Applying to College: The CAO System

1. Applying to College: The CAO System St. Mary’s Holy Faith Ms.Rita McCabe, Principal

2. Common Terms & Abbreviations • CAO : Central Applications Office – an organisation that process college applications each year on behalf of colleges and universities. • HEIs : Higher Education Institutes – Universities, Colleges of Education and Institutes of Technology. • NFQ : National Framework of Qualifications – a body that recognises all education and training in Ireland. There are 10 Levels. • Undergraduate: a student in a university or college who has not received a bachelor’s degree. • Post-graduate : a student with a primary degree who is going onto further study.

3. Awards • Level 6 Advanced/Higher Certificate: 1-2 years in a HEI. Opportunity to move up to next level of framework on completion – ‘ladder system’ e.g. Certificate in Business Studies. • Level 7 Ordinary Bachelor Degree: 3 years in a HEI e.g. Bachelor Degree in Human Resource Management. • Level 8 Honours Bachelor Degree: 3 – 4 years in a HEI e.g. Honours Bachelor Degree in Nursing (B.Sc)

4. NFQ Framework

5. Outline of Presentation • Introduction to the CAO. • Applicants’ Responsibilities. • Entry Requirements and the Points System. • Making an Application. • How places are allocated by the CAO. • What happens after you submit an application. • Other options. • Questions.

6. Applicant’s Responsibility • It is the applicant’s responsibility to research thoroughly all the courses for which he/she is making application. • The applicant must be familiar with all aspects of the CAO application system for these courses, i.e. dates, fees, entry requirements, course requirements etc.

7. Resources for Research • Publications • College Prospectuses - 2012 Entry • Student Yearbook and Career Directory Part 2, 2012 • Newspapers • The Irish Times – Education Supplement on Tuesdays and CAO Supplement – College Options – published in January before first CAO deadline on 1st February. See also www.irishtimes.com/society/education for latest news on college options and helpful podcasts. • Irish Independent – www.independent.ie/education/ - dedicated ‘Going to College’ section.

8. Resources for Research contd. • Websites • CAO: www.cao.ie – contains links to course websites. • Qualifax: www.qualifax.ie – database of Irish courses. • Careersportal: www.careersportal.ie – Career Guidance website. • College websites e.g. www.dcu.ie (addresses on CAO website under HEI Contact Details) • People • School Guidance Counsellor • Past Pupils • Admissions or Academic staff at the college/university • Parents/Relatives

9. CAO : Central Applications Office • The CAO processes applications for 43 third-level institutes in Ireland including 5 fee-paying colleges. • Each 6th Year should have a CAO pack at this stage however all documentation is available online. Applying online is cheaper and prevents many of the errors associated with a paper application. • See www.cao.iefor an online handbook and information. All fees are Non-refundable. FEE FEE FEE CLOSING DATE CLOSING DATE CLOSING DATE Normal application  1 Feb 2011  (5:15 pm) 1 Feb 2011  (5:15 pm) € € € 40 40 40                  (online or paper)                  (online or paper)                  (online or paper) Online discounted rate Online discounted rate € € € 30 30 30 20 Jan 2011 (5:15 pm) 20 Jan 2011 (5:15 pm) 20 Jan 2011 (5:15 pm) Late online application Late online application Late online application € € € 60 60 60 1 May 2011 (5:15 pm) 1 May 2011 (5:15 pm) 1 May 2011 (5:15 pm) Late paper application  Late paper application  Late paper application  € € € 80 80 80 1 May 2011 (5:15 pm) 1 May 2011 (5:15 pm) 1 May 2011 (5:15 pm) Change of Mind  Change of Mind  Nil Nil Nil 1 July 2011 (5:15 pm) 1 July 2011 (5:15 pm) 1 July 2011 (5:15 pm)

10. Applying through the CAO • Through the CAO, you can choose 10 Certificate/Ordinary Degree courses and 10 Honours Degree courses. • These courses are clearly labelled in the CAO handbook.

11. Sample of Courses in DCU • Honours Bachelor Degrees - Level 8 DT023 Manufacturing and Design Engineering     DT025 Engineering DT205 Mathematical Sciences     DT211 Computing     DT220 Industrial Mathematics     DT222 Physics Technology     DT223 Human Nutrition and Dietetics     DT224 Optometry   • DT501 Music   (Restricted)DT504 Film and Broadcasting DT533 Visual and Critical Studies     DT546 Fine Art   (Restricted) • Ordinary Bachelor Degrees/Higher Certificates - Level 7/Level 6 • DT002 Engineering Systems Maintenance     DT003 Automation Engineering     DT004 Civil Engineering     DT005 Building Services Engineering     DT006 Mechanical Engineering     DT007 Automotive Management and Technology     DT008 Electronics and Communications Engineering      Completion of higher certificates/bachelor degrees can lead to further study and qualifications. N.B Restricted courses have different requirements/closing dates in the CAO system.

