Receiving your CAO university offers can be an exciting yet critical moment. Round 1 CAO offers will be released from 2pm today, marking a significant milestone for many students.
Marketing Manager at Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Fiona Kelly provides a list of dos and don’ts to keep in mind during this phase.
Dos:
Read Carefully: Carefully read and understand the details of the offer. Take note of the course, institution, and any conditions mentioned. If you have received an offer from ATU, and want to find out more about what to do next, check out www.atu.ie/offers
Meet Deadlines: Respond to the offer within the given deadline. The deadline for Round 1 offer acceptances is 3pm 5th September. It’s important to remember this date when considering your options.
Research Your Offer: If you’re unfamiliar with the course you’ve been offered, take some time to research it. Understand the programme, location, facilities, and career prospects it offers. If you have an offer from ATU and want to know more about the programme you have been offered, you can always book a campus visit or contact a member of the team visit www.atu.ie/about-atu/campus-locations/campus-tours
Prioritise Preferences: If you’ve received multiple offers, consider your preferences and career goals. You’re not obligated to accept the first offer you receive.
Consider Your Options: If you’ve received an offer for your first preference, congrats! If not, carefully consider whether to accept a different offer or wait for further rounds.
Accept and Defer: If you’ve been offered a place but wish to defer for a year, contact the institution to enquire about the deferral policy.
Seek Advice: Discuss your options with parents, teachers, mentors, or guidance counsellors. They can provide valuable insights and help you make an informed decision.
Contact Institutions: If you have questions or uncertainties about your offer, don’t hesitate to contact the admissions office for clarification. Or, alternatively, check out ATU’s CAO Offers website on www.atu.ie/offers
Accept the Best Fit: If you’re not fully satisfied with your current offers but are sure about your preferences, you can wait for further offer rounds.
Available Places: CAO Available Places is a facility which enables students to apply for places on courses that are not yet filled. ATU has a number of programmes with available places, if you have not made a CAO application, or, you would like to re-assess your options, check out www.atu.ie/availableplaces
Don’ts:
Don’t Rush: Take your time to consider your options. Don’t feel pressured to make an immediate decision, especially if you have multiple offers. Seek support from parents, teachers, mentors, or guidance counsellors or contact ATU directly.
Don’t Accept Casually: Before accepting an offer, make sure you’re genuinely interested in the course and institution. Accepting an offer means you’re committing to that choice. Consider contacting ATU’s student recruitment team to find out more about the programme before accepting your offer.
Don’t Panic: If you haven’t received an offer for your first preference, don’t panic. Additional offer rounds might bring new opportunities. Also, you can consider the Available Places facility, find out more on www.atu.ie/availableplaces
Don’t Accept Just for the Sake of It: If you’re unsure about a course or institution, don’t accept the offer just to secure a place. You might end up regretting the decision later.
Don’t Forget About Later Rounds: If you haven’t received your preferred offer in the first round, remember that further offer rounds could bring new possibilities.
Don’t Decline Too Hastily: Think twice before declining an offer. Once you decline, you won’t be able to reverse the decision.
Don’t Forget About Appeals: If you strongly believe there was an error in your offer or that you should have received a different offer, research the appeal process.
Don’t Compare Unnecessarily: Avoid comparing your offers excessively with those of your peers. Your choices should reflect your interests and aspirations, not someone else’s.
Remember that the CAO process is a significant step toward your academic and professional journey, and your decisions should align with your long-term goals and interests. It’s important to make thoughtful, well-informed choices that will contribute to your personal and academic growth.
The team at ATU are here to help you. Contact a member of the team today if you need further help, support or assistance.
