The Irish Second-Level Students\u2019 Union has criticised the use of what it said was the \u201cdeeply unfair\u201d random selection process after some students who achieved maximum points lost out on their first preferences of college courses on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
In all, 51 per cent of third-level applicants received their first choice following the initial round of offers from the Central Applications Office<\/a> (CAO<\/a>), with four-fifths being offered one of their top three preferences.<\/p>\n However, places on 25 level-eight courses in high demand nationwide were allocated using random selection. Two of these courses required the maximum 625 points for entry, meaning some top-performing applicants missed out while others got in.<\/p>\n These two courses at Trinity College Dublin<\/a>, which resorted to using the lottery system for six courses, were dental science and its degree in management science and information systems studies.<\/p>\n Despite expectations among some in the sector that lowering grade inflation might reduce the use of random selection, there was no change in the number of courses using it.<\/p>\n Preston \u00d3 Caoimh, president of the second-level students\u2019 union , described the process as \u201cdeeply unfair\u201d, saying it had caused \u201congoing concerns\u201d for students in the lead up to exams.<\/p>\n \u201cStudents can work tirelessly to achieve the points needed for their course, only to see their hopes dashed by what is essentially a lucky dip. It doesn\u2019t truly reflect the ability, effort or potential of the student just as many feel the Leaving Cert itself doesn\u2019t,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He said some students, who faced both lowering grade deflation and random selection, had spoken of feeling \u201cdisadvantaged\u201d.<\/p>\n Trinity said the downward adjustment in grade inflation this year was \u201coffset by a significant increase in demand\u201d, with cut-off points rising by an average of 9.6.<\/p>\n [\u00a0CAO offers helpdesk 2025: Our experts answer your questions liveOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n The number of CAO applicants overall jumped 7 per cent to 89,347 this year, up from 83,543 in 2024.<\/p>\n Trinity vice-provost Orla Sheils, who previously described random selection as a \u201ccruel arbiter\u201d, said while the reduction in the uplift in Leaving Certificate<\/a> grades was welcome \u201cit is regrettable that the effects of this gradual unwinding will continue for a number of years to come\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is really no fair way of solving the problem when students present on equal marks,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n While the random selection approach had been a feature since before the Covid-19 pandemic, it had \u201cclearly been exacerbated by the grade inflation of recent years\u201d, she said.<\/p>\n [\u00a0Have your say: Are you disappointed with your CAO offer due to a points rise or random selection?Opens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n