This week tens of thousands of students across Ireland will be granted a vital opportunity to review and amend their college course choices, as the Central Applications Office (CAO) Change of Mind facility officially opens on Tuesday, May 6 at 12 noon.
With the Leaving Cert exams just weeks away, this window offers a timely second chance for applicants to refine their decisions based on new courses, fresh insights, changing interests, or improved confidence in their academic performance.
The Change of Mind facility is a well-established and essential feature of the CAO system.
Applicants can use the online Change of Mind facility as many times as they like to introduce, remove or reorder their courses free of charge until July 1, at 5pm.
Using the Change of Mind facility is relatively straightforward. To change course choices you log in to your CAO Account via the My Application facility and click on Change/Add Level 8 Course Choices or Change/Add Level 7/6 Course Choices.
You can then use the New Courses list to enter new courses, disregard existing course choices, or reorder your existing course selection.
If courses are changed online, an acknowledgement will be sent to your email address.
It is very important to carefully check this email and to inform CAO of any errors or omissions.
It is important to note that restricted courses cannot be introduced using the Change of Mind facility, but the order of restricted courses that were already listed can be changed.
Restricted category applicants (Mature Applicants) may change the order of their existing course choices using the Change of Mind facility.
Golden rule
Now is the time to make sure that you are following the golden rule of listing your courses in genuine order of preference.
Many students mistakenly list courses in the order they think they’re likely to get into, based on last year’s points, but that’s not how the CAO works.
The system offers you the highest course on your list that you qualify for.
I always advise student to fill slots one to three with their dream courses, the ones they most want to study, regardless of points; the next four with realistic courses, within their points range; and the bottom three with safety net courses, below their points range.
This way you are including a wide range – ambitious first, solid middle, safe backups last.
It’s a balancing act. You want to give yourself flexibility and allow room for improvement in the Leaving Cert, but you also need to be realistic.
Some students take big risks by removing safer options in the hope of achieving top results. That strategy doesn’t always pay off.
Other students make the mistake of underestimating their Leaving Cert results and leave off courses that have previously required higher points.
Keep in mind, points can fall as well as rise, and your exams might go much better than you anticipate.
Make sure not to include a course on your list unless you would be happy to take it, because once you meet the requirements for your first-choice course, that’s the only one you’ll be offered, even if you would have qualified for others further down.
The CAO doesn’t let you “reject” an offer and wait for your second or third choice, it’s highest eligible offer only.
Similarly, if you put a safety-net course too high on the list, you might get it and miss out on something better that you were actually eligible for.
Don’t ignore the Level 7/6 list
Many students foolishly ignore the Level 7/6 course choice list. This list allows applicants to make up to 10 choices in addition to the 10 made on the level 8 list.
Filling in the Level 7/6 list offers a great safety net option. Points are lower, and in most cases transferring from a level 6 to 7, or 7 to 8 is a seamless process.
Your choices on one list do not in any way affect your choices on the other list. They may be considered two separate applications on one form.
It is possible to receive an offer on both lists. You may then decide to accept either your Level 7/6 or your Level 8 offer.
July 1 deadline
You have until July 1 to get your CAO list right. Use this time wisely, reflect on your passions and potential, and don’t be afraid to change direction.
Seek advice from your guidance counsellor, parents/guardians, or friends who’ve already gone through the process. But make the final decisions yourself.
Make sure you’ve researched each listed course in detail, check the modules, assessments, and career options. Use Qualifax.ie and college websites.
Don’t leave finalising your list until the last minute, because once the final deadline of 5pm on July 1 passes, the updated course choices are locked in. Last-minute changes made in haste, or under pressure, can have lasting consequences.
Martina Mulhall, Gold Star Careers offers one-to-one or small group career advice, in-person or online, to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.
See www.goldsarcareers.ie or Gold Star Careers Instagram for more information.
SEE ALSO – Check out all of the other Martina Mulhall pieces here
