CAO Questions 2016.

Hi OP. I dont think you need to send in any documentation as they only thing that counts with determining the mature student places is the aptitude and suitability tests in April. But you could check with CAO?

Hi everyone,
I'm a bit confused at the moment about the CAO Statement of Interest.
I am applying as a mature student to a course that is only available in one university in Ireland, has very specific entry requirements and needs a highly tailored personal statement.
Now considering there are only a handful of mature spaces on this course in the whole country, I am also putting down a backup course in a more general subject that I even have the points for (did my leaving cert in 2006) and would be an easier personal statement to write.

So on my CAO application, should my Statement of Interest just be something general? When I post them my supporting documents do I just put two separate envelopes for each college including more tailored personal statements?

I see that the CAO statement is only 1500 characters. I think my Personal Statement to send to the university will need to be longer (nothing crazy but enough to cover all the bases I feel I need to cover!)

Just a bit confused as I don't want the course I have my heart set on to think my CAO statement isn't relevant enough to their course!

Thanks

If you completed your LC, Further Education and studied at 3rd level - you select all three - as well as Mature - if you are a mature applicant

Just to confirm something here. If one is applying as a mature student and has completed the LC, PLC course and a third-level degree they submit all documents to each individual college along with a personal statement?

ScottStorm wrote: »

Hi guy's

I am applying for a number of computer science type courses as a mature student and was wondering where to reference professional certifications? I ask as they don't fit under the national framework of qualifications but would have a relevance for the courses I have applied for.

You can put them in the section 'Further Education (other than QQI FET/ FETAC level5/6 and NCVA level 2/3)'

Page 6 of the CAO handbook gives a description of what is covered under this heading and it looks the best bet for your qualifications.

Uggs123 wrote: »

Hi all,
Im looking for some help on applying as a mature student for nursing and physiotherapy. Do I need to submit a personal statement on my CAO application for both courses?

Not for nusing as nursing places are decided on the results of the mature student aptitutde and suitability tests. But you do for physio.

You can send a hard copy of your statement but try to keep it condensed, i.e dont write pages, 2/3rds of a page is fine.

Regarding your submission to CAO, once you create an account and start to fill in details of your staus, qualifications, categories of application, this updates on the CAO server as soon as you log-out. So if you have completed any parts of your application, you have applied to CAO as soon as you logged out of that session.

You can add and amend info up until the 1st Feb but the 7 day clock starts as soon as you logged out. However CAO can give an extension on the 7 days at their discretion. Usually as long as your info is with them by the 1st there wont be a problem but in case this has changed you can email them to ask.

The mature student application route was changed in the last 2 years especially regarding the statement of interest section.
In the past you had a max of 4000 characters on your online section, that was reduced to 1500 characters as the colleges were looking for more conscise statements. This is why its advised not to make your posted statements too long.

I sent an email regarding my query last night and they rang me this morning. I explained how busy I am with work this time of year, most of my days are 08.00 - 18.30. They said submission is fine once before Feb 1st, and documents before Feb 7th.

You can send in a hard copy no problem, just make sure to mention it in the statement section.

I also managed to get an answer about the length, and while they she said you can over the limit no problem, be careful how much you go by. They reconfirmed what Paperclip said about the length. The length was reduced to 1500 characters for a reason. I wouldn't go over a page and a half. The people reviewing this won't be looking at this for too long, so ease of writing in a succinct matter is a big thing I would imagine.

I'll be posting in my CV as well even though I've filled out the work exp/ voluntary fields.

Again, best of luck to everyone applying

paperclip2 wrote: »

You have 7 days from the first time you log out of the CAO system as that automatically counts as a submission. Every time you log in and change stuff on your application it updates it on the CAO server but essentially you have submitted your application the first time you fill out any info on the online application.

As far as I know you do need to list in order of preference. E.g. if two colleges offer you a place on level 8 degree courses then CAO will only send you the offer on the highest ranked of your choices.

I set up an account approx. 3 weeks and have made many changes. I still have yet to submit the application online or post my documents. So, are you saying I had to submit my documents 7 days after I set the account up 3 weeks ago?

Okay so I am getting worried now that I have read this thread. I applied to the CAo around Jan 5th as a PLC Level 5 student. It doesn't say I need any documentation but I was wondering if anyone else had to send in papers?

Also wehn I log out does that mean my application is submitted?

Thanks very much for clearing that up. Nearly lost my mind for a second there.

Sending all my documents by express post:

Personal Statement to relevant Uni's
CV
References
CAO Personal Statement
Degree Supplement

Anything else I may need?