Can you really get on a college degree course without CAO points?Yes, tertiary degrees are an exciting new option which are opening doors for students of all agesSun Feb 02 2025 - 09:30
How can I make sure my son has filled out his CAO form correctly?Watch out for a piece of correspondence which lands in May. It is crucial to a successful applicationSun Jan 26 2025 - 09:30
My daughter is in a panic over CAO course selections. How can I guide her in the right direction?Researching options, planning for challenges and having passion for the subject are keySun Jan 19 2025 - 09:30
Key dates for 2025 CAO applications: from early-bird applications to Leaving Cert appealsThe essential calendar for this year’s Leaving Cert students and CAO applicantsTue Jan 14 2025 - 01:30
Seven factors to consider when making your college applicationApplying for college this year? Whether applying for a course at home or abroad, here’s all you need to knowTue Jan 14 2025 - 00:31
I worry that if my son doesn’t apply to the CAO he will limit his options Parental expectations can – unintentionally – distract students and distort course choicesSun Jan 12 2025 - 09:00
My son is stressed about the February 1st CAO deadline. Is this really the cut-off point?There is no need to fret: in most cases, students have until July 1st to finalise their course choicesSun Jan 05 2025 - 09:00
My daughter struggles with school but loves fixing things. Would an apprenticeship suit her?CAO points are not a requirement for the thriving engineering sector which provides excellent career opportunitiesSun Dec 15 2024 - 09:00
Six takeaways from Feeder Schools data: Education gaps remain despite progress Feeder Schools data shows how Ireland’s children progress after completing second-level education.Tue Dec 10 2024 - 06:15
Quirks and questions on third-level progression ratesBrian Mooney outlines key aspects of third-level progression analysis and some common issues that ariseTue Dec 10 2024 - 01:50
Feeder Schools: Making sense of school progression chartsThe State Exams commission reported to the Irish Times that 54,260 students in registered schools sat the Leaving Cert in 2024.Tue Dec 10 2024 - 01:30
My daughter wants to go away to college but I worry about the cost. Is she entitled to a grant?Eligibility rules for grants are more generous - but the cost of student accommodation can still be prohibitiveSun Dec 08 2024 - 09:00
Crises, reforms and funding challenges: six key issues facing the next minster for educationThe manifestos of the main political parties put an emphasis on boosting funding for the sector, but what will the new government be able to deliver?Mon Dec 02 2024 - 19:00
With extra college places, will CAO points fall for high-points courses like medicine and dentistry? There are signs that the points race may be coming to an end for many coursesSun Dec 01 2024 - 09:15
Will CAO points for veterinary medicine drop as a result of additional course places?The move to almost double the number of graduates in this area means points should fall, but not by a huge amountSun Nov 24 2024 - 09:15
My daughter wants to study engineering at college. I’m not sure it’s right for herA degree in this area opens a vast array of career pathways and is highly valued around the worldSun Nov 17 2024 - 09:15
I want to upskill but can’t do a full-time course. Are there grants for part-time study?Funding for eligible part-time undergraduate students was introduced for the first time last summerSun Nov 10 2024 - 09:00
I’m not sure my son will be organised enough to meet upcoming CAO deadlines. Can you help?There is no great urgency in selecting courses, but it is very important to read up on all-important instructionsSun Nov 03 2024 - 09:00
What to focus on during college Open DaysDo your homework first. Open days offer prospective students a valuable opportunity to get a flavour of college lifeTue Oct 29 2024 - 01:30
My daughter wants to study nursing but I worry that CAO points are too high. Are there other options?For well-motivated Leaving Cert students, there are several alternative entry pathways into nursingSun Oct 27 2024 - 09:00
My son in thinking of going to college abroad due to high CAO points at home. Is this wise?Courses can be demanding but are an excellent pathway for a student to study their dream courseSun Oct 20 2024 - 09:00
Will CAO points fall next year due to reduction in Leaving Cert grade inflation?Supply and demand of places, as well as applicants’ grades, determine CAO entry points for individual coursesSun Oct 13 2024 - 09:00
I worry my daughter will drift during a ‘doss’ transition year. Should she skip it?This can be particularly beneficial for students who thrive in interactive and collaborative learning environments.Sun Oct 06 2024 - 09:00
‘I don’t want to give my child a smartphone but worry he will feel left out if I don’t’Parents have felt powerless in the face of advances in technology - that, hopefully, is changingSun Sept 29 2024 - 09:00
Mapping your career path: How to engage with Higher Options Expo can help you make the right choice before deciding on what career option to pursue after the Leaving CertTue Sept 24 2024 - 04:46
