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Heads up on CAO
Jan 5th
Headaches, stress, anxiety: these are just a few of the symptoms floating above the heads of students – all as a result of college application season. CAO is among us, and, for first timers, and even people with experience, this can be daunting. There are ways and, believe it or not, there are plenty of people out there willing to help you in your quest to finding the route most suitable for you.
Statistics have shown that most first year third level students are not quite aware of what they want to study. The question: “What do you want to do for the rest of your life?” is daunting, but fret not, thousands of people share the same experience each year. The key is to stop doubting yourself and be upfront and honest about your current level of experience and the paths that will make you comfortable as a person.
Checklists can be the most laborious future accessing technique out there, but one must tell themselves: this is a minute chapter as opposed to my whole life. Once you achieve these minor steps, like the traumatic Leaving Certificate year, you will never have to revisit this chapter again. There’s a thought to hold tight.
It is important to note the following before applying to a college, directly or online, particularly in the case of cash exchange.
Degrees offered: Delve deep into the level of qualifications offered. There are different degree levels, and the technical jargon is enough to send any person’s nerves into total convulsion. Question the degrees on offer. If you are not qualified for certain degrees, seek out other levels of education, such as a Higher National Diploma or a Post Leaving Certificate Course. These courses are stepping-stones to other levels and, upon completion, they may offer exemption and advanced entry to other levels of education. Example: A higher National Diploma in one college may offer advanced entry into another college outside or inside of Ireland.
Location: Enquire about the distance of the college from your residing address. It is worth bearing in mind transport expenses and whether or not grant aid and other financial packages apply to you.
Public Vs. Private: Public colleges generally charge students the normal registration fee, whereas private colleges are much more expensive. It is worth delving into price comparisons, as there is nothing more disheartening during the application procedure than applying for a course and discovering it is financially outside of your means.
College/Campus resources: Ask questions: Does the college have a library? Does it have high quality access to the internet/ Wifi? Research the college and take note of their resources.
Accreditation: This point is extremely important. Before embarking on any educational journey, always enquire about accreditation and the certificate awarding body. Imagine studying a course, even if it is just skills based, and then discovering that the awarding body is not yet recognised on the National Qualifications Framework. This would be a definitive stab in the back for any student, especially if you were not forewarned and happened to fork out a wad of cash in advance. There is no time to be shy: ask about awarding bodies. You’ll be thankful in the long run.
Reputation: Colleges are obliged to provide students with an unbiased opinion on the college’s reputation. Some colleges are higher recognised than others, and have more reputable districts associated to them.
Social: The phrase “all work no play” doesn’t necessarily apply to college years; a balance of both components is important. Too much study can be brain boggling, and too much play can be, well, brain draining. Research the college. Query the admissions office of the course you are interested in and ask them questions with regard to student social life, sport, facilities on offer, and the overall college spirit. Being active and involved will surely contribute to a picture memory worth looking back on.
Accommodation: If you are planning on renting, before you make the big move, find out if the college you are interested in offers on-campus accommodation. Most reliable colleges will provide you with a maximum yearly cost.
In order to narrow out the confusion, compile a list of the colleges you are interested in. According to Dr. Randall S Hansen, founder of Quintessential Careers, most students generally apply to two “dream colleges” in other words, colleges they feel are out of their league with a slight chance of possible acceptance; two to four colleges where they want to go and can expect to be accepted; and a couple of “safety” colleges where they expect to be considered a “shoo-in”. Overall, on the confusion front, note the aforementioned steps and begin to strike out the elements that automatically impede your decisions.
Colleges are currently offering students the chance to visit their campus and gather a general feel of the environment, facilities and atmosphere. Open days are important for students to speak with the people inside the college, gather information from students, and pick up some on-campus material.
Students applying for colleges through CAO are advised to consult the CAO handbook. It provides students with a comprehensive step-by-step guide to the important facts that need consideration. Students should note that once they register online with CAO they must post all necessary documentation to the CAO headquarters within seven days of their registration, or inform CAO of documents pending evaluation.
THE CAO handbook classifies the three types of NFQ levels in their handbook. Students should familiarise themselves with each level.
Level 8 is classified as an Honours Bachelor Degree (HD)
Level 7 is classified as an ordinary Bachelor Degree (DG)
Level 6 is classified as a Higher Certificate (HC)
It is important to note that any documentation forwarded to the CAO headquarters must contain your application number and name, otherwise failure to do so will result in a delay of your application.
An important date on the CAO calendar is March 1st. Students are advised to amend application errors before this date. The most common errors are: errors or omissions in courses and errors relating to personal information. According to the CAO handbook, students will receive a Statement of Application Record as a final acknowledgement of their application before the end of May and, if a student has not received the statement by June 1st, they must contact CAO immediately. However, students are entitled to change their minds regarding courses – free of charge – up until 5:15pm on July 1st.
Students who wish to make a late application – an application after February 1st – may do so up until 5:15pm on May 1st. However, they will be expected to pay an increased fee of €70 or €90 offline. Currently CAO is offering a discounted online rate of €35 until January 20th, after this date it will rise by a further €10 to a total of €45 online and through post. However, the change of mind is free until July 1st.
Students should not hesitate to contact the guidance councillors of the colleges they are interested in applying to. The guidance councillors will provide students with the answers they need to all their questions. It is also recommended, as tedious as it may seem, that students consult the CAO handbook to arm themselves with the terms and conditions subject to themselves.
Those of you feeling the pinch from the recession don’t think twice about contacting grant agencies to enquire about your specific entitlements. Nobody ever said being a student is cheap living. Best of luck on your road to self-discovery and education.
Websites worth checking out:
The CAO website provides students with information on courses and college open days; it’s worth consideration.
Martin Flanagan