –online.

Print any changes   This facility closes on 1 st of July at
made.               5.15pm

                                                              22

After Making Application
 Receive CAO number.
 Some students may be called for extra assessments.
 Receive Statement of Application Record (Before the end
   of May by email)– check details carefully.
 Change of Mind facility becomes available – use sparingly
   and carefully. (May 5th - 1st July)
 Leaving Cert. Results are sent to CAO. (mid August)
 Places are allocated and offered online.(Thursday after results
   are issued-)
 Students accept, reject or defer offered places.
 Further rounds of offers are made until all course places are
   filled.

 Place is held for 1 academic year
 You are recommended to check with the college in advance
  about their deferral conditions and arrangements- some
  courses where deferral will be difficult or impossible.
 When offered place, contact admissions office of university
  IMMEDIATELY – mark deferred entry- must be done at least
  2 days before REPLY DATE on offer notice – decision will
  be made
Refer to the CAO Handbook.

Offer of Places
 2 offers may be received: 1 from Level 8 list and 1 from
  Level 6/7 list.
  ONLY ONE OFFER MAY BE ACCEPTED
 When you are offered one of your course preferences
  on a list, automatically you will be excluded for
  consideration from all courses below that
YOU MAY NOT MOVE DOWN IN YOUR ORDER OF
  PREFERENCES
 This is why it is so important to fill in form in your
  Genuine Order of Preference

                                                        25

Offer of places (contd.)
By way of example: Let’s say you have 350 points and
  your course preference on the CAO form is:
1.Physics 2.Business 3.Arts 4. Tourism

     Order of   Course    1st Round   2nd Round 3rd Round
     Preference           Offer       Offer     Offer
                          Points      Points    Points
     1         Physics    360         360       360

     2         Business   360         350

     3         Arts       350         345

     4         Tourism    340
                                                            26

Places Allocation
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 to one.

Random Entry
 Two or more candidates on the same points
 Random number given to each application
 Highest random Number gets the place
 Shown by an *
 For example 370* means not every candidate with
 370 points got a place but everyone with 371 would
 have got a place.

Grants
 Online application for grants 2020-2021 is available at

                       Susi.ie
 The Application Process usually begins in April
 Register> Complete Application > Decision will
  follow
 Applications should be in by early July to ensure timely
  processing

ACCESS SCHEMES: DARE
   •DARE – Disability Access Route to
   Education
   •26 DARE and 24 HEAR Colleges
   participating
   •A quota of places offered to students
   with disability on a reduced points basis.
   •Must meet minimum entry
   requirements
   •See: www.accesscollege.ie for list of
   disabilities eligible
   •Educational Impact Statements
   available at cao.ie
                                            30

ACCESS SCHEMES: HEAR
•HEAR – Higher Education Access
Route
For students from socio-economically
disadvantaged backgrounds.
•Quota of places offered on a reduced
points basis.
•Must meet minimum entry
requirements
•Must satisfy 3 of the 6 indicators
•See www.accesscollege.ie for further
information
•Priority being given to students who
are eligible for both DARE and HEAR
or those with physical disability or
hearing impairment.                     31

DARE and HEAR Schemes
 Must apply to CAO by February 1st
 By March 1st – disclose your disability and
  complete all elements of the online form (SIF-
  Supplementary Information Form- Section A)-
  do so on your application form on cao.ie
 Final date for submission of supporting
  documentation to arrive in CAO by 15th March
 Clinics online this year on Jan 9th from 10am-
  2pm….check accesscollege.ie for further
  details.
 CHECK CAO BOOKLET

CAO Timetable
   5th November, 2020
   > CAO Online facility opens at 12.00 noon
   20th January, 2021
   >Early Bird offer ends
   1st February, 2021
   Closing date for receipt of normal applications
   1st May, 2021
   Closing date for receipt of late applications
   Before/By 31st May, 2021
   Receive Statement of Application Record
   From 5th May, 2021
   Change of mind facility opens.
   1st July, 2021
   Latest date for receipt of change of mind in CAO.
   Mid August, 2021-
   First round of offers will commence.

