Take the CAO change-of-mind option seriously; it could be important for your future, writes Brian Mooney

Most of this year's Leaving Cert class completed their initial CAO application last January. Since last month, CAO applicants have also had the change-of-mind option available.

But in the run-up to the Leaving Cert exams, that was probably way down on your list of priorities.

My experience is that most students have put this process to one side, while they concentrated on completing their Leaving Cert.

With the exams due to end today - many of you are probably already finished - now is the time for this year's CAO applicants to consider this option if you wish to do so.

Students who have applied for a college place at certificate, ordinary degree or higher degree level through the CAO need to be reminded that a Change of Mind Form must be returned, to arrive not later than 5.15pm on July 1st at CAO, Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway.

Those using the postal system should post no later than Wednesday, June 29th.

Online applications should be finalised by Thursday to avoid last-minute technical problems on the final date for applications.

For many CAO applicants, January's decisions seem like distant memories. There may be a temptation not to revisit this process given the level of exhaustion students are feeling after two gruelling weeks of exams.

This would be a major error, as many things have changed since students made their initial applications. Colleges may have increased the number of places on a course, making it more accessible to a wider range of students.

Students may have changed subject levels from higher to ordinary, making them ineligible for a course. An example would be students who applied for degree courses in engineering while studying higher-level maths, but who eventually took the ordinary level paper. If you wish to change the courses for which you have applied, or to change the order of preference of your courses, you may do so online at www.cao.ie. Using the online system reduces the risk of error.

Alternatively, you may make changes by completing the paper change of mind form, sent to all applicants, and returning it to arrive not later than 5.15pm on July 1st at CAO, Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway.

Students can repeat this process as often as they wish, but the last one received will be taken as the student's choices.

Brian Mooney is president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors