Mr Eddie Green Guidance Counsellor 22 October 2012 There are three - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Mr Eddie Green Guidance Counsellor 22 October 2012

There are three main options available to students:  Higher Education – University, IT College  Further Education – Local Institutes, eg. Beaufort College, Cavan Institute, O’Fiaich College, Drogheda Institute  Employment/Apprenticeships

Self Assessment:  Honest and realistic assessment of:  Interests  Aptitudes  Personality  Acknowledge strengths and weakness:  Do what you enjoy doing!  Do what you are good at!  Quality of a Degree is important

Actual application: Apply on-line at www.cao.ie Cost: 25 euro before 20 January 2013  40 euro if made between 20 Jan and 1 Feb 2013 Closing Date for application 1 Feb 2013  Apply for up to 20 courses:  10 Level 6/7 Higher Certificates/ Ordinary Degree 10 Level 8 Honours Degree Choose courses in order of preference 

Restricted application courses: must apply by 1 Feb 2013  Change of mind: 1 May 2013- 1 July 2013  No fee for facility Offers: 20 August 2013: Round 1 offer  CAO will calculate best six grades for points and allocate places on the basis of highest choice on list of courses - this is why order of preference is so important as all other choices will be eliminated 29 August 2013: Proposed 2 nd round offer 

Students who participate in Sport at a high level  including playing at County, National or International level may be eligible for a Sports Scholarship. This includes a wide range of Sports These must be applied for separately - check college  prospectus This may awarded for all types of courses – not just  sports courses Benefits may include: points reduction, coaching and  financial help

Two new schemes were introduced to promote equality of access to Third Level Education. The two schemes are:  HEAR ( H igher E ducation A ccess R oute)  DARE ( D isabilities A ccess R oute E ducation)

• Higher Education Access Route is an admissions route for school leavers who are from groups who are under- represented at third level education. • This is to ensure that all Leaving Certificate students have a fair and equal opportunity to progress to third level education.

Dublin City University Dublin Institute of Technology University College, Cork University College, Dublin University of Limerick NUI Galway NUI Maynooth Trinity College, Dublin Coláiste Mhuire, Marino Institute of Education Church of Ireland, College of Education Mary Immaculate, College of Education Mater Dei Institute of Education National College of Ireland St. Angela’s College, Sligo St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra Pontifical University, Maynooth Froebel College of Education

• Reduced points CAO offers • Post -entry supports such as financial and academic • This is in addition to any Grant entitlements You must meet the HEAR income limit and the right combination of 2 other indicators to be eligible

Should I Apply? The 6 indicators

 P21 or Notice of Assessment for 2011  Medical Card Form Signed and Stamped by Local Health Office  Social Welfare Form for 2011 Signed and Stamped by Local Social Welfare Office  RP50 Notification of Redundancy or Retirement Lump Sum Payments for 2011  Letter from Health Service Executive for Children in Care of HSE

8,322 people applied to the HEAR Scheme for entry to college in 2011 3,164 were not considered for HEAR because they didn’t send in supporting documents!

1. Not filling in your HEAR application with your parents or guardians. 2. Giving incorrect answers about your family financial circumstances and parent or guardian’s job. Not printing off your checklist. No checklist means you don’t know what 3. documents you need and you don’t have evidence you submitted an online HEAR application. 4. Not submitting ANY supporting documents. 5. Submitting the wrong documents like a P60 instead of a P21. 6. Submitting the right type of document but for the wrong year. We want documents for 2011 . 7. Submitting the right documents but only submitting 1 page of a 3 page document. 8. Submitting all the correct documents but not checking to make sure the Local Health and/or Social Welfare Offices signs and stamps your forms correctly. 9. Submitting all the right documents but not keeping proof of postage or a photocopy of what you sent. 10. Supplying documentation to CAO after the deadline.

The Disability Access Route to  Education ( DARE ) is a supplementary admissions scheme which offers college places on reduced points to school leavers with disabilities. DARE has been established by a number  of higher education institutions as clear evidence shows that disability can have a negative impact on educational attainment at school and progression to higher education.

 Athlone Institute of  NUI Galway Technology  NUI Maynooth  Cork Institute of  Pontifical University, Technology Maynooth  Dublin City University  Trinity College, Dublin  Dublin Institute of Technology  University College, Cork  Mater Dei, Institute of  University College, Education Dublin  National College of  University of Limerick Ireland

Asperger’s Syndrome/Autism   ADD/ADHD  Blind/Vision Impaired  Deaf/Hearing Impaired DCD – Dyspraxia/Dysgraphia   Mental Health Conditions Neurological Conditions (Brain Injury, Speech  and Language Disabilities) Significant Ongoing Illness   Physical Disability  Specific Learning Difficulty (Dyslexia and Dyscalculia)

Disability Accepted Evidence Age of Report Disability: Blind, Medical Consultant’s No age limit on Deaf, Orthopaedic, Report Report Speech and Language and Aspergers Mental Health Psychiatrist’s Report Not less than 3 years old (1 Feb 2010) Dyslexia and Psychologist’s Report Not less than 3 years Dyscalculia old (1 Feb 2010) Dyspraxia Psychologist’s and Not less than 3 years Occupational old (1 Feb 2010) Therapist’s Report Ongoing Illness, ie Medical Consultant’s Not less than 3 years Cystic Fibrosis, Report old (1 Feb 2010) Gastroenterology

If you have a disability you can register with the  Disability Support Service whether you come through DARE or not A needs assessment is conducted to identify  your specific support requirements. Supports may include:  Orientation Programmes  Learning Support  Assistive Technology  Library Support  Exam Support  Note-taking/Support Worker  Academic Tuition 

UCAS : Universities Colleges Application System Why study in the UK?  Popular choice for Irish students – in 2010 almost 9,000 students applied  Hugh variety of courses/colleges to choose from  300 + institutions  Back up to CAO application  Lower entry requirements in many areas of study  Applications admitted to courses on the basis of academic and non academic achievements  Specialist courses that are not available in Ireland

What is a PLC course: Usually one year in duration  Preparation for employment  Are specific to a discipline and give vocational,  personal and general skills Include work placement (2-4 weeks)  Provide access to third level  Cost: Government Fee of € 200  Grant available by “The Higher Education  Grants Scheme”

Higher Education Links Scheme: Provision of reserved places on certain education  courses (mainly Level 8) www.fetac.ie  Links to Nursing, Business, IT , Engineering, Science, etc  programmes are via the Higher Education Links Scheme 17 colleges/universities  Apply to CAO  Places are issued in July of application  Best 8 components are scored/ranked 

The Pilot Scheme:  Progression to Higher Certificate, Ordinary Degrees, and Honours Degrees  Under this initiative, most college courses are open to FETAC applicants along with Leaving Cert students  Courses can be taken at all the Institutes of Technology, Independent Colleges, NCI, and St Patrick’s College, Thurles  FETAC applicant can score a maximum of 400 points with award  Best 8 components are counted: 50 points Distinction  35 points Merit  20 points Pass  More information can be accessed on  www.cao.ie  www.fetac.ie

FE Colleges N.Ireland  Students may opt to study for a Higher National Diploma (HND) and Foundation Degree Courses in one of the many colleges of Further Education in Northern Ireland.  A popular choice in recent years has been Belfast Metropolitan College but there are 18 further education colleges in the North offering a wide range of courses.  It is often possible to progress to a degree level course at a university on successful completion of a HND.  Students who choose courses at FE colleges apply directly to the college.