CAO Offers 2024: 56% Get First Choice, But Over 20 Courses Use Random Selection

The first round of CAO college offers has been released, with 56,571 applicants receiving offers out of a total of 83,369 issued. The good news for many is that 56% of applicants received their first-choice offer, while 83% secured one of their top three preferences. However, the impact of grade inflation continues to be felt, with over 20 courses resorting to random selection to decide between applicants. This means that even some students who achieved the maximum 625 points missed out on places due to a lottery system.

Grade Inflation and its Impact

The CAO data reveals a stark increase in the number of students achieving top grades since the pandemic. A total of 923 students (1.6 per cent) secured 625 points this year, compared to 207 (0.4 per cent) in 2019 and 153 (0.3 per cent) in 2016. This surge in high scores can be attributed to the use of teacher-predicted grades during the pandemic and the subsequent decision by the Minister for Education to maintain these high grades. This has led to a situation where colleges find it difficult to differentiate between high-achieving students, making random selection a necessary, albeit controversial, measure.

The Lottery System: Impact on Students

While the CAO reports a positive outcome for many applicants, the reliance on random selection for certain courses raises serious concerns. Trinity College Dublin, for instance, has more courses – six – than any other institution where students were selected through a lottery system. This means that some students who worked hard and achieved the highest grades missed out on places due to a random draw, a situation that has been described as “cruel” by Trinity’s Vice-Provost Orla Sheils. She argues that grade inflation has “seriously disadvantaged” students from Northern Ireland and abroad, whose results have returned to pre-pandemic levels. The increased competition for places in popular courses also makes it more challenging for students to adapt to third-level study, especially in those with high points quotas.

Colleges Using Random Selection

Here are some of the courses where random selection was used in this year’s CAO round:

University College Dublin (UCD)

Medicine (Graduate Entry)
Economics and Finance (625 points)
Actuarial & Financial Studies (612 points)
Veterinary Medicine (589 points)

Trinity College Dublin

Mathematics (589)
Integrated Engineering (556 points)
Management Science and Information Systems (613 points)
Integrated Engineering with Management (613 points)
Dental Science (625 points)
Global Business (601)

University College Cork (UCC)

Pharmacy (613)
Occupational Therapy (566)
Medicine (Graduate Entry)

Munster Technological University (MTU)

Physical Education Studies with Business at the Kerry campus (451)

Atlantic Technological University

Education, Home Economics and Biology - with concurrent teacher education (510)
Education, Home Economics and Irish - with concurrent teacher education (429)
Education, Home Economics - with concurrent teacher education (476)

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)

Medicine - Undergraduate (732 with HPAT points)
Graduate Entry Medicine

University of Galway

Medicine - Undergraduate (718 - including HPAT scores)

University of Limerick

Physiotherapy (590)
Electronic and Computer Engineering (443)

Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT)

Applied Psychology (389 points)
Design for Film (680 - with portfolio points)

What Should Students Do If They Receive a College Offer?

Brian Mooney, a CAO expert, advises students to carefully consider their options if they receive an offer. If they receive their first choice, it's the only offer from that list they will receive. However, if they receive an offer for a lower preference, they may still receive an offer for a higher course choice at any stage up to mid-October, depending on the number of acceptances received by colleges. However, this applies to a very small volume of courses.

Looking Ahead: CAO Round Two

For those who didn’t receive an offer in Round One or who didn’t receive their first-choice offer, there is still hope. Round Two offers will be released on Monday, 9th September, providing another opportunity for students to secure a place in their chosen course. In the meantime, students are encouraged to explore other options, such as apprenticeships, Further Education and Training (FET) courses, and tertiary degree courses outside of the CAO points race. This year’s CAO offers have highlighted the significant pressure students are under due to grade inflation, and the need for a more nuanced approach to college admissions in the future. It is crucial that students are given more support and guidance in navigating the complex world of third-level education and making informed decisions about their futures.

The Future of College Admissions

The CAO offers for 2024 have exposed the challenges and inequalities created by grade inflation, underscoring the need for a more holistic approach to college admissions. The reliance on a single metric, the Leaving Certificate points, is inadequate for assessing the diverse range of skills and talents of students. The future of college admissions in Ireland must embrace a more comprehensive system that considers a broader range of factors, such as personal statements, portfolios, work experience, and extracurricular activities. This will ensure that students are assessed fairly and that the college admissions process remains fair and transparent. Ultimately, the goal should be to create a system that allows students to access higher education based on their individual potential and aspirations, not solely on their points total.