CAO deadline has passed (DRAMATIC MUSIC)

A Neurotic · 23-06-2009 10:43am #1

So the deadline, the actual, ultimate, super-serial deadline is just around the corner.

I've been putting off all of the decision-making since January.

Anyone else still fairly intimidated by the selection process?

~Candy~ · 23-06-2009 10:53am

could anyone explain how does the cao works?
i am kinda confused

Isaac702 · 23-06-2009 12:19pm

Im not really concerned about the selection process. Provided that I get the points required I will get into the course I want to do.

Also for those who are not sure how the system works here is a basic run through.
The information on courses provided by applicants in entered into a computer.
The computer gives places to applicants in the order of those who got the highest points.
In the occurrence where at the end of the process there are x places left for the course and y people with the same points a lottery system is brought into play and x number of applicants from the y applicants will be chosen.
Those that do not get a place on their number 1 option are then automatically entered into the database for their second option.
The same process is them followed.

In this manner the Irish system is considered very fair as it is completely under the control of an unbiased mechanism and their are no human operators to make the decisions.

Edit: Does anyone plan on making any changes to their CAO. Personally I was happy with what I put down originally and I don't think I will make any other changes.

A Neurotic · 23-06-2009 12:33pm

I'm set on my first choice, but I'm not so sure of getting it, so I'm having trouble settling on a backup. I keep juggling them around, getting nowhere...

MrPirate · 23-06-2009 2:33pm

Right, well I'm trying to do my final mixing around of choices. Ie, what I want 1st, etc. But before I finalize it, I was wondering how exactly the courses are given out? Like, when the first rounds come out, will each course you have down offer you something? Like, will you get an offer for, say, number 6 (if no course before that offers you a place that is) on the first day or how does it work?
I've a vague idea but not 100% sure.

banjopaul · 23-06-2009 2:40pm

MrPirate wrote: »

Right, well I'm trying to do my final mixing around of choices. Ie, what I want 1st, etc. But before I finalize it, I was wondering how exactly the courses are given out? Like, when the first rounds come out, will each course you have down offer you something? Like, will you get an offer for, say, number 6 (if no course before that offers you a place that is) on the first day or how does it work?
I've a vague idea but not 100% sure.

You only get one offer in the first round in each section, i.e. one in level 6/7 and another in level 8. If you got offered say your number 3, everything below that is completely canceled from your application for the second round, as you have told the CAO that you want this course more than the others below it. You can only move up from a lower course in the second round, you can't get offers further down your list.
Hope this helps.

Gavin "shels" · 23-06-2009 2:48pm

If I get offered my 2nd choice say in the 1st round, and don't accept it, but then still don't get my 1st choice in the 2nd round what happens? Can I still pick the 2nd choice, or is that now "void" because I dismissed it?

blue-army · 23-06-2009 2:55pm

Gavin shels wrote: »

Can I still pick the 2nd choice, or is that now "void" because I dismissed it?

Yeah...I'm fairly sure it'll be void.

tootyflutty · 23-06-2009 3:36pm

I keep changing mine! Basically my first 4 on the level 8 side have stayed the same since day one, but after that I'm just not sure.
But on the level 6/7 I didn't put any courses down originally, and even now I only have one, but I really don't want it. I don't know what to do. Sorta freaking out a bit, I didn't want to put anything down, but now I'm scared not to.

pathway33 · 23-06-2009 3:44pm

Gavin shels wrote: »

If I get offered my 2nd choice say in the 1st round, and don't accept it, but then still don't get my 1st choice in the 2nd round what happens? Can I still pick the 2nd choice, or is that now "void" because I dismissed it?

what you dismiss in round 1 is given to someone else who will appreciate it a little more

. Take what you get in round 1 and you can always get a better offer in round 2

pathway33 · 23-06-2009 3:46pm

tootyflutty wrote: »

I keep changing mine! Basically my first 4 on the level 8 side have stayed the same since day one, but after that I'm just not sure.
But on the level 6/7 I didn't put any courses down originally, and even now I only have one, but I really don't want it. I don't know what to do. Sorta freaking out a bit, I didn't want to put anything down, but now I'm scared not to.

going into level 7 in september may well work out the same in 4 years because theres loads of 1 year add ons to make your level 7 degree a level 8

Peppapig · 23-06-2009 3:50pm

I have Arts in Maynooth down as 1st choice, and the other 9 are stuff I wouldnt reallly be happy doing.

