College offers available online from Monday

MOST students who have applied for college places will be able to find out if they have been offered one of their preferred courses on Monday.

In a move to ease the anxiety of applicants, offers will be made available online a day earlier than in previous years. While written offers will not be arriving in the post until Tuesday morning - as has been the practice in the past - the Central Applications Office website (www.cao.ie) will allow applicants to view and accept offers from 6am on Monday.

While 2,500 fewer people have applied for a place through the CAO system this year, there is no certainty that there will be a significant drop in the points required for many disciplines.

A drop in numbers seeking entry to courses in education, business and law could see the qualifications needed fall slightly, but admissions officers have spent the past few days working out the exact entry requirements for each degree, diploma and certificate programme on offer.

National Parents Council post-primary (NPC-PP) president Eleanor Petrie said it was impossible to predict precisely which courses might have reduced entry points.

“Our telephone helpline has been receiving enquiries from people about the likelihood of points rising or falling but, unfortunately, they will have to wait until Monday to find out,” she said. “Our advice to them at that stage is to take time to think it through and students should discuss their choices with parents, teachers and friends, or call our helpline if they need further help,” said Ms Petrie.

Almost 5,000 mature students and applicants who were not awaiting exam results were offered places in CAO’s Round 0 earlier this month. More than 46,800 people were offered one or more college places in Round 1 last year, with about 33,000 deciding to accept their offers at that stage.

Students who receive an offer of a place next week have until the following Tuesday - August 31 - to get their acceptance back to the CAO, either online or by post.

Many of the 1,800 calls received by the National Parents Council (NPC) helpline have also related to having exam papers rechecked, where students believe they should have been awarded a higher grade. Students who wish to appeal a grade can view their scripts at school on September 3 and 4, but applications for such viewings must be received by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) by next Tuesday. Such viewing is not necessary before making an appeal but it is strongly recommended by the SEC. Appeals can be lodged with the commission up to September 8.

The NPC-PP free helpline - 1800-265165 - will open again between 8am and 10pm from Monday to Thursday and from 10am to 4pm on Friday.