Top CAO Tips from TU Dublin
CAO applications for September 2020 college places opened in November, and already thousands of eager beavers submitted their application before the final deadline of Saturday, 1 February at 5.15 pm.
It's CAO Time
It’s a stressful time of year for Leaving Certificate students with mock exams looming, and lots more coursework to complete, but we recommend that students get their application in early to avoid the stress. Some students may have already decided what they’re going to study, but don’t worry, you still have plenty of time to make your up your mind. Applying by 1 February will ensure you’re registered on the CAO system and over the next six months, you can consider all the various options available more closely.
Do Your Research
The main reason that students succeed in University is that they researched their options thoroughly and picked the programme that was right for them. There is still plenty of time, so spend the next couple of days reviewing each of your choices carefully. Don’t rely just on the names of programmes – you’ll get a better understanding of what a course is about by reading a synopsis, what modules are covered, and what the learning outcomes are. You will find everything you need to know about TU Dublin courses on our website.
Courses with a February 1st deadline
If your programme of choice requires you to submit a portfolio, attend an audition or interview, it’s important to remember that you must select that programme by Friday, 1 February. For example, any students looking at programmes in TU Dublin in Music, Drama, Fine Art, Design -Visual Communication, Interior Design, or Photography need to be aware that 01 February is the cut-off date for applications. Read more about submitting a portfolio here.
Level 8 is great, but don’t forget level 6 and 7!
You may feel confident that you will get the points for your favourite course, but the demand and therefore the points could still go up. Our advice is to look at Level 6/7 programmes in similar subjects so that you have more options available once CAO offers issue in August. If you do decide to accept an offer for Level 6/7, you can use that as your pathway to an honours degree later on.
Don’t be afraid to ask for advice
If you’ve been mulling over whether to change your preferences on the CAO, you might benefit from talking to someone else about it. Your school guidance counsellor or a teacher may be available to speak with you, and your parents and friends are also good people to bounce ideas off.
Do you have questions for our Admissions team? They will run a live online chat from 16:30 to 18:30 on January 28th, 29th and 30th and from 14:30 to 16:30 on January 31st.