CAO offers, what next?
The CAO offers will be available from 2pm on Tues. 7th Sept. Students will be able to view their offers by email, text message or via the “My Application” section of the CAO website. Some will get their dream course while others may be offered their fourth or fifth preference. There will also be a percentage who will not receive an offer today. For those who may be disheartened, remember that there are many options available and sometimes the alternative path can lead to a more rich, varied, and fruitful learning experience. I still remember my own CAO offer day many years ago and receiving an offer for my fourth highest preference course. At 17, I thought the world was going to end as I so badly wanted my first preference course! As I reflect on my journey, I realise that it was all meant to be. Things always work out if you have the courage to believe in the journey.
CAO applicants have until 3pm on Monday 13th Sept. to accept or decline their offer. Many will be tempted to accept the offer straight away but make sure to take time to research the course fully if you haven’t done so already. In my experience, many applicants research their first and second course preferences but do not put the same research into the courses further down the list. If you are someone who has received an offer lower down on your list of preferences, research it fully before you accept it. There is nothing worse than sitting in a course in November that you have no interest in. The college websites, Qualifax and Careersportal are excellent resources for researching course content.
Some applicants will have two offers today, a level 8 and level 7/6. You can only accept one. If you decide that you would like to defer your course place for one year, contact the Admissions office of the college, as soon as you can, by email or phone to seek your deferral. If you are granted a deferral, you must re-apply through CAO in the succeeding year placing the deferred course as your first and only preference on the application form. You will breach the conditions of your deferred place if you enter more than the single deferred course code on your application. In that event, you will forfeit the guaranteed place and enter the competition for places in the normal way.
CAO Available places are places that remain unfilled in particular courses after all offers have been made. The Available places facility opens at 12 on the 8th Sept. If an applicant is unhappy with their offer or have received no offer, this is another option to consider. There may be a course available of interest to you. People who have not applied already may make an Available Place application on payment of a fee of €45.00. Applicants who have applied already (whether placed or not) may apply for an Available Place on-line free of charge. When considering applying for Available Places course, applicants should ignore previously published points in earlier offer rounds. However, applicants must meet the normal minimum entry requirements for the course in question. To view the Available Places courses, go to www.cao.ie and click on Available Places.
Big decisions have to made in the days ahead, take your time, sleep on it, think it through, talk to your Guidance Counsellor if unsure. Remember there are many options available to you and today is the beginning of another chapter on your journey of life. Enjoy and embrace the change that lies ahead. Best wishes to you all!