Today is the last day for posting your acceptance of round one CAO offers. Make sure you get a certificate of posting stamped by the post office - preferably use one of the custom-made certificates in the back of the CAO handbook.
The CAO will continue to take acceptances until 5.15 p.m. tomorrow but those leaving the decision until the last day must travel to the CAO's office at Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway.
There is still some confusion among university applicants surrounding the payment of levies with the offer notice. A spokesman for the CAO is quite clear - as long as the CAO receives part C of the offer notice by the deadline, your acceptance will be recorded. This applies whether you fall into the standard or grant-aided category - begging the question why anyone would pay the levy at this stage.
This follows the statement made earlier this month by the chairman of the Conference of Heads of Irish Universities that "no student will lose a university place on the basis of non-payment of the levy through the CAO at the time of acceptance of the offer". The levy ranges up to £328 for standard applicants and up to £50 for non-standard applicants. It is used by the colleges to "fund social and recreational facilities for students".
In previous years, grant holders paid the levy directly to the universities on registration. The CHIU statement adds: "To avoid confusion all students should endeavour to fully comply with the CAO acceptance procedures. Where grant-aided students have genuine financial difficulty in making payments to the CAO they should contact the admissions office of the relevant university where appropriate alternative arrangements will be made."
As far as the CAO is concerned, the determination of financial hardship is a matter for the colleges, not the CAO. As long as part C of the offer notice arrives in time (with or without the levy), you will get your place.
Questions have been pouring in about the payment of the levy with people worried about the method of payment, how much they should pay, what will happen if their grant application is refused . . . Some applicants are so concerned that they have sent money to the CAO even when the payment section read "nil".
The CAO has received cheques for amounts such as £1 and £5 from worried applicants who feel they must make some pledge of good faith. This money is then forwarded to the colleges and, presumably, will be deducted from any levy payable at registration.
The situation is so confusing for applicants and their parents that it would make more sense if no money was involved at the CAO acceptance stage. Why can't all of the colleges wait a few weeks and collect the money at registration?
Vacant Places
The CAO is still accepting applications for vacant places. So far, 25 degrees and more than 70 certificates/ diplomas have advertised vacancies. These places will be allocated in round two. Second round offers will be posted on September 6th.
However, it's not all over then. The CAO will continue to accept applications for vacant places until the colleges signify they have filled all of these places or the course has begun. Places will be filled on a rolling basis after round two. There is no third round of offers this year.
Vacant places are open to everyone - whether you have already applied to the CAO or not. There is an £18 fee if you haven't previously applied (contact the CAO at 091 509800).
If you have already applied there is no additional fee and you do not need to complete a further applications document. Just inform the CAO of the desired course(s), quoting your application number. Acceptance of a vacant place automatically cancels and supersedes any previous offer(s) or acceptance(s).
Options Outside The CAO
The Post Leaving Certificate sector will have about 20,000 first-year places on offer. There are no tuition fees for PLC courses and students may apply for means-tested maintenance grants.
Dun Laoghaire Community College is enrolling students tomorrow, between 10 a.m. and noon, for repeat Leaving Cert and PLC courses. If you are interested in repeating the Leaving Cert, bring a copy of your results and a £30 registration fee. There are some vacancies on the following courses: applied languages and information technology skills; diploma in electronics; diploma in international trade and marketing; and Computer-aided design.
The applied languages course is aimed at the international teleservices sector and includes a 17-week placement abroad. This placement is grant-aided. The language course on offer in Dun Laoghaire Community College is French. For further information phone: (01) 280 9676.
Monaghan Institute of Further Education has vacant places on all of its courses but the three computing courses (information technology, information processing and networks and software systems) are filling rapidly.
The college offers the following PLC courses: information technology; information processing; networks and software systems; applied languages and IT; call centre operations; nursing studies; nursery nursing; childcare; community care; sport and recreation; secretarial studies; legal secretarial; tourism; art, craft and design; performing arts; media production; furniture design.
For further information write to the Monaghan Institute of Further Education and Training, Armagh Road, Monaghan, or phone (047) 84900. There are informal interviews for some courses. Ballsbridge College of Business Studies has a number of vacancies on the following PLC courses: auctioneering, advertising and management; computerised business studies; computerised office skills for adults; electronic communications and multimedia; English (EFL) and business communications; international teleservices; marketing, advertising and management. Students may call in to the college or phone (01) 668 4806.
A PLC information and advice session will take place in the college on Friday, September 3rd, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Tralee IT has introduced a new four-year degree in computing and enterprise studies. The entry requirements are six subjects in the Leaving Cert, including two higher-level C3s. Students must have a minimum of an ordinary-level B3 in maths and English or Irish.
Interested applicants should write to the college admissions office enclosing a copy of your Leaving Cert results. The closing date is this Friday.
DIT Direct-Entry Courses
This is your last chance to apply for four new direct-entry courses at DIT - computer science, computer engineering, technology (integrated maintenance) and manutronics (automation) - as the closing date is today. Places will be allocated on the basis of points. Applicants must fulfill the special subject requirements to be eligible for a place.
Nursing
The deadline for acceptance of an offer of a place on the general or psychiatric nurse education programmes is also today.
Any vacant places will be redistributed in a second round of offers which takes place in a few days time. About 1,000 applicants are on a reserve panel for possible offers while those who conditionally accept an offer in round one are still in the running for a higher preference in the second round.
The Northern Ireland Hotel and Catering College, Portrush, is offering courses in hospitality, catering and tourism, chef apprentice, chef diplomas in restaurant supervisory, management and advanced crafts. The college is holding a series of information and advisory sessions throughout the Republic this week.
September 1st: Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny, 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.; Highland Central Hotel, Donegal, 2 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.
September 2nd: Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan, 10.30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sligo Park Hotel, Sligo, 10.30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
September 3rd: Jurys Hotel, Balls bridge, Dublin, 10.30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For further information phone: 08 01265 823768