AT 5.15PM TODAY online and paper applications for college entry will officially close.
However, students can still submit late online and paper applications until 1 May, and they have until 1 July to change their minds.
A spokesperson for the CAO offices in Galway told TheJournal.ie that although students can still submit late applications, it only applies to some courses:
After today, there are restrictions in applying to some courses particularly those with supplementary assessments.
A late online application before 1 May will cost students €50, and €80 for a late paper application.
There was a reduced fee of €25 to apply online before 20 January, and a record number of 4,500 students decided to take up the offer on that date alone.
Although the CAO could not reveal how many people have applied so far today, 71,500 applied by 1 February last year and expect the number to be around the same this year.
Clive Byrne, the Director of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals urged students to prioritise their preferences, not the required points, when making up their minds:
Many students make the mistake of basing their choices on last year’s points and, consequently, are not offered the course they really want because their preference is too far down the list. Students should focus on prioritising their genuine course preferences, not the points they believe they will get, when filling out the CAO form.Try to fill out the whole form, include qualifications across all levels, and talk to family, friends, guidance counsellors and college students.
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