How to choose a CAO course that interests you

Why it can be hard to hear your own answer

There is plenty of advice about what you should study. There may be less space to work out what you want. Points, reputation and other people’s plans can make your own interests feel like a small part of the decision, when they deserve serious attention.

Notice which of these pressures are shaping your list:

• Points You may feel you should use every point you earn. But a course is something you will study, and its content deserves as much attention as the number beside it.
• Prestige A respected title can appeal before you know much about the work. Look closely at what the course involves.
• Everyone else’s certainty Someone else’s clear plan does not mean you are late. You are allowed to research, reconsider and discover an interest you hadn’t expected.
• Fear of the wrong year When a choice feels permanent, it is harder to make. Concentrate on learning enough about the next step to make a considered decision.
• Want versus fit An idea may sound appealing before you know what it involves. Find out which parts you would enjoy and which would ask more of you.

You don’t have to feel certain about your whole future. Aim to understand your shortlist well enough to explain why each course interests you and what you still need to find out.

Look closely at what you would study

Read the modules for each year, not just the course introduction. Compare the amount of practical work, independent reading, group projects and placement. Pick out what excites you and what gives you pause. Then ask a current student or course tutor about those specific parts. Two courses with similar names can offer quite different experiences.

Check current entry requirements separately from your preferences. For CAO, list courses in genuine order of preference, rather than predicted points order. Use cao.ie to check the current application guidance and deadlines.

Understand what could suit the way you learn

Dreams helps you connect your interests and working preferences with course possibilities. The Compass brings your answers together in a personal report, explaining potential strengths and suggesting up to five top courses to explore, plus others to consider. You’ll see why each option has been recommended, what to investigate and other routes into the subject of your first course. Your next steps give you somewhere practical to begin your research.

Compare the suggestions with your own ideas. An unexpected recommendation can be a reason to learn more, while a familiar one may help you explain its appeal. Read how it works, or share CAO for parents with someone helping you choose.