Guidance counsellors on our team, including Brian Howard and Deirdre Garrett, have been actively addressing the worries of Leaving Cert students. Available in the forthcoming days to answer any inquiries, the team has seen certain recurring themes arise. One of these is whether CAO points requirements will increase for certain courses this year.
The key factors influencing CAO points requirement for any programme are fundamentally based on supply and demand. Last year, the points for each course were decided by the final candidate to cinch a place, determined by a combination of the profile of CAO scores of applicants and the course capacity. A definitive answer can’t be given until the offer is revealed next Wednesday due to these factors.
With the grade patterns remaining as they were in 2023 and 2022, it might be assumed that CAO points wouldn’t climb on Wednesday. However, this is dependent on supply and demand. The CAO discloses data in March and July demonstrating the precise number of candidates for each field of study. A surge in the popularity of certain programmes among applicants could result in higher points requirements and vice versa. Nevertheless, points could drop in some areas where additional places are being provided this year.
An often-asked question is whether points for medicine or therapy programmes will decrease as more places are being introduced this year. Capital has been provided by the Government for extra spots in high-demand study fields facing skill shortages like medicine, nursing and midwifery.
Additional spots for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and podiatric medicine programmes in University College Galway, as well as physiotherapy in RCSI and a fresh undergraduate occupational therapy programme in University of Limerick, were declared earlier this month. The additional seats may lead to a drop in points, although this won’t be confirmed until the first round of offers is made to applicants next Wednesday.
Many of this year’s Leaving Cert students are struggling to find accommodation near their anticipated colleges, causing considerable stress. The worst-case scenario for them is being accepted into their top-choice degree programme but having to withdraw their acceptance before the deadline as they cannot find a suitable place to live.
The CAO’s rules state that if you decline your first-choice offer on a level eight course, you cannot then receive a lower offer. As a result, it is suggested that students reach out to the college they wish to attend. These institutions often have a list of local homeowners who are willing to rent out rooms, and the college may be able to provide additional support.
Another option open to students is to defer their course. In this situation, students should contact the college or university as soon as they receive their offer. In most instances, their place will be reserved for the following year. However, it is essential to note that there is no guarantee that the housing situation will be improved by then.
Are students entitled to access schemes that offer reduced point requirements? Indeed, certain CAO applicants who qualify for programmes like Dare, for those with a specific disability, Hear for the financially disadvantaged, or a distinguished scholarship programme may see a decrease in point requirements.
However, every college and often each department within the colleges apply these policies uniquely – there is no universal rule. What remains consistent is that each college’s admission officers will inform the CAO before the first round of offers and all subsequent rounds about who to forward an programme offer to.