St. John Bosco Community College

CAREER GUIDANCE

CAO PRESENTATION

2013/14

Ms. Ryan

OVERVIEW

• Further Education Programmes

• Higher Education Courses

• Apprenticeships

• Grants

• HEAR

• DARE

Further Education

• FETAC (PLC)

• Teagasc

• Fáilte Ireland

• Apprenticeships

• Private Colleges

• Gardaí/Army etc

FETAC Courses• Enhance job prospects/practical • Provides an alternative into 3rd level• Up to 400 points can be obtained to gain entry to

most IT’s for most courses (check prospectuses)• Linked Scheme for some HEI courses eg Nursing

Studies linked to Nursing Degrees, Business Studies linked to B.Commerce etc. Reserved places for FETAC students.

• 1/2year fulltime programme• Available in 2nd level schools & FE Colleges • Wide range – IT, Childcare, Secretarial, Beauty

Therapy, Hairdressing etc

Cont….

• FETAC Certification

• No fees (apart from registration fees)

• Eligible for grant, subject to means test.

• Apply directly to school/college as early as possible ie February/March.

• Interviews often held early in the New Year

TEAGASC

• Handbook

• Cert in farming

• Cert in horse production

• Cert in pig production etc..

• Courses in forestry, butter & cheese making

• Courses in commercial horticulture

• Apply directly to the college/Teagasc/CAO

FAILTE IRELAND

• Recognised worldwide.• Bar Management; Professional Cookery; Travel

Agency etc• Travel• www.picktourism.ie• Closing date Feb.1st

• Apply to CAO

APPRENTICESHIPS

• Over 16

• 5 D’s in J. Cert

• Find employment-must be registered with FÁS

• 7 phases – on the job, off the job

• www.fás.ie

PRIVATE COLLEGES

• Fee paying

• Offers an alternative to CAO colleges

• Montessori, Beauty Therapy, Interior Design etc

• Some provide scholarships

Gardaí

•All information on www.garda.ie•Consider college courses which might increase recruitment chances when recruiting re-commences.

The Defence Forces

•All information on www.military.ie

•Cadetships

•General Enlistment

•Apprenticeships

HIGHER EDUCATION

• UCAS-application now in progress

• CAO-www.cao.ie

• Eastern Europe www.medstudy.org

Level 6,7&8 Courses

• Level 6 = Higher Cert 2 Years

• Level 7 = Ordinary Degree 3 Years

• Level 8 = Honours Degree 3/4 Years

• NB Progression Route

Progression RouteLadder System Ladder System

InstitutesInstitutes of of TechnologyTechnology

MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• IT’s – 5 passes at O.L. including Eng/Ir & Maths (Foundation Level Maths accepted in some cases) for Level 6 & 7 courses ( plus minimum points in some colleges eg. GMIT 140 points)

• Universities & IT’s –2 H.L C’s and passes in 4 others for Level 8 courses(some changes for 2014 ie UCC)TCD….min of 3 HL C’s and pass 3 others

• NUI Colleges-as above & Irish, English and a 3rd language (exceptions apply).

• Maths is not required for all courses (check prospectuses).

Cont….

• Some universities are quite specific about requirements….NB check very carefully

• Foundation level Maths accepted in many colleges, but not for courses where Maths is a requirement ie Engineering

• LCVP can be counted for points, but not always as a subject requirement for matriculation purposes.

SPECIFIC COURSE REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum requirements & specific requirements in some cases eg. Primary School Teaching- HC3 in Irish & Engineering in Uni’s-HC3 in Maths & a Science subject.

• All details on requirements on www.cao.ie/www.qualifax.ie

• Special Maths Exam ie NUIG, NUI Maynooth….

