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CAO / Vimeo
THE CENTRAL APPLICATIONS Office (CAO) has told restricted-category applicants like mature applicants or applicants applying for HEAR or DARE schemes, to submit their applications by 5:15pm this Sunday.
The CAO says that mature applicants may be required to attend interviews or assessments as part of their application process, and the majority of these assessments will take place in the spring.
This means that applying using the ‘Late Application’ facility may be too late for some institutions.
They add that it is important that applicants include as much information as possible in the boxes provided about any qualifications and relevant work experience; they must also complete the personal statement.
CAO communications officer, Eileen Keleghan, says applicants should be aware that deadlines are strict and action is required.
“Applicants should not let the collection of supporting documents delay them from making their online application before the 1 February at 5:15pm.
“Deadlines are final, and it is crucial that mature applicants start the process by completing the online application form, obtaining their application number and listing their course choices before the deadline”.
Applicants for the HEAR and/or DARE schemes must also have applied to CAO by 1 February and have completed the HEAR and DARE sections of the application form by 1 March at 5:15pm.
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Even if you are remotely considering returning – send it in and see if you are successful. Mature applicants will know before the summer if they are successful. THEN decide whether or not you want to pursue further education. – SUSI should be open in June for you to check if you qualify for any grants & check over the next few months if you qualify for Back to Education. No point in waiting for BTEA or SUSI qualification first because you’ll have missed the CAO boat.
Mature students currently make up 10-15% university students. Don’t let “not fitting in” put you off. There are LOADS in the same boat as you.
Very encouraging and positive comment Matt. Nice to read.
you have more chance of success of been accepted than finding a place to live once accepted, seriously!
Well said. I took the plunge to return as a mature student last year, not knowing whether I would qualify for any grant. It took SUSI till the end of October to confirm anything. I just went with my gut and hoped it would all work out…best decision I’ve ever made and I’ve never been happier. :-)
Yes, definitely get it in before the date!
First year mature student DIT :-)
Nowadays experience and life-skills are more important, a degree is not the be all and end all in this day and age
When it comes down to it I think qualifications are extremely important to have when it comes to landing that high paying job. I doubt the likes of Intel and IBM hire based on experience and life skills.
Half of Jobbridge Internships are even looking for third level qualifications. I think degrees are very handy. Obviously not needed for all forms of employment but if you have an opportunity and something that interests you it can’t hurt.
You’re right in a way Breandán, but it is extremely difficult to get a job without some sort of paper. If you’re in your 20′s looking for a job, you need experience. But if you’re in your early 20′s, out of school and possibly college, where is your time to get said experience? Thus needing your piece of paper to say that you’re qualified in some area. While it’s not the end of the world if you don’t get your course, because there are ways and means in getting where you want to be in life.
I beg to differ – you’d be surprised how much 3rd level education can change what you thought you knew from experience and life-skills.
Not everyone goes to college to get a job. I left a ‘good’ job to go to college. It’s about self-improvement, fulfillment, and feeling that you pushed yourself to the limit and didn’t settle for the sake of a bit of security and a monthly paycheck.
Headline says they are already college students.
UCC is running a CAO online Q&A tomorrow (Thursday) from 4pm-5.30pm if anyone has questions. See more details http://www.ucc.ie/en/news/fullstory-522266-en.html (and disclaimer, I work for UCC)
First comes the loan to study then the indoctrination process begins and once you have completed your exams then the lifetime of indentured servitude begins(If you can find a suitable job). I have been through the whole farce that we call the educational system and it is one big rip-off. It just doesn’t hold as much credibility as it did several decades ago.
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