CAO Information Seminar Agenda Important Responsibilities of Applicants

CAO Information Seminar

Agenda Important Responsibilities of Applicants General points regarding the CAO. Entry Requirements and the Points System. Entry to Medicine Making an application. How places are allocated by CAO After submitting the application. CAO Timetable

It is most important that applicants: Research thoroughly all the courses for which application is being made : Course code, content, requirements, fees, duration, award, options, etc. Be familiar 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 Resources To assist with course research / application Publications College Prospectuses – 2011 Entry Student Yearbook and Career Directory 2, 2011 ed. Career Choice 2011 ed. , Level Three Publications CAO Handbook 2011 Directory of L. C. Entry Requirements - 2011 Entry Newspapers The Irish Times Ø Special CAO College Supplement - irishtimes. com Series of daily articles - Brian Mooney The Independent Ø CAO Articles - Mary O Donnell – independent. ie Ø

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 Access to information and advice

CAO – General Info. Centralised application system for 45 Irish 3 rd level institutions, including 9 fee-paying colleges. Every applicant should now have a CAO Application Pack which includes: 2011 CAO Handbook – application and course information ◦ Paper application form ◦ Application fee bank giro form ◦ Application Dates and Fees Paper Application Fee Closing Date Normal € 40 1 February 2011 (5. 15 pm) Late € 80 1 May 2011 (5. 15 pm) Online Application Fee Closing Date Early Discounted € 30 20 January 2011 (5. 15 pm) Normal € 40 1 February 2011 (5. 15 pm) Late € 60 1 May 2011 (5. 15 pm) Change of Mind No Fee 1 July 2011 (5. 15 pm)

CAO – General Info. Since 2005 there are now 3 types of courses students can apply for under the National Framework of Qualifications

CAO – General Info. n n 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 Whether you apply for 1 or 20 courses – same fee. The courses are clearly labelled in the CAO Handbook, i. e. Level 6, 7 or 8. N. B. – Care must be taken with courses marked ‘Restricted’. These courses cannot normally be applied for after February 1 st 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 HC 3 Pass in: b. Irish b English b Another Language b Mathematics* b Science Subject* Specific Subject Requirements E. g. s Engineering(UCD) HC 3 Maths Veterinary Medicine(UCD) HC 3 Chemistry French Law(UCD) HB 3 French If all Entry Requirements are met applicant is deemed ‘Qualified’ to apply.

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 University of Limerick - all courses DIT - Course DT 021, Electronic Eng. Entry Requirements can be satisfied over more than one sitting of the Leaving Certificate*

Grade A 1 A 2 Points Allocation Honours 100 90 Ordinary 60 50 Foundation 20 15 B 1 B 2 B 3 85 80 75 45 40 35 10 5 C 1 C 2 C 3 70 65 60 30 25 20 D 1 D 2 D 3 55 50 45 15 10 5 LCVP Points Distinction 70 Merit 50 Pass 30

Application to Medicine 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 Format of test: 2½ hour paper-based test - 3 sections: (i) Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving (ii) Interpersonal Understanding (iii) Non-Verbal Reasoning

HPAT Cost - € 95 Only one test date in 2011. Valid for 2011 & 2012 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 20 January Test results to students 17 to 21 August Test Date 27 June Final date for exceptional late registrations (€ 190) 26 February Final date for late test registrations (€ 145) 3 February Final date for normal registrations 1 February Registration opens Collation of new scores 22 August 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 Receipt of Online Application, paper – obtain certificate of post (a) Create Application Account (b) Log in and enter details If applying online, 2 steps: Online applicants will receive their CAO number on their Receipt of Online Application Paper applicants will receive their CAO number on their Statement of Course Choices www. cao. ie Apply & My Application

Supplementary Entry Systems HEAR – Higher Education Access Route - third level admissions scheme for school leavers from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. DARE – Disability Access Route to Education third level admissions scheme for school leavers with disabilities. Very important to indicate on CAO form the applicants wish to be considered for either of the above schemes. www. accesscollege. ie

Making an application **VERY IMPORTANT** Students must fill out both course lists in: Genuine Order of Preference Whatever course an applicant would most like to get onto on the basis of their research should be put down number one on the form. If they don’t get this whatever course they would next like to get onto should be put down number 2, etc. They shouldn’t put down courses on the basis of predictions of next years cut off points or their own points scores.

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

So – what is the best way to fill in the courses? 1 2 Dream Courses 3 4 5 6 Realistic Courses 7 8 9 10 Banker Courses

Places Allocation Note: The position of a course in a student’s preference order does not in any way affect their chance of becoming entitled to a place on that course – points only. The exact same procedure takes place for both lists on the form, hence students may 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 1 st - € 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 2011 ENTRY 20 th January, 2011 ◦ Closing date for receipt of early online applications 1 st February, 2011 ◦ Closing date for receipt of normal applications 5 th February to 1 st March, 2011 ◦ Courses may be changed online including ‘restricted’, € 10 Before/By 15 th February, 2011 ◦ Receive Statement of Course Choices (paper applicants) 1 st May, 2011 ◦ Closing date for receipt of late applications Early May, 2011 ◦ Change of mind forms may be sent. (online - May 3 rd) Before/By 31 st May, 2011 ◦ Receive Statement of Application Record 1 st July, 2011 ◦ Latest date for receipt of change of mind form in CAO. ~22 nd ~ August, 2010 ◦ First round of offers will commence.

In Summary Research courses thoroughly Apply as early as possible Apply online Pay by debit/credit card Put courses in order of preference Obtain / retain proof of application Be careful with change of mind