Students face scramble for places

THE POINTS race to get into college this year has been transformed by the new bonus-points system for higher level maths in the Leaving Cert exam.

Every student who secures Grade D3 (40 per cent) or better in higher level maths today will gain an extra 25 CAO points.

Today’s results are very good news for the 10,875 students who passed higher level maths.

But the news is less good for the 35,000 or so who took ordinary level. In the scramble for college places, those with higher level maths are holding a significant advantage.

The first round of CAO offers – which will be published at 6am next Monday – is expected to show a significant increase in points for high-demand courses in science, technology, engineering and agriculture. There is already speculation that points for some science courses could, for the first time, break through the 500-point barrier. Six years ago, it was relatively easy to secure a place on a higher-degree course in science with less than 300 points.

After years during which they struggled to attract students, science courses are now much sought-after. Amid growing concerns over graduate unemployment, students and their parents believe a science degree offers relatively good job prospects.

This year, applications for higher level courses in science are up 22 per cent on last year.

Inevitably, this must mean increased points for science and related courses including computing, technology and engineering. The following is an indication of the likely trend in other key areas.

ARTS

Arts and humanities are still the big hitters within the CAO system. The arts courses run by the main universities are the most popular courses in the CAO – arts at UCD remains the single most popular course in the State, attracting more than 1,000 students every year.

This year, demand for places on these courses has been sluggish. Applications are down by more than 6 per cent, reflecting concern over the high number of unemployed arts graduates.

Against this background, one would expect points to decrease. But the bonus-points system for maths could have an impact. A good number of the 17,000 seeking places on arts courses will have higher level maths and the 25 extra points. This could lead to a marginal increase in points – despite the fall-off in student interest.

BUSINESS

Applications for business courses are unchanged this year. This was the boom area during the Celtic Tiger, but demand is now sluggish as job opportunities have tightened. Points should come down, but the scattergun effect of the bonus points system could actually see a marginal increase in points.

TEACHER TRAINING

The number of applications was down by 300 in 2011 and it dropped a further 129 this year. Career experts say points will be unchanged or marginally up as the factor of bonus points for maths kicks in.

CONSTRUCTION AND RELATED

One of the few areas where points are expected to fall. Only 211 students listed a course in the built environment area as their first CAO choice this year. Demand is also down for architecture.

AGRICULTURE

With a huge increase in applications, there is considerable upward pressure on points.

MEDICINE AND RELATED HEALTH CARE

Broadly, applications for places on all of these courses have increased. Demand for veterinary is up by 16 per cent. Dentistry is up by 14 per cent and pharmacy by an impressive 27 per cent.

With 6,000 applicants , demand for nursing has also increased marginally.

The points for places on these courses will reflect student demand. Points may increase significantly for pharmacy, but the increase in points for nursing may be marginal.