One of best-kept secrets for access to college is a new route that does not require CAO pointsOne of best-kept secrets for access to third level is a new route that does not require Leaving Cert pointsSun Sept 22 2024 - 09:00
My daughter wants to drop to ordinary level Irish so she can focus on a top grade in other subjects. Should she?It is common for students to be strategic in order to target high CAO points, but it is a misguided approachSun Sept 15 2024 - 09:00
My son in sixth year still has no idea what to do after he leaves school. Can you help?No matter what option he eventually chooses, he has until the end of sixth year to make his choicesSun Sept 08 2024 - 09:00
I narrowly missed out on my first-choice CAO course. Is there another route to university? There are still options to secure the course of your dreams – even if you didn’t get a CAO offerSun Sept 01 2024 - 09:00
CAO offers: Major effort to minimise use of random selectionMinister for Education Norma Foley announced in April that there will be no change from last year, with grades to stay at the same levelThu Aug 29 2024 - 00:00
Five takeaways from CAO offers, from drop in points for medicine to why students are following the economy Fly in ointment for many potential third-level students is finding a place to liveWed Aug 28 2024 - 19:50
CAO 2024: Here’s how to respond to an offer Over 80,000 applicants have registered their aspiration for a place on one of more than a thousand courses on offer at Ireland’s third-level institutions.Wed Aug 28 2024 - 07:30
Evolving career routes boost options for school-leavers For a programme of study to be successful, it must be a good fit for the student’s strengths and aptitudesTue Aug 27 2024 - 02:30
My son can’t find student accommodation in Dublin. Is it too late to change his CAO choice? The rules of the CAO are explicit: applicants can move up, not down, their course preference listMon Aug 26 2024 - 06:00
Will CAO points go up next week? Your Leaving Cert questions answered Brian Mooney on students’ queries to The Irish Times Leaving Cert results helpdeskFri Aug 23 2024 - 19:00
Five key lessons from this year’s Leaving Cert, from an avalanche of maths bonus points to a fierce CAO points raceJoy at getting high grades may be short lived for some when they access their CAO offers next WednesdayFri Aug 23 2024 - 06:30
How the CAO system works: How do colleges decide the points needed for a Leaving Cert course?Widely-held belief that CAO points are determined by colleges in advance and remain relatively constant is incorrect.Fri Aug 23 2024 - 06:00
Leaving Cert: 2024 grades remain largely unchangedMinister for Education Norma Foley gave a commitment this year that there would be no return to pre-pandemic grade profiles in 2024Fri Aug 23 2024 - 06:00
I’ve got my Leaving Cert results. What should I do now?CAO points required for the most-sought-after courses are likely to stay in or around 2023 levelsThu Aug 22 2024 - 18:00
Key dates for Leaving Cert 2024: Results, script viewing, appeals and offersTimeline of this year’s Leaving Certificate results, with dates and deadlines for viewing exam scripts, appealing subjects and CAO offersTue Aug 20 2024 - 00:15
Leaving Cert 2024: Exam survival guide for students (and parents)Exams get under way on Wednesday, June 5th, with English paper one at 9.30amTue Jun 04 2024 - 21:00
My son wants to drop out of his college course. What should he do next?There are lots of options available, but there is a financial cost to repeating or starting a new degree courseSun Jun 02 2024 - 11:00
My son thinks his ‘inflated’ Leaving Cert results will give him an advantage in the CAO points race. Is this true?Grades will begin to return towards more normal patterns from next yearSun May 26 2024 - 09:00
My son still hasn’t selected his CAO courses - and the exams are around the cornerThere is time after the exams to finalise choices which do not necessarily rely on Leaving Cert pointsSun May 19 2024 - 00:00
Important dates for college applicationsCAO 2024 calendar: Timeline for this year’s college application processTue May 14 2024 - 04:30
Alternatives to the CAO application process The traditional pathway to third level is not the only route you can take to achieve your career advancement goals.Tue May 14 2024 - 03:30
Thinking of changing your CAO course selection?You still have time to revisit your CAO courses in case you need to make changes before the July 1st deadline.Tue May 14 2024 - 02:30
Decision time nears for final CAO course selectionFinal list of course choices has to be submitted to the CAO by 5pm on July 1stTue May 14 2024 - 01:20
Am I entitled to a college grant due to changes in eligibility rules?Grants are now available for undergraduate students where household income is under €100,000Sun May 12 2024 - 09:00
How can I check my son’s CAO details are correct to ensure he doesn’t lose a college place?Make sure your child’s correct Leaving Cert number is recorded when the CAO email arrivesSun May 05 2024 - 09:00