tootyflutty · 23-06-2009 4:00pm

pathway33 wrote: »

going into level 7 in september may well work out the same in 4 years because theres loads of 1 year add ons to make your level 7 degree a level 8

Oh it's not because of the time, that doesn't bother me in the slightest, it's the courses. All I want to do is music performance, and there are not level 7's available in that. The only one I do have on my level 7 is music and instrument technology, but it's more based around guitars and recording techniques which is totally not what I want.
After music on my level 8 I have arts and then just at the end is a couple of biology courses, but I'd have to be pretty pushed to accept one of those.

christina_x · 23-06-2009 4:59pm

i only have 2 courses on my CAO, both level 8s. I keep changing them around though because im not sure which i want more, but its safer to go with the lower points one because i have to get an offer in the first round to keep my apartment! decisions decisions...

dontlikeurmam · 23-06-2009 5:29pm

pathway33 wrote: »

Take what you get in round 1 and you can always get a better offer in round 2

Can you really do that??...like can you accept your first choice on the second round after already accepting your second choice on the first round?...sorry i know that sounds messed up

pathway33 · 23-06-2009 5:34pm

dontlikeurmam wrote: »

Can you really do that??...like can you accept your first choice on the second round after already accepting your second choice on the first round?...sorry i know that sounds messed up

yes that's the CAO rule.....you can move up your list of preferences in a later round but you cannot move down

AMixedBag · 23-06-2009 6:50pm

Peppapig wrote: »

I have Arts in Maynooth down as 1st choice, and the other 9 are stuff I wouldnt reallly be happy doing.

Same as me. I have science in Maynooth down as 2. Wouldn't mind if i got that either.

clicks · 23-06-2009 7:06pm

i left mine right until the last second too, just take the leap of faith it will work out in the end!

tootyflutty · 23-06-2009 7:37pm

Just about to go CAO-ing now :P

ya-ba-da-ba-doo · 23-06-2009 8:25pm

was real iffy bout two courses on my cao... sports science and health in dcu and science in trinity.... just did heads and tails!

them two courses and science in ucd are the courses im more than likely goona get too

this is what it looks like

Level 8 Course Choices: 1. DN006 Physiotherapy 2. TR053 Physiotherapy 3. RC004 Physiotherapy 4. DC204 Athletic Therapy and Training 5. DC202 Sport Science and Health 6. TR071 Science 7. DN008 Science 8. DT204 Biomedical Science 9. GY301 Science 10. DN012 Arts

D.R cowboy · 23-06-2009 9:21pm

Say i put down a course NO.1 which i will not get the points for eg Physiotherapy

And put the course I will most likely get eg ARTS NO.2

I dont have a science subject and just put in Physiotherapy for the laugh and hope the CAO make a mistake will I lose my ARTS course

pathway33 · 23-06-2009 9:33pm

D.R cowboy wrote: »

Say i put down a course NO.1 which i will not get the points for eg Physiotherapy

And put the course I will most likely get eg ARTS NO.2

I dont have a science subject and just put in Physiotherapy for the laugh and hope the CAO make a mistake will I lose my ARTS course

If you get your number 1 in the first round that's all you will be offered. You automatically lose the other 9 courses and there is no way back.

HELLO132 · 23-06-2009 10:51pm

So i did my LC last year but messed up on my CAO application. Basicaly i put my 1st choice (favoured choice) in 2nd position without realising the importance of ordering, that as long as you had the points for your 1st choice (which i did) you wouldn't be offered any of your other choices

So i decided to reapply this year assuming that i'd still want to do the same course as last year. With me being one of the the world's biggest procrastinators its only recently that i decided to look over my choices that i realised maybe the course isn't for me (i know only a week left:eek::()

So i looked through the list for all the courses and i'm a bit confused about the wording it has

for example:

Course

ENGINEERING/TECHNOLOGY

IT BLANCHARDSTOWN

First

Final
Computing

225

305
Engineering

205

310

What does Final mean? It doesn't explain it at all maybe it obvious but i'm a bit rusty with the CAO atm. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Liam O · 23-06-2009 10:53pm

I'm going to do worse in the LC than I expected to do at the start of 5th/6th year. I bottled History and dropped down inn French to OL so I reckon I'll get somewhere in the vicinity of 320-370 points when I was expecting around 400 so I'm looking at Arts in UCD, it's just that UCD is quite far away from where I live but I think that that would probably be the best course available to me. Iwould like to do something with English but I wouldn't mind a business course which is why I have a couple of NCI courses that I wouldn't mind doing. NCI is close enough to me and I hear it's quite a good college so I'm still not sure if I should put one of those in front of Arts.

