Tips for the CAO - Change of Mind Facility
The Leaving Cert is over. All of a sudden, you're faced with evenings devoid of study, but don't forget about the CAO. The Change of Mind facility is open until 5.15pm on Friday the 1st July and it's worthwhile revisiting your course choices to make sure they're still what you want. Roughly 60% of Leaving Certificate students use the CAO’s ‘Change of Mind’ facility each year to change their preferences or add new courses.
Why should I revisit my course choices?
There are plenty of reasons to review your choices, here are just a few:
- Clarity: The last time you looked at the CAO you were probably in the build up to your mocks but now you have the head space to thoroughly research the courses.
- Memory: With up to 10 courses on your list, it's easy to forget what order they were in.
- Panic: Chances are you put down a course or two that you aren't overly enthused about just to have something there.
What should I consider when looking at Change of Mind?
Don't Rush - It’s important to remember not to make any radical changes to your course choices based on how you think you’ve done in specific exams. Your course choices need to be based on your order of preference and carefully thought out, not decided on impulse as a gut reaction to a fear that you’ve performed badly in your exams.
Talk it Out - It's a good idea to talk through your choices with someone, whether it's your parents, siblings, friends, guidance counsellor or a favourite teacher. Find out what research your friends have done on other colleges, find out some additional information college stats from your guidance counsellor and see where your might have some hidden talents or strengths from teachers who know you best. All this information can help you clearly reassess your CAO choices.
Make Contact - Get in touch with people in the college. Don't be afraid to pick up the phone and get in touch with the admissions office to get more information on the college or the course and faculty that you're interested in.