St Patricks Comprehensive CAO Information 2015/16 Ms Schous Guidance Counsellor.

St Patricks Comprehensive

CAOInformation 2015/16

Ms SchousGuidance Counsellor

Agenda Applicants Responsibilities General points regarding the

CAO. Entry Requirements and the

Points System. Making an application. How places are allocated by

CAO Hear/Dare After submitting the

application. Questions

It is the applicants responsibility to:

Research thoroughly all the courses for which he/she is making an application.

Be au fait with all aspects of the application system used (CAO) for these courses, i.e., procedures, dates, fees, rules, etc.

Useful ResourcesTo assist with course research / application

Publications College Prospectuses – 2016 Entry Student Yearbook and Career

Directory part 2, 2016 ed. CAO Handbook 2016Newspapers The Irish Times The

Independent January, August, Sept Special College Supplements

Series of articles

Internet Qualifax – www.qualifax.ie Irish courses

database CAO – www.cao.ie Contains links to course

websites Careers - www.careersportal.ie

www.careerdirections.ie Careersworld – www.careersworld.com College websites (Addresses in CAO Handbook)

People Relatives Past pupils Admissions/Academic staff of colleges

Guidance Counsellor

CAREER FAMILIES Business Computers/IT Engineering Construction Science/ Medical related Arts/Humanities/Media/Law Sport Art/Design/fashion/Music Agriculture/Veterinary/horticulture Defence Forces/Gardaí Social & Caring

Open Days

2/3/10NUIG 29/09/ Midwest Careers Exhibition Limerick 10/10 UCC open day (Saturday) 15-16/10 Mary I, U.L., LIT open days 23-24/10 Galway-Mayo IT 16/10 Shannon College of Hotel Management

More information available on the College/ Universities Website. Ms Schous notice board or on qulaifax.ie under career events

CAO – General Info. Centralised application system for 46 Irish 3rd

level institutions, including 10 fee-paying colleges.

Every 5th year should now have a CAO Application Pack which includes:

2016 CAO Handbook – application and course information

Application fee by Visa / Master / Debit Card Application Dates and Fees

Paper Application Fee Closing Date

Normal (Online) €40 1st Feb 2016

Online discounted rate

€25 20th Jan 2016

Late online application

€50 1st May 2016

Change of Mind No Fee 1st July 2016

Fee Paying Colleges Griffith College Dublin, Cork & Limerick American College Dublin Dublin Business School Independent colleges Dublin IBAT Colleges, Swords Grafton college, Dublin ICD Business school, Dublin National Counselling & Psychotherapy

inst. Limerick

CAO – General Info. There are 3 types of courses students can

apply for under the Nat. Qualifications Framework. Pg 13

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

Up to 10 Course Choices

The courses are clearly labelled in the CAO Handbook

N.B. – Care must be taken with courses marked ‘Restricted’. See pg 3 and example pg 75 LC 111

These courses cannot be applied for after February 1st 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 HC3 Pass in:

b Irishb Englishb Another Language*b Mathematics*b Science Subject*

Specific Subject Requirements

E.g.sEngineering(UL)

HC3 MathsVeterinary

Medicine(UCD) HC3 Chemistry

Business with French (UL)

HC3 FrenchIf all Entry Requirements are met applicant is deemed ‘Qualified’ to apply.

POINTS SYSTEMGenerally in the CAO system

No. of qualified applicants > No. of course places --> selection system is needed.

Selection system used in Irish 3rd 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.

For D3 or above in higher level maths, students get extra 25 points. Entry Requirements can be satisfied over more

than one sitting of the Leaving Certificate

POINTS ALLOCATIONGrade Honours OrdinaryA1 100 60A2 90 50

B1 85 45B2 80 40B3 75 35

C1 70 30C2 65 25C3 60 20

D1 55 15D2 50 10D3 45 5 MATHS (H) +

25

Making an application Applications can be made online Always keep proof of sending application:

online – print screen receipt. Form is very straight forward to fill out. www.cao.ie

**VERY IMPORTANT** Students must fill out both course lists in:

Genuine Order of Preference They should not put down courses on the basis

of their predictions of next years cut off points or their own points scores.

Why? – Look at how places are allocated.

ENGINEERING – UL100 places to be offered

Science – Galway100 places to be offered

Course Cut Off Points = 395 Course Cut Off Points = 370*

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 38099 375100 370101 370102 370103 365104 365105 360-- ---- --182 265

ApplicantPosition

PointsScore

1 5602 5353 5254 5205 5106 5107 5058 5009 490-- ---- --15 45516 44517 44018 43519 42020 41021 405-- ---- --9899 400

100 395101 390102 385103 380104 370105 360-- ---- --182 265

1

TR071

600595590580**********495480470465460460460455455450450450450445435********280275275

2

TR076

560535525520**********485480475465460455445440435420410405405405400********325315310305

3

MH201

595595590580**********475475470465460460460455455450445440435430430400390380370365360350

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

2

TR 076560535525520

**********485480475465

460455

445440435420410405405405400

********325315310

1

TR 071600595590580**********495480470465465465460455445440430420410400435********280275275

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

4 round one places not accepted

7 round one places not accepted

Round 2 cut off points - 460

Round 2 cut off points - 410

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

So – what is the best way to fill in the courses?

Dream Courses

Realistic Courses

Banker Courses

Places AllocationNote: The position of a course in a student’s

preference order does not in any way affect their chance of getting a place on that course.

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 to one.

HEAR & DARE SCHEME HEAR: Higher Education Access Route See page 9 - 10 of your handbook

Admission scheme established by a number of third level colleges for students from socio economic backgrounds.

DARE: Disability Access Route to EducationAdmission scheme for students with a disability or specific learning difficulty

Both must be indicated on CAO form by 1st February 2016 & supporting documentation submitted by 1st April 2016

Criteria and further information available on:www.accesscollege.ie

After Making Application

Receive CAO number and Statement of Course Choices – check this carefully.

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.

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 2015 ENTRY

20th January, 2016 Apply online for the discounted rate of €25 after this

date is €401st February, 2016

Closing date for receipt of normal applications 1sh March 2016

Closing date for HEAR / DARE 1st May, 2016

Closing date for receipt of late applications Before/By 31st May, 2016

Receive Statement of Application Record After 5th May to 1st July, 2016

Change of mind facility is available. 1st July, 2016

Latest date for receipt of change of mind form in CAO.

Late August, 2016 First round of offers will commence.

William Glasser Educationalist Psychologist

“Education begins at birth and continues all

our lives”