[Palo Alto]

Originally Posted by Ellymay3

ps. My spelling is awful in the previous post. I do apologise. I was typing quickly because I was trying to get it all out, I feel so strongly about this.

pps. By Irish news/belfast telegraph, I meant I'd go and tell them my story and how outrageous a situation it is, not being able to study medicine because the north has no such funding scheme available. Last time I was aware the place was crying out for medics. That is all.

I've done the same with Cork, UB Cork had no idea about funding but I've put them in contact with UB UL and they are going to come back to me if it's possible to extend the same loan facility.

BoI seemed a bit less strict about the residency issue last time I spoke to them but again they are awaiting confirmation of the loan package still.

Not even trying to head down to Cork at all until week beginning 20 August as none of the banks are close to having anything sorted.

If you find out anything more about potential funding up North let me know, First Trust basically laughed in my face!

[lelouchan]

It's all enough for me to lose faith in the system. The minister points at the universities and say they choose the fees, universities say we receive less funding from the government and so must screw you over. The banks just laugh and really don't care as long as they make their money. What a joke.
I get that it's a second chance for us, but we knew what we were putting Ourselves into and were ready for it. So sickened.

[Ellymay3]

Jeez, I couldn't leave it until the 20th, sure orientation is the 1st week of September . I don't wanna face the expense of moving down and finding somewhere to live and I haven't the funding secured. I'll be sure to keep torturing all round me here to get sorted, definitely not willing to pass up this opportunity because of the price of fees. Hopefully I'll hear back from Ulster Bank and BoI down there by Tuesday, in the meantime I'll be contacting the student finance officer for Queens, apparently she knows all about funding routes and that.

I'll be sure to keep you informed about it all when I hear. Fingers crossed BoI are lenient with the residency issue.

[Palo Alto]

Originally Posted by Ellymay3

Jeez, I couldn't leave it until the 20th, sure orientation is the 1st week of September . I don't wanna face the expense of moving down and finding somewhere to live and I haven't the funding secured. I'll be sure to keep torturing all round me here to get sorted, definitely not willing to pass up this opportunity because of the price of fees. Hopefully I'll hear back from Ulster Bank and BoI down there by Tuesday, in the meantime I'll be contacting the student finance officer for Queens, apparently she knows all about funding routes and that.

I'll be sure to keep you informed about it all when I hear. Fingers crossed BoI are lenient with the residency issue.

Thanks, I appreciate it. Will get back to you with what I hear re BoI UB in Cork also as soon as I do.

Also, give me a shout here or via PM if you need or want further support when contacting any papers/SF further if needs be.

[shaz84]

Hi All

I have an offer from UCD for GEM this year, but no funding options it seems. Ive not been following this thread for a while, but have scanned the 15 odd pages I missed to catch up with the latest happenings. I was wondering if anyone knows for sure if Ulster Bank's loan facility extends to non-Irish EU citizens too (i'm British), I cant see anyone having discussed that in the previous pages. I did do some calling around back in June and it seemed like UK citizens were not covered but I wanted to be 100% sure on it.

Also, I am coming to Ireland on Tuesday morning (7th August) for 2 days to speak to UCD / BoI / UB (beg) and find out if there has been any change in the funding situation.

I'll need to go to the admissions office in UCD to defer my entry if funding is not possible.

As I have two days in Ireland, Im thinkin of going to UB headquarters in Belfast too (more begging) to speak with a head honcho and see if they can help...

If there is anyone else in a similar situation to me, do you want to get together (i am landing in Dublin INTL at 8am) to approach the banks and Uni's - we might have better luck?

I have also put together a powerpoint and going to present to the banks about this funding being an investment opportunity... the numbers do seem to stack up (for NHS doctors anyway).

I would appreciate any thoughts on getting around between Dublin (centra), UCD campus and Belfast. At the moment I have hired a rental car from Dublin Airport, but not sure how easy it will be to drive it around Dublin city centre?

Also, has anyone had offers from Limerick, Cork or RCSI? The only Uni to give me an offer so far has been UCD and I though I would get offers from the rest as I got a 59 in the GAMSAT.

thanks

Regards

Shaz

[chanste]

You will only get 1 offer. The highest one you qualified for.

Good luck with the discussions with the banks. I think it really sucks that the course is becoming inaccessible to ordinary (in the financial sense) people.

