My son got 485 and his first and second choice had higher points last year. His third choice was 465 last year, which he obviously has enough points for and he has the maths requirement. Is he down the ranking because it’s his third choice?
No not at all. It doesn't work like that. They offer course places to those who satisfy all requirements and have the highest points. If places are still available they offer them to the next candidate in line (by points). The fact that your son has this as his third choice won't put him at a disadvantage.
Is there any way to remove one option from the CAO form? My daughter included a choice (that she is likely to get) she does not want. Anyone I can bribe do you know?
After July 1st it is not possible to make changes to a CAO application, so I'm afraid your daughter is stuck with what is currently on the form.
I missed out on International Business in UL, which was my first preference by 15 points. I have enough points for Business with German in UL. Will I receive an offer for my second preference in round one or will I have to wait until round two?
On Monday you will receive the highest preference course in which you meet all the requirements for. Once you receive an offer then any course that lies below this course will become null and void. In round two you could be offered courses that lie above your initial offer. In order for this to happen, the points for your higher preference courses must fall. I don't know what you will be offered on Monday as the 2016 points are not known yet.
My son secured the points that his first choice was last year. I know it may go up this year. If he accepts his second choice, do we need to pay for the place? Would we lose this money if his first choice is offered on the second round?
It doesn’t cost anything to accept or decline a college offer. There are registration fees. I imagine that colleges have a mutual understanding. I don’t think that you would lose out in monetary terms.
My daughter has got well over the points for the same course run in both UL and UCC. She put UL down as first choice but really wants UCC – are there options here for her?
I'm afraid not for the 2016 round of offers. She can reapply next year through CAO. The deadline for changing your order of preference was July 1st.
If you don't accept the round one offer, will you get another offer in round two?
Once CAO make you an offer you will never be offered any course that lies below the outstanding offer on your CAO list in any of the future rounds. This holds true whether you accept round one offer or not. The only offer you may get in round two are courses that lie above your round-one offer on your CAO list. You may get offered higher preference courses if the points for such courses fall in future rounds and you now meet the criteria needed (points and entry requirements).
If my daughter is offered course three or four from her CAO choice, does this eliminate the course choices below this for good ?
Yes. For this year’s offers. She could reapply next year and then obviously she could change her order of preference. Each candidate was given until July 1st to decide on their definite order of preference. No change can be made after this date.
My daughter got 410 points in her Leaving Cert. It was not enough for her first and second choices in Maynooth but her third-choice honours science degree in Maynooth required 405 points. What’s the chance of this rising or should she get in?
General indications in the science area show a slight decrease in applications. How this will translate for the science course in Maynooth, who knows? But hopefully the fact that your daughter has five extra points to play around with, along with the applicant stats, will be enough to get her her place.
Are the courses allocated by choice preference on the CAO or by points, ie if choice number seven is lower than choice number eight on the CAO, which course will the student be offered?
The CAO offer is allocated on choice preference. You would be offered choice number seven (not your eighth preference) once you meet the entry requirements and points. You will not be offered any course that lies below this choice in any future round.
