The CAO application portal opens at 12pm today—and one sure-fire way to shut down conversation with your teenager is asking, "So, what’s going on your CAO?" over dinner tonight!
With over 1,400+ options available, there is more choice than ever. But that abundance of choice can also create a huge amount of overwhelm, especially while balancing study schedules, open days and career talks.
Here are 4 ways to support your teenager as the CAO portal opens today:
Acknowledge the portal is open, but reinforce that choices aren't locked in. November is the month for exploration and research, not rigid decisions.
Shift the conversation away from course codes. Ask what subjects they genuinely enjoy or dislike, what problems they like solving, and what environments they feel they thrive in. Resist the urge to jump straight to career titles - give them space to process their own answers.
Offer to attend college open days together. Open days are a brilliant way to get a feel for a campus and chat with current students.
Register early to get familiar with the system. Remind them they can set up their account, get their CAO number, and use the demo application form to practice. (Bonus: registering before January 20th ensures you avail of the discounted €35 early-bird fee!)
4 CAO mistakes Parents Can Help Students Avoid:
1. Ordering by Points Instead of Preference: Always rank courses by genuine order of preference, never by points. Placing a 550-point course at #1 just because of high points, when your teen actually prefers a 350-point course, is a common trap. Points fluctuate every year and no one can predict where they will fall.
2. Building "Course Pathways": If your student loves a specific discipline (e.g., Business, Social Sciences, or Engineering), group related courses together in rank order. If their top choice increases in points, the CAO automatically evaluates the next similar course in that pathway - creating a logical sequence rather than a random list of fallbacks.
3. Ignoring the Level 7/6 List: Level 8 isn’t the only route. Level 7 and 6 choices run on a parallel offer track and many offer seamless ladder progression into Level 8 degrees without exam-day panic.
4. Missing Minimum Entry Requirements: Points don't matter if a student misses an essential subject requirement (such as a H4 in Higher Maths or a specific science subject).
💡 Need help navigating CAO choices and future-proofing your teenager's degree options? Book a 1:1 CAO Strategy Session with Jane Weighton Future Connect