** CAO offers - how they work **

randylonghorn

Guys, can I suggest people have a look at the offers section (page 17 onwards) of the CAO handbook over the next week or so ...

*** link here ***


I'm sure some of you know it by heart by now, but there are still people popping up questions that show they don't understand how the system works.



In particular, this bit (page 18) is core to the way the CAO system works, yet seems to cause confusion ...

Offer of highest preference

You will be offered a place in the highest of your course preferences to which you are entitled (if any).

This will be done, independently, in respect of Level 8 and Level 7/Level 6 choices.

You may, therefore, receive two offers at the same time; one for the highest Level 8 preference to which you are entitled and the other for the highest Level 7/Level 6 preference to which you are entitled.

Exclusion from lower preferences

IMPORTANT: When you have been offered a place in one of your course preferences, you are excluded from further consideration for any course which is lower in your order of preference than the one in which you have been offered a place.

This means that while you may subsequently move upwards in your order of preference (if places become available due to withdrawals) you will not be considered for a place in a course which is a lower preference than that already offered.

Later offers for higher preference

If you are being offered a place in a course which is not your first preference, you may subsequently be offered a place in a course of higher preference if such a place becomes available.

This applies whether or not the earlier offer has been accepted. It is NOT necessary to accept an offer in order to be considered for a higher preference if it becomes available later. There is no guarantee, of course, that a higher preference will become available.

Non-acceptance of subsequent offers

Having accepted an offer of a place, you are not obliged to accept a subsequent offer. You may retain the original offer simply by ignoring the subsequent one.



Vacant places

From CAO website - vacant places

About Available Places/Vacant Places

If any places remain unfilled in particular courses after all offers have been made and the waiting lists of applicants meeting minimum entry requirements have been exhausted, such vacancies will be advertised.

Where there are Available Places/Vacant Places in specific courses, HEIs will advertise these on the CAO website. Before making an “Available Place/Vacant Place” application, those matching the description “Restricted Categories of Applicant” on Page 3 of the CAO handbook should first consult with the Admissions Office of the HEI concerned.

Persons who have not applied already may make an Available Place application on payment of a fee of €45.00.

Persons who have applied already (whether placed or not) may apply for an Available Place on-line without payment of a further fee (when available).

Applicants for Available Places/Vacant Places must meet the normal minimum entry requirements for the course(s) in question. Previously published points in an earlier round of offers should not be taken as an indication of the points required for entry to Available Places/Vacant Places.

Mature applicants and applicants who have qualifications other than 1985-2007 Irish Leaving Cert and/or 2000-2007 FETAC Level 5/6 are categorised as Non-Standard Applicants. Such applicants must contact the appropriate HEI before completing an application.


Lists will be available here from 12 noon on Tuesday 18th Aug 2009.


Link to CAO log-in page ... log into your CAO account here!

poisonated

how does it work...say you don't get any of your desired courses,if you were very unlucky,could you then decide that you wouldn't mind doing a course which is a lot less points.For example,you had aimed to get 400 points you only get 380...you decide to go for a course which would be 300 points.Could you be offered a place before those who had put that course as a preference.If that makes sense:D...it would seem unfair,just curious.
Thanks

djcervi

The CAO works on the idea of random selection. So it doesn't really matter if it was the highest on your CAO. What matters is that you fulfil all the requirements to enter the course. Someone could have it as their no 1 but doesn't fulfil the mandatory requirements of that course. As a result they wouldn't get the offer and so it would be given to those that have. Do I have it right?

-K2-

djcervi wrote: »

The CAO works on the idea of random selection. So it doesn't really matter if it was the highest on your CAO. What matters is that you fulfil all the requirements to enter the course. Someone could have it as their no 1 but doesn't fulfil the mandatory requirements of that course. As a result they wouldn't get the offer and so it would be given to those that have. Do I have it right?

Random selection only occurs if there are more people on the same points than there are places available.

Example: ABC college has 50 places available in its course on Boardsology. The CAO calculates the points of all the people who applied and orders them in order of points scored. So, someone has 600 points (is at the top of the list) gets the course offer. Then it moves down through the list of applicants and points. At the end it finds that there are 5 places remaining but there are 10 applicants with the same points at that point. It then allocates the 5 places on a random basis to those 10 applicants.

