July 1st is the deadline for changing CAO choices and students need to be careful, writes Kathryn Holmquist
Students feeling unsure about how they ranked courses on their CAO form, can change their minds up until next Tuesday, July 1st.
Six months ago, school-leavers filled in their CAO forms after research, family discussions and advice from guidance counsellors and friends. But six months is a long time for teenagers.
Circumstances can change, as can their interests and views on life.
This is why 50 per cent of school-leavers file a "Change of Mind" CAO form each year.
For families, this means sitting down once again to talk realistically and diplomatically about the various courses and third-level institutions.
The conversation may be wide-ranging and even argumentative, at times.
Just remember one golden rule about the CAO: Students must, after taking advice, follow their instincts and rank as number one the course that they truly desire.
This isn't the time to play educational poker with the CAO computer based on how well students think they did or didn't do in the Leaving Cert.
The most important thing to remember about the CAO is this: a student can move up the list, but not down.
Therefore, if a student places his or her favourite choice as number three or four, yet has the points for number two or one and these places become available, the student will automatically move up to his or her first or second choice. This will happen whether or not the student actually wants the course.
So, naturally, "the emphasis should be on the person", recommends Mr John McGinnitty, admissions officer with NUI Maynooth.
"If the preferences a student listed last Christmas still reflect who she is as a person and nothing has changed since then, then don't change the list," he advises.
Students should not opt for a high-points course such as medicine, veterinary, pharmacy or psychology, merely because they think they can qualify. Likewise, students shouldn't sell themselves short and reduce their expectations, merely because they think they did poorly in the Leaving Cert exams.
If solid students believe they did not do well in a particular subject, usually this means that a lot of other students are thinking the same thing and papers will be marked accordingly. So be cautious about changing your CAO form on this basis.
Geography and friendship are important factors to take into account, also. There's nothing wrong with a student wanting to go to a third-level institution where the support of peers and family will be readily available.
On the other hand, a student may be so determined to do a particular course, that being away from home and friends should not stop them.
Another crucial point is that students should fill in all 10 choices, for which there is no extra cost.
If a student fills in only three or four, and gets none of those courses, then the student will have to reapply to the CAO the following year.
So there are many factors to take into account.
The Change of Mind facility may be used to make any course changes (except the introduction of Restricted-Application Courses or mature applicant course codes for nursing) before July 1st and at no charge.
You should use your CAO Application Number in any subsequent correspondence.
• CAO Change of Mind forms can be completed on the Internet at www.cao.ie