With the new year upon us, we’re feeling very inspired here in Irish Country Living. We’ve decided that we are not going to see the CAO process as a hassle or as a negative thing, but rather as a very positive thing. After all, this form is the blueprint for your future.
The CAO process is an opportunity to seize the day, live life to the full and do the course of your dreams – or at least find a path to the job of your dreams if your dream course is out of your points range. To help ensure your dreams don’t come to a crashing halt because you’ve made a stupid administrative error on your CAO form, we’ve some handy tips to help you on your way.
The change-of-mind facility will open on 5 May until 1 July, so you can then change your mind for free, as per your whim. For now, it’s just important you get your application in. However, do remember that a restricted-application course will not be considered unless it has been included among your original course choices by 1 February 2014.Your closest ally during these testing times will be the CAO handbook, while prospectuses will be your light reading before bed. It is crucial to do as much research as possible, but don’t stop at the handbook, prospectuses or the college websites – get down to the nitty-gritty details when it comes to your courses. The course might sound great or it might sound fancy but will it really deliver what you want? Do some other courses contain more of what you want? You won’t know until you find out, so don’t be afraid to harangue the course’s programme office with detailed questions.Top Tip: Ask for a list of the modules you’ll be taking in each year of the course and find out if the course offers you the opportunity to study abroad and if it has work placement.Keep a record of all your CAO documentation. Keep them together in one file. It’s also no harm to photocopy any documentation you submit. You must list your courses in genuine order of preference. How annoyed would you be if you got the points for your dream course but you didn’t put it down because you thought it was out of your reach? However, it is equally important to include courses that have points you’re sure you’ll get further down the list.If you’re eligible for the DARE and HEAR schemes, make sure you tick those boxes on your form and start gathering the necessary documentation as soon as possible. Furthermore, ensure you tick the box on the CAO form indicating CAO may pass your information on to SUSI if you intend to apply for the third-level grant. This year, SUSI are hoping to accept applications from April. Dead-set on a particular college? Be aware than in many institutions campus accommodation fills quickly. You may be able to put your name on a waiting list even before the exams start.Incorrect or invalid course codes are frequently put on the application form. If you do so on paper, the paper will accept what’s written on it. But do the same online and the online system will tell you you’ve made an error. Moral of the story? Apply online.Get a second pair of eyes to look over your application to ensure you haven’t made any silly errors. Mates shouldn’t influence your choice of college. College is a place for making new friends, not for insulating yourself in the same old gang.