*$*$*$* CAO offers - how they work! *$*$*$*

randylonghorn

(Round 1 offers - 20th August 2012)


Guys, can I suggest people have a look at the offers section (page 21 onwards) of the CAO handbook over the next few days ...

*** 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 22) 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

See the CAO website - vacant places




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

randylonghorn

Some useful Q&A posts copied from previous CAO threads (some edited / shortened slightly) ... please read, your question may have been answered!!

YodaBoy wrote: »

What happens of you accept an offer low down on the list, then you get your points boosted in a recheck; by the time you got the updated results you would already have started in college... Do you have to take a higher offer if you get it or is the course already filled up when you get the rechrcked results??

QueenOfLeon wrote: »

If you did go up in points and get offered the higher course, it depends on the course as to what they do. Some courses will only take you the following year, so if you accept it they will hold a place for you next year. Other courses leave spaces for people who go up in rechecks.

Victoria. wrote: »

Does the CAO sort by matriculation requirements too?
Say if you didn't get a required grade for maths but you got enough points would it offer you that course solely on points so you wouldn't be offered another one or would it take the maths into account?

randylonghorn wrote: »

No, you will be offered the highest ranked course to which you are entitled ... if there is a requirement for a C3 in maths for a course, for example, and you only get a D, you will not be offered that course even if you have the points.

LouiseZ wrote: »

Say you got offered your second choice course, and you accepted that offer, if the points for your first choice course drop in the second round and due to that points drop you get in, can you still get offered a place on your first choice course?
...even if you've accepted the second choice course...I should probably know this..:rolleyes:

pathway33 wrote: »

Yes provided you meet the matriculation requirements as well as the points.

You can go up on the CAO but the CAO will never let you go down.

Golden rule: 'The only way is up'

Say you got 500 points and your first choice in round 1 was 505 and your second choice was 495 then you get your second choice providing you also meet the matriculation requirements (e.g OC3 in maths which you satisfy by getting an OC1)

In the second round you will get your first choice if it drops to 500 and you get pulled out on random selection or if it drops to below 500. That's providing your first choice does not have an entry requirement like OB3 in maths because you only got an OC1. In this case you have the points but not the entry requirement and so stick on your round 1 offer. If you had your OB3 in maths then your first choice is yours if you wish

fancyschmancy wrote: »

if you accept a course this year, then after one year decide you don't like it, how can you change course? is it based on leaving cert points 2010 or on university exams from your first year?

QueenOfLeon wrote: »

If you reapply through the CAO for a completely different course, you're applying with all the current leaving certs so it goes on whatever the required points are in that year, not what it was when you did the LC.

If you just want to change course without changing university and without going back and repeating first year, you should contact the university to see what they can do for you. For example, doing first year marine science and wanting to move into environmental sci (provided the 1st year courses are the same, as they are for a lot of sciences). You MAY have to repeat first year if the courses have different first year modules.

If you're changing university but staying in the same type of course, eg, doing 1st year science or something like that but wanting to do second year of the same course somewhere else, you apply for a transfer. You must have the points that were required in the year you started the course, eg, if you take science in NUIG for 350 points, and Trinity was 450, if you didn't have the 450 in the first place you can't transfer. You also have to meet the other transfer requirements set out by the university, most require that you pass your first year college exams, fill out an application form and write a personal statement.

Theres also the issue of paying fees if you reapply through the CAO and enter 1st year for the 2nd time, whether in a different uni or not. You must pay the fees for 1st year of the course. If a transfer is approved, and you go direct from 1st year in one uni to 2nd year in another, you don't pay fees.

lallychops wrote: »

how do you actually accept offers? do you go into the cao website and accept there??

QueenOfLeon wrote: »

On the day of the offers, you log into your cao account. You'll have 2 boxes, 1 for level 8 and 1 for level 7, saying what course you've been accepted, the college and the course number. There'll be an "accept" button beside it, click it and thats it!

You also get it by post (the same day I think?) so you can fill out that form and send it back, but the quicker and easier way is online.

KKBL

So if I get offered a course at 6 o clock tomorrow morning but say my internet connection is dead and I don't get online until Wednesday.. is there a possibility that my place will be gone/ taken by somebody else or will that place be reserved for me to accept all the way until 5 o clock next Monday evening?

