CAO 2026: Options if you don’t get offered the dream course

World of choices: There are many pathways available for students to reach their further educational, training and career goals. Photo: iStock

On average, 90% of Level 7/6 CAO applicants get offered their first choice, and just over 50% of Level 8 applicants get offered their first choice, but 90% will get offered one of the top 3 courses on that list.

Not being offered your first choice can happen for a number of reasons. It might be the luck of the draw, not enough points, subject requirement issues, or an incomplete CAO application, for example.

Author, journalist and speaker Harlan Cohen (not to be confused with the bestselling mystery author with a similar-sounding name) highlights that rejection is part of the fabric of life, where you do everything right and still don’t get the outcome you want. By accepting this reality, he says we focus on developing skills to manage ‘when’ and not ‘if’ things go wrong. That means developing strategies to handle things alone or being able to reach out to find the right help.

Accepting what Cohen calls the Law of Rejection means that people don’t tie their self-worth to whether they succeed at something or not.

Gerry Reilly, Secretary General of the Institute of Guidance Counselors, agrees, and warns young people not to equate their Leaving Cert results with their personal value, adding that there are many pathways available for students to reach their further educational and training goals.

Those goals, he says, should be chosen by the student themselves, which increases the likelihood of completing the course. Guidance counsellors also agree students should not choose a course just to be with friends or girl/boyfriends, don’t choose a specific college over a course, and don’t do a course because of pressure from parents/guardians unless genuinely interested in it.

Not getting offered a preferred course is a chance to practice managing the Law of Rejection, and there are various ways to approach the challenge once the wave of disappointment has eased. 

 

Wait and see: If you have met the points and subject requirements, there is still the possibility of getting an offer in upcoming offer rounds. Offers season ends on October 1st. 

Tertiary degree: Applications for Tertiary Degrees are open until late September. These degree courses do not require Leaving Cert points but may have subject requirements. Courses begin at local colleges of further education with the final 2 to 3 years completed at a HEI. See  nto.hea.ie

 

Apprenticeship: This route is suited to those who like to earn and learn on the job. As well as the traditional trades, apprenticeship training options available include biopharma, ICT, insurance and engineering, while Level 8 banking and Level 7 quantity surveying technician are at development stage. Gerry Reilly of the IGC highlights that a Level 7 Mechanical Engineering apprentice qualifies with 18 months of on-the-job knowledge and experience ahead of their counterparts just out of college, and the door is always open for them to continue their studies if they choose after their training is complete. See www.apprenticeship.ie

  

PLC: A PLC can be the next stepping stone to getting the qualification you want, according to Joan Broderick of Pathways.ie, who points out that not getting the dream course is not the end of the road. Many students do a one-year course and then go on to college. PLC’s are an opportunity to build up academic writing skills, test out a subject area or spend more time close to home and have time to mature.

Gap year: This should be a year with a purpose, whether it’s earning money, getting work/life experience, learning about a business, or maybe just recovering from the pressure of Leaving Cert.

The professional advice is to think about what you’re coming back to when the gap year is up. Have a plan.

Second chance maths exam: Students who meet all subject criteria except for their maths grade can apply to do a Second Chance Maths Exam, which is available at some HEI’s. It’s not a guarantee of a place, but if passed, does put students in the running for course places in subsequent offer rounds. For more information check the college you have applied to that requires the unmet maths grade.

Available Places: New courses or courses that haven’t been filled are listed in Available Places on the CAO website. You can apply for unfilled college places in the Available Places section of the CAO website, even if you haven’t previously applied through the CAO.  www.cao.ie 

UCAS: Interest in studying in the UK at present is minimal, except in niche areas, because of having to pay fees in the wake of Brexit. However, under the Shared Ireland Fund, Allied Health Care course fees are covered in Northern Ireland, and Irish students also qualify for the Student Loan Scheme, which takes much of the financial pressure from families. UCAS application deadline is September 2nd.  See www.UCAS.com

   

Study Abroad: A lot of courses are offered through English. Poland and Italy have a lot of Irish medical, vet and nursing students. In the Polish system, students sit the Polish version of the HPAT and accept students based on those results. Gerry Reilly says that this option is more than attaining a degree, it’s also an enriching cultural experience. 

For free professional help from fully qualified guidance counsellors, call the IGC Helpline 1800 265 165 or text GUIDANCE to 086 1800 685.