It then waits for the people to accept or reject the place. If all 50 people offered the course accept then there is no round 2 offer. If, say, 40 people accept then there 10 places available for round 2. The CAO then starts the process again, but this time the highest points on the list will include the 5 unlucky punters from round #1 who didn't get the place on random selection. These will now be offered the course. It will now continue down the list of remaining applicants in order of points, allocating the other places.

If you don't meet the manditory requirements (example: grade C in hons maths for Engineering is a common one) then you don't qualify for the course and you wouldn't appear in the reckoning during allocation of places.

The final (and most) important point is that you can only move up in your preferences for offers. For example: Boardsie has the following preferences on the CAO:

1. Engineering, UCD
2. Engineering, UCC
3. Engineering, NUIG
4. Boardsology, ABC College

So, the points come out and boardsie has enough for Engineering UCC, Engineering NUIG, Boardsology ABC but not enough for Engineering UCD. Boardsie will be offered Engineering UCC as it is the highest preference on his list (the CAO assume that you want it more than the others). However, if Boardsie really wanted to study Boardsology more than Engineering then: tough luck! You can't reject Engineering UCC and be offered Boardsology.

The only thing that could happen is that Boardsie could be offered UCD on a later round if there are places available for his points. Boardsie should accept UCC on round #1 and hope for being offered UCD on a later round (if he is offered UCD he doesn't have to accept).

GallowsGhost

I'm curious as to whether everyone's points have been calculated when the round zero offers go out, or are put into the system after we get our results?

And if it's the former, I don't suppose there's anyway to find out what the points for each course are looking like?

...You can probably tell I'm a bit impatient

timmywex

It doesnt make any differnence when they are calculated tbh.


You'll have to wait tilll the monring(the monday or whatever day it is), keep an eye on the irish times and independant who usually have some of the points an hour or 2 before 6 am

randylonghorn

GallowsGhost wrote: »

I'm curious as to whether everyone's points have been calculated when the round zero offers go out, or are put into the system after we get our results?

And if it's the former, I don't suppose there's anyway to find out what the points for each course are looking like?

...You can probably tell I'm a bit impatient

The round zero offers are irrelevant to those sitting LC this year.

Points for this year can only be calculated when this year's LC results are made available to the CAO ... which as far as I know only happens at roughly the same time as they are distributed to schools.

GallowsGhost

randylonghorn wrote: »

The round zero offers are irrelevant to those sitting LC this year.

Points for this year can only be calculated when this year's LC results are made available to the CAO ... which as far as I know only happens at roughly the same time as they are distributed to schools.

I figured it would be something like that, still thought I'd ask.

poisonated

sorry if this is a stupid question but is there usualy places available after places have been offered to those who put a certain course in their CAO.For example if you didn't get the required points for your first few preferences but you then decide that you really don't want to do the other courses that you put down on your cao form.If you then saw a course,such as one in DBS,that you wanted to do...is it possible to apply for a place after the points have come out?is it likely that you would get a place...i'm a little hopeful as it is a private college.Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Skyuser

I'm waiting on an offer from my 2004 LC results, have I gotta wait until 17th like this years LC's?

Skyuser

Skyuser wrote: »

I'm waiting on an offer from my 2004 LC results, have I gotta wait until 17th like this years LC's?

Yes, because you're competing against every regular student for the places that are available. The earlier offers are for mature students, deferred students, etc.

Aoibheann

poisonated wrote: »

sorry if this is a stupid question but is there usualy places available after places have been offered to those who put a certain course in their CAO.For example if you didn't get the required points for your first few preferences but you then decide that you really don't want to do the other courses that you put down on your cao form.If you then saw a course,such as one in DBS,that you wanted to do...is it possible to apply for a place after the points have come out?is it likely that you would get a place...i'm a little hopeful as it is a private college.Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Well, there is the Available/Vacant Places option on the CAO - it will give a complete list (updated very frequently after CAO first/second/etc round offers) of what courses have places available at that time, so you can apply through that and presuming you meet the requirements would then get the course. I have definitely seen DBS courses on the list in the past but obviously you won't know for this year until at least the first CAO round is done AFAIK.

http://www.cao.ie/index.php?page=aboutVPL is the link.