QueenOfLeon

KKBL wrote: »

So if I get offered a course at 6 o clock tomorrow morning but say my internet connection is dead and I don't get online until Wednesday.. is there a possibility that my place will be gone/ taken by somebody else or will that place be reserved for me to accept all the way until 5 o clock next Monday evening?

You have a week to accept the course (until 5.15pm Monday the 27th), no one else will be offered the course in this time.

Goes without saying though, don't leave it til the last minute!

LimerickSports

this might sound like a stupid question but i dont know the answer to it. and the offers are coming out tomorow. I want to know how you get offered a place? Do you just need enough points for your first choice and you will definetly get in aslong as you have the points needed. Or do they pick people based on other circumstances for e.g they got an a in maths etc. Would appreciate if someone could clarify this for me.

skyscraperblue

LimerickSports wrote: »

this might sound like a stupid question but i dont know the answer to it. and the offers are coming out tomorow. I want to know how you get offered a place? Do you just need enough points for your first choice and you will definetly get in aslong as you have the points needed. Or do they pick people based on other circumstances for e.g they got an a in maths etc. Would appreciate if someone could clarify this for me.

There are three things you need:
- The requirements for the university/college. These are usually really basic, like passing six subjects. They'll be in the front of the prospectus.
- Enough points.
- Any "special requirements", for example some courses specify that you need to get a HB3 or above in maths.

If you get the uni/college requirements, and fulfil any special requirements for your course, after that it ONLY goes on points. They won't pick and choose candidates based on individual subject grades, except in the case of courses with a special requirement. Check the prospectus for the course you're looking at and it will tell you if there are any special grades you need.

Astrozombies

Say in the 1st offer, I accept a course Im given, but when the 2nd round of offers come out the points have dropped enough for a course that was higher on my CAO and Im offered that also.. Will I be able to accept my 2nd offer after already accepting my first? If I accept the 2nd, will my first offer just vanish or will I have to write/call and explain that I dont want it anymore?
That being said... will I even be offered a 2nd offer if I have already accepted my first?
Just want to clarify thanks!

QueenOfLeon

Astrozombies wrote: »

Say in the 1st offer, I accept a course Im given, but when the 2nd round of offers come out the points have dropped enough for a course that was higher on my CAO and Im offered that also.. Will I be able to accept my 2nd offer after already accepting my first? If I accept the 2nd, will my first offer just vanish or will I have to write/call and explain that I dont want it anymore?
That being said... will I even be offered a 2nd offer if I have already accepted my first?
Just want to clarify thanks!

If you get offered a second round offer, and you want to accept it, it will then cancel out your first offer automatically. You won't need to inform anyone about it, just click "Accept" on your CAO form.

Like you said, this course has to be higher than the original course you accepted. You won't get offered choice 3 if you've already accepted choice 2, but you might be offered choice 1. Accepting your first offer won't matter to the second round, if you deserve a course you will be offered it. You don't necessarily have to accept it though, you can stick with the original offer.

craigb93

right so question ..... i got 345 points and the course i want is 350 . and i want to get my results rechecked . so if i dont get the course on a 2nd round offer but then after getting them recheked i get the 350 points is there a way i can still get into that course ? considering the rechecks arent one til late september

Folester27

i got 410, my course says 410*..
*-all candidates with this score were not offered a place.. anyone care to shed some light on this obviously cruel statement? haha

Avox

Folester27 wrote: »

i got 410, my course says 410*..
*-all candidates with this score were not offered a place.. anyone care to shed some light on this obviously cruel statement? haha

It means the course went to random selection. It has a set out amount of places, most of the applicants got over 410, and when it came down to filling say the last 5 places on the course, there were 10 applicants, all with the same score of 410, so the CAO had to choose randomly which 5 could get in to the course.

Folester27

Avox wrote: »

It means the course went to random selection. It has a set out amount of places, most of the applicants got over 410, and when it came down to filling say the last 5 places on the course, there were 10 applicants, all with the same score of 410, so the CAO had to choose randomly which 5 could get in to the course.

Any chance i might sneak a round 2 offer?

Avox

Folester27 wrote: »

Any chance i might sneak a round 2 offer?

