Page 212 - CAO Handbook 2023 Entry

SECTION FIVE ›› COMMUNICATION
5.1. CAO's Communication with You
How do I know whether my application has been received?
• If you applied online or by mobile app, you would have immediately received an abridged message stating 'Application Submitted Successfully'. If you did not pay the administration fee at the same time, you will receive a message within 24 hours and an emailed letter within 48 hours stating that your application has been received by CAO and has been placed on hold. Your application will be ACTIVE and available to the institutions to which you have applied as soon as the FULL administration fee is received.
If you paid the administration fee at the same time that you applied, you will receive a message within 24 hours and an emailed Acknowledgement Letter within 48 hours stating that your application is available to the institution/s to which you have applied. This Acknowledgement Letter also has all your information that we have on the system and asks you to check that it is correct. If you find any mistakes or omissions, you must send us the correct information within one week.
• When we receive a hard copy application form, it could take between one day and three weeks to be scanned and captured. If your administration fee had been paid by that time, you will receive a message within 24 hours and an emailed Acknowledgement Letter within 48 hours stating that your application has been received and processed and is available to the institutions to which you have applied.
• If your administration fee is not received by the time that we receive your application, your application will not be fully captured and processed and you will receive a message and an emailed letter stating that your application has been received by CAO and has been
placed on hold. Your application will be ACTIVE and available to the institutions to which you have applied as soon as we receive the administration fee.
• Every fortnight you will receive an automated message reminder to pay the administration fee.
• Once the institution has made a selection decision, the CAO will inform you by message if you have been unsuccessful and by message and email if you have been made an offer.
• If at any point during the application cycle you wish to change any of your choices, complete the online 'Change of Mind' and once received together with the administration fee, the change(s) is/are immediately available to the institution(s) and we inform you by email with your new choices. Our website is www.cao.ac.za
5.2. Institutions' Communication
with You
Who makes selection decisions?
Institutions make selection decisions. The CAO does NOT make selection decisions. The CAO receives applications, process the applications and pass on the information to the institutions. Institutions use the information to make their selection decisions and inform the applicant. Sometimes institutions also inform the CAO of their selection decision and the CAO then passes the decision on to the applicant.
When are offers made?
Institutions make selection decisions (conditional offers, firm offers, regrets, etc.) throughout the year. The earlier in the year you apply, the earlier you may receive the selection decision.
208 CAO HANDBOOK ENTRY 2023