Speaking to Hot Press this morning, the Provost of Trinity College Dublin, Dr Patrick Prendergast, shared his advice for the tens of thousands of students receiving their CAO offers today.

"If you were offered your course, then take up the place, and come to university. I know our teaching will be somewhat different than it was in previous years, but many things will be the same. You will meet your professors, you will make friends, and you will get involved in clubs and societies. All universities in Ireland are determined to give as much as possible to students, so they can benefit from the full student experience. There’s nothing to be gained from deferring – because who knows what’s going to be different in the years to come? Generally speaking, you’re as well to face the challenges of life, rather than skip them.

"For students that don’t get the points, don’t feel a sense of failure. Opportunities come in many different ways to people – and the most important thing in life is having the readiness to take the opportunities that do come.

"Our Professor of Psychology Ian Robertson has talked about this – when you get your Leaving Cert results, you get a feeling of pain, or butterflies, in the pit of your stomach. It feels like so much of your life is hinging on it – but it’s not really. A lot of people’s greatest successes in life have come from how they’ve dealt with what, at the time, seemed like a terrible failure."

The full interview with the Provost will feature as part of our 'Student Special' issue of Hot Press – coming soon!