It really depends on what happens with the offers! If some people don't accept, then yeah, you'd be in a fairly good position but there's no guarantee it'll happen you know? I'd say don't rest all your cards on it, but if it does happen, it'll be a nice bonus!

HOnuke

My course didnt go up and I got 45 more points than required and all the grades required but i didnt get a offer. Is it possible that I'll get one today or sometime during this week?

Avox

HOnuke wrote: »

My course didnt go up and I got 45 more points than required and all the grades required but i didnt get a offer. Is it possible that I'll get one today or sometime during this week?

did you not meet the general entry requirements/were you using fetac points?

HOnuke

Avox wrote: »

did you not meet the general entry requirements/were you using fetac points?

I met all the entry requirements and applied through the CAO. Its for a level 8 course.

Avox

HOnuke wrote: »

I met all the entry requirements and applied through the CAO. Its for a level 8 course.

Were you using leaving certificate results? If so, I can't see why you wouldn't get an offer if you got over the points. What is the course?

HOnuke

Avox wrote: »

Were you using leaving certificate results? If so, I can't see why you wouldn't get an offer if you got over the points. What is the course?

Yeah i did my leaving cert this year. The course is Computer Science in UCD and its 410 points but i got 455

Avox

HOnuke wrote: »

Yeah i did my leaving cert this year. The course is Computer Science in UCD and its 410 points but i got 455

It's actually 470 this year which would explain why there's no offer!

HOnuke

Avox wrote: »

It's actually 470 this year which would explain why there's no offer!

it doesnt say it on the website though

skyscraperblue

HOnuke wrote: »

it doesnt say it on the website though

It's on the CAO website as 470 - maybe you're looking at last year's?

Avox

HOnuke wrote: »

it doesnt say it on the website though

UCD's website won't be updated yet. The points are on the CAO site for this year.

HOnuke

Avox wrote: »

UCD's website won't be updated yet. The points are on the CAO site for this year.

Could you post the link?

Avox

HOnuke wrote: »

Could you post the link?

http://www2.cao.ie/points/LVL8_12.htm#dnd

c28omzk7ihsxv0

I didn't get offered anything even though I was 30 points above one course and 15 above another.

MOR66

If you have the DARE scheme and didn't get you offers, is it possible to get your choices in round two if your only slightly off your target?

tired t

hi just wondering do you only get one offer from one college or can you get more from other colleges? got 1st preference but not sure still want it,:eek: will there be other offers from different colleges or is this it apart from 2nd round if this not accepted? thanks guys

temujin

hi i've just read my cao application and i have been accepted for both my level 8 and level 7/6 course. I have already accepted my level 8 but i'm still being prompted to accept my level 7/6 as well. Should i still accept my level 7/6 even though i'm not going to that college.

biohaiid

Just wondering ..
Could you accept whatever course you get and do it for the year, but reapply through the CAO for next year while still doing the course?
Then drop out and start over maybe!?

Silver_Tiger

I was just wondering does anyone know if you can you accept an offer, defer it and then repeat the LC and apply through CAO for a different course the next year?

Avox

temujin wrote: »

hi i've just read my cao application and i have been accepted for both my level 8 and level 7/6 course. I have already accepted my level 8 but i'm still being prompted to accept my level 7/6 as well. Should i still accept my level 7/6 even though i'm not going to that college.

No, leave the level 6/7 alone and it will disappear once this round of offers ends.

biohaiid wrote: »

Just wondering ..
Could you accept whatever course you get and do it for the year, but reapply through the CAO for next year while still doing the course?
Then drop out and start over maybe!?

Yeah you could, but you'd have to pay full fees for whatever you do next year.

Silver_Tiger wrote: »

I was just wondering does anyone know if you can you accept an offer, defer it and then repeat the LC and apply through CAO for a different course the next year?

No, don't accept the offer if you want to defer. You've to write to the college in question and ask for a deferral. If you do defer, that's the ONLY course you can have on your CAO next year if you still want it. You can't have it as a backup for next year.

dambarude

tired t wrote: »

hi just wondering do you only get one offer from one college or can you get more from other colleges? got 1st preference but not sure still want it,:eek: will there be other offers from different colleges or is this it apart from 2nd round if this not accepted? thanks guys

If you were offered your first preference you won't get any further offers on that list (your level 8 list I'm guessing).

temujin wrote: »

hi i've just read my cao application and i have been accepted for both my level 8 and level 7/6 course. I have already accepted my level 8 but i'm still being prompted to accept my level 7/6 as well. Should i still accept my level 7/6 even though i'm not going to that college.