Apprenticeships
 Find a suitable employer/apprenticeship scheme
 Employer registers the apprentice with SOLAS within
    two weeks of starting or contract drawn up with a
    company
   Meet the minimum educational requirements
    (depends on employer).
   Paid by the employer
   Receive a level 6 to 8 qualification – they may be used
    to link the apprentice to further studies in the future.
   Further Details on www.apprenticeship.ie

Non CAO Options
 UCAS applications (for England, Scotland, Wales and
    Northern Ireland).
   EUNICAS for Europe.
   Post Leaving Certificate Courses with Fetac links
    schemes.
   Gardaí and Defence Forces – check www.publicjobs.ie
   Direct into employment.

Non CAO Options: UCAS and EUNICAS
 UCAS-Applying to colleges in UK and Northern
    Ireland
   Closing Date 15th January except for Medicine,
    Dentistry, Vet, Oxford & Cambridge closing date 15th
    October
   Some require aptitude tests.
   Fees are applicable.
   Must apply online using UCAS.com
   Personal statement is very important
   All 6th Year students who are interested in applying
    must have come forward to Guidance Counsellor by
    now.
   EUNICAS will help you process European applications
    – dates and costs vary from country to country.

Post Leaving Certificate courses
      (PLCs: QQI or Fetac/Hetac)
 Courses in very high demand in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Last
    one to two years.
   Apply early to be called for interview from January
    onwards.
   Contact each college/ check college websites to see
    when they will start accepting your application.
   Most PLC courses expect to fill all places in March
    interviews
   Requirements – usually 5 passes in your Leaving Certificate
    and interview. Please consult prospectus for 2019 entry
    requirements.
   Importance of Interview and some experience of the
    career area applying for.

Post Leaving Certificate Courses:
        Further Education Training Awards
                   Council/QQI
 Links Scheme run by PLC Colleges and some Higher
    Education Institutes- these provide a possible pathway
    to higher education
   Please note – it’s a possible pathway, not an
    automatic link- you must excel in your course
   Especially Important for Students who may not make
    the CAO Points
   Check PLC course chosen has a link to a degree
    programme your daughter wishes to pursue.
   Can begin with a PLC and end up with a Doctorate
   Mature Entry to College (age 23 or over)

Destination Survey 2020
80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

 0
     Level 8    Level 7   Level 6   Level 5   Working   NLN   Repeat

Institutions of choice 2020
30

                 Others =
25
                 Coláiste Íde, National
20
                 Learning Network,
                 Plunketts, DIFE, Grange
15
                 CC, Marino College,
10
                 Rathmines

 5

0

PLC Institutions of choice 2020
12

10                                               Others =
                                                 Coláiste Íde, National
8                                                Learning Network,
                                                 Plunketts, Marino,
6                                                Rathmines, DIFE,
                                                 Grange CC.
4

2

0
     Colaiste Dhulaigh   Whitehall   Liberties    BFEI     Killester   Others

CAO Institutions of Choice 2020
30

25

20

15

10

 5

0

DATES OF INTEREST
 January 20th -CAO online‘Early Bird’ – €30
 9th January – DARE and HEAR support clinics
 February 1st - CAO Deadline
 February 1st – February 12th – Mocks
 June – Leaving Cert. begins
 Mid August - Results
 Two days later in August - Round 1 offers (for Leaving
 Cert students)

Who to talk to?
Relatives
Past pupils
Admissions/Academic staff of
 colleges
❑ Guidance Counsellor and
  Guidance interviews
Interest Inventories
Appointments for parents

Useful Resources
Internet
 Qualifax – www.qualifax.ie Irish courses database
 CAO – www.cao.ie Contains links to course
   websites
 Career Directions – www.careersdirections.ie
 Careers Portal – www.careersportal.ie
 Grants – www.susi.ie
 College websites (Addresses in CAO Handbook)
 College Prospectuses- 2021 Entry
 CAO Handbook 2021
 Newspapers- Irish Times, Independent
 Internet
                                                  45

Reminders
It is the applicants’ responsibility to………
Research thoroughly all the courses
  for which she is making an
  application.
 Be au fait with all aspects of the
  application system used (CAO) for
  these courses i.e. procedures, dates,
  fees, rules etc

Reminders Contd.
Homework and Study
 The recommended amount of time spent by a 6th Year
 student doing homework and study should be:
 3 ½ hours per night six times per
  week, i.e. 21 hours per week.

The World is your Oyster

     Aim high

     Match the goal with the necessary
     work

     Never too late

                                          48

LIFELONG LEARNING
  The journey is only beginning……..

Thank You

            50