Elaine MooreGuidance Counsellor

BA MSC PGGC PGDE

Guidance DepartmentSt. Augustine’s College Dungarvan.

As You Take the Next Step Forward!

A look at the key issues this year includingDates and Deadlines [Ireland and abroad] – (Handout given in last

lecture)CAO Applications/points system/offers Cost of living away from homeStudent Supports – Grants, Access Schemes, Scholarships, Disability Non CAO route -FETAC Progression Schemes

Other non CAO options –Working/ApprenticeshipStudy Skills / Goal Setting/ Parental supportStress

Guidance Department

CAO Points System

CAO POINTS SYSTEMPoints are calculated from ONE sitting of

the Leaving Certificate only.

Points total is calculated from SIX best subjects

Entry Requirements (e.g. Pass in Maths and English) can be satisfied over more than one sitting of the Leaving Certificate- with some exceptions –e.g. Medicine

Guidance Department

Points System – the best 6Grade Honours OrdinaryA1 100 60A2 90 50B1 85 45B2 80 40B3 75 35 BEST C1 70 30 6C2 65 25C3 60 20 SUBJECTSD1 55 15D2 50 10D3 45 5

bonus points in higher maths – 25 extra pointsGuidance Department

How the points are calculatedAll the subjects a student presents are given a

CAO points score and the best 6 numbers are added up to get the overall total points.

Irish H C2 65English O A1 65Maths H D2 50 +25=75French H B2 80Biology H C1 70Geography O A1 60 excludeHistory H B3 75POINTS 425

BEFORE THE POINTS WILL BE LOOKED AT A STUDENT MUST SATISFY THE :1: COLLEGE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS (MATRICULATION)2: COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS (CAN BE SUBJECT OR GRADE SPECIFIC)

Guidance Department

The Cost of Living Away From HomeDIT COLLEGE COST monthlyRent 286Fuel/elect/food 200Books/stationery 64Entertainment 119Travel 93Mobile 29Clothes/medical 41

Total per month €830Total for 9 months €7,470

Overall 7,470 (away) or 3,789 (living at home)

Additional costs: Registration Fees approx: €2,500

Guidance Department

What Supports are Available?

1. GRANTS - Financial2. H.E.A.R. Scheme -Access3. REACH Programme - Access4. Millennium Partnership Fund for

Disadvantage – Financial5. Other Scholarships6. D.A.R.E. Scheme –

Access/disability

Guidance Department

1. Grants From this year applications are completed online at SUSI –

Student Universal Support Ireland Check out studentfinance.ie website for more information

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So how much do students get?

Max Min

5,915 305

Most students3,025 1,215

3. REACH PROGRAMME ACCESS TO WIT only

This is an access programme run by WIT.

Its objective is to increase participation rates at WIT by students who may lack economic or social supports.

Criteria: 1. Be a child of parents in receipt of social welfare 2. Be a single parent 3. Other extenuating circumstances – low family income, must apply for grant

Student Supports: Induction course Financial assistance Additional tuition Book vouchers Mentoring Travel/childcare subsidy

Closing date: April 2013 [date to be confirmed] Students must get 200 points (minimum) and fulfil the entry requirements for the

course of choice

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4. Millennium Partnership Fund for Disadvantage

This is a locally administered fund to assist students from disadvantaged areas attend further education.

Application forms are available from Waterford Area Partnership.

A local committee selects the students who receive support.

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5. Some ScholarshipsSIPTU – for children of SIPTU members, €1000Credit Union – John Hume, Business –WITFoley Scholarship – Architecture – €8000Sports Scholarships – check with collegeEntrance scholarships – awarded to best studentsIrish Taxation Institute Scholarship – taxation Science Foundation Ireland/DELL Scholarship –young

women in engineering – engineering degrees – €2000NUI Equal Opportunities Scheme - €1625All Ireland Scholarship Scheme – 120 top LC students,

open to medical card holdersDetails of all schemes on studentfinance.ie

Guidance Department

Financial Documentation needed if pursuing Grants/Hear Etc..

Parents are encouraged to collect in a file all the financial documentation that will be needed.

The following are often requested:P60 for year endedP21 for year endedSelf-employed: copy of accounts for the past 2 years

Social Welfare recipient: statement from local office showing

total amounts received for the year endedAn original birth cert may also be requested

Guidance Department

Supports In SummaryStudents are encouraged to look at all these schemes and

put the time and effort into applying if they feel they are eligible.

HEAR /DARE forms are completed as part of the online CAO process (students NOT the school send them off)

REACH forms [WIT] will be completed between Jan and March

Completed REACH Forms to be returned to your Guidance Counsellor (sent by the school to WIT)

Scholarship applications are usually returned to the college/Institute

Grant forms are completed in the summer online and supporting documents are returned to the SUSI office [note: they are not returned to school]

Guidance Department

So if CAO is not for you or you need a back up plan:FETAC Progression Routes –

Further Education (PLC) FETAC level 5 or 6

In 2013 there are 40 HEI’s offering places to FETAC applicants

Scheme 1: FETAC LINKS Scheme: Specific FETAC level 5 and 6 courses are linked to reserved places on

specific higher education programmes

Scheme 2: PILOT Scheme Most courses are open to students to apply for on the PILOT scheme

through the CAO process. Mainly with the Institutes of Technology. Students can achieve up to 400 CAO points from their FETAC level 5

course to compete for entry alongside the other Leaving Cert applicants (this is calculated on their best 8 FETAC modules)

For more information look up fetac.ie website

Guidance Department

The Non CAO OptionsPrivate colleges – apply directly, fees...UK/International colleges – UCAS..fees...FAS – apply directly on leaving schoolPLC e.g. WCFE (formerly CTI) – apply directlyInternship schemes - apply directlyTraining Bodies – apply directlyWork!...ARE THERE ANY JOBS??Year off!.....GAP YEAR....Travel!..SAVE THE TURTLES...Repeat!! Hopefully not!! For all options check out qualifax.ie website

Guidance Department

Websites:

www.qualifax.iewww.studentfinance.iewww.cao.iewww.ucas.co.ukwww.accesscollege.iewww.careersportal.ie

Guidance Department

Don’t forget to collect:Hand-outs

Best of luck in the year ahead and happy studying!!!

E.Moore

Guidance Department