CAO Information NightThursday 12th Nov 2015

Guidance Counsellors:

Ms Catherine Slattery. Mr. Diarmaid Fahy

St Francis College

Rochestown

St Francis College,Rochestown

Co. Cork.

Tel: 021 4891417Fax: 021 4361254

Email: rococoll.ias@eircom.net

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Career decisions-What next??National Framework of

QualificationsRequirements for Third LevelLeaving Cert Points GridCAO TimetableThe CAO SystemThe CAO Application Process

Overview of Presentation

Ms.Geraldine Mulvey 3

Options after School

30/11/09

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Third Level Is a ChallengeIndependent study – nobody pushing,

checking or watchingFreedom – go to lectures, study or

drink coffeeAccommodation – work and study

away from home without any of the normal supports

Learning Challenge – study in depth at a much higher level than in secondary school

Are you ready for all this?

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It is a process which requires hard work

Be aware of all the options

For many – which course of study rather than what career

CAREER DECISIONS

Ms.Geraldine Mulvey 6

What course to choose??Interests?

Subject preference?

Style of learning?

Aptitude

Research30/11/09

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RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!Research the course on offerDon’t assume you know a course by its

titleConsider the lecture and teaching

methodsWhat options are within the courseIs there work experience or internshipIs there mentoring of first years?Career implicationsCost –fees, private colleges,

accommodation

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How to get the InformationCollege prospectusesCheck the colleges’ websitesRead career publicationsGo to Open Days and Career

ExhibitionsTalk to students and friendsDiscuss it with your Guidance

CounsellorTry to know as much as you can

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National Qualification Framework

All qualifications link up in a 10 level scaleYou never reach a “dead end” in study but can move on to the next levelLeaving Cert is at Level 5Higher Certificates level 6, Ordinary Degrees level 7, Honours Degrees level 8

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UNIs and ITsUniversities provide Level 8

courses. These are 3 or 4 year courses leading to an Honours Degree

ITs provide Level 6 Certificate courses, Level 7 Ordinary Degree courses as well as Level 8 Courses.

ITs provide add-on years to progress from one level to the next.

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LADDER SYSTEM

3rd Level Course Requirements

The College (or Basic) Requirements. 5 OD in Leaving Certificate for level 6 & 7 courses6 subjects (2 at HC and 4 at OD) for level 8 courses

The Faculty (or Course) Requirementse.g. HC in Irish for Primary Teaching, HC in Maths for level 8 Engineering, 2 science subjects for Medicine.

Points*Best six subjects in one sitting of the Leaving Certificate

SPECIFIC COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Since 2009 the following courses do not need a third language (e.g. French, German, Spanish etc)

All Science & Engineering courses in UCC, CIT and all NUI Colleges

NursingHowever many courses in NUI’s (UCC,

UCD, UCG & Maynooth) still require students to have a third language as minimum requirement for entry.

Core Subjects - MATHS

Fewer than 20% of Leaving Certificate students take this subject at higher level (nationally)

If you are capable of studying this subject at higher level, there are tremendous career opportunities

Higher Level Maths (C3) is a requirement for Level 8 Engineering Degree Courses and Mathematical Science in CIT and NUI’s

Since 2012: BONUS points (25 pts for achieving D3 in HL maths) where students have an honour in higher level maths – now awarded in all the NUI’s, UL,CIT, DIT, teacher training colleges plus WIT

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Irish Leaving Certificate Examination Points Calculation

L.C.

Grade

Higher

Level

Ord.

Level

Maths

H/L

Points *

Maths

Foundation

**

A1 100 60 125 20A2 90 50 115 15

B1 85 45 110 10B2 80 40 105 5B3 75 35 100

C1 70 30 95

C2 65 25 90

C3 60 20 85

D1 55 15 80

D2 50 10 75

D3 45 5 70

Table 1.8 HEI Common Points Scale

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Other Useful researching tools

www.careersportal.iewww.qualifax.ie www.cao.iewww.studentfinance.iewww.susi.iewww.accesscollege.iewww.hpatireland.ie

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The Application Process

•CAO distributes to schools and individuals an application pack containing an Application Form and a Handbook containing instructions and information about the application process.

