More than 55,800 students had made online applications to the Central Applications Office (CAO) by the time the deadline for the first round of college offers expired yesterday.
This year's applications process appears to have been completed without major hitches. Last year some students struggled to make their application as the CAO computer system was unable to cope with the strong demand in the days before the February 1st deadline. Since then, the CAO has invested in new computer technology and there have been few glitches.
The process has also been helped this year by the CAO's decision to offer a €10 discount for applications before January 20th. Applicants after this were charged €45.
Increasingly, students are also using the change of mind option to amend their options. Last year,more than 25,000 changed their options in June. The closing date for applications is July 1st.
