notes by guidance team in banagher college going to college 2016

notes by guidance team in Banagher College

Going to College2016


Agenda• Banagher College Career Service • Applicants Responsibilities• General points regarding the

CAO.

• Entry Requirements and the Points System.

• Making an application.• How places are allocated by CAO• After submitting the

application.• Questions


Career Service in Banagher College

• Individual Career appointments• Feedback on DAT results• Completion of interest inventories (paper

and database versions)• Individual/Group appointments for UCAS

applicants• Visiting speakers from colleges/

Universities• Attendance at Career Exhibition in Limerick• Visited open days at a University and an IT • Classroom based career classes.


It is the applicants responsibility to:

• Research thoroughly all the courses for which he/she is making 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, 2016 ed.• CAO Handbook 2016

Newspapers• The Irish Times

Wednesday Education and Living Section January Special College Supplement

Series of articles - Brian Mooney

• The IndependentCareers Articles –Katherine Donnelly


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)• UCAS -www.ucas.com

People• Relatives• Past pupils• Admissions/Academic staff of colleges (corresponding

names and phone numbers on inside cover of CAO handbook)

Guidance Counsellor• Access to sources of information


CAO – General Info.

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

• Every 6th year should now have a CAO Application Pack which includes:– 2016 CAO Handbook – application and course information

• Application Dates and Fees

• CAO on line applicatio opens Nov 5th 2015

All fees are non-refundable. FEE CLOSING DATENormal application (online or paper) €40 1st Feb 2016 (5:15 pm )Online discounted rate €25 20th Jan 2016 (5:15 pm)Late online application €50 1st May 2016 (5:15 pm)Late paper application €80 1st May 2016 (5:15 pm)Change of Mind until Nil 1st July 2016 (5:15 pm)


CAO – General Info.• There are 3 types of courses students can apply for under

the Nat. Qualifications Framework.

• These are applied for on 2 separate lists on a single form:

Up to 10 Course Choices

Ordinary Degrees (7) Higher Certificates (6)

Level 6 & 7 Courses

Honours Degrees (8)

Up to 10 Course Choices

Level 8 Courses

The courses are clearly labelled in the CAO Handbook

N.B. – Care must be taken with courses marked ‘Restricted’.

These courses cannot be applied for after February 1st due to extra assessments required.


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 by

– All colleges. • Entry Requirements (Not Points) can be satisfied over more

than one sitting of the Leaving Certificate (except for Medicine)


POINTS ALLOCATIONGrade Honours Ordinary Bonus Points For Honours Maths

A1 100 60 +25A2 90 50 +25B1 85 45 +25B2 80 40 +25B3 75 35 +25C1 70 30 +25C2 65 25 +25C3 60 20 +25D1 55 15 +25D2 50 10 +25D3 45 5 +25

LCVP Points

Distinction 70

Merit 50

Pass 30


Making an application• 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 screen receipt, paper – obtain certificate of post.

• 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.


College & FacultyENTRY REQUIREMENTS

These must be satisfied before “points” are considered.

Minimum College Entry Requirements

• (Level 6/7) Minimum of 5 OD3’s •(Level 8)2 HC3’s + 4OD3’s Pass in:

Irish English Mathematics Foreign Language

Specific Faculty Requirements

E.g.s

• HC3 MathsEngineering(NUI Galway)•HC3 ChemistryVeterinary Medicine(UCD)•HC1 FrenchLaw and French (TCD)

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


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COURSE 1COURSE 1

COURSE 2COURSE 2

COURSE 3COURSE 3

COURSE 4COURSE 4

COURSE 5COURSE 5

COURSE 6COURSE 6

COURSE 7COURSE 7

COURSE 8COURSE 8

COURSE 9COURSE 9

COURSE 10COURSE 10


COURSE 1COURSE 1

COURSE 2COURSE 2

COURSE 3COURSE 3

COURSE 4COURSE 4

COURSE 5COURSE 5

COURSE 6COURSE 6

COURSE 7COURSE 7

COURSE 8COURSE 8

COURSE 9COURSE 9

COURSE 10COURSE 10

OFFER 1

NO LONGER NO LONGER CONSIDEREDCONSIDERED


’’


OFFER 2

COURSE 1COURSE 1

COURSE 2COURSE 2

COURSE 3COURSE 3

COURSE 4COURSE 4

COURSE 5COURSE 5

COURSE 6COURSE 6

COURSE 7COURSE 7

COURSE 8COURSE 8

COURSE 9COURSE 9

COURSE 10COURSE 10

OFFER 1

NO LONGER NO LONGER CONSIDEREDCONSIDERED

NO LONGER CONSIDEREDNO LONGER CONSIDERED


6

7

8

9

10

5

4

3

2

1

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 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.


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.


This is arranged AFTER an offer is made. This is arranged AFTER an offer is made. (Read the CAO Handbook about this.)(Read the CAO Handbook about this.)

You are recommended to check with the You are recommended to check with the college in advance about their deferral college in advance about their deferral conditions and arrangements.conditions and arrangements.

The CAO Handbook mentions some The CAO Handbook mentions some courses where deferral will be difficult courses where deferral will be difficult or impossible.or impossible.


Complete your application onlineComplete your application online

Pay the fee by credit/debit card or at Pay the fee by credit/debit card or at a bank using an Application Fee a bank using an Application Fee Payment Form (Contact CAO and Payment Form (Contact CAO and request it to be posted to you)request it to be posted to you)

Acknowledgement (by March)Acknowledgement (by March)

Statement of Application Record (by end of May)Statement of Application Record (by end of May)

Change of Mind Facility until July 1stChange of Mind Facility until July 1st

Possible Offers (end August)Possible Offers (end August)


And Finally…

notes by guidance team in banagher college going to college 2016

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