The CAO application and offer statistics have thrown up some very interesting figures. At degree level, TCD received the highest number of first-preference applications at 8,186, while Carlow IT received only 11 first-preference applications for its degree courses.
TCD and UCD are only separated by 10 first-preference applications. Still, at degree level, Dublin Institute of Technology received the third highest number of first-preference applications at 6,701. UCC got 6,118 first preferences; UL 5,628; NUI Galway 4,747; DCU 3,451 and the colleges of education 3,096. The private colleges received 473 first-preference applications.
The number of first-preference applications is, of course, a function of the type of courses offered and the number of places as well as the popularity of the institution. For instance, UCD is the only college to offer veterinary medicine, while medicine is only offered by TCD, UCD, UCC, NUIG and RCSI. DIT is the only college to offer an optometry degree.
At certificate/diploma level, the DIT received a staggering 17,863 first-preference applications. Cork Institute of Technology was next at 7,926, closely followed by Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology at 7,405. Waterford Institute of Technology received 4,862 first preferences.
Limerick IT received 3,047 first-preferences, Tallaght IT 3,007, Carlow IT 2,548, Athlone IT 2,194 and Sligo IT 2,151. The private colleges received 227 first-preference applications for certificates and diplomas.
Looking at the applications by course offers at degree level, UCD made the highest number of first-preference offers at 1,759, while TCD made 1,626 such offers. The colleges of education made 537 first-preference offers and the RCSI 13. Carlow IT made five first-preference offers to degree applicants, while Athlone IT made four.
At certificate/diploma level, the DIT made the highest number of first preference offers at 5,484, followed by Cork IT 3,634 and Galway-Mayo IT 3,257. At the other end of the scale, UL made 79 first-preference offers to certificate and diploma candidates while Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology made 170 such offers and the private colleges 178.
Letterkenny IT
There are vacant places in the college's accounting technician, European languages and business, civil engineering and electronics courses. Applications must be sent immediately to the CAO at Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway.
Rechecks and reviewing your scripts
Tomorrow is the last day on which Leaving Cert students can request a look at their marked scripts.
As part of the new openness policy introduced by the Department of Education, Leaving Cert students can take a second glance at their marked scripts in 19 subjects. You can also take one adult in with you to the viewing process. Any student can request a look at his or her papers, regardless of whether considering a recheck or not. No reason is required.
The vexed question - to request a recheck or to remain silent - is taxing the minds of many students. It is also worrying teachers who are reluctant to advise their students. The reason for the uncertainty is that this is the first year students could be downgraded.
The opportunity to look at your marked scripts should allow you to come to a very well-informed decision about requesting a recheck. It's more difficult for students worried about the remaining subjects which contain a practical, oral or project component, as the marked scripts are only available for viewing after the appeals process this year. From next year, students will be allowed to view marked scripts in all subjects prior to appeal.
In the past, rechecks could only have two outcomes - your grade stood or you were upgraded. A Department of Education spokesman said that if you have a system that is open and transparent the possibility of downgrading must be introduced. Students will only be downgraded if a "manifest injustice" has been done, in other words, if a significant error has occurred. The grade will only be changed after a number of further checks have taken place.
This seems reasonable. The new openness means you can view your marked script and you may realise your B should really have been a D. However, there is no onus on you to request a recheck. In fact, you would be very silly to do so.
But there is one further quibble which a mother (who else?) brought to the attention of the College Places Helpline. She asked why the old rules can't apply to the subjects where scripts can only be viewed post-appeal. Students wondering about rechecks in these subjects are in the same position as they were last year. How about it Minister?
And, finally, another distraught mother wanted to know if she could view the scripts by herself as her daughter, who had sat the Leaving Cert in June, was now out of the country. The answer from the Department is "No". It is a case of the adult only being admitted if accompanied by a student.
The closing date for recheck requests is September 10th. There is a fee of £25 per subject, which will be refunded if you are upgraded.
Nursing
The helpline has been humming with queries about nursing offers. Students with CAO offers are worried that the CAO closing date of September 2nd will pass before they hear about the fate of their nursing application.
These students should be relieved to hear that the first round of offers for general and psychiatric nursing should be put in the post tomorrow.
There were almost 5,000 applications for general and psychiatric nursing this year. Some students applied for both general and psychiatric so, in all, about 4,000 people are competing for about 1,000 places (800 in general nursing and 200 in psychiatric).
All the applicants were called to an assessment test and 1,600 were then called for interview.
Post Leaving Certificate vacancies
Inchicore Vocational School has vacancies on the following post Leaving Certificate courses: social studies, social care, pre-nursing, nursery nursing, child care, insurance studies, business administration and legal studies, pre-accounting, modern languages, laboratory techniques, stage management, sound and lighting, theatre performance (acting), costume and wardrobe, art and design and display. Interested students can contact the college at (01) 453-5358.
University of Ulster
The university is holding an advice day on its Coleraine campus today from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. There will be an advice day in Magee College tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Advice will be given at each session on vacancies across all campuses.