It is important that prospective college students take the CAO process seriously, as the application will have a large impact on their future.Though the date for applications has now passed, existing applicants are entitled to re-submit a new application, or amend their existing one, before the final July 1st deadline.

The CAO application can seem a distraction during the run up to the Leaving Cert, with students focused on the mocks and study.However, the importance of school-leavers giving sufficient consideration to their CAO application is illustrated by the level of drop outs amongst school leavers upon entering college.

Nearly 30% of all first year undergraduates will either drop out or fail their chosen college course.

Students should bear the following points in mind before finalising their CAO applications:

Although choosing your CAO might be one of the most difficult choices of your young adult life, it is also a choice that will effect you for the next few years. It is therefore essential for a lot of thought to be put into the process, to ensure that you end up in a course that you enjoy. 

• Leaving Cert students should research their chosen course thoroughly, selecting a subject which reflects their skills and interests.
• Students should also visit the campus of their preferred college and talk to students currently studying the same course.
• Students needing to move to attend college should take into account where they want to live, with many colleges around the country offering similar courses.
• Students should not be afraid to consult parents/guardians, teachers and career guidance councillors for advice on their choices.
• Students should not be deterred from selecting courses with higher points than they may achieve, although it is important to be realistic and include a course with lower points as a contingency measure. 

By Colin Layde