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Billy Ryle says there are lots of CAO college places on offer in 2024 but keep a close eye on the timeline…
PROMISING
As a new year dawns with renewed hope and expectation, college applicants must focus on the CAO form as the deadline looms large.
Indeed, 2024 is shaping up to be a very promising year for CAO applicants. Last year, CAO received 84,226 applications – 2,394 from Kerry – for a third level college course.
More than 52,000 college places will be available next August. Applicants have until 5pm on 1st February to submit a completed application form. So, use the remaining weeks wisely. Carefully consider your course choices. Follow your heart but keep an eye on the jobs market.
Continued below…
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2023 STATISTICS
Before Christmas, CAO released the finalised 2023 offers and acceptance statistics. Last year. 67,839 applicants received at least one offer in in the various CAO rounds of offers.
The offers consisted of 65,025 at Level 8 (Honours Bachelor Degrees) where demand is always strong and 39,580 at Level7/6 (Ordinary Bachelor Degrees/Higher Certificates) where interest continues to decline.
CAO always issues more offers than there are places available in anticipation of a level of refusal by applicants. Offers are issued independently in respect of the two lists (Level 8 and Level 7/6), so it’s well worth filling in both lists.
2023 NET ACCEPTANCE
The net CAO applicant acceptance figure in 2023 was 51,228 – 45,206 at Level 8 (Honours Bachelor Degrees) and 6,022 at Level 7/6 (Ordinary Level Degrees/Higher Certificates).
Surprisingly, 16,611 applicants to CAO in 2023 declined their third level college offers in favour of other options. So, with good research and due care with the application, it’s not very difficult to secure a higher education course.
GRADES & POINTS
The ‘calculated, accredited and enhanced grades’ have considerably inflated course points requirements during the past four years and that is likely to be the case again in 2024.
Consult the 2023 cut off points as a guide to likely points requirements in 2024, but keep in mind that points’ requirements for courses can fluctuate from year to year, so predicting cut off points is an inaccurate science.
Each Leaving Cert candidate should aim to achieve her/his best possible result in that exam. Points’ requirements for courses will take care of themselves in due course.
CAO ROLE
The CAO processes applications for admission to undergraduate courses in third level colleges in Ireland. Every public sector university, college and institute in the country, as well as a number of private colleges, participates in the CAO system.
An applicant may choose from the entire range of courses in the CAO Handbook 2024. The courses are categorised as ‘Level 8’ or ‘Level 7/6’. The ‘Level 8’ category contains the Honours Bachelor Degrees while the ‘Level 7/6’ category contains Ordinary Bachelor Degrees/Higher Certificates.
SINGLE APPLICATION
All you have to do is submit a single application to compete for one of the available third-level places. The interactive online application system, ‘Apply’ has made the process very straightforward.
‘Apply’ is easy to follow, particularly as the CAO provides an ‘Interactive Demo’ to enable you make a trial application.
The CAO Handbook 2024 also contains detailed easy-to-follow information on how to apply for the courses on offer.
The interactive online application service will remain open on the CAO website, www.cao.ie, until 5pm on 1st February. The fee is €30, if you apply by 20th January and €45 thereafter until the 1st February.
STUDY THE 2024 HANDBOOK
Before you apply, study the online CAO Handbook 2024 which explains how to apply for a third level college place. The colleges in the CAO system are listed in alphabetical order by location.
The courses in each college are listed directly under the college title, with ‘Level 8’ courses being listed separately from ‘Level 7/6’ courses. Select your personal preferences from the entire range of courses in the Handbook.
Each course is assigned a code, which you enter on the application. You may apply for up to ten courses in each of the two categories, listed in order of your preference.
STRENGTHS
Consult the online CAO Handbook 2024 for information about general academic requirements, specific course requirements and content of courses. Similar information can also be found on colleges’ websites.
Consider the potential career value of each course for which you are applying. Play to your strengths as you do your course research during the next few weeks.
Jot down your personal career profile, including such variables as ability, achievement, application, aptitude, ambition, values, interests and personality (5AVIP). Select courses that suit you in order to have a fulfilling, enjoyable and successful college experience.
CAO 2024 APPLICATION TIMELINE
• 19th Jan: closing date at 5.15pm to register for HPAT (Under Graduate Med.) test
• 20th Jan: apply to CAO, www.cao.ie by 5pm to avail of online discount rate of €30
• 22nd Jan: closing date at 10am to register for GAMSAT (Graduate Medicine) test
• 1st Feb: online change of course choices (free) close at 5pm
• 1st Feb: normal closing date, at 5pm, for applications
• 6th Feb: online facility to amend course choices opens at noon (€10 fee)
• 16th/25th Feb: HPAT-Ireland test takes place
• 1st March: closing date, at 5pm, for amending course choices
• 1st March: completed online HEAR/DARE forms must be submitted by 5pm
• 1st March: closing date, at 5pm, for completion of mature student application form
• 5th March: late application facility opens at 12.00 noon (€60 fee)
• 9th/10th and 22nd/23rd March: GAMSAT test window
• 15th March: HEAR/DARE supporting documentation must arrive in CAO by 5pm
• 1st May: closing date, at 5pm, for late applications
• 7th May: online change of mind facility (free) opens at 12.00 noon
• 31st May: Statement of Application Record sent to all applicants before this date
• Late May: GAMSAT test results released
• Late June: HPAT-Ireland test results released
• 1st July: change of mind facility (free) closes at 5pm
• 22nd July: exceptional late closing date at 5pm for those already in 3rd level
• Billy Ryle is a Career Guidance Counsellor and Educational Commentator
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