Guidance counsellors Brian Howard and Deirdre Garrett answer questions asked on our live blog

I got 515 which was the requirement for history and Spanish at Trinity but was not offered the course due to random selection. How likely am I to get this in round two? What should I do now?

I recommend that you accept the course you got offered today as you will not get offered any course below this in further rounds.

What are the chances of you being offered Trinity in round two? This very much depends on how many people do not take up a round-one offer on the course, if any, and hence how many places down the course-merit list the CAO have to go to fill the unfilled places. If all applicants who got offered this course this morning accept the place then there will be no second-round offers. So it all rests with those who currently have the places and what they are going to do with them. We have no way of knowing this until the round-one reply date when all the replies are known.

My second-choice course is 280 points. I have 315 points but not two HC3 minimum entry points – only one – do you think I may get a second-round offer or should I look at repeating the Leaving Cert?

Unfortunately if you don’t meet the entry requirements for a course (two HC3 in the case of an honours Level 8 degree) you are not deemed qualified to apply for a course, no matter what points you have. The first thing the CAO will check is to see if you have met the entry requirements for the courses you have applied to. If you have not met the requirements, they will not consider you for this course.

Have you applied for any Level 6/7 courses? Think carefully about repeating; this is something you need to give great thought to as it is a big decision.

I got 470 points and my first choice, computer science in UCD, is 475. What do you think my chances are in the second offers? This very much depends on how many people do not take up a round-one offer on the course, if any, and hence how many places down the course-merit list the CAO have to go to fill the unfilled places. If all applicants who got offered this course this morning accept the place, then there will be no second-round offers. So it all rests with those who currently have the places and what they are going to do with them. We have no way of knowing this until the round-one reply date when all the replies are known.

My son applied for engineering in Galway and thought 425 points would get him in but 450 is the lowest offer – what chance may he have in the second round? He has an offer from Cork but would prefer Galway.

I would advise that he accepts Cork as he will not be offered anything below this in the next round. Getting offered Galway very much depends on how many people do not take up a round-one offer on the course, if any, and hence how many places down the course-merit list the CAO have to go to fill the unfilled places. If all applicants who got offered this course this morning accept the place then there will be no second-round offers.

My daughter got 425 and journalism in DCU is 435: any chance in round two?

This very much depends on how many people do not take up a round-one offer on the course, if any, and hence how many places down the course-merit list the CAO have to go to fill the unfilled places. If all applicants who got offered this course this morning accept the place then there will be no second-round offers.

My son wanted to study food marketing in UCC, but is five points short. He has been offered commerce. If he accepts it now and if the points for food marketing are lowered in a possible second-round offer can he drop commerce and take up food marketing?

Yes he can. He will be given the choice to stay with commerce or move to food marketing. The choice is his.

I missed out on my first choice of business in UL by 15 points. I was told there will possibly not be any second-round offers so I’m wondering is there a list available anywhere or Fetac or PLCs available that they accept? Locality is Laois.

Hello, qualifax.ie has a list of all PLC courses. Don’t forget that Level 6/7 is another progression route to a Level 8 degree.

If I accept my first choice for a Level 7 course in CIT, can I still get my first option for Level 8 offered to me in round two, if the points were to drop? I got 380 points and the course in UCC was 380 but went up by 10 points.

The answer is yes. Your Level 6/7 will have not affect your Level 8 list.

I got 470 points and hoped to do computer science in UCD which requires 475 points. What are my chances in the second round?

This very much depends on how many people do not take up a round-one offer on the course, if any, and hence how many places down the course merit list the CAO have to go to fill the unfilled places. If all applicants who got offered this course this morning accept the place then there will be no second-round offers. So it all rests with those who currently have the places and what they are going to do with them. We have no way of knowing this until the round-one reply date when all the replies are known.