CAO

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CAO

• Information
• Seminar

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Agenda

• Important Responsibilities of Applicants
• General points regarding the CAO.
• Entry Requirements and the Points System.
• Entry to Medicine
• Making an application.
• How places are allocated by CAO
• After submitting the application.
• CAO Timetable

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It is most important that applicants

• Research thoroughly all the courses for which
  application is being made
• Course code, content, requirements, fees,
  duration, award, options, etc.
• Be familiar with all aspects of the application
  system used (CAO) for these courses
• Procedures, instructions, dates, fees, etc.
• Give time in their busy schedule, on a regular
  basis for the above.

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Useful ResourcesTo assist with course research /
application

• Publications
• College Prospectuses 2011 Entry
• Student Yearbook and Career Directory 2, 2011 ed.
• Career Choice 2011 ed., Level Three Publications
• CAO Handbook 2011
• Directory of L.C. Entry Requirements - 2011 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

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• 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

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CAO General Info.

• Centralised application system for 45 Irish 3rd
  level institutions, including 9 fee-paying
  colleges.
• Every applicant should now have a CAO Application
  Pack which includes
• 2011 CAO Handbook application and course
  information
• Paper application form
• Application fee bank giro form
• Application Dates and Fees

Paper Application Fee Closing Date
Normal 40 1 February 2011 (5.15pm)
Late 80 1 May 2011 (5.15pm)
Online Application Fee Closing Date
Early Discounted 30 20 January 2011 (5.15pm)
Normal 40 1 February 2011 (5.15pm)
Late 60 1 May 2011 (5.15pm)
Change of Mind No Fee 1 July 2011 (5.15pm)
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CAO General Info.

• Since 2005 there are now 3 types of courses
  students can apply for under the
• National Framework of Qualifications

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CAO General Info.

• 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.

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Entry RequirementsThese must be satisfied
before points are considered.

• Minimum Entry Requirements
• E.g. UCD
• Pass 6 subjects
• At least 2 HC3
• Pass in
• Irish
• English
• Another Language
• Mathematics
• Science Subject

• Specific Subject Requirements
• E.g.s
• Engineering(UCD)
• HC3 Maths
• Veterinary Medicine(UCD)
• HC3 Chemistry
• French Law(UCD)
• HB3 French

If all Entry Requirements are met ? applicant is
deemed Qualified to apply.
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Points System

• Generally in the CAO system
• No. of qualified applicants gt No. of course
  places
• --gt 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
• University of Limerick - all courses
• DIT - Course DT021, Electronic Eng.
• Entry Requirements can be satisfied over more
  than one sitting of the Leaving Certificate

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Points Allocation

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

LCVP Points Distinction 70 Merit 50 Pass 30
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Application to Medicine

• 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

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HPAT

• Cost - 95
• Only one test date in 2011.
• Valid for 2011 2012
• 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 600 5 ? 1 new pt.
• LC max score 560
• HPAT max score 300
• Combined max score 860
• 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 (145)
• 3 February
• Final date for exceptional late registrations
  (190)
• 26 February
• Test Date
• 27 June
• Test results to students
• 17 to 21 August
• Collation of new scores
• 22 August
• Round 1 CAO offers

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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 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

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Supplementary Entry Systems

• 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

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Making an application

• 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 dont get this whatever course they would
  next like to get onto should be put down number
  2, etc, etc.
• They shouldnt put down courses on the basis of
  predictions of next years cut off points or their
  own points scores.

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Science DCU 100 places to be offered
Science Maynooth 100 places to be offered
Course Merit Lists
? Random Selection to be used
? Last place to be filled
Course Cut Off Points 330
Course Cut Off Points 335
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So what is the best way to fill in the courses?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
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Dream Courses
Realistic Courses
Banker Courses
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Places Allocation

• Note
• The position of a course in a students
  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.

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After Making Application

• (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.

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CAO TIMETABLE 2011 ENTRY

• 20th January, 2011
• Closing date for receipt of early online
  applications
• 1st February, 2011
• Closing date for receipt of normal applications
• 5th February to 1st March, 2011
• Courses may be changed online including
  restricted, 10
• Before/By 15th February, 2011
• Receive Statement of Course Choices (paper
  applicants)
• 1st May, 2011
• Closing date for receipt of late applications
• Early May, 2011
• Change of mind forms may be sent. (online - May
  3rd)
• Before/By 31st May, 2011
• Receive Statement of Application Record
• 1st July, 2011
• Latest date for receipt of change of mind form in
  CAO.
• 22nd August, 2010
• First round of offers will commence.

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In Summary

• Research courses thoroughly
• Apply as early as possible
• Apply online
• Pay by debit/credit card
• Put courses in order of preference
• Obtain / retain proof of application
• Be careful with change of mind