While the majority of students appear satisfied with this year's offers, many are battling to get a higher preference.
There are two routes left open: a points drop in a further round or an upgrading of exam results. The second-round offers are due to be published on September 4th.
There is no certainty points for the desired course will fall. Courses with heavy demand rarely fall, and when they do, it is normally by a few points.
Nursing and some engineering courses (which required high points in the first round) are likely to fall in the second round, according to observers.
The best way to approach the second round is almost to ignore it. You cannot alter the outcome, so proceed with other plans, and if you get a second round offer regard it as an unexpected bonus.
One of those plans, if you are just a few points short, should be to view your script.
You should have submitted a form asking to see your exam scripts to your school by yesterday. If you have not, contact your school immediately and see if they can do anything.
Presuming the form has been submitted, your scripts should be available to view on Friday, August 31st, and Saturday, September 1st.
This column suggests you view your scripts and if unhappy have them rechecked.
The system put in place by the Department several years ago introduced a strong element of accountability to exams. It is one of the few areas where the Irish education system is ahead of its international counterparts.
View the scripts thoroughly and try to be realistic. Was that English essay really one of your best? Did you answer the question you were asked?
Be realistic, but not defeatist. If you feel your grade does not reflect your work on the day submit it for rechecking. It will cost £25 per script. This will be refunded if you are upgraded.
Figures from the Department of Education on rechecks show there is every reason to go this route. Last year over 7,500 grades were appealed at higher and ordinary level, with 2,305 upgrades. The number of upgrades has been increasing in recent years. The reason might be because students have begun to view their scripts more often and have good reason to have subjects rechecked.
So what are the chances of getting extra marks and what subjects do they tend to come in?
Curiously, English seems to attract a lot of appeals. Maybe because some students perceive English as less empirical than maths or physics and are quicker to find fault with their marks.
Last year, for example, there were 1,563 grades appealed in higher level English alone. Almost a third of these grades were upgraded. Ordinary level maths, which was taken by more students than higher level English, had 354 appeals.
This year the number of English appeals should come down, considering the high level of honours grades and the positive reception given to the new syllabus.
While many English teachers will reject the idea of their subject being subjective, the high number of upgrades seems to give this some credence.
For example, fewer maths grades are changed on appeal than English.
Either way, use the system and you could get lucky. Most of the upgrades will only move you up one part of a grade, say from a C2 to a C3. This would give you (at higher level) an extra five points.
For those of you close to getting into a high points course, benefit can be extracted from the rechecking process. For example, if on appeal you rise from an A2 to an A1, you go up 10 points, which could be the magic number to get you that course.
If you are upgraded, you have to wait until early October before you are notified. The Department will automatically notify the CAO, which will consult the college, and you should be offered a place further up your list.
However, some students, because they missed the initial part of the year, decide to defer the place, but it is up to you.
DIT
DIT have contacted us about comments made by a representative of USI, who said that the college did not accept National Council for Vocational Awards (NCVA) qualifications.
A DIT spokesman pointed out that the college introduced a link scheme with NCVA in 1997 whereby 12 of their two year certificate courses had a small number of additional places reserved for students who obtained NCVA awards.
He added: "Following a review in 1999, we included all two-year certificate courses in the scheme and there are now approximately 100 places available for successful NCVA (now FETAC) applicants."
He said NCVA applicants would also be considered "on an individual case basis" for many of DIT's diploma and degree courses and many are successful.