A COLLECTIVE sigh of relief can be heard as Leaving Cert students, their parents and guidance counsellors say final farewells to CAO forms. Today is the last day for posting to meet the February 1st deadline.
Parents have become experts in career choices, subject requirements, college admissions policies and the central applications system. Let's hope all of this hard work does not go unappreciated.
Of course, it hasn't been easy for the students either. For most Leaving Cert students today is the last day of a long month. If you post off your CAO application form today, and get your certificate of posting stamped, then it's all over . . . for the present. You can relax and concentrate on studying.
Tomorrow's deadline is final for restricted application courses, such as art and design, music and furniture technology, so you simply must get your form posted in time if you want to go to college this autumn. If you're not applying for a restricted application course, the February 1st deadline is not final. You can still apply to the CAO, up until May 1st, but it will cost you twice as much - £36 instead of £18.
And don't forget the decisions you have made in the past month are not final and binding. You can change your mind about your choice of courses up until 5.15 pm. on July 1st (but you may not introduce any new restricted application courses). This year, for the first time, CAO applicants will not automatically be issued with change of mind forms. You must request them.
Science
Science has waned somewhat in popularity in the past few years with school leavers increasingly veering towards the humanities. However, there are lots of rewarding and interesting careers available for science graduates. Science encompasses a huge variety of areas from earth science to theoretical physics to biotechnology, forensic science and computing.
So, how difficult is it to secure a place? Last year, there were 5,352 first preference applicants for 2,931 places on science and applied science degree courses. At certificate and diploma level, there were 5,124 first preference applicants for 2,268 science and applied science places. This means there were roughly two first preference applicants for each place available at cert/diploma and degree level.
Points were generally clustered in the low 400s for most science degrees, with the occasional exception such as biotechnology in UCG, where you would haven needed 500 points to secure a place, and theoretical physics in TCD which had a cut off of 545. At cert/diploma level, 150 points, would have to been enough to obtain a place on Dundalk RTC's; food science programme or Carlow RTC's applied physics course.
When you are looking at the low points levels for certs in the science area, it is important to remember that most colleges will offer you the option of an add on diploma or degree programme.
For instance, in Athlone RTC graduates of the college's two year cert in applied chemistry can, subject to exam results, proceed to the one year diploma in analytical chemistry and, from there, to the one year bachelor of, science in applied chemistry. So, in four years, students who initially entered a cert courses can, graduate with an honours degree.
The latest Higher Education Authority graduate survey shows that 46 per cent of primary degree holders in the science area went directly into employment. A further 48 per cent went on to further study or training, with three per cent going into teacher training.
The number of denominated science programmes on offer is increasing each year. The downside of opting for a specific course is that changing our mind and trying something else may mean repeating first year (and you won't qualify for free fees if you repeat in a non ESF funded course). If you have done your homework and are sure of what you want to do, the obvious thing is to opt for a denominated degree.
For the unsure or those who would like a more general first year, where you can "taste" a number of options before deciding to specialise, omnibus entry allows you a little time to think. For instance, if you want to studs science in Maynooth, you will take maths in first year with three other subjects from a choice of biology, chemistry computer science, experimental physics or mathematical physics.
Dr Matthew Hussey, director of the faculty of science in DIT Kevin Street, which offers a four year degree in applied science asked us to draw students' attention to the fact that biology is not an option within this programme. Each year, a number of students are dismayed to discover they have accepted a place on the programme and that they can't study biology. It comes back to the well worn refrain - read the college prospectuses before you list courses on your CAO form. A few minutes now could save you a lot of anguish later.
Some denominated options:
Earth science in UCG
The enthusiasm of Prof Paul Ryan's UCG geology department is infectious. "Studying the earth throughout half of all of time - that's what you do in the earth science's degree at UCG. Sounds ambitious but, if we are serious about stewarding our natural resources like oil, metals and ground water, we need to understand the processes that shape, the continents and the oceans, he explains. Geology is a field science so you will get to enjoy the scenery of the west, especially when you do your mapping projects, he says. You also get a chance to study abroad for a year through an exchange programme. Graduates of the course work in a variety of industries such as oil, mining, ground water, consultancy, environmental management, teaching, services and even financial industries.
Environmental Science in Sligo, RTC
The four year degree in environmental science and technology has a very good employment record, with most graduates going directly into jobs. Employment is usually in the various environmental regulatory bodies, monitoring water quality and emissions into the atmosphere. Part of the third year of the course is spent on a work placement with an employer.
Sligo RTC also offers an abinitio degree in European environmental engineering science.
Theoretical physics in TCD
This is not a course for the mathematically faint hearted.
The underlying theories of physics are described in mathematical terms so you will need a good grasp of both subjects. A degree in theoretical physics can be a starting point for a variety of careers including astronomy, meteorology, hardware and software, instrumentation and atomic and nuclear physics. There are 20 places on this course.
Agricultural science
UCD offers nine four year BAgrSc options. Students take a common first year which is science based and includes agricultural economics, biology, chemistry, experimental physics, introductions to computer science and agriculture and maths. You can choose to specialise in second year.
The RTCs also offer a variety of agricultural options. For instance, Galway RTC offers a two year agri business programme. Tralee RTC offers a two year cert in agricultural engineering and Waterford RTC has a two year cert in agricultural science. A number of students awarded certs with a merit or distinction have proceeded to diploma and degree courses in agriculture and food science.
Food science/technology/engineering
UL offers a four year degree in food technology which includes a nine month industrial placement. While the basis of the programme is food technology, it also addresses non food uses of agricultural materials.
Food engineering degrees are offered by UCC and UCD. In UCD, you enter the programme via the general engineering degree and specialise later. You need a B3 in higher level maths in the Leaving Cert to get into this programme. UCD's agricultural science faculty also has a Bachelor of Agricultural Science, which is intended to fill a niche in the market between the professional engineer and the agricultural and food scientist.
To study food process engineering in UCC you will need a minimum of a grade C3 in higher level maths. UCC, which has the largest food science faculty in Ireland, also offers degrees in food business food science and nutritional sciences. Food science and food technology are available in DIT through its applied science degree.
Dundalk and Letterkenny RTCs offer food science at cert/ diploma level, while Tralee RTC has a cert in food process engineering.
Check list
There is a useful checklist on the back of your CAO/CAS envelope. It highlights all of the important items to be enclosed before you seal your envelope.
. Have you completed your form fully?
. Have you got the certificate of payment stamped by the bank? Part one should be attached to your CAO form. Keep part two: as evidence of payment.
. Did you fill out the self addressed envelope and postcard?
. And, finally, did you get the certificate of posting at the back of the CAO book stamped by the post office?
If the answer is Yes, you should soon hear back from the CAO, which will issue you with an application number. From now on, you should quote this number in all CAO correspondence.
Important dates:
February 1st: Final date for applying for restricted application courses. An initial acknowledgement will be sent to applicants who enclosed the (stamped) card.
March 1st: If you applied to the CAO by February 1st, you should receive your application number by this date. If you have not received it by then, you should write to the CAO immediately.
May 1st: Last date for applications (late application fee of £36).
June 15th: Applicants should, receive a statement of application before the end of May. This allows you to verify that all of the accurately. If this statement has not arrived by June 15th, you should write to the CAO.
July 1st: Last date for receipt of change of mind forms.
Additional research by Emmet Oliver
This is the last morning the telephone helpline will be in operation. Students and parents are invited to telephone us with their queries between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. today. Tel: (01) 679-8031