LORETO SECONDARY SCHOOL LETTERKENNY 6 th Year Parents

LORETO SECONDARY SCHOOL LETTERKENNY 6 th Year Parents Information

Outline of Presentation �Points System �CAO �HEAR/DARE �UCAS �General Information

Points Scale Grade H 1/O 1 H 2/O 2 H 3/O 3 H 4/O 4 H 5/O 5 H 6/O 6 H 7/O 7 H 8/O 8 Mark 90 -100 80<90 70<80 60<70 50<60 40<50 30<40 0<30

Leaving Certificate. Points Higher Level Grade H 1 H 2 H 3 H 4 H 5 H 6 H 7 H 8 Points 100 88 77 66 56 46 37 0

Leaving Certificate Points Ordinary Level Grades O 1 O 2 O 3 O 4 O 5 O 6 O 7 O 8 Points 56 46 37 28 20 12 0 0

Points Scale �H 1 �H 2 �H 3 �H 4 �H 5/O 1 �H 6/O 2 �H 7/O 3 � /O 4 � /O 5 � /06 100 88 77 66 56 46 37 28 20 12

Bonus Points For Mathematics � 25 Bonus Points will be awarded at Grades H 6 and above. �H 6=46+25=71 �H 7=37

Minimum Entry Requirements (Matriculation Requirements) Matriculation refers to the minimum requirements for entry to a University. Matriculation has nothing to do with points.

MATRICULATION REQUIREMENTS � 5 Subjects at O level including Irish/English and Maths for Institutes of Technology(Level 6&7) � 6 Subjects, 2 at H levelto include Irish, English, Maths and a Language for (Level 8) NUI

Matriculation Requirements � 6 Subjects, 3 at H level for Trinity College and Primary Teaching(With subject requirements) �PLCs depend on course

Other Requirements �Subject Requirements/Specific Course Requirements (HL Irish Primary Teaching, Science Subject Nursing etc) �For some courses you may need to sit additional assessments (e. g. HPAT), provide supplementary information (e. g. a portfolio) or attend for an interview or audition. Results from these are normally added to Leaving Cert points and appear with a #

CAO Applications

Choosing Courses �Consult your Guidance Counsellor �Discuss your options with family and friends �Consult the HEI prospectuses and websites.

Making an application �Applicants are encouraged to apply online. �The website address is www. cao. ie �Applying online is cheaper and it prevents many of the errors commonly associated with completing a paper application form.

CAO Application Form Page 1 – Applicant Details

Application Form Level 8 Choices Level 6/7 Choices

Two Applications on One Form �It is possible to receive an offer on both lists �You may then decide to accept either your Level 7/6 or your Level 8 offer. �Alternatively, you might not wish to accept either offer.

The Offer Process �In the week following the release of the Leaving Certificate results CAO will post a communication to all applicants.

The Offer Process �If you are entitled to an offer, you will be sent an offer notice. You should check that all of the details on the offer notice are correct and that there are no omissions. �Offers will also be available on the CAO website where they may also be accepted.

The Offer Process �Your offer notice may contain an offer �Level 8 course �Level 7/6 course �or both �If you receive two offers at the same time you may only accept one of them.

The Offer Process �There can be no delays at the offer/acceptance stage. �Any offer not accepted by the closing date for receipt of acceptance of offers in CAO will be offered to another applicant in the next round of offers.

How Places are Allocated �We will look just at Level 8 courses, but exactly the same process will take place with Level 7/6 courses, and at the same time. �The importance of you, the applicant, placing courses in genuine order of preference will become apparent in the following slides.

How Places are Allocated �If the applicant meets the minimum entry requirements for the course, the applicant’s points are calculated for this course choice. �All eligible applicants are then placed in a list, in order of academic merit, for each course that they applied for.

