2012

Publications College Prospectuses – 2012 Entry Student Yearbook and Career Directory 2, 2012

ed. Career Choice 2012 ed., Level Three Publications CAO Handbook 2012 Directory of L.C. Entry Requirements - 2012 Entry

Newspapers The Irish Times

Special CAO College Supplement - irishtimes.com

Series of daily articles - Brian Mooney The Independent

CAO Articles - Mary O Donnell – independent.ie

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

Centralised application system for 45 Irish 3rd level institutions, including 10 fee-paying colleges.

Every applicant should now have a CAO Application Pack which includes:◦ 2012 CAO Handbook – application and course information◦ Paper application form◦ Application fee bank giro form

Application Dates and FeesPaper Application Fee Closing Date

Normal €40 1 February 2012 (5.15pm)

Late €80 1 May 2012 (5.15pm)

Online Application Fee Closing Date

Early Discounted €30 20 January 2012 (5.15pm)

Normal €40 1 February 2012 (5.15pm)

Late €60 1 May 2012 (5.15pm)

Change of Mind No Fee 1 July 2012 (5.15pm)

Since 2005 there are now 3 types of courses students can apply for under the

National Framework of Qualifications

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

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 1st due to extra assessments required.

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

Cost - €95 Only one test date in 2012. Valid for 2012 & 2013 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 625: 5 1 new pt.

LC max score = 565 HPAT max score = 300 Combined max score = 865 Contact colleges for details.

Important dates: 4 November

Registration opens 20 January

Final date for normal registrations

1 February Final date for late test

registrations (€160) 3 February

Final date for exceptional late registrations (€195)

25 February Test Date

Late April Test results to students

17 to 21 August Collation of new scores

22 August ~ Round 1 CAO offers

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

If applying online,2 steps: (a) Create Application Account (b) Log in and enter details

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

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

**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, etc.

They shouldn’t put down courses on the basis of predictions of next years cut off points or their own points scores.

Science – DCU100 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 340100 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

Course MeritLists

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

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.

(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 1st - €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.

20th January, 2012◦ Closing date for receipt of early online applications

1st February, 2012◦ Closing date for receipt of normal applications

5th February to 1st March, 2012◦ Courses may be changed online including ‘restricted’,

€10 Before/By 15th February, 2012

◦ Receive Statement of Course Choices (paper applicants) 1st May, 2012

◦ Closing date for receipt of late applications Early May, 2012

◦ Change of mind forms may be sent. (online - May 3rd) Before/By 31st May, 2012

◦ Receive Statement of Application Record 1st July, 2012

◦ Latest date for receipt of change of mind form in CAO. ~22nd ~ August, 2012

◦ First round of offers will commence.

Research courses thoroughly Apply as early as possible Apply online Put courses in order of

preference Obtain / retain proof of

application Be careful with change of mind