Waterford News
Manual for taking the pain out of college choices – for applicants and their parents
Apr
- Friday, 1 May marks the final date for late applications to the CAO and WIT is one of the institutions that accepts applications from mature students up to this date.
- On Tuesday, 5 May, after the May bank holiday weekend, the CAO change of mind facility opens for applicants to amend their order of preference
With two important CAO dates around the corner Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) has come to the assistance of parents nationwide with a manual to guide them through their children’s college choices.
Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) Registrar and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr Derek O’Byrne was instrumental in developing both College choices – the parents’ manual and How to research your CAO options for CAO applicants.
The 12-page manuals have worksheets to help people figure out what they want to do and how to compare courses and colleges. Both are available to browse or download online at www.wit.ie/how.
Dr O’Byrne praises the move to virtual and online resources by prospective students, and parents alike. “There was a huge volume of traffic on each of our recent virtual open days. People have questions to ask and we are here to answer them, to help navigate these difficult choices.”
He explains why the institute has produced a series of guides for CAO applicants and parents:
“In our experience students who have done their research are likely to be more contented with the college place offer they receive. This year in particular is stressful for anyone considering college whether it’s this year’s Leaving Cert year or adult learners forced to re-consider their career path,” he says.
Each manual explains the college options available and the steps involved in research. It includes worksheets to help figure out finances, and actions for researching each course the applicant is interested in. The parents’ guide also includes a form for both parent and prospective student to fill out to explain what their thoughts and feelings are.
“We hope the advice and questions in our booklets will prompt honest conversations which will lead to the right course choices, and students who are happy with the college offer they receive. Well researched and informed choices will lead to a better college experience and better college outcome. This year’s college applicants need that more than any other cohort,” Dr O’Byrne adds.
His advice is that parents and prospective students do thorough research as early as they can, so they are ready to put courses in their genuine order of preference once the change of mind facility opens on 5 May 2020.
The final date for late applications for anybody who has not yet applied to college is 1 May, 2020. Some courses are restricted for late applicants. And WIT is one of the colleges that allows applications from mature students up to 1 May.
People can browse or download a PDF of the advice booklets at www.wit.ie/how.
Other online resources people can avail of include:
- Ask a question via web chat at wit.ie. These are answered weekdays, 9-5.
- Virtual campus tours at wit.ie
- Browse the questions and answers from WIT’s week of virtual open days 20-24 April 2020 at wit.ie
- The student stories section at wit.ie/studentstories has more than 500 real-life student stories from across over 100 undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
- Visit the ‘Stories’ section on each course page (wit.ie/courses) to find out what life is like as a student of that course.
- There are more than 150 social media accounts to follow at witie/socialmediadirectory.