• Every applicant should be familiar with the contents of the CAO Handbook

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Accompanying conditions: The six best results, in recognised

subjects, in one Leaving Certificate Examination will be counted for points computation.

One sitting only of the Leaving Certificate Examination will be counted for points purposes.

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Timely Action

In order to be fair to all applicants, closing dates are strict and therefore action should be taken in good time.

Do not leave everything to the last minute.

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Application Form: Part A

Part A of the Application Form is mostly self explanatory.

Information which identifies you is of the utmost importance.

Carefully enter details such as your name, address, date of birth, schools attended etc.

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Ms.Geraldine Mulvey 2230/11/09

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Your Application Number

If you apply online your application number will appear on your Receipt of Online Application.

◦ This number is private and it will be used in every correspondence between you and the CAO for the rest of the year.

◦ If you apply online you may change your course choices free of charge until January 31st.

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Ms.Geraldine Mulvey 25

Details of Qualifications and Assessments.

Irish Leaving Cert Exams (1985-2016)

Name and Address of school and Years attended.

No examination number??

30/11/09

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Adding your courses

There are two course choice lists and applicants may make up to ten course choices on each list.

10 choices may be made on the Level 8 list

10 choices may be made on the Level 7/6 list

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Restricted CoursesAdditional requirements needed such as portfolio, interview, apptitude test (Hpat for Medicine) audition, music test etc

Must be applied for by the 1st of Feb

Cannot put restricted courses on CAO when filling out change of mind later.

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Order of Preference

Use your genuine order of preferenceThe first choice is the one you want to do

mostIf not that course your second choice is…Then your third choice and so onRule of Thumb; When listing your

courses Ignore the points go for what you want most! (But include a dead cert all the same!)

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Statement of Application Record.

• Check the following carefully, if there is any error or omission, amend the Statement and return it to CAO.

◦Are all the courses shown and in the correct order?

◦Are all the codes correct?◦Are the exam numbers correct?◦Are all exams mentioned?◦If you do not receive a Statement by 1st

June contact CAO immediately.

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Statement of Course Choices End of May

The Statement of Course Choices lists the courses that you have applied for.

The Statement is important for many reasons:1. Courses – correct order?2. Course codes – Correct?3. Examination Numbers- correct?

If you have made any mistake or omission in your course choices then now is the time to rectify your error.

Pay particular attention to restricted courses.

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Application Form: Part B

Most applicants will not be required to complete Part B of the application form.

For example, if you are a first-time Leaving Certificate candidate under the age of 23, you will not be required to complete Part B of the form.

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Supplementary Application Form (SIF)

The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR): A 3rd level admissions scheme for school leavers from socially economic disadvantaged backgrounds. (see pg. 9 of CAO Handbook)

Must provide supporting additional info/documentation (income revenue forms, social welfare benefits ..... by 1st of April 2016

DARE: Disability Access Route to EducationAsperger’s, Autism, ADD. Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Physical Disability ....

Submit evidence of Disability and second level Academic Reference to CAO by 1st April 2015

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Change of mind

◦It is safer to use the Change of Mind Facility on the website than to use a paper Change of Mind form.

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Change of Mind5th Nov to 1st Feb (17:15) – no fee

5th of Feb (12:00) to 1st March - €10 charge

5th of May (12:00) to 1st July (17:15) – no fee

Late application to CAO not later then 5pm, 22nd July – extra fee = €50

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Offers and AcceptancesMade one week after Leaving Cert

resultsMade by post and onlineYou can get an offer from both lists

(levels 6 &7 and Level 8)You can only accept oneAccept online or by postNo need to pay any moneyStart looking for your

accommodation!

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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.