Jam-Fly

Probably a stupid question that has probably been answered already but,

how do you physically receive your offer? Like, is it an e-mail or a letter in the post? And how do you physically accept/decline your offer?

QueenOfLeon

Jam-Fly wrote: »

Probably a stupid question that has probably been answered already but,

how do you physically receive your offer? Like, is it an e-mail or a letter in the post? And how do you physically accept/decline your offer?

If you go onto your cao application online now, they've added in a bit at the top to accept/decline offers.....as far as i know, the course you're offered will be posted on there and you just click accept.

Jeebus

Where/when are offers posted please people ?

I am really on the fringes of my course and want to get it ASAP so I can relax.

Risteard

Offers are issued on Monday and first round last from 17th August (monday) and ends on 25th August.

Finical

What happens if the course you really want isn't offered until round 2, is there a chance the course's you were offered on round 1 could go?

IrishKnight

If you don't accept your round 1 offer, it is taken from you.

Remember kids, you can accept your round 1 offer and if you get what you want in round 2, you can then take that.

Finical

IrishKnight wrote: »

If you don't accept your round 1 offer, it is taken from you.

Remember kids, you can accept your round 1 offer and if you get what you want in round 2, you can then take that.

Thanks for that.

jelomulawin

IrishKnight wrote: »

If you don't accept your round 1 offer, it is taken from you.

What if you didn't accept your round 1 offer (because you suddenly didn't like to do it) and there is no chance that you can get your first preference in round 2:
Will cao offer you something, like lower preferences(if happens to be available)?
or
Does it imply that the candidate will have to repeat lc?

-K2-

jelomulawin wrote: »

What if you didn't accept your round 1 offer (because you suddenly didn't like to do it) and there is no chance that you can get your first preference in round 2:
Will cao offer you something, like lower preferences(if happens to be available)?
or
Does it imply that the candidate will have to repeat lc?

If you reject one offer (say #3 on your list) then all others below that on your application are cancelled (4-10). If #1 or #2 are available on later rounds and you have the points then you may receive an offer. If you are offered and reject your 1st choice then you will not receive any more offers.

The same is true if you accept the offer. If you are offered #3 and accept it then you will not be offered choices 4-10 but may be offered 1 or 2 if the places/points are ok.

You can re-apply the following year with your current LC results or repeat if you wish.

jelomulawin

Oh, I see! Then you really must accept the offers no matter what, otherwise, back to friggin school! Thanks for the rep ElectronEng:D
It's very clear to me now )

randylonghorn

ElectronEng wrote: »

you are offered and reject your 1st choice then you will not receive any more offers.

Not true!!!

If a HIGHER choice from your CAO list becomes available in Round 2, you will be offered it. Of course, there is no guarantee that this will happen.


However, a LOWER preference from your list will not be offered to you in Round 2, jelomulawin.




People, can you PLEASE read the first post on this thread at least?!

-K2-

randylonghorn wrote: »

Not true!!!

If a HIGHER choice from your CAO list becomes available in Round 2, you will be offered it. Of course, there is no guarantee that this will happen.



People, can you PLEASE read the first post on this thread at least?!

My wording may have been unclear. I ment "1st choice" as in your #1 preference. Which choice can be higher than your #1 preference?

randylonghorn

ElectronEng wrote: »

My wording may have been unclear. I ment "1st choice" as in your #1 preference. Which choice can be higher than your #1 preference?

Fair enough, chief ... I read "first choice" as what someone is offered in the first round of CAO, I think others might as well ...

peterp

OK People... I have a LC results problem that I realy need advice on please.

For my CAO, I picked all my college courses that were 450pts and above.
This was a logical choice based on me doing all Honors subjects and historical exam results showing that this would be the minimum I achieved.

To my horror today I got 380pts.. I was absolutely gutted !!!

I have already put in the application to recheck some papers.. but the results on these won't be confirmed until Oct.