NUI Colleges

• NUIG

• UCC

• UCD

• NUI Maynooth

• RCSI

• Shannon College of Hotel Management

• Linked- NCAD; St. Angela’s

RESTRICTED COURSES

• Courses that require more than just points (This is indicated on CAO Handbook)

• Art-portfolio

• Music-assessment

• Medicine- HPAT

• Specific dates –March/April, on Career notice-board, CAO website, HEI websites

Medicine

• Min.480 points; must achieve required subjects & points in same sitting of LC

• Complete HPAT-Ireland aptitude test www.hpat-ireland.acer.edu.au

• €115.Apply early Nov.--Jan 20• Test Sat March 1st 2014• Combine LC & Aptitude results

Medicine cont….

• Must apply to CAO before HPAT

• Restricted entry, NB Feb 1st deadline

• Graduate entry

• 2.1 in primary degree

• Approx.€12,000-€13,000 per annum

• Vet. medicine-graduate entry-UCD

Medicine cont…

• From 2014, you must sit the HPAT the same year as you apply for Medicine, with the exception of last years students.

• All details on points and combination of points etc on website.

POINTS

• Based on competition for places

• Can go up/down

• Best 6 subjects from one L. Cert. sitting

• Bonus Points HL Maths(D3-A1= +25points)

• New Courses….points will not be known until after the LC and points depend on demand.

CAO APPLICATION

• On-line discounted rate €25-Jan 20th• Deadline Feb 1st 5.15pm-€40• Online application is available from Nov.5 2013• 10 Level 8 options, 10 Level 6 & 7options• NB* Order of genuine preference!!!!!!!!!!!!• May get offered 2 places• NB* 3rd,4th,5th …choices….

Cont…..

• Read CAO instructions very carefully. – Correct Personal Details crucial. – Correct Course Codes/CAO HANDBOOK 2014

ONLY!– Check www.cao.ie for changes to the CAO

HANBOOK 2014. Also Alert Lists.

• Power point presentation on www.cao.ie ‘Mapping Your Future’. CAO Online Application Walkthrough; Demo.

• Use ‘My Application’ on-line facility

CONT…..

• Cert of postage

• Restricted courses

• If you apply by paper application, you must contact CAO for Application Fee Payment Form

• NB check statement sent out in May

• NB* YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

POINTS SYSTEMGenerally in the CAO system

No. of qualified applicants > No. of course places --> selection system is needed.

Selection system used in Irish 3rd Level Colleges is POINTS SYSTEM

• Points are calculated from ONE sitting of the Leaving Certificate only.

• Points total is calculated from SIX best subjects• Bonus points are awarded for Honours Mathematics • Entry Requirements can be satisfied over more than one sitting

of the Leaving Certificate

POINTS ALLOCATIONGrade Honours OrdinaryA1 100 60A2 90 50

B1 85 45B2 80 40B3 75 35

C1 70 30C2 65 25C3 60 20

D1 55 15D2 50 10D3 45 5

Making an application• Applications are made online. Always keep proof of sending

application: online – print screen receipt, paper – obtain certificate of post.

• Form is very straight forward to fill out.

• www.cao.ie

**VERY IMPORTANT**

• Students must fill out both course lists in:

Genuine Order of Preference• They should not put down courses on the basis of their

predictions of next years cut off points or their own points scores.

• Why? – Look at how places are allocated.

Science – UCD100 places to be offered

Science – Maynooth100 places to be offered

Course Cut Off Points = 330 Course Cut Off Points = 335*

Random Selection to be used

Last

place to

be filled

ApplicantPosition

PointsScore

1 5602 5353 5254 5205 5106 5107 5058 5009 490-- ---- --15 45516 44517 44018 43519 42020 41021 405-- ---- --98 34599 340

100 335101 335102 335103 315104 310105 305-- ---- --

182 265

ApplicantPosition

PointsScore

1 5602 5353 5254 5205 5106 5107 5058 5009 490-- ---- --15 45516 44517 44018 43519 42020 41021 405-- ---- --98 34099 335

100 330101 325102 315103 310104 305105 295-- ---- --

182 265

Course MeritLists

Random Entry

• Two or more candidates on the same points• Random number given to each application• Highest random Number gets the place• Shown by an *• For example 370* means not every candidate with

