Leaving Cert students: Be careful if you’re making late changes to your CAO picks

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Aoife Walsh

June 22 2022 02:30 AM

With the Leaving Cert in its final week, many candidates will be turning their attention to their CAO application ahead of the change of mind deadline on July 1.

It is the last opportunity to make any changes and applicants may add or remove courses for which they would like to be considered. They may also change their order of preference moving courses to higher or lower positions.

When making changes, applicants should remember that they need to redo the whole list, with the new choices added in the new order of preference.

It is really important to review CAO choices, but not to let any nerves about how the exams may have gone to affect choices too much. We often only remember what we did not know when we leave an exam and it is natural to begin to question oneself when we look back on papers.

Remember, initially you listed courses in a particular order for a reason. If you are making a change, be aware of the reasons why you feel this change is appropriate and it should not be because ‘I don’t think I will get into this course now.’

CAO will make offers based on whatever is listed on the CAO form at 5.15pm on July 1. Your dream course should be in the number one spot, even if you feel you are unlikely to achieve the results to gain entry.

The first couple of slots should be reserved for the courses you want more than any other. The middle section may be used for courses which are more realistic but will assist you in reaching your career goals. Finally, leave a couple of spaces for banker courses, ie those courses to which you know you will gain access even if the exams do not go your way.

For those not intending to pursue the third level study, there are plenty of options available in further education and training (FET) including post-Leaving Cert courses (PLCs) run by education and training boards, and apprenticeships (thisisfet.ie). Opportunities continue to crop up over the summer so keep an eye out. For example, Aer Lingus has just launched its aircraft maintenance and engineer apprentice scheme, a four-year programme offering 10 places, run in conjunction with SOLAS and TU Dublin. Applicants should be 18 or over by September 1, 2022 and can apply at http://careers.aerlingus.com up to June 26.

Additionally, software multi-national Salesforce, in a collaboration with the tech skills training body FIT ( Fastrack into Information Technology), is recruiting software development apprentices. No previous experience in IT or software is necessary. Candidates should have a Leaving Cert and be over 18 years of age. Applications to michellecox@fit.ie. are open until June 30.

Aoife Walsh is a guidance counsellor at Malahide Community School, Co Dublin