My question is.. If I realy did f**k up my exams and my score is actually 380pts.. Can I apply for another course not quoted on my CAO preference list ? i.e. one that is 380pts or lower.

Realy need your advice on this please.

randylonghorn

peterp wrote: »

My question is.. If I realy did f**k up my exams and my score is actually 380pts.. Can I apply for another course not quoted on my CAO preference list ? i.e. one that is 380pts or lower.

Realy need your advice on this please.

See here and here re CAO Vacant Places.

Very little there at the moment, but once First Round is over, it should show more options.

Remember a lot of people will be offered places from both the Level 8 list and the Level 6 / 7 list, but will only be able to take up one or the other. In many cases, there will be a list of people waiting to take up those vacant places in Round 2, but some will find their way onto the Vacant Places list.

Did you apply for any courses in the Level 6 / 7 list yourself, btw? These are often lower points, and if you do well, you can always progress to an Hons degree and so on.

peterp

Thanks Randylonghorn.. Good info and links.
Unfortunately, I didn't apply for any L7/6 courses as I was confident I'd get the 400+ .. How fecking stupid was that.
Hindsight is a great thing ! ;o(

Will take your advice and keep an eye on the vacant positions after Aug 18th..

randylonghorn

You're welcome, hope things come right for you!

EZeeBOS

What time do the offers come out on monday?

almostover

Does one get an offer on level 6/7 and level 8 if one filled out both sections on the cao form.

randylonghorn

almostover wrote: »

Does one get an offer on level 6/7 and level 8 if one filled out both sections on the cao form.

Yes, provided you have enough points to qualify for at least one of your preferences in each section, you should get an offer in each section.

ironictoaster

I was wondering, say If I repeated just maths as I didn't meet the entry requirements for a course XYZ and I wanted to reapply for it again next year through the CAO. Would I need the points from the original year I did the LC or the year I repeated maths?

CyberWaste

peterp wrote: »

Thanks Randylonghorn.. Good info and links.
Unfortunately, I didn't apply for any L7/6 courses as I was confident I'd get the 400+ .. How fecking stupid was that.
Hindsight is a great thing ! ;o(

Will take your advice and keep an eye on the vacant positions after Aug 18th..

I'm in the exact same boat as you, don't think i will get offered anything off my CAO, needed about 340 for most of my choices, but only got 295
Was sure id get at least 300 so didn't fill out any level 7/6 courses. Ill be keeping a close eye on the vacant spots, really hoping a electronic/computer type course comes up in WIT.

Quick question, do you have to pay to take a course off the vacant spot list if you can? if so whats the charge.

IrishKnight

creggy wrote: »

I was wondering, say If I repeated just maths as I didn't meet the entry requirements for a course XYZ and I wanted to reapply for it again next year through the CAO. Would I need the points from the original year I did the LC or the year I repeated maths?

I am open to correction on this but I think it works like this;

If you repeat the LC say two times, your best LC is taken to calc your points, while all of them are used for the entry requirements.

So say if you got the following results;

LC i) 255 failed HL maths and HL English but passed everything else
LC ii) 80 repeated HL maths and HL English and passed

Your point will be 255 and you are deemed to have passed all subject including maths and English

DigiGal

Right so.......


My portfolio got accepted to NCAD

I have met the matriculation requirments.(no points)

I'll defo get it yes...

pathway33

peterp wrote: »

Will take your advice and keep an eye on the vacant positions after Aug 18th..

from 12 o clock the 18th. There may be a course you want listed there with only 1 place left so be on the ball

happyfeet22

If I accept my round 1 offer on Monday can I then accept a course on the Available Places/Vacant Places list when it comes out??

Skyuser

happyfeet22 wrote: »

If I accept my round 1 offer on Monday can I then accept a course on the Available Places/Vacant Places list when it comes out??

Yes you can place it in front of the offer you accept.

ayapatrick

IrishKnight wrote: »

I am open to correction on this but I think it works like this;

If you repeat the LC say two times, your best LC is taken to calc your points, while all of them are used for the entry requirements.