12. CAO Courses- 3 Factors • College Entry Requirements • For example, to attend NUI Maynooth, you need a minimum of 2 subjects at Higher Level Grade C3and 4 at Ordinary or Higher Level Grade D3. • Course Requirements • To study Nursing in DCU, you need OD3 or HD3 in Mathematics PLUS OD3 or HD3 in one of Physics, Chemistry, Biology. To study Engineering in UCD, you need HC3 in Maths. • Points • Each course has a minimum points requirement. • IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO RESEARCH THE COLLEGE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS AND COURSE REQUIREMENTS. ONLY WHEN YOU HAVE SATISFIED THESE WILL YOUR POINTS BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

13. Restricted Courses • Care must be taken with courses marked ‘Restricted’ e.g. Art, Music, Drama, Medicine, some Nursing courses. • The courses are clearly labelled in the CAO Handbook • These courses cannot be applied for after February 1st due to extra assessment procedures e.g. Interview, portfolio assessment. • You cannot apply for these courses through Late Application or the Change of Mind facility. • However, if you made a mistake/omission on your CAO, you can amend it before 1st March(€10 fee applies)

14. The Points System • Generally they are more applicants than college places. • Points rise in accordance with spaces and demand. So the more limited the spaces or the more popular the course, the higher the points. • Points are calculated from ONE sitting of the Leaving Certificate only. • The Points total is calculated from the 6 best subjects. • Bonus points are awarded for Honours Maths, 25 extra points for students sitting the exam in 2012.

15. Points Allocation GradeHonoursOrdinary A1 100 60 A2 90 50 B1 85 45 B2 80 40 B3 75 35 C1 70 30 C2 65 25 C3 60 20 D1 55 15 D2 50 10 D3 45 5 LCVP Points Distinction 70 Merit 50 Pass 30 25 Bonus Points for Maths 2012

16. How to Apply - Online • Go to the CAO website, click on your chosen course codes for links to the college website and more information. • Find out whether the course is included in the ‘Free Fees Scheme’ or whether fees are payable. • Apply for courses in your GENUINE ORDER OF PREFERENCE – this is VERY IMPORTANT. • Application fees can be paid by Credit Card/Debit/Laser. • Keep records. Print off or save the Receipt of Online Application. Your CAO Application number will appear on this receipt. Save or print your course choices.

17. How to Apply – By Post • Fill out your course choices carefully and photocopy your application before post it. • Use the Application Fee Payment Form to pay the fee through a bank. The bank will retain Part Three of the Payment Form and return Parts One and Two to you. • Staple Part One to your application. • If posting an application, photocopy your course choices and get a Certificate of Post. • You will receive a Statement of Course Choices and your CAO number. Check your course choices are correct.

18. Important Dates

19. Order of Preference • It is very important that you choose the courses you really want in order of preference. • Put the course you would like the most as your number one choice regardless of points or predicted points. • Choose the rest of your courses in the same way. • If you accept a college place in Round 1 of the CAO offers, you can still be offered a place in Round 2 from higher up on your list of courses. • Remember you can go up but you can’t go down so choose wisely. • You are under no obligation to accept any offers in Round 2 should you not wish to.

20. So – what is the best way to fill in the courses? Dream Courses Realistic Courses Safety Net

21. Random Entry • The CAO system endeavours to be as fair as possible to all students. • Therefore, where two or more candidates are on the same points... • A random number is given to each application. • The highest random number gets the place shown by an asterisk*. • For example 370* means not every candidate with 370 points got a place but everyone with 375 would have.

22. Applicant Position Applicant Position Points Score Points Score Science – UCD 100 places to be offered Course Merit Lists Science – Maynooth 100 places to be offered 1 560 1 560 2 535 2 535 3 525 3 525 4 520 4 520 5 510 5 510 6 510 6 510 7 505 7 505 8 500 8 500 9 490 9 490 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 15 455 15 455 16 445 16 445 17 440 17 440 18 435 18 435 19 420 19 420 20 410 20 410 21 405 21 405 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 98 340 98 345 99 335 99 340 100 330 100 335 101 325 101 335 102 315 102 335 103 310 103 315 104 305 104 310 105 295 105 305 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 182 265 182 265  Last place to be filled  Random Selection to be used Course Cut Off Points = 330 Course Cut Off Points = 335*

23. A Students Course Preferences - Example Students Points Total = 445 All Lower Preference Courses Disappear From Students’ Preferences Cut Off Points for Course NO NO YES YES NO YES NO YES YES YES

24. ROUND 2 7 round one places not accepted 3 round one places not accepted  Last place to be filled - Round 1  Last place to be filled – Round 1  Last place to be filled - Round 2  Last place to be filled - Round 2 Round 2 cut off points - 455 Round 2 cut off points - 460

25. After Making your Application • You will receive your CAO number and Statement of Course Choices by post or you will be able to view these online under ‘My Application’. • The Change of Mind facility becomes available – use sparingly and carefully, available until 1st July. • Leaving Certificate Results are sent to CAO. • Places are allocated and offered by post and online in mid-August – 1st round of offers. • Students accept, reject or defer offered places. • Further rounds of offers are made until all course places are filled.

26. Places Allocation • The same procedure takes place for both lists on the CAO form, so it’s possible to get 2 college offers in August – one from each list. You may accept only one. • You should think carefully about not accepting one of these offers, as you may not receive any further offers. • Regardless of whether or not you accept a course in round 1, you will still be offered a higher preference course in subsequent rounds if you become entitled to one.

27. Other Options • Post Leaving Certificate Courses (PLCs) • FETAC links scheme • Apprenticeships • Defence Forces • An Garda Síochána • Fáilte Ireland • Teagasc • Job Bridge – National Internship Scheme • FAS – Training & Employment Authority • Directly to Employment

28. QUESTIONS Thank You!