Q&A

Your questions answered by Brian Mooney

Having received numerous questions regarding the Central Applications Office (CAO) process as it will operate from now until offer date, I outline below the important milestones.

If you applied before February 1st you will by now have received a statement of course choices from CAO. The statement provides you with your CAO application number, which you must use in all correspondence with the CAO. The CAO application number is also required for all application transactions on the website, such as recording a change of mind or viewing and accepting offers.

The statement of course choices provides a last chance to correct errors or omissions in applications for restricted application courses and/or errors or omissions made by restricted categories of applicant. You may go online and record a change in your course choices up to 5.15pm tomorrow evening - March 1st. There is a €10 additional processing fee for this service, but most applicants will not need to make a change at this stage.

Higher education institutions (HEIs) identify mature applicants by date of birth, so if you are a mature applicant it is particularly important that this be recorded correctly, if you wish to be considered in the mature applicant selection processes.

If you indicated on the application form that you have a disability or specific learning difficulty, you will receive a supplementary information form, which you must complete and return to CAO by the date marked on your form. You will find sample completed forms and explanatory documents in the downloads section of the CAO website.

If you applied for restricted application courses involving tests, interviews or assessments you should check the literature of the higher education institutions you have applied to for information on what happens next. There is a calendar of tests, interviews and assessments on the CAO website.

Before the end of May you will receive a statement of application record. This may well be the last communication you receive from CAO before August, and it represents your last opportunity to correct any errors or omissions you might have made. Take the time to read the statement and accompanying materials carefully. It is particularly important that you carefully check the examination information on your statement of application record. If anything is incorrect or omitted then you must contact the CAO immediately.

Some applicants forget to inform the CAO of an important detail and wonder in August why they did not get an offer. Common among these errors and omissions is forgetting to inform the CAO of the existence of a previous Leaving Certificate or an exemption from the Irish or third language requirements of the National University of Ireland.

If you have not yet decided which courses you are really interested in taking next year or the order you wish to list them in, you should use the opportunities to research your options through searches on www.qualifax and through your career guidance classes between now and June. When the Leaving Cert is finished in June, you will have at least 10 days to focus on your final chance to list your choices and submit a change of mind form to CAO free of charge, right up to 5.15pm on July 1st.

The CAO will supply a copy of a paper change of mind form with your statement in May, but it is safer to record your change of mind online. Some restrictions exist, for example you are not permitted to introduce restricted application courses for the first time after February 1st. However, restrictions aside, you may change your mind as often as you like up to the closing date.

If you are planning your holiday during August, avoid being away from home on August 21st, the date on which CAO offers will be made. You should also ensure that you are available to view your examination scripts on either September 1st or 2nd, with a view to requesting a re-check. Nobody else can view a paper on your behalf.

If at any stage you are confused or worried about some aspect of your application you can contact the CAO. E-mail queries may be sent to help@cao.ie.

Brian Mooney is president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors. E-mail questions to bmooney@irish- times.ie