CAO applications 2013???

rox12

Ok, the application system has opened up Monday. I only found out yesterday as my institute only decided to put up the notice a few days later.

And I won't lie, I haven't got a monkey's clue where to start?
I never tried applying in LC since I decided to do a PLC first, my school was crap at explaining, no one ever explained to us what a CAO was or what was the point of having it, and just as my teacher was about to explain it, I would think, she got cancer and could not come back for the rest of the year. And you would think for our LC year, the school would get another Careers techers straight away, but instead we ended up with a sub doing free classes. By the time a actual teacher came in, by then you had to just apply, no time for going through it. I still remember how only a third of the class knew to apply that time, and I know that at least more than half the class want to apply using CAO but didnt know how.

Anyway what is the point of having a Central Application Office? I mean for the PLC you just had to apply straight on the website of the institute and that was it, you then were contacted by them for an interview and so on.
Why can't you just do that with the normal universities and colleges? You dont get this whole having to pay a fee for applying and all these deadline dates?

But can someone please help me on what to do? I went on the website and I don't know where or how to begin. All I know is that the first deadline date is in Feb 2013, so missing out this week was not too bad.

Would really appreciate the help, thank you.

jaydoxx

Well the reason it exists is so one organisation can do all the work instead of each individual institution, so it's more efficient. Also, because only one office reviews all the applications it's become feasible to apply one set of fair admission rules for every student going to every Higher institute.

First thing I recommend is getting the CAO Handbook, it should answer all your questions regarding application to third level. Also if your school has guidance counceling services, use them!

Darius.Tr

Hi, I didn't want to open up a new thread seeing at it's related to Fetac and CAO. I did fetac course last year and around this time last year I was looking at http://www2.cao.ie/fetac/fetac_search.php and there used to be a lot more Universities / IT's listed there as there is now.
I am just wondering is this because those Universities/IT's are no longer accepting people that decide to use their Fetac results rather then Leaving Cert or is it because of the new course code system?

jaydoxx

Yes I noticed that too the other day. I would imagine it's not to do with the change of the codes (as some HEIs already contain the two different codes) themselves but rather the new system they are implementing for assessing the results for admission into 3rd level.

I believe a points system is being put in place and I guess they're having a rethink of minimum entry requirements to boot!

kearney68

hi all,I am 27 and was just enquiring about applying for Social Care next year in CIT(was told points would be no higher than 370). Firstly I have completed 2 Fetac level courses(Health Care Assistant and Business Studies)in The College of Commerce and between the 2 of them courses I would have 8 distinctions-thus giving me a total of 400 points when converted over from my best 8 modules or (375)from Care Assistant alone if they don't count two awards together. I mention this because I am in Canada for the year until next September(2013) and if I applied as a mature student I gather I would need to come home for an interview before then?so would it be better to apply to the CAO through the Fetac awards route?,thanks for your help