CAO Parents Presentation Guidance Department Presentation Seconary School

CAO Parents Presentation Guidance Department Presentation Seconary School

Outline of presentation Some of the key issues this year including: Decisions, Dates and Deadlines q CAO Applications/points system/offers q Cost of studying and living at home and away from home q Student Supports: q. Grants, Access Schemes, Scholarships, Disability q Other routes: FETAC/QQI Progression Schemes q. Other non CAO options q

Choice 1: Going to college in Ireland: Making a CAO Application � � Since 2007 there are 3 types of courses students can apply for under the National Qualifications Framework. These are applied for on 2 separate lists on a single form: Level 6 & 7 Courses Ordinary Degrees (7) Higher Certificates (6) Up to 10 Course Choices � � Level 8 Courses Honours Degrees (8) Up to 10 Course Choices The courses and levels are clearly labelled in the CAO Handbook N. B. – Care must be taken with courses marked ‘Restricted’. These ‘restricted’ courses cannot be applied for after February 1 st due to extra assessments required. Check out the CAO website at cao. ie Guidance Department Presentation Secondary School

So how does the CAO and points system in Ireland work?

CAO 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 CAO POINTS SYSTEM � Points are calculated from ONE sitting of the Leaving Certificate only. � Points total is calculated from SIX best subjects � Entry Requirements (e. g. Pass in Maths and English) can be satisfied over more than one sitting of the Leaving Certificate- with some exceptions –e. g. Medicine

Points System – the best 6 Grade A 1 A 2 B 1 B 2 B 3 Honours 100 90 Ordinary 60 50 85 80 75 45 40 35 C 1 C 2 C 3 65 60 25 20 D 1 D 2 D 3 55 50 45 15 10 5 � � 70 BEST 6 30 SUBJECTS Since 2012, bonus points in higher maths – 25 extra points

How the points are calculated � All the subjects a student presents are given a CAO points score and the best 6 numbers are added up to get the overall total points. � � � Irish English Maths French Biology Geography History POINTS H O H H H O H C 2 A 1 D 2 B 2 C 1 A 1 B 3 65 65 50 +25=75 80 70 60 exclude 75 425 BEFORE THE POINTS WILL BE LOOKED AT A STUDENT MUST SATISFY THE : 1: COLLEGE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS (MATRICULATION) 2: COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS (CAN BE SUBJECT OR GRADE SPECIFIC)

CAO Timetable –crucial dates � 5 th Nov – � 1 st � � � online CAO application facility opens February, 2015 [Early Bird Special Offer –Jan 20 th 2015] ◦ Closing date for receipt of normal applications Before/By 15 th February, 2015 ◦ Receive Statement of Course Choices 1 st March 2015 Closing date for final completion of online HEAR and DARE applications st 1 April 2015 Closing date for all final HEAR/DARE documentation 1 st May, 2015 ◦ Closing date for receipt of late CAO applications Before/By 31 st May, 2015 ◦ Receive Statement of Application Record From 5 May, 2015 ◦ Change of mind opens -FREE 1 st July, 2015 ◦ Latest date for receipt of change of mind form in CAO. Late August, 2015 ◦ First round of offers will commence on Aug 17 2014: round 1, Aug 26 2014: round 2 ◦ ◦ Cost of CAO Application: Early Bird – 25 Euro [on or before Jan 20 th] Normal – 40 Euro [by Feb 1 st] Students are encouraged to apply soon and avail of the FREE change of mind facility until the end of January [to avoid the last minute panic and computer problems]

CAO Offers – how it works � In August 2015 (17 AUG) the CAO will make offers to students from both lists(level 6/7 and 8) � Students can only accept one offer at a time � Students are still eligible for ALL higher preference offers in later rounds � Students can accept online � If deferring, students must contact the HEI directly in writing � From May to July 1 st students can adjust their course choice lists using the FREE change of mind facility.

Choice 2: Going to College Abroad UK UK APPLICANTS � For UK applicants (Oct 15 th or Jan 15 th) � Students set up their accounts online and work through the sections � Up to 5 choices maximum [sometimes only 4] � Guidelines have been given regarding writing the personal statement � Ensure you are aware of the courses that must be applied for by Oct 15 th Check out the admissions tests list on the UCAS website for UKCAT, HPAT etc

Going to college in Europe � Many colleges offer EU students the opportunity to study at very reasonable prices through the medium of English across many excellent universities � Look at www. eunicas. com

Making A College Application Important Key Dates for Ireland/UK � UCAS � CAO � PLC October 15 th 2014(for some courses) January 15 th 2015(for most courses) Feb 1 st 2015 � applications � [Early bird special deal –Jan 20 th] March 2015 [some accept later applications] � REACH applications March 2015 � HEAR and DARE applications Feb/March 1 st 2015 � Pre exams March 2015 � Practical/Oral LC exams March/April 2015 � HEAR and DARE final documentation April 1 st 2015 � LC written exams June 3 rd 2015 � Grant applications SUSI June/July 2015 � Students have a list of all open days

How will you finance it?

