YOU are deemed mature at 23 years of age by most third level colleges. For the purposes of nurse training, it takes a further year to reach that happy state.
If you want to study at a third level college, and you are past the magic age limit set by the college in which you are interested, you can apply as a special category applicant. This means you are not competing in the points race. Other attributes that go with maturity, such as work experience and previous training, will usually be taken into account in assessing your application.
The procedure which mature applicants must follow is clearly laid out on page eight of the CAO handbook. Essentially, colleges fall into three groups for applicants. You must apply to some colleges directly; others through the CAO; and two colleges ask you to apply both through the CAO and the college admissions office.
Direct application:
The 11 colleges requesting direct applications from mature students have a variety of closing dates (shown in brackets): Colaiste Mhuire, Marino, (open); All Hallows College (open); National College of Art and Design (March 3rd); National College of Industrial Relations (April 1st); University of Limerick (April 1st); Mary Immaculate College of Education (April 15th); Froebel College of Education (April 2nd); Dublin City University (April 2nd); St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra (April 2nd); Milltown Institute (May 1st); Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (May 1st).
Joint application:
In the case of St Catherine's College and Trinity College, you must apply through the CAO by February 1st. You must also contact the relevant college admissions office for a separate application form, to be returned by the same date.
Application through the CAO:
For courses in any of the remaining colleges you must apply through the CAO. Even where the CAO handles the application, the colleges decide on the allocation of places. They are simply using the CAO for administrative convenience.
The CAO form
Most school leavers only have to fill out the first two pages of the CAO form. But mature students need to complete all four pages. Pages one and two are self explanatory. Just remember to list your choice of courses in genuine order of preference. The two lists - certs/diplomas and, degrees - operate independently so pay equal attention to both.
On page three, you are asked for your name, address, telephone number and date of birth. After that you are asked to tick the boxes which contain any qualifications you may have obtained. For instance, if you have done a Post Leaving Cert course and obtained an NCVA level 2 award you tick box five, the NCVA/PLC box. You must also tick the mature category box.
The next two sections only apply to people who have done GCSE exams.
On page four, you must give details of whatever qualifications you have attained. For instance, details of the PLC you have done and the award achieved. If this was an NCVA award, you should give the NCVA number. All of this is spelled out clearly in the CAO handbook. Read the instructions carefully before you put pen to paper.
You must supply certificates (certified copies, not originals) for all of your qualifications to the CAO. And, in addition, a photocopy of these qualifications and a photocopy of pages three and four for each college you apply to.
Numbers of places reserved for mature applicants:
The number of places set aside for mature students varies. Some colleges do not set aside a specific quota of places but this does not mean they are closed to applications from mature students. Universities
DCU sets aside 5 to 10 per cent of all places for mature students. Maynooth university does not reserve a specific number of places. In UCC, each faculty has a certain number of places for mature students. For instance, in commerce there are five B.Comm places, two on the B.Sc in accounting, two in business information systems and two in finance.
In UCD, most faculties do not operate a quota system for mature students but social science does reserve about seven places each year. In UCG it varies from faculty to faculty. Trinity College Dublin sets aside 10 per cent of its places in most faculties while in UL places are awarded on the basis of merit.
DIT
Applications from mature students are welcome. The number of places reserved is flexible.
RTCs
Policies vary across the RTCs but applications from mature students are usually welcome. In Cork RTC, up to 5 per cent of places are reserved for special category applications including mature students. In Galway RTC a maximum of 10 per cent of places is allocated to mature students in each first year course. Sligo RTC admits one mature student par 20 students per course, while Tallaght RTC operates a general 10 per cent quota of siudents.
There is no fixed quota of places in the RTCs in Dundalk, Athlone, Carlow, Letterkenny, Limerick, Tralee, Waterford.
How do the colleges choose?
The main concern the colleges have is that students will be able to cope with the course.
Each college has its own way of satisfying itself about this. For instance, DCU uses an interview and, in some cases, an aptitude test. DCU will have an information evening for mature students' on March 19th between 6 and 8 p.m. It would be useful if you are worried about any of the procedures for course content.
Maynooth requires a curriculum vitae and one science and maths subject is desirable for science applicants.
In Trinity, mature applicants are interviewed and sit an aptitude test. In UCD, UCG and UCC the requirements and assessment procedure varies from faculty to faculty. For instance, for engineering in UCD a proof of maths ability (at least grade B3 on a higher level paper or equivalent) is required and interviews are held, whereas interviews are not normally held for social science in UCD. Here, qualifications and relevant work experience are taken into account.
In UL there are no specific educational requirements - candidates must show that they are capable of benefiting from the programme. Most applicants are interviewed - academic ability, work experience, motivation and potential to benefit from the course are taken into account.
In DIT candidates are usually interviewed and there may be tests, such as a suitability test and a portfolio assessment for art and design courses. Educational requirements and assessment procedures vary across the RTCs, with most colleges using an interview as a screening procedure.
Information on reserved places and entry requirements for mature students applying to publicly funded third level colleges are contained in a very useful handbook, available from the Curriculum Development Unit, Dublin. Telephone (01) 453 - 5487.
Money concerns
One of the biggest concerns expressed by most mature students (other than will I be able to cope with the course?) is the money problem.
Anyone going to a publicly funded third level college for the first time, to attend an undergraduate course, is entitled to free fees. The same conditions apply for mature students as for school leavers.
Mature students are also eligible to apply for means tested maintenance grants if they are attending college for the first time or if they are re entering to complete a course after a break of five years.
The Department of Education has produced a very useful explanatory booklet on third level supports available. (tel: (01) 873 4700).
Aontas, the national association of adult education, has produced two books that mature students will find helpful: Applying to College or University as a Mature Student and A Degree At Last. Tel: (01) 475 4121.
And now for something completely different...
Leaving Cert Vocational Programme
For the first time, students sitting the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) will be awarded points for the three link modules which they complete in addition to traditional Leaving Cert subjects. These link modules comprise enterprise education, preparation for work, and work experience and are: given a composite mark.
Under the new points allocation, a pass in the link modules will be worth 30 points; a merit 50 points; and there will be 70 points allocated for a distinction. These points may be used as an alternative to a student's sixth subject.
There is a catch. So far, only the regional technical colleges have agreed to accept these, points, according to the LCVP co ordinator. The Dublin Institute of Technology and the universities are still considering the proposal. The RTCs will accept these points levels for students sitting the LCVP this year and there is still time for the universities and the DIT to come to a favourable decision before the end of the summer, when the colleges begin to allocate places.
For LCVP students to be limited to RTCs when it comes to points for link modules would, make a mockery of the so called common points system. The understanding that many of these students and their guidance counsellors had was that these subjects would be equally treated for the purposes of college entry.
The Institute of Guidance Counsellors, which was not aware yesterday that the RTCs had reached this agreement, states that LCVP students at present filling out CAO forms need these answers. In a press release the Institute stated that "parents need answers and schools considering introducing the LCVP need answers. Guidance counsellors advising students about senior cycle options need answers."