A midlands guidance counsellor is putting the increase down to demographics.
The CAO has received over 83,000 applications - an almost 9% jump on last year.
That includes 7,000 from applicants over the age of 23, an increase of almost a thousand on 2024 figures.
There's been a surge in interest in a number of disciplines, including healthcare, construction, and engineering.
The number of students who put primary and secondary teaching as their first choice is also up by 9 and 5 per cent respectively, while medicine has risen by 6 per cent.
It's an significant increase on previous years, with many students aiming for courses with limited places now worried.
Gemma Lawlor, Guidance Counsellor at Tyndall College Carlow, explains some of the reasoning behind that:
She also explains why she expects a points surge:
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