CAO points limits for popular college courses will rise significantly this afternoon, as the first round of offers are released.
The calculated grades process is the reason for this, published earlier this week the results are much higher than previous years.
That has lead to concerns that students applying to the CAO with results from previous years may be at a disadvantage.
3,600 extra places have been added this year to help mitigate the issues.
About 50,000 CAO places are on offer for the approximately 78,000 who have applied.
“You have got a few days to respond to the offer."
CAO board member and Registrar at Letterkenny IT Billy Bennett has this advice for students:
“Remain calm."
“You have got a few days to respond to the offer."
"Look at the offer carefully and if it is something that you're interested in, do respond and accept the offer."
"You always have the opportunity of getting another offer in round two."
"If there is something that's higher on your list that you have the points for, you may get that offer in round two."
“There will be increases in quite a few of the programmes and it is simply down to the fact that the calculated grades, on average, are higher."
Best of luck to all tomorrow. It’s CAO offers day.
— Sutton Park School (@SPSSutton) September 10, 2020
Travel And Part Time Work "Not Great Options" This Year
Billy Bennett says the traditional other options, such as travelling, aren't quite so viable this year.
He's urged young people to look at taking a place in third level:
"The alternatives for students are a little bit stark this year."
“So in other years, other than the option of further education or apprenticeships, students might have considered taking the year out or head off travelling,”
“Of course, travel and working part time are not great options for students in the current year."
"So I would strongly encourage students to consider taking up a place."
“There are great opportunities this year, particularly with additional places now available.”
@RosminiSchool Best of luck to our Leaving Certificate class of 2020 awaiting their CAO offers! We are thinking of you and if you need us... you know where we are! pic.twitter.com/XAD5hEsxPV
— Rosmini Community School (@RosminiSchool) September 10, 2020
Offers To Come At 2pm Today
Students will receive their offers at 2pm today, they have until Wednesday September 16th at 3pm to respond to today's offer.
Round Two goes live the following week, on Wednesday September 23rd.
The CAO rounds and reply dates can be found here.
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