Topic: Points

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POINTS: When do we find out this year’s points?

The points will begin to be known from next Monday the 19th, once the CAO begins to offer places.

The first round of offers and the cut off points will be known then. After students accept and reject courses the rejected places go back into the system for the next round and this means that some students on lower points get offered a place in subsequent rounds.

The offer and acceptance process goes on for weeks until the places are filled and the last student who got a place on a course dictates the level of the cut off points. It is only a guide for future years and paints a picture of what happened in a given year but every year is different so we will see what happens on Monday.

POINTS: I got 485 and I am applying to French and Spanish in Trinity. It was 480 last year. I hear Arts courses aren't likely to go up a lot. Do you think I will make it?

Nobody knows yet what will happen until Monday. There is speculation that Arts programmes may not change much as the numbers applying for such courses has changed very little from 2012. The expectation is for technology/engineering and business courses to increase but no-one knows for sure.

POINTS: I got 370 points in my leaving will that be enough to get into UCD arts which was 350 last year or will it increase to more than that ?

The points system is never a certainty and that is why so much will be written about the changes on Monday when the points are published.

My daughter wanted Business in UL and needed 375 points but only achieved 370 points. Am I being overoptimistic that the points might drop by 5 in the second round offers??

Nobody knows for definite till Monday. It could go either way. The demand for Business/Commerce courses seemed to have gone up this year.  Maybe some students will decline this offer in round one and cause the points for Business in UL to drop further in round 2 (offer online on the 28th August, by post on the 29th). So hold on tight and hope for the best.

The UCD Arts course is always popular but the points may not change by much given that the numbers seeking places in Arts generally has not changed much from last year, so hold on tight and hope for the best on Monday.

I understand that you can only receive offers next Monday for the course highest on your list of preferences which you got the points for. (And in subsequent rounds, you can only receive offers for higher-preferenced courses.)
This means that if you have the points for your second choice but actually have since decided that you would much prefer the third choice, there is no prospect of that at all through the CAO.
Is it a problem changing courses through the university in the first few weeks in TCD provided you have the points for the course you want to change to? I know it is not a run-of-the-mill thing, but if it is for valid reasons, can it be done?

Unfortunately the time to rectify this error was by July 1st through the change of mind form, It is very unlikely that colleges will allow you to cahnge course in the first few weeks. Another option maybe is to seek a transfer to a different course after the first year of college. This is a risky startegy, and there is no guarantee that the student will be granted their transfer request. I would ,however, advise you to contact the admissions office to enquire about possibilties of transfer and costs/fees involved.

First of all congratulations for passing everything. While he may not reach the points necessary, you won't know for sure untill Monday.

If he does not get an offer in round 1, he may get an offer in round 2 if offers are rejected and put back into the system for other applicants to get in round 2. So he may still have a chance.

If that doesn't seem likely, he could consider PLC courses as a way to pursue his interests and use them as a progression route the following year. check out these links

[ www.fetac.ieOpens in new window ]

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There are always altenatives to consider, so tell him to take heart and begin researching the PLC courses and make contact with the colleges to see if they have places.

Another option would be to keep an eye out on

[ www.cao.ieOpens in new window ]

. Check out available places/ vacant places. This service allows you to apply for a course that you may not have applied for already - providing that there are now vacant places on this course.

After just getting my results I have missed my first choice by 5 points. I plan on getting English recorrected which should go up as my class was a very strong one generally and nobody got above a C1 in it. My question is what do I do next? Will I accept my second choice on monday? If I do move up a grade and I get my first choice how will the CAO/College be notified about this? Also I have already reserved a place accomodation on campus (UCD) in my first choice college. Will I loose this place if I accept my second choice?

Nobody knows yet what will happen until Monday. You may not have missed your course by 5 points. Course points can go up but they can also go down. It all depends on the supply and demand for these courses. With regard to a recheck you should return your application for viewing of scripts to your school by August 20th. There is no fee for this service. Viewing of Leaving Cert Scripts in schools takes place on August 30th  & August 31^{st .} Students along with one other person of their choice, will have an oportunity to view their scripts in school on either or both of these dates. The scripts cannot be viewed by anyone  unless  the student is present.

Student must decide if they wish to appeal their results. A personalised appeals form is available from the school. The fee for each subject appeal is €40 and €15.50 for Leaving Cert Applied. This fee is refunded in the case of each upgrade. The appeals process operates within a fairly tight timeframe   so it’s important to ensure that deadlines are met and forms are completed and submitted on time.   The closing date for receipt of completed appeal applications for the 2013 Leaving Certificate Examinations is 5.30 pm on Wednesday, 4th September, 2013. Students must submit forms and pay appeals fees to schools by the 3rd September.

If you are upgraded the new grade is then sent to CAO and any offers will be issued afterwards if you are entitled to them.
If on Monday you don't get your first offer my advice would be to accept your second offer.   Your first choice could still be offered to you in round 2  ( due to   lowering of points for this course) - regardless of whether you accept your round 1 place or not. If you do accept your 2nd choice in round 1 and then get offered your top choice at a later stage (lowering of points or successful appeals) you can actually stick with your original offer or give that up in favour of your top choice.

To the best of my knowledge, UCD only have accommodation for the first round of offers. Accomodation tends to booked out at this stage. My advise would be to hold offer and wait to see what happens on Monday. You should call UCD accommodation then.

I am getting my English paper reviewed and will probably appeal the result. If I get say an additional 25 points, how will this impact on the CAO process?

The CAO will automatically be informed. The results of the Leaving Cert Appeals are only issued in October, and any offers that you are entitled to will be issued afterwards. Colleges do their utmost to accommodate students in the current year if at all possible. However, they do advise students to consider deferral until the following year, since they may be taking on a course that is already several weeks into the first 12 week semester.

I GOT 360 POINTS DO YOU THINK I WILL GET FIRST ROUND OFFER IN CAO IN ARTS UCD

Congratulations. The points system is never a certainty and that is why so much will be written about the changes on Monday when the points are published. The UCD Arts course is always popular but the points may not change by much given that the numbers seeking places in Arts generally has not changed much from last year, so hold tight and we hope that good news will come your way!