CAO Applications for 2024 are now open. This will be you this time next year! That might still seem like an eternity away, but it will come around faster than you think. If you haven’t a clue about what you’d like to do, don’t worry! Our advice is to start your research now! Here are a couple of tips to get started!
Careers Portal
Careers Portal is a wonderful resource to get you started on your research. Here you can use the filters to have a look at course levels, places to study and entry requirements. Add courses to your favourites and then follow the links to the college websites to gain a deeper understanding of what each course entails.
Campus Visits
There’s nothing quite like the immersive experience of attending a college open day! The buzz of college students milling around is enough to motivate you to fill out a CAO application there and then! Usually, current students give the tours, so you know you’re getting an honest and on-the-ground insight into life on that campus. Careers Portal do a brilliant Events Calendar which provides you with a week-by-week breakdown of events in your area.
Be Open Minded!
Don’t limit yourself by focusing solely on the CAO: Explore the advantages of going other pathways like apprenticeships, Post Leaving Certificate Courses or the new Tertiary Education Programme. Explore all the options to find something that suits you and your interests!
Tertiary Education Programme
This year Minister Simon Harris launched the Tertiary Education Programme as an alternative pathway into further education. There are no CAO points needed to apply. There are 13 courses in total to choose from in different locations around the country. Minister Harris hopes that in time, the number of courses on offer will increase.
Work Experience
Maybe you skipped TY or didn’t have an opportunity to do work experience because of Covid restrictions, but you still have time to organise work experience for next summer. If you’re thinking of applying to UCAS to study in the UK, work experience is an essential part of that application so make sure you get some organised! This could be an opportunity to see what it is like to work in an industry you’re interested in. It could also potentially lead to a paid summer job!
Talk to People!
It might seem like an obvious point but ask people about their education paths and career trajectories! You’ll be surprised to hear that most people’s career paths weren’t linear! Don't be afraid to ask the questions: What did you like about your course? Where did you study? How many hours a week did you have? Was it easy to make friends there?
And as always, please contact us if you would like to arrange an appointment to discuss your options!
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