College Choice / Brian Mooney:Today I am going to provide a step-by-step guide on how to ensure you get your actual application right.
The application process is ongoing in that you can change your mind regarding the courses for which you wish to apply - and the order of their priority from one to 10 - up to July 1st.
Review your possible choices:
Having researched all the courses on offer through the Qualifax website at www.qualifax.ie and identified a range of potentially suitable courses, you should discuss your list of choices with your guidance counsellor.
You would also be well advised to take into consideration any advice your parents may have on the options you are considering. They know you better that anyone and their advice could be very useful.
If you don't have access to professional guidance support, a list of private practitioners is available at www.igc.ie.
During this process you should also be checking out the colleges on your options lists. This could take the form of a visit to the campus if you have not already done so. You could also talk to current students of the college and to students taking the course you are considering.
You should also watch out for information evenings offered by colleges, which take place throughout the year. Remember that colleges are constantly seeking your attention and your application, so they will always be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Making your application:
In recent years, most applicants have been using the CAO online application process and submitting their applications online. Last year, far too many students left this process to the last 72 hours, resulting in major delays in the CAO's capacity to handle them.
As a result, the CAO has increased its server capacity at its Galway offices and tested it to make sure it can handle very large volumes of applications.
The CAO is also offering applicants the incentive of paying €10 less if they complete their application by the 20th January next. I would advise all potential applicants to make their CAO application immediately, as you can vary your list of courses over the next six months.
What are the benefits of using the online application?
The online application system does not allow candidates to make simple errors, such as listing today's date as their date of birth or making mistakes in application codes, so it is ultimately more efficient. You can apply online from any computer, whether from school, home or a public library, if necessary.
Online applications can be made at www.cao.ie
How can I get a CAO application pack?
If for some reason you do not yet have a CAO application pack, you can get one by sending an e-mail to help@cao.ie giving your name and address. The CAO will post out a pack immediately. You could also phone the CAO at 091-509800.
Why do applicants often select the wrong courses?
Many applicants select a course that does not suit them and end up failing their first-year examinations in college or dropping out before the end of the year.
How can this happen and what can applicants or their parents do to avoid this pitfall?
• Do not select courses without discussing them fully with your guidance counsellor;
• Read the course literature carefully. Every year thousands of students drop out of college because they do not like the subjects taught on the course, even though these subjects are clearly set out in the college prospectus;
• Select your courses based on what you genuinely want, not based on where friends are going or which college has the coolest image, the highest points or the best social life. All these considerations pale into insignificance if you end up hating your lectures and eventually dropping out of the course;
• Don't be careless with your lower preferences. Remember, depending on your Leaving Certificate result and the points required for each of your course choices, it is possible that you will be offered any of your choices, so fully research any that you intend to list.
When must I apply?
Ideally you should make your application by January 20th. If you miss that date for some reason, you must complete the application by February 1st at 5.15pm if you wish to pay the standard fee of €45 and or apply for any of the restricted application programmes on offer.
If you miss the February 1st deadline, you may pay a double fee up to the 1st May 2008.
Can I change my mind?
More than 20,000 students used the change-of-mind facility in the last week of June last year. This is available up to the final date for this option, which is July 1st, a full two weeks after the end of the Leaving Certificate exams.
Is it possible to predict the points for my course this year?
No, because points are determined firstly by three main factors: the number of places offered, the number of students who apply for the course in 2008 and the overall Leaving Certificate results.
The good news is that the number of places offered by colleges is increasing all the time and new players are entering the market, particularly in the private sector. So I believe that for the next number of years at least, points will either stay in or about their current levels or may even fall moderately.
Advice podcast
Listen or download the podcast for advice on how to complete the application form, and for an overview of the current CAO process, at ireland.com/education
• Every day, until the deadline at the end of the month, careers expert Brian Mooney will guide you through the CAO process and outline the best possible options.
Tomorrow: Restricted application courses