It's official. There is life outside Dublin. Parents ringing the College Places helpline are desperately trying to persuade their offspring that it is possible to enjoy college life in Sligo, Waterford or Letterkenny.
If you look at the list of colleges with vacant places it is noticeable that almost all of these courses are in places other than Dublin, Cork and Galway. The cut-off points tell the same story. There is a strong geographical bias towards urban centres with cut-off points falling as you move away from the areas of greatest population.
Of course, students living in these areas and moving away from home will have to pay for accommodation. However, many of the colleges outside Dublin have an advantage in terms of available accommodation.
Repeating the Leaving Certificate
Now that the first round of offers has been accepted or rejected, many students are wondering whether they should repeat the Leaving Certificate. The background document published by the Points Commission on Wednesday of this week contains some salient information.
The pattern of application for courses by repeat students differs slightly from that of general applicants. There is a greater emphasis on humanities, medicine and law.
There is a much higher level of offers and acceptances among repeat students. This would seem to indicate that repeating was a worthwhile experience for these students.
However, research initiated by the commission shows that for a sizeable proportion of the repeat students examined, the main purpose of repeating was to rectify issues of basic requirements.
Major points gains can be made by passing a subject previously failed. It seems easier to do this than to make major gains in subjects which have already been passed.
The report also notes that repeat students have the advantage of already fulfilling some of the basic requirements and this gives them leeway in planning their second Leaving Certificate. They usually drop core subjects such as English, maths and Irish. Some may take up new subjects, particularly home economics (social and scientific) and geography and perform quite well in them.
Average Leaving Certificate results
Many students with very good Leaving Certs are placing all their hopes on the second round of offers. Meanwhile, they regard themselves as failures - after all they got only 400 or 500 points - but they failed to secure a place on their chosen course.
The Points Commission has produced a very useful table which shows the aggregate results for school candidates sitting the Leaving Cert for the first time in 1997.
Of these, 3.3 per cent received Leaving Certs which equate to 450 points or more (minimum three A2s and three C3s at higher-level). This is a statistic that students and parents should take a little time to digest. If you achieved these points you are far from being a failure. In fact, you are among the highest achievers in the State.
Thirteen per cent of the 53,904 candidates scored 405 points or more. Slightly less than one-third scored a minimum of 250 points while 50 per cent gained 140 points or more.
This means that half of the 1997 Leaving Cert candidates had a minimum of two grade C3s on higher-level papers and four D3s at ordinary-level. This is the National University of Ireland matriculation requirement so 27,125 students satisfied this requirement.
Certificates of posting
In the lull between accepting an offer and beginning college, students often begin to worry unnecessarily about the process.
The helpline has had calls from students who have posted off their acceptance of first-round offers to the CAO and they are now worrying whether the CAO has received the acceptance notice. If you have obtained a certificate of posting this should be a reassurance. You should also receive some registration information from the college soon. From now on, you should deal directly with the college rather than the CAO.
CAO independent appeals committee
Students who feel they have been unfairly treated by the CAO, and whose complaints have not been resolved by the CAO, can appeal to an independent appeals committee. Appeals should be addressed to the Secretary, CAO Appeals Committee, Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway. All appeals should be made in writing, accompanied by appropriate documentation and they should be signed by the appellant.
PLC vacancies
With grants in the offing for this year's PLC students, many colleges are reporting a strong interest in their courses. Each college operates its own applications and admissions system so you should contact these colleges directly.
The following colleges contacted College Places with a list of remaining vacancies:
Stillorgan Senior College, Dublin, is reporting vacancies on three programmes. International teleservices (French) is a two-year course which includes 17 weeks' work experience abroad. There is also a limited number of places on the travel and tourism course. Graduates of this course have found employment in travel agents, airlines and ferry companies.
The college's art foundation course also has limited vacancies. Students from this course have been exceptionally successful in securing places in NCAD, Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology and other art colleges, according to the college. Tel: (01) 288 0704.
St Kevin's College, Crumlin, Dublin has vacancies in applied laboratory science, food science, mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, pre-apprenticeship (building trades) and applied art and design. The applied science, food science, mechanical and electronic engineering courses are linked with DIT or other institutes of technology, providing an alternative route to third level. Over the years, students have completed diplomas, degrees, masters and Ph.Ds. Ninety per cent of students who completed the pre-apprenticeship course gained employment as apprentices, according to the college, while the art and design course gives students the opportunity to put together a portfolio for third-level entry, using a wide variety of media, both two- and three-dimensional.
Plunket College, Whitehall, Dublin has vacancies on its repeat Leaving Cert programme as well as four Post-Leaving Certificate courses. If you are interested in accounting technician, business management, computer courses, carpentry and joinery, contact the college for enrolment details. Tel: (01) 837 1680.
St Peter's Senior College, Killester, Dublin has a small number of places on the following courses: auto-engineering and sales, business studies, business enterprise, secretarial studies, horticulture, green keeping and golf management, art/drama/design. There are also vacancies on the repeat Leaving Certificate course. Other courses are full and waiting lists are in operation.
For further information Tel: (01) 833 7686 or call to the college.
College of Commerce, Dundrum has vacancies in interior design, pre-nursing and travel and tourism. Tel: (01) 298 5412
CAO second round offers
The CAO will put the second round of offers in the post on Monday. So students should have their envelopes on Tuesday. On Tuesday also, The Irish Times will publish the second round cut-off points in a special Second Round Offers supplement.
American College, Dublin
This private, fee-paying college has a number of vacant places in the following courses: BA in liberal arts, BA in international business, BA in international tourism, BA in behaviour al science and the national certificate in humanities. Apply through the CAO vacant places procedure. The CAO can be contacted at Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway.