THE CAO’S CHANGE of Mind facility for college courses this upcoming academic year has closed – but rest assured, students have another chance to alter their list of preferred courses.

From noon on 5 May to 5pm on 1 July, the change of mind facility will become accessible to students again, free of charge.

This final change of mind window is not accessible for students applying for restricted courses – such as courses that involve an audition, exam, or a portfolio submission – or if you are a mature applicant.

In this (almost) two month window, students can change their list of preferred courses as often as they’d like up until the closing date. This will override your previous course choices. 

If you do not wish to change your courses you do not need to make any further actions. If you do make a change, you will receive an email from the CAO to confirm the change. It is important you ensure your course choices are correct.

If a student is still unsure about what they would like to pursue after college, they still have several months to mull it over, provided they have an active CAO application.

“Advice I give students out there is don’t be afraid of the change of mind,” Studyclix CEO Luke Saunders told The Journal.

“It’s actually a great option that you have, because often what happens is students put down their choices in February, and then once they actually reflect on what they put down, it’s only then that they realise if those choices feel right to them.”

Saunders, who co-founded the study and teaching website in 2009, said the time period between now and change of mind reopening in May will allow students to “mull over” their choices.

He urged students to place their own interests first when considering their course choices and not to base it on their friends’ choices or what they think their parents want them to do.

“If they [students] don’t follow their gut, they end up doing these courses that don’t suit them – and they have a much bigger headache dropping out of first year.” Students shouldn’t be afraid to make changes based on a gut feeling, he said.

Saunders also advised against placing courses in order of the highest number of points, reiterating the main guideline that courses should be placed in genuine order of preference.

“You don’t have to ‘use up’ your points,” he said. “Courses that have high points – it’s not down to how difficult it is. It’s purely down to supply and demand.”

For students that still may be completely unsure of what they want to do, Saunders advised making an appointment with their school’s guidance counsellor – and stressed that there is a network of private guidance counsellors who specialise in the space.

Although private guidance can be on the pricier side, it is an investment, he said.

“If you think of the alternative as picking the wrong course and setting up in a flat in Dublin – and then dropping out by November time, or losing your fees, it is an important decision,” he said. 

Another option is speaking to people currently in college in the area you’re considering, or a similar field to see if it’s what you think.

“The other piece of advice I give to students – I did this myself – is don’t be afraid to take a deferred year, you know, and when you get your results, you can defer your course if you’re not sure about it.

“Sometimes you come back a year later going, you know what? I can’t wait to get started on this course, or you could go, no, I’m going to redo the CAO the following year.”