CAO College Applications – Top 10 Tips for Picking the Right Course

1.Start early

Transition year is an ideal time to start thinking about future careers. Taking time to just think and find out about possible careers will avoid last minute CAO choices panic.

2.Get a large file or box

You’ll collect a lot of paper so keep it all in the one place. A copy of the CAO handbook is essential.

3.Understand yourself

Make a list of

o Activities you like doing e.g. music.

o Activities and things you hate. e.g. reading,

o What’s important to you – are you a spiritual person, do you like lots of money?

o Any talents you have e.g. very good at rugby, physics, or listening

o Any aspects of yourself that you think you’d like to change e.g. you might think you’re quite shy and would like to be more outgoing

o Any health issues that are a concern. e.g. being a pilot is out if you are affected by colour blindness.

Compare all your lists to see if you can see a pattern. For example if you like music and computers, then a career as a sound engineer may be worth investigating.

4. Write down key dates and put it some where very visible

Using the CAO handbook find out all the key dates- e.g. online submission of your CAO form, time period for changing your mind, deadline for acceptance of courses. We recommend you set a deadline a week earlier then the actual deadlines. This allows for mishaps.

5. Use Qualifax

The qualifax website (www.qualifax.ie) which contains details of all courses is a “must see” for all aspiring college students.

6. Identify the restricted application courses that are of interest to you – if any

These are courses which offer places on the basis of an interview and or portfolio as well as your Leaving Cert points e.g. Architecture.

If you think you might be interested in any of these courses make sure to include them in your first application. This is important as interviewing etc begins shortly after this date. Therefore you cannot add these restricted applications to your choices later when the “change of mind” period opens. However, if you change your mind you can of course remove these course choices in the “change of mind period” and replace it with an alternative course.