As I'm sure you can tell, I'm still very confused.

Liam O · 23-06-2009 10:55pm

D.R cowboy wrote: »

Say i put down a course NO.1 which i will not get the points for eg Physiotherapy

And put the course I will most likely get eg ARTS NO.2

I dont have a science subject and just put in Physiotherapy for the laugh and hope the CAO make a mistake will I lose my ARTS course

If you don't qualify for a course you wont be offered it, you would be offered Arts

pathway33 · 23-06-2009 10:58pm

first round and final round points? but the figures should be the other way round for that because the points should be reducing as the rounds pass not increasing?

could it mean the person with the highest points got 305 and the lowest entrant got 225?

i have no idea

almostnever · 23-06-2009 11:02pm

I'm in the position where I'm freaking out,but I don't want to deal with it and I need to. If I don't get any of my first 3 choices,it's goodbye life.

Hmmm. I might stick Law and Business down and see. Stupid CAO,I hate you.

pathway33 · 23-06-2009 11:10pm

Liam O wrote: »

Iwould like to do something with English but I wouldn't mind a business course

3 year honours degree in englishy stuff and businessy/economics stuff in dublin....220 points last year....ny good?

http://www.qualifax.ie/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=16

xOxSinéadxOx · 23-06-2009 11:25pm

is the deadline the 1st of july?

pathway33 · 23-06-2009 11:28pm

xOxSinéadxOx wrote: »

is the deadline the 1st of july?

5 o clock AFAIK but if you try to log on that day www.cao.ie might crash like it did before because of the traffic

JSK 252 · 23-06-2009 11:45pm

Level 8 Category of course choices
Pref Code Course Title
1 CK703 Pharmacy
2 TR072 Pharmacy
3 RC005 Pharmacy
4 CK402 Biological and Chemical Sciences
5 CK405 Genetics
6 CR320 Biomedical Science - Joint CIT and UCC programme
7 CK406 Chemical Sciences
8 CK404 Environmental and Earth System Sciences
9 CK201 Commerce
10 CK204 Finance

Level 7/6 Category of course choices

Pref Code Course Title
1 CR006 Applied Biosciences
2 CR007 Analytical and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
3 CR300 Science ( Level 7 - Common Entry )

HELLO132 · 24-06-2009 12:05am

Its really confusing i've asked a few people and nobody gets it

:(

Dante · 24-06-2009 11:27am

My first choice is a new course so I don't know how much points it will be.....soooo off putting!

I'm sure it'll be high knowing Trinity.

stringy · 24-06-2009 11:41am

OK Just to clarify for MANY of you....

If you accept your first round offer, you will NOT be offered anything else, not even a higher preference course if places become available. You will only be offered a higher placed course if you get a positive upgrade of one of your marks in a re-check of a leaving cert exam.

If you accept your first preference, and you really want something that is listed as your 2nd or 3rd choice you will not be offered this, in later rounds.

Therefore the advice is...

Place the courses on your CAO in your order of preference, i.e. what you really really want, put number 1, and be prepared to do the courses you put down in your next preferences, so research the courses and make sure you will be happy to do this course should you get offered it.

Also....put down what you REALLY want in number 1 even if you don't think you won't get the points, you never know what will happen.

Make sure you have the subject requirements for the course you are putting down, even if you get the required points, you will not be offered a place if you don't have the right subject requirements.

pathway33 · 24-06-2009 12:12pm

stringy wrote: »

OK Just to clarify for MANY of you....

If you accept your first round offer, you will NOT be offered anything else, not even a higher preference course if places become available. You will only be offered a higher placed course if you get a positive upgrade of one of your marks in a re-check of a leaving cert exam.

absolutely incorrect

. If you accept your first round offer you WILL be offered a higher preference in a later round if places become available and you have the points or are chosen by random selection.

lala00 · 24-06-2009 12:20pm

so many misconceptions about the CAO!

CaoimH_in · 24-06-2009 12:42pm

Peppapig wrote: »

I have Arts in Maynooth down as 1st choice, and the other 9 are stuff I wouldnt reallly be happy doing.

