Trinity College to pilot essay-based entry system
Students’ performance compared to others in their schools will also be counted, in addition to their CAO points from the exams.
The two-year pilot entry system, which will inform wider changes to the points system nationally, will not begin until next year, so applicants now in fifth year have time to prepare.
The Leaving Certificate points needed last year to get a place in CAO Round 1 on the three TCD degrees picked for the trial were:
nLaw: 525 points (10 out of 90 places on the degree course will be offered through the pilot system)
nHistory: 490 points (10 of 40 places available)
nAncient & Medieval History and Culture: 450 points (five out of 15 places).
Students will be given the option, when applying for the three courses through the CAO next January, of opting into the system. Their application can be considered for both the traditional, points-only system and the pilot entry scheme.
They will be asked when they apply to submit a 100- word explanation for picking their course and a personal essay of up to 500 words. These will each be assessed by two professional readers and their scores will be evaluated independently.
Students will not be told their scores, which will be combined with their Leaving Cert results in August, along with a ranking of how their grades place them in comparison to other applicants in their schools. The combined scoring will be used to fill the reserved places, which will be offered along with all others on the courses by the CAO.
TCD dean of undergraduate studies Patrick Geoghegan said: “We’re not looking for the most sophisticated vocabulary, but rather an honest reflection of their personalities and their ability to express themselves. It gets away from people basing decisions on the points they think they might get, and more towards doing things they’re interested in.”
*Applicants to the degrees in next year’s pilot entry programme may write 250 to 500 words on a topic of their choice, or one of these:
*Using a favourite quotation from an essay or book as a starting point, tell us about an event or experience that helped you define one of your values.
*Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure or creative work that has had an influence on your decision to study your preferred subject.
*Discuss an issue of interest and its importance to you.
*Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced.
