CAO 2020: Points jump by a ‘reasonable chunk’ for college courses
Medicine, Veterinary Some Are Courses The Of And Science Most Petitive Finance
The minimum points needed to get a place in certain high-demand college courses is expected to be up on last year.
First-round CAO offers will be sent out at 2pm this afternoon.
When the calculated grades for this year's Leaving Cert were released on Monday morning, officials at the Department of Education said in spite of adjustments, this year's results were "stronger" than before.
The increase across the board is 4.4% with students at higher level getting a bigger boost than those at ordinary level.
Professor Pol O Dochartaigh, chairman of the CAO board, said: “We haven’t done any kind of averaging across all of the courses.
"What I can say is that in some courses the points have gone up, probably by a reasonable chunk, others very slightly, and in some courses the points have actually gone down.
“That would be across the sector so it’s by no means a uniform picture.” “It would be fair to say for the year that is in it there has been increased interest in everything to do with health, and therefore I think the demand has gone up there.
“The majority of students who get the results today are going to be very pleased, they are going to be very pleased with the offer that they are going to get.
“But, as in any other year, there will be some disappointed candidates. I think it’d be important to focus on them and what the next steps are for them.”
Prof O Dochartaigh said the number of applications received this year was “broadly similar” to previous years.
“I don’t think it was significantly up, but we have made an increased number of offers,” he added.
“I think that has been enabled by the additional places provided by government, and will lead to perhaps a few more smiles than people might have feared.”
Registrar at Letterkenny IT and CAO board member Billy Bennett says the minimum cut-off for many courses will rise.
"There will be increases in quite a few of the programmes and it's simply down to the fact that the calculated grades on average are higher," said Mr Bennett.
Officials have tried to counteract the points rise by opening 3,600 extra places this year.
That may ease pressure on some of the most competitive courses, like medicine, veterinary science and finance.
But it leaves around 20,000 students who are applying for the CAO this year with older Leaving Cert results at a disadvantage.
Mr Bennett reminded students that it is not game over if you do not get your top choice today.
"You always have the opportunity of getting another offer in round two and if there is something that is higher on your list that you get the points for, you may get that offer in round two."
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris said this year has been stressful for students.
In a video message posted on social media, Mr Harris said students had prepared and studied for exams which could not be held because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Those of you in sixth year, you spent your final days and months in school at home, away from teachers and friends and support structures and extended family,” Mr Harris added.
On CAO offers day, a quick message of good luck and on pathways https://t.co/14QYV8bWzG
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) September 11, 2020
“Today should be seen as the jumping-off point for the rest of your career, it’s not the end point.
"Many of you will get offers and you will be happy with them, some of you won’t and to those of you who won’t I understand your disappointment.
“Please know this doesn’t define you and please know that there are many ways of getting where you want to.”