Deferring a Place

Some courses can not be deferred, check beforehand

Once the offer comes DO NOT ACCEPT IT

Write IMMEDIATELY to the college concerned

They will let them know if the offer will be deferred

14/12/2010 Guidance Department. St. Francis College 38

The Following Year

Reapply the following year with that course as their only choice

They will then get an offer in Round Zero

If they put any other courses on the form they will lose their deferred place

They then compete for places with all other applicants

14/12/2010Guidance Department. St. Francis College 39

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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.

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How Places are Allocated

When examination results are released in August they are entered into the CAO computer.

The computer checks each applicant’s results. For each course the applicant has applied for, the computer first determines if the applicant has the minimum entry requirements for the course.

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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.

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How Places are Allocated

Should some applicants decline to accept their offers these places become available in the next round of offers. They will be offered to the next applicants on the order of merit list.

Science – UCD100 places to be offered

Science – Maynooth100 places to be offered

Course Cut Off Points = 330 Course Cut Off Points = 335*

Random Selection to be used

Last

place to

be filled

ApplicantPosition

PointsScore

1 5602 5353 5254 5205 5106 5107 5058 5009 490-- ---- --15 45516 44517 44018 43519 42020 41021 405-- ---- --98 34599 340

100 335101 335102 335103 315104 310105 305-- ---- --

182 265

ApplicantPosition

PointsScore

1 5602 5353 5254 5205 5106 5107 5058 5009 490-- ---- --15 45516 44517 44018 43519 42020 41021 405-- ---- --98 34099 335

100 330101 325102 315103 310104 305105 295-- ---- --

182 265

14/12/2010 44Guidance Department. St. Francis College

1

AL020600595590580**********

495480470465460460460455455450450450450445435********

280275275270

2

GY004560535525520**********

485480475465460455445440435420410405405405400********

325315310305

3

CR105595595590580**********

475475470465460460460455455450445440435430430********

280275275270

4

LM067560535525520**********

485480460455445440440440435420410405400395395********

335335315310

5

DT025600595590580**********

475475465465460460460455455450450445435430430********

280275275270

6

LC019570535525520**********

485480470465460455445440435420410405405405400********

325315310305

7

TR032600595590580**********

475475470465460460460455455450445440435430430********

280275275270

8

DN003540535525520**********

485480480465460455445440435430410410405405405********

335335315310

9

CK602600595590580**********

475475470465460460460455455450445440435430430********

280275275270

10

DC193555535525520**********

485480470465460455445440435420410405405405400********

325315310305

NO NO NOYES YES YES YES YESYES NO

A Students Course Preferences

Students

Points

Total

= 445

Cut Off Points for Course

All Lower

Preference

Courses

Disappear

From Students

Preferences14/12/2010 45

2

G Y 0 0 45 6 05 3 55 2 55 2 0

* ** ** ** ** *

4 8 54 8 04 7 54 6 5

4 6 04 5 5

4 4 54 4 04 3 54 2 04 1 04 0 54 0 54 0 54 0 0

* ** ** ** *

3 2 53 1 53 1 0

1

A L 0 2 06 0 05 9 55 9 05 8 0

* ** ** ** ** *

4 9 54 8 04 7 04 6 54 6 04 6 04 6 04 5 54 5 54 5 04 5 04 5 04 5 04 4 54 3 5

* ** ** ** *

2 8 02 7 52 7 5

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

7 round one places not accepted

3 round one places not accepted

Round 2 cut off points - 455

Round 2 cut off points - 460

14/12/2010 46

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Genuine Order of Preference

• You do not need to guess what the points are going to be for the courses you are interested in.

• Simply list your courses in genuine order of preference from the highest preference 1, to the lowest preference 10.

• If you are entitled to an offer, you will be offered the highest preference that you are entitled to.

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TimetableJan 20th Closing date for online cheaper

applications - €25Feb 1st Closing date for applicationsMay 1st Closing date for late

applicationsJuly 1st Closing date for change of mindRound One Offers –one week after

Leaving Cert resultsRound Two Offers –early SeptemberAfter Round Two –as necessary

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FinallyGet lots of information

Read the instructions

Be on time

Courses in YOUR order of preference

Include one “dead cert”

Ms.Geraldine Mulvey 50

Questions?

30/11/09