A Parent's Guide
to the CAO
Application Process
The CAO application can be a daunting experience for both parents and students alike, but it doesn't have to be this way. As parents, we must remember that the student is the most important person in all of this discussion. Choosing a good study path requires a lot of time and patience.
Completing the application at this time serves two functions: it completes the registration process and gives students time to focus, knowing that there will be plenty of opportunity to revisit the application in the months ahead.
Choosing the wrong course is one of the major factors which leads to student drop-out at college. Each year, I meet a lot of these students attending colleges nationwide who are disillusioned and find that college just doesn't meet their expectations, leading to unhappiness and a sense of failure. This can be difficult for parents and the family as a whole to deal with.
Here are some handy tips for parents...
Support their Independence
Encourage the student to take control and ownership of the search for college courses. They will value the experience more, work harder and get more out of it.
Be Open
Be upfront about the cost of a third-level education. Students will welcome this. Who is paying for what? While wrong course choice is listed as one of the major factors in the high drop-out rates, having financial worry is also a major factor. Be positive. This is an opportunity to have open-ended discussions exploring life choices.
Pick your Moment
Don't leave such an important discussion to the last minute, this will cause tension and negativity, and students will clam up. The registration is a fixed date with a fixed price, so get in there. Remember that choices can be changed right up to
July 1st, with the exception of restricted-application courses, which have early assessment procedures.
Help Out in the Search
It's OK to work quietly apart in the search for the right course and college. It doesn't matter who finds the right course - what matters is that it is a good choice. Get out a notebook and jot down any information from your research that you feel might be relevant to help your son or daughter on their journey.
Nurture their Interests
Observe what the student likes to do, the type of discussions they engage in, who they admire and why, what makes them tick. Encourage them to make their own notes. This is an incremental process. It's like a slow-burning candle: there are no instant answers. These notes don't have to be shared but patterns may emerge and may be useful points to raise in future discussions.
Ask the Right Questions
There will be many questions and these questions will change many times before the final course choices are made. It is vital that students list courses in order of genuine interest. They also need to have lots of choice in their area of interest. Every course listed on the application requires the same level of research.
Encourage Variety
Given the highly competitive nature of the college entry process, students will need to have a wide range of choices available in their area of interest. For each course listed on the CAO application, there is one question that students need to ask themselves: how will I react if this course is offered to me? The answer will speak for itself.
Published by CJ Fallon Ltd., and available at all bookshops for €10 and online at
www.crackingthecollegecode.ie (A discounted price is available to parents associations and schools with CJ Fallon).
Information talks for parent and student groups are also available nationwide:
www.crackingthecollegecode.ie email
oconcath@gmail.com