Don't accept the level 7/6 course. Just leave it as is.

biohaiid wrote: »

Just wondering ..
Could you accept whatever course you get and do it for the year, but reapply through the CAO for next year while still doing the course?
Then drop out and start over maybe!?

You could do that, but you'd be going through open competition again next year and you'd have to pay to do first year of the second course you accept.

Silver_Tiger wrote: »

I was just wondering does anyone know if you can you accept an offer, defer it and then repeat the LC and apply through CAO for a different course the next year?

Not sure on that one, but I'd imagine you could. Be aware of the specific requirements about deferred places. If you actually wanted to accept your deferred place, but entered more than that course on your CAO, you'd re-enter open competition.

biohaiid

Yeah you could, but you'd have to pay full fees for whatever you do next year.



Why? What if I had the grant?

dambarude

biohaiid wrote: »

Yeah you could, but you'd have to pay full fees for whatever you do next year.



Why? What if I had the grant?

Because the free fees only apply for your first undergraduate course or part thereof. If you complete one year of one course, that's one year of your free fees used up. I'd say that still applies, even if you have a grant.

Remember the distinction between fees and the student contribution.

Avox

dambarude wrote: »

Because the free fees only apply for your first undergraduate course or part thereof. If you complete one year of one course, that's one year of your free fees used up. I'd say that still applies, even if you have a grant.

Remember the distinction between fees and the student contribution.

Yeah it will still apply even with a grant! You'll lose your grant for the next course as well as having to pay full fees for whatever the course is.

Silver_Tiger

Okay! Thanks very much Avox and dambarude!

biohaiid

dambarude wrote: »

Because the free fees only apply for your first undergraduate course or part thereof. If you complete one year of one course, that's one year of your free fees used up. I'd say that still applies, even if you have a grant.

Remember the distinction between fees and the student contribution.

Avox wrote: »

Yeah it will still apply even with a grant! You'll lose your grant for the next course as well as having to pay full fees for whatever the course is.

Iv'e actually been talking to a local girl that has done this.
There is a date in October and if I swtich courses before then, then I wont be charged fees.
However if I switch after that date I will be charged fees for the first year only of my new course. After that the grant will cover it.

Avox

biohaiid wrote: »

Iv'e actually been talking to a local girl that has done this.
There is a date in October and if I swtich courses before then, then I wont be charged fees.
However if I switch after that date I will be charged fees for the first year only of my new course. After that the grant will cover it.

You said you'd do a full year, that's very different. You can only switch degrees if you meet the entry requirements, which judging by your posts, you don't have the points and it wouldn't be much good for you anyway?

biohaiid

Avox wrote: »

You said you'd do a full year, that's very different. You can only switch degrees if you meet the entry requirements, which judging by your posts, you don't have the points and it wouldn't be much good for you anyway?

How? Sorry, I'm just very confused right now.
I don't have the points for my top 2 courses right now, but I was thinking could I re-apply next to the CAO next year while still doing my course?
If I still didn't get it, I'd stick with my course.
If I did though, would I not just be paying the full fees for my first year of the new course and then getting the grant for the rest?
Or, is that only applicable if I dont complete the first year of my first course.

Avox

biohaiid wrote: »

How? Sorry, I'm just very confused right now.
I don't have the points for my top 2 courses right now, but I was thinking could I re-apply next to the CAO next year while still doing my course?
If I still didn't get it, I'd stick with my course.
If I did though, would I not just be paying the full fees for my first year of the new course and then getting the grant for the rest?
Or, is that only applicable if I dont complete the first year of my first course.

You can reapply next year whilst doing your course, yes.
Yeah you'd pay full fees for first year only (anywhere from 6-10,000), and no grant for that year. You'd have to pay the registration fee on top (2500 next year).
After that year, you wouldn't have to pay your fees and you would get your grant.
If you drop out before September 30th (in most colleges, some may be a bit later), you won't have to pay fees the year after and if you haven't received any of your grant payments you could get it the next year too.