[EngDoc]

Hi Shaz,

I'm loving your 'don't take no for an answer' attitude.

Originally Posted by shaz84

I would appreciate any thoughts on getting around between Dublin (centra), UCD campus and Belfast. At the moment I have hired a rental car from Dublin Airport, but not sure how easy it will be to drive it around Dublin city centre?

If you've rented a car then there won't be any problem getting to all of these locations. From the airport I'd recommend taking the M50, motorway ring road, to get to UCD. This should be a lot faster than driving through the city center. It is tolled though, will set you back €3. Heading southbound, junction 13 or 14 would leave you in a good spot to head to UCD. As for getting to Belfast, very easy...just take the M1 motorway all the way north from Dublin (junction with the M50).

Originally Posted by shaz84

Also, has anyone had offers from Limerick, Cork or RCSI? The only Uni to give me an offer so far has been UCD and I though I would get offers from the rest as I got a 59 in the GAMSAT.

If UCD was at the top of your preference list, then you'll only get an offer from them. If RCSI was above UCD, then you may get an offer at the next round.

Originally Posted by shaz84

I have also put together a powerpoint and going to present to the banks about this funding being an investment opportunity... the numbers do seem to stack up (for NHS doctors anyway).

Would be great to see this if you'd be willing to send it on?

[shaz84]

Hey EngDoc

Thanks for the pointers. I know it is probably all in vain but i have to try, ive sacrificed so much in the past year and half (as im sure you and everyone else on this board has) to get an offer and then the banks withdraw the offers!

Re the powerpoint, am happy to forward to you if PM your email. It'll be after my meeting with the banks however if thats ok as Im still in the process of adapting it for Irish GEM entry (i put it together for non-grad UK med school loans but that option has been extinguished also).

Out of interest are you British too or irish?

Regards
Shaz

Originally Posted by EngDoc

Hi Shaz,

I'm loving your 'don't take no for an answer' attitude.



If you've rented a car then there won't be any problem getting to all of these locations. From the airport I'd recommend taking the M50, motorway ring road, to get to UCD. This should be a lot faster than driving through the city center. It is tolled though, will set you back €3. Heading southbound, junction 13 or 14 would leave you in a good spot to head to UCD. As for getting to Belfast, very easy...just take the M1 motorway all the way north from Dublin (junction with the M50).



If UCD was at the top of your preference list, then you'll only get an offer from them. If RCSI was above UCD, then you may get an offer at the next round.



Would be great to see this if you'd be willing to send it on?

[EngDoc]

Originally Posted by shaz84

Hey EngDoc
Re the powerpoint, am happy to forward to you if PM your email. It'll be after my meeting with the banks however if thats ok as Im still in the process of adapting it for Irish GEM entry (i put it together for non-grad UK med school loans but that option has been extinguished also).

Out of interest are you British too or irish?

Irish guy here. Will PM e-mail address...thanks!

There are obviously good reasons for why the banks are pulling out of the loan schemes. Still just sounds funny to me though. Back in college AIB were going nuts trying to get students signed up with them, with the idea that we'd end up with decent jobs in a few years and stick with the bank we started with. And...well, I'm still with them so I guess it worked.

Would have thought the same logic would apply here. Of course, there is a hefty loan involved and a few years before it will be repaid...but I would have thought banks would love the idea of having a load of docs signed up when they start pulling in some very decent cash. Yeah...at lot of people will head abroad but a lot will surely stay too.

I'm looking forward to giving AIB some hassle on Tuesday. Even if I don't end up going ahead with the course...if they don't offer to help me out in any way I'll probably change banks out of spite.

[lelouchan]

Originally Posted by shaz84

Hi All

I have an offer from UCD for GEM this year, but no funding options it seems. Ive not been following this thread for a while, but have scanned the 15 odd pages I missed to catch up with the latest happenings. I was wondering if anyone knows for sure if Ulster Bank's loan facility extends to non-Irish EU citizens too (i'm British), I cant see anyone having discussed that in the previous pages. I did do some calling around back in June and it seemed like UK citizens were not covered but I wanted to be 100% sure on it.

Also, I am coming to Ireland on Tuesday morning (7th August) for 2 days to speak to UCD / BoI / UB (beg) and find out if there has been any change in the funding situation.

I'll need to go to the admissions office in UCD to defer my entry if funding is not possible.