Level 8 Choices DN 450 DC 215 AS 110 LY 908 DC 216 GY 516 GA 882 LY 918 DN 453 DN 451

Level 8 Choices Explained UCD General Nursing DCU General Nursing St. Angela’s General Nursing LYIT General Nursing DCU Mental Health

Level 8 Choices Explained NUIG Mental Health GMIT Mental Health LYIT Mental Health UCD Children’s Nursing

Order of Preference �Place your course choices in genuine order of preference!

Results Day Student achieved 421 points

Points for 2020 Points DN 450 424 DC 215 433 AS 110 419 LY 908 400 DC 216 403 GY 516 440 GA 882 367 LY 918 357 DN 453 393 DN 451 506

Round 1 Offers Points DN 250 424 DC 215 433 AS 110 419 LY 908 400 DC 216 403 GY 516 440 GA 882 367 LY 918 357 DN 453 393 DN 451 506 Student offered 3 rd choice All subsequent choices are deleted. Must accept or reject offer

Round 1 Offers DN 250 Point s 424 DC 215 433 AS 110 419 Student accepts 3 rd choice Student can still be considered for her first and second choices in subsequent rounds should the points drop

Round 2 Offers DN 250 Point s 421 DC 215 433 AS 110 419 Student now must decide to keep first offer or change to her second offer

Important Dates �CAO deadline is 1 st Feb 2021 �Reduced application fee for applications submitted by 20 th Jan 2021 �CAO operates a Change of Mind facility from Early May-1 st July for all courses except those with Restricted Entry

Frequently asked Questions �I have sufficient points for my course why did I not receive an offer? �I do not want the course I have been offered. Can I get a place in another course which is lower in my order of preference?

FAQ �Can I ever get an offer for a course for which I have not applied for? �Will I disqualify myself from other offers if I accept/refuse this one?

FAQ �I do not wish to accept the offer which I have received. What do I do? �What happens if my points change after the appeals?

HEAR is an admissions scheme which offers places on reduced points and extra supports to students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Benefits of Making a HEAR Application �A student who meets the application criteria may be offered a place even if they do not have enough points for their preferred course. �Each participating college has a number of places to offer eligible students on reduced Leaving Certificate points.

Reduced Points �Applicants must meet the minimum entry requirements and any specific course requirements before being considered for a reduced points offer. �The amount of points a course is reduced depends on: �The overall number of places on the course, �The number of reserved HEAR places, �The number of eligible applicants competing for these places.

Extra College Supports �Orientation Programme �Extra tuition �One to one meetings with student advisers �Social gatherings/mentoring �Extra financial assistance when available

Who Should Apply �Applicants must meet a range of financial, social and cultural indicators: �Income �Medical/GP Visit Card �Means Tested Social Welfare �Socio-economic Group �DEIS School Attendance �Area Profile �(Income plus 2 other indicators)

Who Should Apply �Socio-economic Groupis a measure of social background. A students (SEG) is determined by: �Parent’s/Guardian’s Employment Status �Parent’s/Guardian’s Type of Employment �Parent’s/Guardian’s Occupations

Making a HEAR Application �Apply online at www. cao. ie as part of the CAO application process by 1 February 2021 �Indicate you wish to be considered for HEAR �Complete questions relating to family’s financial situation, employment status of parents etc. �Submit supporting documentation (e. g. P 21, Notice of Assessment etc) by 1 April 2021

Participating Colleges �Athlone IT �CIT �DCU �DIT �GMIT �IADT �LYIT �LIT �Marino Inst of Ed �Mary I Limerick �Maynooth University �NCI NUIG Pont Uni Maynooth RCSI Sligo IT St Angela’s TUD TCD UCC UCD UL

DARE �Disability Access Route to Education �DARE is an alternative admissions scheme for students whose disabilities have a negative impact on their second level education �Apply online as part of CAO Application