Cost of Living at Home – 2014 Registration Fees approx: € 2, 750 Cost of living for Students living at home Monthly (€) Annual (€) Contribution to Utilities 33 297 Food 65 585 Travel 119 1071 Books & Class Materials 55 495 Clothes/Medical 45 405 Mobile 32 288 Social Life 132 1188 Student Contribution charge 306 2750 Total’s 787 7083

The Cost of Living Away From Home Registration Fees approx: € 2, 750 Cost of Living for Student’s Living away from Home Rent (National – for Dublin see below) Utilities Food Travel Books & Class materials Clothes/Medical Mobile Social life/Misc Student Contribution Charge Total’s � Students Monthly (€) Annual (€) 307** 2763 33 172 119 74**** 45 32 132 306 1220 297 1548 1071 666 405 288 1188 2750 10980 in receipt of a grant will get their registration fees paid and may also receive additional support

Is there any financial support? Yes, there is! Let’s see what support there is out there for you

What Supports are Available? 1. 2. 3. 4. GRANTS/SUSI Financial H. E. A. R. Scheme Access/financial REACH Programme Access/financial Millennium Partnership Fund for Disadvantage Financial 5. Other Scholarships DEIS/academic/ Financial 6. D. A. R. E. Scheme Access/disability

1. Grants � � Applications are completed online at SUSI –Student Universal Support Ireland susi. ie Check out studentfinance. ie website for more information So how much do students get? Max Min 5, 915 305 Most students 3, 025 or Living away (45 km+) 1, 215 Living at home

2. HEAR Higher Education Access Route � This is an access scheme which the following 16 Institutions are involved in: DCU, DIT, NUI Maynooth, NUI Galway, TCD, UL, UCC, UCD, Marino, Mary I, Mater Dei, St. Angela’s, St. Pats, COI College of Education, NCI, PUM � Targets students who are motivated and have the ability to attend 3 rd level but may lack some of the social or economic supports. � Who is eligible to apply? Long term unemployed Low family income – must be within the Irish grants income limits Little family tradition of progression to 3 rd level Under represented socio-economic groups Applications are due in by Feb 1 st 2015 – through the CAO scheme and must be fully complete by March 1 st 2015 ALL FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS must be in by APRIL 1 st 2015 � � � Student Supports: Financial (1, 200 approx) Academic Personal Guidance Social Supports Orientation Programme Extra Tuition Students must get about 90% of the points needed to do the course of choice. A lot of students who are on the HEAR scheme achieved their place with no concession on points.

4. Millennium Partnership Fund for Disadvantage � This is a locally administered fund to assist students from disadvantaged areas attend further education. � Application forms are available from Waterford Area Partnership. � A local committee selects the students who receive support.

5. Other Scholarships � SIPTU – for children of SIPTU members � Reid Scholarship for Kerry Students in Trinity � Foley Scholarship – Architecture – € 8000 � Sports Scholarships – check with college � Entrance scholarships – awarded to best students � Irish Taxation Institute Scholarship – taxation � Science Foundation Ireland/DELL Scholarship –young women in engineering – engineering degrees – € 2000 � NUI Equal Opportunities Scheme - € 1625 � All Ireland Scholarship Scheme – 120 top LC students, open to medical card holders � Details of all schemes on studentfinance. ie

6. D. A. R. E – Disability Access Route to Education � � � � � This is part of the supplementary CAO application process. Forms are completed online with additional information forwarded to the CAO. The scheme is intended to support students with diagnosed disabilities such as: Asberger’s Syndrome, Autism, ADD, ADHD, blind, vision impaired, Dyspraxia, mental health condition, neurological conditions, significant ongoing illness, physical disability, specific learning difficulty and others…. The following 12 colleges are part of this scheme: Athlone IT, DCU, DIT, MATER DEI, NCI, NUIG, NUIM, TCD, UCC, UCD, UL, PUM Applications due in: FEB 1 st to be fully completed by March 1 st 2015 Additional information due in by: APRIL 1 st 2015 For further information check out: www. accesscollege. ie

Financial Documentation needed � � � Parents are encouraged to collect in a file all the financial documentation that will be needed. The following are often requested: P 60 for year ended 2013/4 P 21 for year ended 2013/4 Self-employed: copy of accounts ending 2012 and 2013 � � � Social Welfare recipient: statement from local office showing total amounts received for the year ending 2013/4 An original birth cert may also be requested Grant applications require information from 2014 while HEAR applications require 2013. If you are doing a HEAR and grant application you will need both sets of documents.

Supports In Summary � � Students are encouraged to look at all these schemes and put the time and effort into applying if they feel they are eligible. HEAR /DARE forms are completed as part of the online CAO process (students NOT the school send them off) Scholarship applications are usually returned to the college/Institute Grant forms are completed in the summer online and supporting documents are returned to the SUSI office [note: they are not returned to school]

If direct entry to college is not for you need a back up plan: FETAC Progression Routes – Further Education (PLC) FETAC level 5 or 6 � In 2014 there are 38 HEI’s offering places to FETAC applicants � Currently 20% of all CAO applicants have a level 5/6 FETAC AWARD (not applying on the basis of LC) � Since 2014 every FETAC Award will be part of the CAS (Common Awards System) � Based on a CREDITS system (max 120=400 points) � Some courses are ‘linked’ to specific related courses � For more information look up fetac. ie website

The FETAC(QQI) Progression Route Leaving Cert FETAC(PLC) Level 5 course Level 6 course Level 7 Level 8 course

Websites: � Qualifax. ie � studentfinance. ie � cao. ie � ucas. com � accesscollege. ie � careersportal. ie � eunicas. ie � fas. ie � Collegeboard. com � Thank you for your attention � If you have any questions please ask Feel free to ring me at school on 066 9790924 