2nd choice... If i pass my languages i'd say im in. Mary I is my first choice.. but maths went bad no idea

snazzy · 24-06-2009 12:44pm

OK!
From the official CAO Handbook

Order of Preference

It is MOST IMPORTANT that you state your course
choices in view of genuine preference and/or career plans.

IT IS A MISTAKE to base your choices only on your
present expectation of examination performance or the
points levels of previous years.

There is no need to fear that a statement of your genuine
order of preference will militate against you. If you are not
successful in your first choice this will have no effect on
your chances of obtaining a place in one of your lower
preferences.

Offer and Acceptance of Places
General
Decisions on applications are normally taken in August
and September following receipt of the results of the
annual school-leaving examinations.

In the cases of a very few applicants, mainly mature
applicants or those living outside the EU, decisions may
be taken at an earlier date.

Normally, however, you should not expect to have
decisions before August.

All offers of places will be sent by post. A “Reply Date”
will be printed on Offer Notices. If you wish to accept an
offer, you must do so by 5:15pm on the “Reply Date”
printed on the Offer Notice.

In addition, offers will be presented online at the CAO
website www.cao.ie and you may record your acceptance
online.

IF YOU FAIL TO DEAL WITH AN OFFER
PROPERLY AND ON TIME YOU MAY LOSE THE
PLACE

Round One

Issue of the main body of offers takes place as soon as
possible after Irish Leaving Certificate Examination results
become available. This is normally within a week of the
issue of results to candidates, in mid-August.

At the same time as first round offers of places are issued
to successful applicants, notices are sent to those who do
not receive any offer.

Round Two /Three
A second round of offers will be issued, usually in late
August/early September, to fill any remaining vacancies
Thereafter, offers will be issued as necessary until October
to fill any vacancies which may arise

Offer Procedures
General
The procedures for acceptance of an offer are very simple
and very clear. They are designed to ensure fair treatment
for ALL applicants. Requests for special treatment are
unfair to other applicants.

Offers will be issued independently in respect of Level 8
and Level 7/Level 6 courses, so that some applicants may
receive two offers of places simultaneously.

More than one acceptance
If you receive more than one offer, you may make
successive acceptances but an acceptance automatically
cancels and supersedes any previous acceptance(s) - you
may have only one current acceptance in the entire CAO
system.

Lapse of Offers
An offer will lapse unless you accept it within a specified
period - i.e. unless the online or paper acceptance is
received in CAO by 5:15 pm on the "Reply Date" set out
in the Offer Notice.

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

Rest of it can be found here: http://www2.cao.ie/handbook/handbook/index.php

stringy · 24-06-2009 1:07pm

pathway33 wrote: »

absolutely incorrect . If you accept your first round offer you WILL be offered a higher preference in a later round if places become available and you have the points or are chosen by random selection.

Excellent, it's been cleared up. Kudos friend

Occono · 24-06-2009 2:04pm

Only getting around to fixing it up today....well I already put down courses I like but I need to improve it.

This is such a weird summer.....I have no idea what exactly I'll be doing when it ends

I don't like this feeling.

pathway33 · 24-06-2009 2:11pm

stringy wrote: »

Excellent, it's been cleared up. Kudos friend

a surprising error given that the rest of your post was so excellent and will no doubt save a few souls come august

xOxSinéadxOx · 24-06-2009 4:05pm

the amount of people who are confused about the whole CAO thing is shocking tbh

pathway33 · 24-06-2009 4:41pm

JSK 252 wrote: »

Level 8 Category of course choices
Pref Code Course Title
1 CK703 Pharmacy
2 TR072 Pharmacy
3 RC005 Pharmacy
4 CK402 Biological and Chemical Sciences
5 CK405 Genetics
6 CR320 Biomedical Science - Joint CIT and UCC programme
7 CK406 Chemical Sciences
8 CK404 Environmental and Earth System Sciences
9 CK201 Commerce
10 CK204 Finance

Level 7/6 Category of course choices

Pref Code Course Title
1 CR006 Applied Biosciences
2 CR007 Analytical and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
3 CR300 Science ( Level 7 - Common Entry )

pharmacy demand has gone down so points may follow.

