I'm Cormac a second-year Advanced Therapeutic Technology student here at RCSI.

If there’s one thing I remember about filling out my CAO, it’s how overwhelming it can feel sometimes. Everyone seemed to love having an opinion on what I should study, what would have the best career prospects, what college is the easiest to get to or where I would even get the points for. Looking back now, I’m really glad I trusted myself; sometimes you just need to tune out all that noise.

I always knew I wanted to work in science. It was the one thing I never really questioned in school. The difficult part was deciding which area of science I wanted to study. There are so many options and it’s easy to feel forced into having your whole future planned out – which course you’re going to study in which college and which job you’re going to get after – all before you’ve even sat your mocks. You absolutely do not.

When I came across Advanced Therapeutic Technologies (ATT) at RCSI, everything just clicked. I remember reading through the course description and realising there wasn’t a single part that didn’t interest me. It combined everything I was looking for: health sciences, genetics, pharmacology, laboratory work, coding, statistics and even an eight-month industry placement. It felt like the perfect mix of science, technology and a chance for real-world experience.

As soon as I put ATT as my number one choice on my CAO, it never moved. I kept looking at other courses just to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. I spent hours taking notes next to my mum of every possible option but every time I compared them, ATT still came out on top. That gave me the confidence that I had found the right fit.

If I could give one piece of advice to anyone filling out their CAO, it would be this: trust your instincts.

Of course, do your research. Read the course descriptions properly, look at the modules, attend open days if you can and speak to current students. Keep looking for any details that could be a decider in where or if you go to college. But don’t choose a course just because your friends are doing it, because someone else expects you to or because you think it sounds impressive. You’re the one who will be spending the next few years studying it, not the people telling you where to go.

One thing that really helped me was looking beyond the course title. Sometimes the name doesn’t tell the full story. When I looked at the actual modules, I could picture myself enjoying what I’d be learning and that was far more important than simply liking the course name. Also, look at placement options – it’s a huge advantage, especially in this course, and I know people who chose one course over another because when it came down to comparing them, it was the placement that persuaded them.

It’s also worth noting that no course is absolutely perfect for everyone. There will always be modules you enjoy more than others or an assignment that you have to drag yourself through, but if the overall course genuinely excites you, you’re much more likely to stay motivated and get the most out of it.

Choosing your CAO course can feel like a world-ending decision, but it’s about finding something that genuinely interests you and opens doors to a career you’ll enjoy.

For me, ATT was that course. I trusted my instincts, put it at the top of my CAO and never looked back. When I think about it now, it was one of the best decisions I’ve made.

If you’re still deciding, take your time, do your research and most importantly, choose the course that feels right for you. Chances are your instincts know the answer before you do.

If you have any questions about ATT, RCSI or filling out your CAO, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.