370 points got a place but everyone with 375 would have

1

DN077600595590580**********

495480470465460460460455455450450450450445435********

280275275

2

TR032560535525520**********

485480475465460455445440435420410405405405400********

325315310305

3

DN074595595590580**********

475475470465460460460455455450445440435430430********

280275275270

4

LM067560535525520**********

485480460455445440440440435420410405400395395********

335335315310

5

DT025600595590580**********

475475465465460460460455455450450445435430430********

280275275270

6

LC019570535525520**********

485480470465460455445440435420410405405405400********

325315310305

7

CR105600595590580**********

475475470465460460460455455450445440435430430********

280275275270

8

DN003540535525520**********

485480480465460455445440435430410410405405405********

335335315310

9

CK602600595590580**********

475475470465460460460455455450445440435430430********

280275275270

10

DC193555535525520**********

485480470465460455445440435420410405405405400********

325315310305

NO NO NOYES YES YES YES YESYES NO

A Students Course Preferences - Example

Students

Points

Total

= 445

Cut Off Points for Course

All Lower

Preference

Courses

Disappear From

Students

Preferences

2

TR032560535525520

**********

485480475465

460455

445440435420410405405405400

********

325315310

1

DN077600595590580**********

495480470465460460460455455450450450450445435********

280275275

Last place to

be filled - Round 1 Last place to

be filled – Round 1

Last place to

be filled - Round 2

Last place to

be filled - Round 2

ROUND 2

7 round one places not accepted

3 round one places not accepted

Round 2 cut off points - 455 Round 2 cut off points - 460

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

So – what is the best way to fill in the courses?

Dream Courses

Realistic Courses

Banker Courses

STATEMENT OF COURSE CHOICES

• On-line applicants will not get a statement until May, will receive CAO no. on-line and changes can be made up to March 1st (10 euro)

• Only make changes if you need to add a restricted course.

• Check that course choices are correct• May need to return an amended statement• Use CAO no. for any correspondence

CHANGE OF MIND

• All applicants receive a statement before the end of May .

• Can change your mind on-line or by paper from May 5th approx. until July 1st

• No fee

• Cannot add restricted courses at this stage..exceptions….

OFFER OF PLACES

• By post• On-line• Round 1- week after L. Cert. Results• Round 2-early Sept.• After Round 2 if vacancies still available• Accept on line or by post, NOT BOTH, within

specified time limit• Vacant places.

DEFERRED ENTRY

• Must seek agreement of HEI• Not guaranteed• Check in advance with Admissions Office• Do not accept the offer• Write to Admissions Office. Pg.5 CAO Handbook• Following year, reapply putting the deferred

course as the ONLY PREFERENCE• Can re-apply as normal if you change your mind

Grants, Access Programmes etc

• Grant info. www.studentfinance.ie. Also www.qualifax.ie/Grant calculator.

• Student contribution fee is €2,750. Grant may cover this.

• Scholarships-academic-depends on LC results

• Sports Scholarships-apply to college

ACCESS PROGRAMMES

– HEAR/Socio-economic access route: 3 INDICATORS/Why apply?/How to apply?/Key Dates 1st Feb & 1st April/Workbooks in Career Office or download from website. Advice Clinic Jan 11 2014

– DARE/Disability access route/Psychological reports dated after Feb.1st 2011/Why apply?/How to apply?/Key Dates, as above. Advice Clinic Jan 11 2014

– OTHERS, eg. GMIT; Sligo IT “Breaking The Mould”/apply directly to Access Office of college.

CHOOSING A CAREER

• RESEARCH…RESEARCH…RESEARCH• Use Career’s Library, every Monday lunch-time• Mentaga aptitude tests/Interest Inventories• Other college literature• Organisations, Associations….• Visit websites ie www.cao.ie;

www.careersportal.ie• Talk to friends, past students…• Work experience etc

Websites

• www.hrc.ie Go to Career’s link

• www.qualifax course search

• www.cao.ie

• www.careerdirections.ie

• www.careersportal.ie

Study Skills

• Time management

• Organisation

• Phone off!

• Regular breaks

• Regular Meals

• Memory techniques

• Constant review