No waiting around for Jack as he bypasses CAO

AS tens of thousands of school-leavers wait nervously for the first round of college offers on Monday morning, Jack O’Callaghan is resting on his laurels.

The 18-year-old from Ballincollig, Co Cork, is preparing to start a degree in radiography at the University of Exeter in Cornwall, where he was offered a place on Thursday.

Jack links his interest in the career to having arm injuries X-rayed over the years. But he knew he wouldn’t get the minimum 525 points — at least five B1s and an A2 in higher-level Leaving Certificate subjects — that was needed last year for the only course offered in Ireland, at University College Dublin.

But after getting a waiver to drop Irish last autumn because he was born in London, he took up chemistry, helping his chances.

“I sent in my application with a personal statement last December and went to the university for an interview at Easter. They told me a week later I’d have a place if I got three As and two Bs in honours subjects in the Leaving,” said Jack.

“I got 480 points on Wednesday, with three As, a B and a C1, but they told me on the phone the next day that I have a place. A lot of my friends are sweating it out for the weekend, particularly a few of them hoping to get into medicine,” said Jack.

Barry O’Driscoll, a director at Hewitt College, where Jack had been a student since September, said Jack’s story shows that disappointment in the CAO system does not have to end anyone’s career or education dreams.

“With a small bit of planning in the year ahead of the Leaving Certificate, students can have an opportunity to follow the career they want,” he said.

The bulk of this year’s school-leavers must wait until Monday to know if they have got into the college course of their choice. The CAO is expected to offer 70,000 places to about 47,000 people, including many of the 44,769 applicants who got their results last Wednesday, as many will have the choice between a level 8 degree and another course.

The National Parents Council Post-Primary Leaving Certificate helpline has handled almost 1,000 calls since students received their results on Wednesday, with a high number relating to nursing courses from those who feel they may not have enough points on Monday.

“We’ve also had more queries than other years in relation to the viewing of scripts, and parents or students themselves trying to decide if they should get a subject rechecked,” said helpline co-ordinator Rose Tully.

Although appeals can be made to the State Examinations Commission up to September 7, applications to view Leaving Certificate answer papers have to be submitted through schools by next Tuesday, although doing so is not necessary to make an appeal.

College choices

MONDAY’S Irish Examiner (print edition) will feature a 16-page Choices for College supplement, showing the points for entry to courses offering places through the CAO, including a comparison with last year’s points, and advice on grants, accommodation and alternative study options.