Who Should Apply �Autism Spectrum(including Asperger’s Syndrome) �ADD/ADHD �Blind/Vision Impaired �Deaf/Hearing Impaired �DCD – Dyspraxia/Dysgraphia �Mental Health Conditions �Neurological Condition �Significant Ongoing Illness �Physical Disability �Specific Learning Difficulty �Speech & Language Communication Disorder

Benefits of Making a DARE Application �Reduced Points Offer �College Supports may include�Orientation Programme �Learning Support �Assistive Technology �Exam Accommodation �Education Support Worker

Where Can I Find Information? �Full details on all aspects of the HEAR & DARE schemes can be found on www. accesscolleges. ie �Application Advice Clinics Nationwide on Sat. Jan. 9 th 2021. (Usually Villa Rose, Ballybofey, 10 am-2 pm)

UCAS Apply system for Northern Ireland, England, Scotland Wales.

Deadlines For Receipt Of Applications : � 15 th Oct 2020 – Medicine / Dentistry / Veterinary Medicine / Veterinary Science. All courses in Oxford and Cambridge. � 15 th Jan 2021 – All other courses

Choosing Courses UCAS offers thousands of courses in hundreds of universities and colleges. Students need to choose their courses for the right reasons and do plenty of research before deciding where to go.

Applying �Students apply for courses using the online application system. �The application is divided into 5 sections: �Personal Details �Student Finance �Course Choices �Education �Employment �Personal Statement

Reference • Applications are then sent by the student to their centre, which is the school. • When we receive completed applications we attach a referenceand the students predicted grades. Once this is complete we forward the application to UCAS. • Applications are then forwarded to the chosen universities and colleges by UCAS.

To facilitate this we ask our students to complete their application by Oct 23 th 2020 so as we can work on the references and ensure all applications are with UCAS before the Christmas break.

Other Requirements �For some courses students need to sit additional assessments (e. g. HPAT Ulster, UKCAT), provide supplementary information (e. g. a portfolio), or attend for an interview. �This is a vital part of the selection process.

Offers �Universities and colleges will decide whether to offer a student a place. �Applicants can check if they’re accepted on the UCAS online tracking system, Track. This shows their choices and any decisions made by the universities and colleges. �If they are accepted students must reply to their offers.

Conditional Offers made are conditional on obtaining certain grades or points. (UCAS Tariff Points) Two of these maybe accepted. The Firm acceptance should be the students 1 st Choice, the Insurance acceptance is the students 2 nd Choice.

Results �Leaving Certificate results are automatically sent to UCAS. �Students who meet the requirements of the conditional offer are accepted and will receive a letter from UCAS that explains what happens next.

Money Matters �The cost of applying is £ 20/£ 26 �Tuition Fees – Vary between location, courses and colleges (£ 1, 820/£ 4, 160/ £ 9, 250) �Brexit will affect EU/Irish student fees �Currently EU Nationals are eligible to apply for Tuition Fee Loan �Must be repaid once the student is earning £ 25, 000(Eng & Wales) £ 18, 330(NI&Scot) �Scholarships �Students can apply for Maintenance Grant

Money, Money �Annual student contribution or registration fee. � 2021 -2022 fee approx. 3, 000 Euro

Maintenance Grant �Higher Education Grants cover all institutions in CAO and UCAS with the exception of private institutions. �Means Test – Eligibility for grant is assessed on the basis of parents income. �Consists of maintenance and payment of registration fee. (Reg Fee Ro. I only) �SUSI administer the Grant Application which is made online at www. studentfinance. ie

Other Applications �St. Mary’s Belfast �NWRC – Limavady/Derry �Cavan College �PLC’s – Errigal College �Others

Preparing for Life at College �Accommodation Hunt �Costs & Budgeting �Health/Personal Safety

Being Exam Wise � LC Candidate Information Booklet � Exam Paper - Marking Process - Viewing Process - Appeals Process

Finally �Remember we are always available to assist your daughter in this next stage of her life. �If you ever need to talk to us you may make an appointment through the main office. �Thank you for your attention and interest.