After that you're liable for half fees for first year up until a date in January. Anytime after that, you're liable for full fees for the next year.

biohaiid

Avox wrote: »

You can reapply next year whilst doing your course, yes.
Yeah you'd pay full fees for first year only (anywhere from 6-10,000), and no grant for that year. You'd have to pay the registration fee on top (2500 next year).
After that year, you wouldn't have to pay your fees and you would get your grant.
If you drop out before September 30th (in most colleges, some may be a bit later), you won't have to pay fees the year after and if you haven't received any of your grant payments you could get it the next year too.

After that you're liable for half fees for first year up until a date in January. Anytime after that, you're liable for full fees for the next year.

Great info. Thank you so much!

biohaiid

Iv'e just been told you cannot receive a 2nd round offer if you accept your 1st, is this true?

Avox

biohaiid wrote: »

Iv'e just been told you cannot receive a 2nd round offer if you accept your 1st, is this true?

No, you can go up on your CAO, just not down.

biohaiid

Avox wrote: »

No, you can go up on your CAO, just not down.

Ah my god, I am getting all this different information from different Guidance counsellors.
So I can definately accept my offer and if by some miracle I get offered a higher choice I can accept that one too, and then decline the other one?

Whatsernamex33

Say I accepted a Level 7 today, and tomorrow applied for a Level 8 course on the vacant places and I then got offered that and accepted it, the Level 7 would cancel out then?

randylonghorn

biohaiid wrote: »

Iv'e just been told you cannot receive a 2nd round offer if you accept your 1st, is this true?

No, please read the first post in this thread / your CAO handbook.

biohaiid wrote: »

Ah my god, I am getting all this different information from different Guidance counsellors.
So I can definately accept my offer and if by some miracle I get offered a higher choice I can accept that one too, and then decline the other one?

Yes, you can accept the higher choice IF you get an offer, and that acceptance will automatically cancel the earlier one.

biohaiid

randylonghorn wrote: »

No, please read the first post in this thread / your CAO handbook.

Yes, you can accept the higher choice IF you get an offer, and that acceptance will automatically cancel the earlier one.

Thank you.
I had always thought you could accept a higher option if it was offered, and I was just told by a pretty established guidance counsellor that you couldn't. Was in momentary chock there lol.

iamanengine

Hi I'm just wondering about this date in October that was mentioned earlier. I got my first choice as it went down by 45 points this year which I did not expect and I had more or less accepted in my head that I would be going for my second choice. Now that I've gotten my first choice I'm not sure how I feel. So, is it possible for me to do my course til October and then switch over to my second choice without having to pay fees etc.

The 2 courses are Civil Law and Comp Science and I.T. and I got the points for both. Any help is appreciated

Avox

iamanengine wrote: »

Hi I'm just wondering about this date in October that was mentioned earlier. I got my first choice as it went down by 45 points this year which I did not expect and I had more or less accepted in my head that I would be going for my second choice. Now that I've gotten my first choice I'm not sure how I feel. So, is it possible for me to do my course til October and then switch over to my second choice without having to pay fees etc.

The 2 courses are Civil Law and Comp Science and I.T. and I got the points for both. Any help is appreciated

That's quite a bit different to dropping out, and no one can really give you a definite answer, as it all depends on the University's decision about whether they can allow you to transfer or not. Basically, if there are places available in the course that you want to transfer to, and if you meet all the entry requirements, they might let you transfer to it. Judging by your post, it's CS&IT in NUIG that you want to transfer in to? It's points increased by 35 this year which means there was a surge in demand, and may not be any places for you to transfer into.

iamanengine

Yeah it's CS & IT that I'm thinking of trying to get into, but it's so hard to know! Like I could love law I just already know I have an interest in computers and had accepted that there was no way law was going to go down by 45 points, you can imagine my surprise when I logged on to the CAO! So it's up to the college then, thanks for the info, at least I know if is at the very least possible should I hate law. Thanks.

tired t

thanks dambarude, sorry for being thick but are all the colleges informed then that my 1st preference has been franted? so no other college will make an offer?
thanks a million