College Choice: In the first of a new series Brian Mooney will be offering guidance for CAO applications.
Between now and 5.15pm on February 1st, more than 60,000 applicants will register with the CAO in Galway hoping to secure a third-level place in one of 42 third-level colleges next August.
Most applicants will be sitting the Leaving Cert in June for the first time, but they will be joined in the CAO application process by several thousand students who are repeating the Leaving in the hope of securing more points than last year.
There are also many other kinds of applicants.
There will be those who received sufficient points for their preferred course but who failed to meet a specific subject entry requirement in 2005.
There will also be those, usually the so-called "gap years" , who deferred a place, offered in August 2005. Although their place is secure, they must submit an application in 2006 to the CAO, listing only the deferred place. Failure to apply, or the inclusion of more than the deferred course on the application form, will result in the guaranteed place being forfeited. Such applicants must also ensure that they tick the "deferred" box on the application form.
These applicants are also entitled to use the points they secured last year to compete for a place on any other course, but they must give up their guaranteed place to do so.
The CAO will also receive thousands of applications from students completing post-Leaving Cert courses and who will be competing for places reserved for those with FETAC level-five awards.
This year the institutes of technology are awarding points up to a maximum of 400 for PLC awards, which will enable students to compete for places in any course offered by the institutes.
This structure applies mainly to level 6 and 7 programmes. Students seeking entry to level 8 honours degree programmes will still be required to present up to eight distinctions in a FETAC level-five programme specifically linked to the desired course. The universities are also offering a limited number of places on specific courses linked to a specific PLC course. UCC has, for example, extended FETAC links to 22 honours degree programmes.
Also applying will be many thousands of adults aged over 23 seeking entry to third-level education for the first time. The Government has set an ambitious target of 15 per cent for mature students in third-level education by 2006. At present, the figure stands at a little over 10 per cent, with the institutes of technology providing the majority of places.
The universities would like to offer more places to mature students, but a whole range of factors makes it extremely difficult for mature students to organise their lives to enable them to return to full-time education. Prospective students will find a comprehensive database of all courses offering entry to mature candidates in the national data base of all courses offered in Ireland at www.qualifax.ie. Click on "courses" and on "mature entry" and type in your search word.
Finally, applicants from outside the State presenting A Levels - mostly studying in schools in Northern Ireland, but also including students from other EU countries and from outside the EU - will complete the range of candidates for places available.
Given the introduction of £3000 sterling top-up fees in all colleges in Northern Ireland and England , from September 2006, it is very probable that we will see a major increase in the number of applications from those jurisdictions.
This wide array of applications explains why the numbers applying to college will not decline, even though the number of school-leavers continues to drop significantly.
Those hoping for a fall in the points required for entry into high-points courses are therefore likely to be disappointed.
Those considering whether to seek a third-level place may be wondering about the potential benefit of spending a number of years studying as opposed to entering the workforce immediately. Given the health of the economy, there are many employers offering immediate employment to school-leavers.
For me, the issue is simple: if you have the potential to increase your skills level through further education, whether you are 17 or 71, you should take it.
No matter what career choice you make over the coming months, continuous training and education should be part of your world for as long as you continue working.
One of the questions raised by students and parents is which courses will lead to employment. This false trail should be avoided at all costs. Deciding on a career based on current market conditions is foolhardy to say the least. Opportunities in all career areas fluctuate as the economy changes. Courses and careers should be chosen based on interest and aptitude, and on no other basis. If you are still in the dark as to what courses to select on the CAO form, do not panic. This column is here to help.
Tomorrow: How to choose the right course
You can e-mail Brian Mooney on bmooney@irish-times.ie
The column will appear every weekday until the February 1st deadline.