So say if you got the following results;

LC i) 255 failed HL maths and HL English but passed everything else
LC ii) 80 repeated HL maths and HL English and passed

Your point will be 255 and you are deemed to have passed all subject including maths and English

to count a year for points you have to do at least 6 subjects.
In LC ii) there all you can do is count them subjects to make up the required grades. even if you got 2 a1s they are totally useless without repeatin 6 subjects:)

Jay P

I just about got the points for my course. If I was being silly and appealed one of my exams and was marked down a grade, would I still keep my college place?

toby92

I know this is probably really obvious but if I accept my level 7 offer now,can I still accept one of my level 8 in the second round offers?

Jenroche

My son didn't get any offers this morning as his points weren't high enough. Is he still in with a chance when the second round comes out?

Jen ;->

Gavin "shels"

Jenroche wrote: »

My son didn't get any offers this morning as his points weren't high enough. Is he still in with a chance when the second round comes out?

Jen ;->

Yup.

randylonghorn

toby92 wrote: »

I know this is probably really obvious but if I accept my level 7 offer now,can I still accept one of my level 8 in the second round offers?

Yes, if you're lucky enough to get offered one.

Look back over the first post carefully again.

Jenroche wrote: »

My son didn't get any offers this morning as his points weren't high enough. Is he still in with a chance when the second round comes out?

Jen ;->

He's still in with a chance, certainly.

It depends on whether places become available, and whether the points therefore drop sufficiently ... how far off he was might give you some indication of what his chances are.

He could also have a look at the Vacant Places section on the CAO website when it reopens tomorrow ... see here and here. This advertises any places available on courses ... i.e. where sufficient people didn't apply / get the minimum requirements.

matt606

does anyone know when the second round of cao offers are out? is it the 27th or 28th?

will the a-level candidates be considered in this round?

thanks

randylonghorn

matt606 wrote: »

does anyone know when the second round of cao offers are out? is it the 27th or 28th?

will the a-level candidates be considered in this round?

thanks

Second round is 28th ... it's listed here above where you log in to your CAO account.

The rumour flying around this forum to-day is that A-level students will get offers next Monday, in a separate offer which wasn't on the official schedule.

Apparently it's the 28th ... see reply from CAO to Sulmac below.

toby92

Okay im 10 points off what are the chances id get an offer if the points for my course where to drop ?

eggsnail

i applied to study mech eng. in gmit.i studied first year in 2006.i was refused the course this time because the points have gone up.I didnt apply as a repeat just applied through cao as i did the first time.Is there anything i can do to get on the course.any help or info would be brilliant.

WaldenByThoreua

Ok...Im finished 1st year pharmacy in Trinity..have a few repeats in a few weeks...I applied to the cao earlier in the year to give myself a few points if I didnt like or failed Pharmacy....anyway, got offered Law in Trinity this week..not mad on it but if I fail the repeats Ill seriously think about it..

My Q: I dont want to accept or decline the offer until I know the consequences. Basically if I accept it,say, tomorrow, am I *obliged* to do it, regardless of whether I pass my repeats or not? I would'nt like to accept it then not take it in case some other student missed out because I took it and had to reapply to the cao or do a different course when they wanted Law in Trinity...How long will the offer last? I wont know my repeat results until 2nd/3rd week in sept...

Thanks....

Sulmac

randylonghorn wrote: »

Second round is 28th ... it's listed here above where you log in to your CAO account.

The rumour flying around this forum to-day is that A-level students will get offers next Monday, in a separate offer which wasn't on the official schedule.

I e-mailed the CAO about this yesterday (knowing full well that it ain't gonna happen, but wanted confirmation). I got the reply today:

Each year the offer schedule is agreed by the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), with the timing of the main round of offers (known as round one) being determined by the release date of the Republic of Ireland Leaving Certificate results. This year round one will issue on 17th August. GCE A-level results will be issued on August 20th, a week later than Leaving Certificate results. Admissions Officers are aware of the late issue of GCE results this year. In determining the number of offers to be issued in round one, Admissions Officers will allow for the late issue of GCE results and applicants presenting GCE results will be considered in round two which issues on Friday 28th August.

Round two offers will be available to view on the CAO website at 6am on 28th August.

Further enquiries should be directed to Admissions Offices.

I have no idea where the idea of Monday came from though.