The questions keep piling in. The helpline continues to deal with mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunties, grannies and even the occasional student.
We got a great response to the webcast on August 23rd, and there were lots of e-mail queries we couldn't include in the session. The following are some of the questions, complete with answers compiled by our helpline counsellors.
If the telephone helpline is any guide, many of these answers will be applicable to other applicants, as the same queries keep recurring.
Aoife: Can I keep my English mark from this year's exam if I were to repeat the Leaving Cert in June of next year because of the changing of the English course?
Good news. You certainly can use that result again next year for the purposes of college entry. Remember you can accumulate essential subject requirements but not points. Your points are calculated on the basis of your best six subjects in one sitting of the Leaving Certificate.
Val: my son has a shortfall of five points for his first preference in the course he would like to do. He is considering having his English paper rechecked as he feels he should have done better in this subject. If he has this paper rechecked, could his grade be downgraded? He received a D3 in the higher-level paper and he couldn't afford to lose any points.
Yes, there is a remote possibility of a downgrade. Last year there were more than 7,500 requests for rechecks, resulting in some 1,400 upgrades and three downgrades. You will only be downgraded if there is a substantial discrepancy. Rechecks cost £25 per subject, which will be refunded if you are upgraded. Requests for rechecks must be with the Department of Education and Science by next Wednesday, September 6th. This means schools must post them on Tuesday, September 5th. The results of the appeal process will be available by early October.
Pat: After repeating the Leaving Certificate I found out that I only received an extra five points (325). I was really hoping for enough points for an arts degree or a primary teaching course. I have only one diploma course choice for applied cultural studies, which I'm not sure I really want to do. I'm wondering what choices I have in the child- hood or care area outside the CAO. Is there anything in the Blackrock area?
Look at the Post Leaving Certificate courses offered by City of Dublin VEC. Freephone 1 800 20 40 80 for further information.
John: my son got a place in an art course in an institute of technology outside Dublin. We live in Dublin and I would like him to stay at home. He is deferring the place for a year. Meanwhile, he is hoping that he will get an offer from DIT in a subsequent round. Will his deferment affect him getting a subsequent offer and taking it up this year?
Deferring a place offered in Round 1 does not affect your son's chance of receiving an offer in the second round. And, yes, he may take up his second-round offer this year.
Tod: If eight subjects are taken for the Leaving Cert - six at higher level and two at ordinary level (English and maths) - are total points calculated on the six higher-level subjects (these being the better grades)? Or do you take the four best from the higher-level subjects and then add the ordinary grades (i.e. English and maths) as these seem to be required subjects for all/most courses?
Points are calculated on the basis of your six highest-scoring subjects, whether these are higher or ordinary level. Subjects which meet your essential subject requirements aren't necessarily counted for points.
Peter: Our son was offered a place on the bachelor of business and legal studies programme in UCD. His first choice was a pure law degree. His points were 470. He is delighted with this offer. However, would you kindly explain what exemptions if any he would receive towards his professional law exams if he (a) pursued the BBLS or (b) pursued a pure law degree (if he were offered it on the second round for UCC)?
It makes no difference if he does the BBLS or the pure law degree as regards gaining access to Blackhall Place or King's Inns. By the time he graduates, all applicants will have to do the entrance exams.
However, if he does the BBLS he could study all the options for the Blackhall Place exam during his course, so this might be an advantage.
Janice: I recently received my Leaving results and I missed out on one honour required for nursing. I passed my assessment test and received an interview. The honour that I missed is borderline (D1). I rang An Bord Altranais to explain that I was getting my results rechecked on that subject, to be told that even if the mark was upgraded to a C3 I would not be considered this year but deferred until next year. If the courses do not start until the beginning of October why can't I be considered this year? What is the point of having a rechecking system if you cannot get the subject rechecked in time for the start of your course?
A spokesman for the Nursing Careers Centre says that if you notify the centre immediately you hear about your upgrade you will be accommodated this year. So if you get the result you had hoped for, get moving fast.
Nora: A friend's daughter got 415 in her Leaving and was offered business in Portobello and computer science in DIT. She wants to do engineering at UCD. Is it likely she will get a second-round offer? Can she phone to find out if there are any places left?
The cut-off for engineering in UCD, in the first round, was 370. So if she had the matriculation subjects and the correct grades in the essential subjects required for engineering, and presuming she placed it higher in her preferences than the degree course she was offered, she should have been made an offer in the first round. She should check all of this first before sending an inquiry notice to the CAO.
The CAO will post the second round of offers on Monday, September 4th, and we will have another webcast on Wednesday, September 6th, at 10 a.m., when I will put your queries to guidance counsellor Vivian Cassells. If you would like to e-mail a query then send it to education@irish-times.ie
You can also send queries by post to Round 2 Q&A, Education and Living, The Irish Times, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2. These will be answered in the webcast only.
If you wish to discuss your problem, then you should telephone the College 2000 helpline (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and speak to one of our guidance counsellors.