CAO Information Evening Thursday 29 th November, 2012

1. CAO Information EveningThursday 29th November, 2012

2. Purpose of the CAO • CAO processes applications to undergraduate courses in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), known as 3rd level colleges. • Offers are issued and acceptances are recorded by CAO (Central Applications Office in Galway). • Assessment of applications and decisions on admissions are made by HEI Admissions Officers in the colleges.

3. Information on courses is available from each college and college prospectuses as well as Qualifax website and individual college websites. CAO distributes to schools and individuals a Handbook containing instructions and information about the application process. Every applicant should be familiar with the contents of the CAO Handbook and how it works. The Application Process

4. In order to be fair to all applicants, closing dates are strict and therefore action should be taken in good time. Do not leave everything to the last minute. Timely Action

5. CAO Timetable for 2013 20th January, 2013 Closing date for receipt of early online applications 1st February, 2013 Closing date for receipt of normal applications 5th February to 1st March, 2013 Courses may be changed online including ‘restricted’, €10 Before/By 15th February, 2013 Receive Statement of Course Choices (paper applicants) 1st March 2013 Closing date for final completion of online HEAR/DARE forms

6. 1st April, 2013 latest date for HEAR/DARE supporting documents to arrive to CAO. 1st May, 2013 Closing date for receipt of late applications 5th May, 2013 Online change of mind facility becomes available (free) Before/By 31st May, 2013 Receive Statement of Application Record 1st July, 2013 Latest date for receipt of change of mind form in CAO. 19th~ August, 2013 First round of offers will commence.

7. Choosing Courses • Consult with your Guidance Counsellor • Discuss your options with family and friends • Go to college open days • Research information about the course/courses you are interested in and put a list together in order of preference.

8. Making an application • Applicants are encouraged to apply online. • The website address is www.cao.ie • Applying online is cheaper and it prevents many of the errors commonly associated with completing a paper application form. • It is 25 euro’s to apply online before 20th January 2013 and 40 euro’s up to 1st February 2013.

9. Application Form: Part A • Part A of the Application Form is mostly self explanatory. • Information which identifies you is of the utmost importance. • Carefully enter details such as your name, address, date of birth, schools attended etc. • Your examination details must be entered with great care. • Make sure you inform CAO about all relevant qualifications you may have.

10. . These are applied for on 2 separate lists on a single form: • Whether you apply for 1 or 20 courses – same fee. • The courses are clearly labelled in the CAO Handbook, i.e. Level 6, 7 or 8. • N.B. – Care must be taken with courses marked ‘Restricted’. • These courses cannot normally be applied for after February 1st due to extra assessments required.

11. Two Applications on One Form • It is possible to receive an offer on both lists • You may then decide to accept eitheryour Level 7/6 or your Level 8 offer. • Alternatively, you might not wish to accept either offer.

12. Order of Preference • If you learn nothing else from this presentation let it be this... • Place your course choices in genuine order of preference! • To do otherwise is a grave mistake.

13. Dream Courses Realistic Courses Banker Courses

14. Application Form: Part B • Most applicants will not be required to complete Part B of the application form. • For example, if you are a first-time Leaving Certificate candidate under the age of 23, you will not be required to complete Part B of the form.

15. Application Form: Part B • Applicants who will be required to complete Part B of the application form include those who are applying on grounds of mature years, and those presenting qualifications other than Irish Leaving Certificate or FETAC Level 5/6.

16. Your Application Number • If you apply online your application number will appear on your Receipt of Online Application. • This number is private and it will be used in every correspondence between you and the CAO for the rest of the year. • If you apply online you may change your course choices free of charge until January 31st 2013.

17. Statement of Course Choices • If you submit a Paper application form by 1st February, you will receive a Statement of Course Choices by 15th February at the latest. (15th May in the case of Late Applications). • Carefully read the instructions provided with the Statement

18. Statement of Course Choices The Statement is important for two reasons: 1. The Statement of Course Choices includes notification of your CAO application number. 2. The Statement of Course Choices lists the courses that you have applied for.If you have made any mistake or omission in your course choices then now is the time to rectify your error. Pay particular attention to restricted courses.

19. Communicating With CAO • The easiest and most efficient way to communicate with CAO is by using the 'Contact Us' facility on the CAO website. • Always quote your CAO application number in any communication with CAO. • If you post something to CAO, always obtain a certificate of posting at the post office. This is a free service and it offers you peace of mind.

20. Statement of Application Record • Check the following carefully, if there is any error or omission, amend the Statement and return it to CAO. • Are all the courses shown and in the correct order? • Are all the codes correct? • Are the exam numbers correct? • Are all exams mentioned? • If you do not receive a Statement by 1st June contact CAO immediately.

21. Statement of Application Record • Included with the Statement of Application Record will be a Change of Mind form. You may use this to change the order of your course choices and/or to introduce new courses, subject to the restrictions detailed in the Handbook. • It is safer to use the Change of Mind Facility on the website than to use a paper Change of Mind form.

22. The Offer Process • In the week following the release of the Leaving Certificate results CAO will post a communication to all applicants. • If you have not yet become entitled to an offer you will be sent a Statement of Application Record which you should check carefully as important information may be incorrect or missing.

23. The Offer Process • If you are entitled to an offer, you will be sent an offer notice. You should check that all of the details on the offer notice are correct and that there are no omissions. • Offers will also be available on the CAO website. • You may check for and accept offers on the website. In fact, most applicants now record acceptances online.

24. The Offer Process • Your offer notice may contain an offer • for a Level 8 course • or a Level 7/6 course • or both • If you receive two offers at the same time you may only accept one of them. • If you wish to accept an offer of a place you must carry out the instructions on the offer notice before 5.15pm on the closing date for acceptance printed on the offer notice.

25. The Offer Process • There can be no delays at the offer/acceptance stage. • Any offer not accepted by the closing date for receipt of acceptance of offers in CAO will be offered to another applicant in the next round of offers.

26. The End • Remember to carefully read all of the documents and instructions from CAO. • Most applicants follow the simple instructions from CAO and get along just fine. • If you are unclear on any matter concerning the application process, just let me know.