More adults than ever are looking at college courses
As reported last week, the 2009/10 academic year saw record numbers taking college places. More than 12,000 adults sought places in 2009 and, given the huge increase in unemployment, this year’s figure will be higher.
Unfortunately, there is no national guidance counselling service in place to support these adults in selecting the best course for their needs.
If you will be over 23 on January 1st, 2010 and are considering applying for a college place, the first thing I would suggest is that you get a copy of the CAO handbook. The CAO’s offices are in Galway and you can either phone 091-509800 or e-mail through the website, cao.ie. Secondly, you should explore the range of courses open to mature applicants on the Qualifax website (qualifax.ie).
If, having done some research, you then want professional advice, you could contact one of the private practitioners within the Institute of Guidance Counsellors (igc.ie).
Once you have identified a particular college or faculty, you should contact the admissions office or mature students officer well in advance of the application closing date, which in most cases is February 1st.
You may seek a place in college under the regulations governing mature applicants. But you also are entitled to be considered on the basis of your Leaving Cert, if you feel that your points are enough to secure a college place under the mainstream application system. You have the same right to apply for these places as current Leaving Cert students.
To be considered in this way, it’s important to enter the correct standard CAO course codes on your application. Failure to use the correct codes will prevent consideration on the basis of educational qualifications. If you wish to be considered under both categories, enter both appropriate course codes.
For nursing/midwifery courses, a quota of places is allocated specifically for applicants on grounds of mature years.
If you wish to be considered for such a place on grounds of mature years, you must enter in your list of course choices the mature applicant course codes for nursing/midwifery; these are different from the standard course codes. Failure to use the correct codes will prevent consideration as a mature applicant.
The criteria by which college faculties and departments assess applicants vary. UCD and UCC have introduced an assessment test for mature applicants into their Arts/Social Science faculties, sourced from the same Australian body which provided the HPAT and Gamsat undergraduate medical assessment tests. This MSAP (Mature Student Admissions Pathway) test assesses an applicant’s readiness to undertake an undergraduate degree programme.
All of the other colleges have their own ways of assessing the readiness of applicants. Many of them require applying directly to them as well as the CAO.
Most CAO applications are now completed online at cao.ie. If you have any supporting documentation that you want to submit. you can post it to the CAO; they will scan it into your application record.
If you are even mildly curious about the idea of attending college then have the courage to take your curiosity to the next level.
Your potential may be far greater than you imagine.
- Brian Mooney teaches at Oatlands College, Stillorgan, Dublin