As I have two days in Ireland, Im thinkin of going to UB headquarters in Belfast too (more begging) to speak with a head honcho and see if they can help...

If there is anyone else in a similar situation to me, do you want to get together (i am landing in Dublin INTL at 8am) to approach the banks and Uni's - we might have better luck?

I have also put together a powerpoint and going to present to the banks about this funding being an investment opportunity... the numbers do seem to stack up (for NHS doctors anyway).

I would appreciate any thoughts on getting around between Dublin (centra), UCD campus and Belfast. At the moment I have hired a rental car from Dublin Airport, but not sure how easy it will be to drive it around Dublin city centre?

Also, has anyone had offers from Limerick, Cork or RCSI? The only Uni to give me an offer so far has been UCD and I though I would get offers from the rest as I got a 59 in the GAMSAT.

thanks

Regards

Shaz

Hey fair play to you! I would be very interested in hearing what ucd have to say in particular. They have been unbelievably quiet which is pretty insane. they need to stop that stupid stance of "we will let you sort out loans yourselves", particularly at this moment.
I emailed ucd myself on Saturday (was incredibly pissed off following my attempts at ulster in donnybrook) but I'm not hopeful. We'll see.

Good luck. I think we all need it at the moment.

[Moji70]

Hi Shaz,

I am a UK applicant with offer from UL. I phoned the UB (UL branch) on Friday and the answer was a big NO for UK applicants. I am also in touch with other Brit who has also offer from UL and not getting anywhere with regard to loans.

I am not sure with UCD, but I spoke to UCC and they do not accept deferral and CAO booklet (page5) is already saying UL (LM101) does not consider deferral.

With so many UK applicants not being able to accept the places, I would imagine anyone with 50 score in GAMSAT can get into UL or other Unis. This could seriously jeopardise the entire GEM programme integrity and lowers the standards of the course.

However, if you have any info on loans please let us know and we are happy to support you in any way possible.

Good luck with your endeavour

[chanste]

Originally Posted by Moji70

I would imagine anyone with 50 score in GAMSAT can get into UL or other Unis. This could seriously jeopardise the entire GEM programme integrity and lowers the standards of the course.

Hi, I too would be concerned about the amount of people that have to turn down places because of finance issues. I know I wouldn't have been able to take my place 3 years ago if the banks were acting like they are now. But I think there is a thing that gets into peoples psych when this issue comes up that the standards of the course will drop. They won't, the exams held during the course are no walk in the park and people who don't work very hard will fail. Everyone who sits the GAMSAT is sitting on a 2.1 honours degree, and I know thats not always particularly difficult to get but I don't think its as easy as some make out.

But the reason I post is just that, I fear what might happen is people "think" its easy because of the reputation that goes with lower points, and then they take a place which they simply won't work in, at least not as much as they should. This could lead to some serious hardship on people as they will be confronted with having to raise finance for repeat years, probably by means of a part time job - which itself will further put their studies in jeopardy and so the cycle of stress will continue.

Bottom line - whoever you are, whatever points you have got in GAMSAT you need to be prepared to work incredibly hard in this course.

[BarnhallBull]

Originally Posted by chanste

Bottom line - whoever you are, whatever points you have got in GAMSAT you need to be prepared to work incredibly hard in this course.

This x100. Whatever level anyone is at (or thinks they're at) coming in, anyone who isn't prepared to work harder than ever before will come up short, it's that simple. Equally, anyone who is prepared to do so will do well, we've all earned our places, the work starts from here!

[Ellymay3]

With regards to the British applicants, would you be so kind to keep us posted as to how you get on with your talks with the banks in the Republic? I'm from Northern Ireland (dual nationality) and so far Ulster Bank down there have said I need to have been a resident for 3 years now to qualify. Bank of Ireland have yet to respond (Tuesday will be the earliest due to the Bank Holiday), but I have heard they are a little bit more lenient when it comes to loans to non-nationals. As I said in an earlier post also, if they refuse me, I'm going to see if they can liase with their Northern Irish branches to see if they can do anything for me in terms of a similar package.

I'll be sure to keep you all posted as events warrant. Good luck!

[lelouchan]

I know this was posted on this forum but I am not sure how to search a forum. Does anyone know the number to speak to Carmel (everyone keeps mentioning her, so ill go with that) at BOI Montrose?