The college applications season is drawing to a close. The CAO closing date is next Monday, February 1st, and you must have your application in by 5.15 p.m. This means the last posting day is Saturday, January 30th.
You should obtain proof of posting - get the certificate of posting at the back of the CAO handbook stamped. The CAO will not accept applications by fax. If you can't make up your mind until Monday, then you must deliver your application by hand before 5.15 p.m. Technologically-wired students can apply on the Internet.
All is not lost if you don't get your application in on time. There is a late closing date of May 1st but the application fee doubles from £18 to £36. But students who are applying for restricted-application courses - courses where an assessment other than the Leaving Certificate applies - must have their applications in by next Monday. No restricted-application courses can be included in a late application.
You can change your mind about your choice of course up to July 1st but again, you cannot introduce any new restricted-application courses after February 1st. A complete list of restricted-application courses is on page three of the CAO handbook.
The CAO can be contacted at Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway. Tel (091) 509800. Fax (091) 562344.
There's a useful checklist on the back of the application envelope.
Psychology
One of the perennial favourites, direct-entry psychology programmes command high cut-off points while students who go into common-entry programmes face tough competition for limited places in second year.
Remember, if you want to work as a professional psychologist, you will usually need a postgraduate qualification.
UCD
In UCD, psychology is offered through two routes - arts or science.
Arts students can study psychology along with two other subjects in first year. There are 70 places in second year for students who want to study pure psychology. These places are offered to the students who score highest in the first-year exams but there is a fairly high refusal rate, as many of the top 70 don't wish to confine their BA to one subject. So you don't necessarily have to be in the top 70 but you do have to do well in your exams.
Science students can take psychology with two other subjects in the second year of their four-year course. The first year of the BSc is a basic general programme. In third year, BSc students can study psychology on its own. Around 20 places are available for students who wish to graduate with a BSc in psychology.
The end results of either programme are equally valid if you wish to become a psychologist.
TCD
There are just 31 first-year places in TCD's single honours psychology programme. Last year, the cut-off points were 525, an increase of 10 points from the year before.
It is also possible to take psychology with another arts subject but because there are only 17 places on the joint honours programme, the points requirement last year was a stiff 560, up 25 points on 1997.
UCC
UCC expects to offer around 30 places in its BA programme in applied psychology. The entry points requirement was 505 last year. Students of applied psychology take two other arts subjects in first year and study for a single honours degree in their second and third years.
Arts students can also take "studies in psychology" as a minor subject in their BA. However this programme has no professional recognition associated with it, whereas the applied psychology degree is recognised for graduate membership of the Psychological Society of Ireland and the British Psychological Society.
There are also 10 places for students of biological and chemical sciences who want to study psychology at honours level.
NUI Galway
Psychology is offered through the arts programme in NUI Galway, and can be taken as one of four subjects in first year. In all, 26 second-year students get to study the subject in year two, with those who scored best in their first-year exams being offered first refusal.
Private Colleges
American College, Dublin, offers a degree in behavioural science (psychology) while LSB College has a degree in psychoanalytic studies as well as arts (psychology) and psychoanalysis is also offered within a general arts programme. All of these courses are validated by the NCEA Remember, tuition fees must be paid for these courses but tax relief is available at the standard rate.
Architecture
In tandem with the booming construction industry, employment prospects for architects have also escalated. The latest HEA report shows an astonishing 94.4 per cent of graduates gaining full-time employment by the date of the survey (April 30th, 1998). Architecture is offered by UCD and DIT Bolton Street and cut-off points were 495 (random selection applied) and 566 (suitability test and interview) respectively.
NCI and area-based partnerships
The National College of Ireland (formerly the National College of Industrial Relations) has established a scheme in co-operation with the designated area-based partnership companies throughout the State. Up to 10 per cent of places on NCEA-accredited degree and certificate courses are offered to students who fulfil the criteria.
These places are open to students who live and attend school in one of the designated area-partnership areas and whose family income is dependent on social welfare payment. Students must also meet the minimum NCEA entry requirements.
A separate CAO code applies for area-based partnership applicants. Eligible courses include the BA in accounting and human resource management; BA in European business studies and languages; BSc in software systems; national certificate in business studies (industrial relations/ human resource management) and the national certificate in computing (applications and support).
The BA in European business studies and languages is a fouryear full-time course - students spend the first two years and the final year in Ireland while the third year is spent on work placement in France or Germany.
New courses at Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology
This year, the college has two new diploma courses on offer - computing (multimedia programming) and business studies (entrepreneurial). Mr Jim Devine, the registrar, says these courses were introduced late last year and the cut-off points were low (115 for computing and 105 for business studies).
"By the time we had filled the courses last year through the vacant places procedure the average points were much higher. We would expect a cut-off in the region of 300 to 350 this year," he said.
The business studies course is a response to the new forms of work and employment. "The job-for-life scenario is gone . . . people need to be adaptable and flexible. That ethos permeates the programme," says Mr Devine. The multi-media course draws on the college's art and design strengths.
A further two new courses may be introduced later this year. These are a national certificate in electronics, with the focus on the audio-visual and a national diploma in business, focusing on e-commerce. These courses have yet to be approved by the National Council for Educational Awards but the college hopes to be in a position to advertise them in plenty of time for the CAO's July 1st change-of-mind date.
BSc in multimedia in DCU
DCU is offering a new fouryear degree in multimedia this year.
Multimedia applications are increasingly important in the communications sector. However, the range of applications is increasing daily across other sectors including tourism, travel, entertainment, sales and marketing, arts and architecture. DCU's new course is a response to this.
There will be 50 first-year places this year and applicants need a minimum of grade C3 in higher-level English and a grade C3 in ordinary-level maths in the Leaving Certificate in addition to the normal university requirements.
NUI Maynooth calendar on the Web
Students and guidance counsellors can visit NUI Maynooth's new Website at www.may.ie/calendar. This includes information about course content, teaching schedules, student support services and academic departments.
Diary date
Colaiste Dhulaigh, Dublin, has an open day on Wednesday, February 3rd. The college offers a wide range of Post-Leaving Certificate courses.
Additional reporting by Roddy O'Sullivan
Helpline
Students, parents and teachers with queries about colleges, courses and application procedures are invited to call the College Choice helpline between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. today. Tel (01) 6792099