DID YOU MISS out on making a CAO application the last time around?

Well, never fear – you have until Friday to lodge a late CAO application. 

The closing date for normal applications was 1 February, and applicants were given a chance last month to avail of the change of mind option, that has since closed.

The late application facility opened on 5 March and will remain open until 5pm on Friday, 1 May. There is a fee of €65 for this type of application. 

It is not generally 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.

If you fall into either of these categories but wish to make a late application, you must contact the Higher Education Institutes you intend to apply to before making a late application. You cannot apply late for HEAR or DARE schemes.

If you make a late application, it’s still not your final say in what you want to do. The change of mind facility will open next week from 5 May to 1 July, allowing students one more chance to reorder, change, or add new (non-restricted) courses.

If you’re even half considering applying for college as someone who is eligible, the advice is to go for it – there is a lengthy stretch in which courses can be changed as long as there is an active application. 

For students that still may be completely unsure of what they want to do, Luke Saunders of StudyClix 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.

There is also the option of deferring your course.

Late applications can be made here.