A med hopefuls CAO

med
med
med
med
med
vet med
dentistry
podiatry
medicinal chemistry
arts

phasers · 24-06-2009 4:50pm

Level 8 Course Choices:
1. DC131 Communication Studies
2. DT552 Media Arts
3. TA022 Creative Digital Media
4. DN012 Arts
5. MH101 Arts
6. MH109 Media Studies

It's been set since about February.
My only problem with my number one choice is that I have to cross the toll bridge twice a day, which will cost €20 a week! But that's just a silly thing, DCU here I come hopefully!

Fad · 24-06-2009 5:05pm

This is it at the moment.

Level 8 Course Choices:
1. TR071 Science
2. TR076 Physics and Chemistry of Advanced Materials
3. TR075 Medicinal Chemistry
4. DN008 Science
5. TR264 English Literature/Modern Irish
6. TR509 Modern Irish/Philosophy
7. DN004 Radiography
8. TR022 Early and Modern Irish
9. DN030 Computer Science - Science
10. TR073 Human Genetics

Level 7/6 Course Choices:
1. DT020 Preliminary Engineering

Have to change some stuff around, remove number 5, stick Science in Maynooth down, maybe stick some more level 7s in.

Halfway considering doing the supplementary Maths exam and go for engineering in Maynooth.

Lucet · 24-06-2009 9:04pm

My level 8:

1. DN015 Commerce
2. DN058 Arts (International) - German
3. DN012 Arts
4. TR087 Business Studies and Russian
5. DN062 Economics and Politics
6. TR211 Economics/Russian
7. DN008 Science
8. DT556 International Business and Languages - (German)
9. DC146 International Business and Languages (French/German)
10. DC230 Economics, Politics and Law

pathway33 · 24-06-2009 9:19pm

Lucet wrote: »

My level 8:

1. DN015 Commerce
2. DN058 Arts (International) - German
3. DN012 Arts
4. TR087 Business Studies and Russian
5. DN062 Economics and Politics
6. TR211 Economics/Russian
7. DN008 Science
8. DT556 International Business and Languages - (German)
9. DC146 International Business and Languages (French/German)
10. DC230 Economics, Politics and Law

do you want to do commerce and businessy stuff or not?

move number 4 to number 2 please :cool:

TheManWho · 24-06-2009 9:44pm

Lucet wrote: »

My level 8:

1. DN015 Commerce
2. DN058 Arts (International) - German
3. DN012 Arts
4. TR087 Business Studies and Russian
5. DN062 Economics and Politics
6. TR211 Economics/Russian
7. DN008 Science
8. DT556 International Business and Languages - (German)
9. DC146 International Business and Languages (French/German)
10. DC230 Economics, Politics and Law

I'm a little bit confused about the CAO system, and if you don't mind I will use your choices as an example.

Basically, is it true that if you have a low points course near the top, then you can never get any higher points courses under it. In your choices, you have arts second at 320, so any courses under arts in your preferences, that are above 320 points are impossible to get, because if you get above 320, you automatically get arts.

So taking that into account, the functional list of courses you are actually able to get is as follows

1. DN015 Commerce
2. DN058 Arts (International) - German
7. DN008 Science

I'm probably wrong, I don't understand the offer, acceptance system fully.

pathway33 · 24-06-2009 9:52pm

TheManWho wrote: »

is it true that if you have a low points course near the top, then you can never get any higher points courses under it.

yes this is true but bear in mind that 2008 points will change for some courses in 2009 to varying degrees. The golden rule of CAO is put the courses in your order of preference not the order you think the points will be.

Every year there are students who don't put their favourite course number 1 simply because they do not think they will get the points. This is not the way to approach it.

CAO will offer the highest preference that you qualify for. Anything below this is automatically deleted from your options. You can only move up the CAO list of course choices in august when later offers are made, never down.

TheManWho · 24-06-2009 10:03pm

I understand preference comes first, but when a course is almost 150 points higher than a course above it, is there really any point.

pathway33 · 24-06-2009 10:32pm

TheManWho wrote: »

I understand preference comes first, but when a course is almost 150 points higher than a course above it, is there really any point.

yes there is because this year for example there has been a dramatic decrease in the number of students applying for pharmacy and construction related courses. These points are predicted to go down. Therefore other courses will have to rise. Courses with large numbers like arts in UCD will not shift much but courses with only 10 places have shifted by over 100 points in the past.

The student has nothing to lose by putting a higher points course underneath a lower one even if its 150 points difference.

CAO deadline has passed (DRAMATIC MUSIC)

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