Studying medicine?

dr.barbie wrote:

Curious to know the reality of the course, the tears, the joy etc... Does the "marathon" length course go quickly and reasonably enjoyably or is there constant doubt and uncertainty? Would really love to know....

Hi Barbie,

Since I'm currently in Med myself I suppose I'm in a good position to offer some insight.

I'm in 3rd Med, UCD, I don't really know anything about the other colleges so can't offer much on them I'm afraid It's my 4th year, I did Foundation Year too. Foundation Year has about 120 people in it, that doubles in 1st Med, the extra people are people who did got 590/600 points, postgrads, and a fair few foreigners (Canadians, Malaysians).

In Foundation Year you do basic sciences (Physics, Chem and Biology), and I think you do something called Clinical Sciences too, not too sure what that is but I'm sure the Faculty office would tell you if you got in touch. Foundation Year is an absolute doss, which is nice when you've just had a tough year with the Leaving. It's a great year to make new friends or get a job with all thse spare hours. It's based out in Belfield, in the science building.

1st Med is in Earlsfort Terrace, it's where you start doing more "medicine" related stuff. When I did it, it wasn't too bad. However I'm in only the second year to do the new Systems based course (as opposed to a regions based course, ie thorax, abdomen) so it's a learning curve for the lecturers too. This year's 1st Med are having a tough year, exams most weeks, things like spotters where you're asked to name something they point at in a cadaver, or MCQs, which happen at the end of every module.

Halfway through 2nd Med (ie Xmas) you start doing Pathology, Microbiology and Pharmacology which is really interesting. That course (Systems 2) last until Xmas of 3rd Med (so Jan-Dec of same calandar year if ya get me). That's where I am right now. After Xmas, I have 6 weeks of clinical skills (Systems 3), a week of practical exams, and then we're set loose on the hospitals.

So is it tough? Yea, it can be, some periods are real bitches. Like this last term has been a real pain in the hole, same with last Xmas (when we had 6 written exams in 7 days), so I suppose it's takes some stickability. That said there's people who are in my year who have only been at a handful of lectures since they started in the course, so it can be done. That said, the 3 people I'm thinking of have been in the RDS every August doing repeats! This is going to sound a bit Dawson's Creek, but here goes anyway. There's one morning every week that you spend at a 2 hour lecture, and a doctor who specialises in the module you're doing at the time comes in and presents a few cases to you, they wheel in a few patients, get you to ask a few questions, share a few jokes etc.. Anyway, it gives you a taste of what it's all about, and the patients who come in are always so appreciative of the whole medical and nursing staff. I suppose it really brings it home that in a few years it's gonna be you who'll be making that difference, for me that's a pretty cool feeling. [/Dawson's Creek]

Is it interesting? Yep, definately, it's the most interesting thing in the world.

On enjoyability, I am having a great time. I've met friends in this course who I know for sure that I'll have in 40 years time. I'm not sure if it's the same in other Med schools, but since we're all in our own little bubble in the Terrace, you are literally in each other's pockets, and you get to know people VERY well. And plus you meet people from around the world like Canada, USA, Malaysia, Europe, and there's a few Australians knocking about too, so it's great in that way.

It is a marathon course I suppose, but with the Systems course it's split into different modules, so you're constantly doing different things so it makes the time fly.

To be honest there's so much to say about it so if there's anything more specific post again or PM me. Just on a final note, I wouldn't have done anything else in the world, I'd have repeated the Leaving till I got med and I was very lucky to get it 1st time. Some of my friends reckon you need a sort of calling to do it, I'm not sure about that because there's so many options after you do Med. Anyway I'll leave it there, sorry if it got a bit soppy in the middle, and let me know if you've more questions!

Unfortunately you can't in UCD at the moment, apparently they haven't set up new partnerships with other universities since they changed the course. That doesn't stop you doing electives in other countries though, a fair few in my class are heading off to Africa next summer, doing 4-8 week stints in clinics out there. I know people have done electives in the States and Canada too, not sure about Europe. I think someone mentioned last year that you could do a year in Cardiff, didn't really appeal to me.

Just one thing about my previous port on this - I should say too that since the UCD course is only 5 years old, and I'm pretty far into it, there could be changes in terms of exams and workload happening in the years behind me, so you really do have to check with the colleges if that's a big factor for you.

shane0312 wrote:

I hope to do medicine next year, though not sure where yet. I had heard a few people say that it was just work, work, work all the time and no time to go out, that was getting me a bit worried but then others have said its constant going out. I suppose its just what you make of it yourself.

They are either lying or all nerds. Wildboys will always find their niche. I go out virtually every weekend and the odd time during the week too. The handy thing is that you actually get used to being tired frequently because of late nights or being on call so its no problem to be wrecked going out - you just don't notice it!

Faculty of Health Sciences + Clinical Placement = Crying Students.

We were getting our hospital orientation lecture and the clinical placement co-ordinator was telling us how she made some girl cry only the day previously. Although in fairness, she didnt make her cry, she sort of arrived on the scene of an already stressful incident and was the straw that broke the camels back.

I don't want to put anyone off, just be prepared to be stressed out. I can only speak about nursing, but its definitely difficult but definitely worth it. Like Indy says, if you work hard, you have to balance that out and play hard.

I like beer and partying. Everyone needs a hobby, its not about having little time, but using the little time. People who just work and sleep don't get far.

Naas is a nice village, i think they've got a marks and spencers so you can get giant chocolate chip cookies at lunch !i wouldn't complain about a hospital so long as they'res a source of good cheap coffee. i managed to get my OT addicted to the stuff before i left my placement.
she brought me to a big party of the department and got me a massive slice of chocolate cake and lunch , she rocked actually and it was great because i could ask her any questions i wanted about OT without being intimidated, i also showed her how to use excel as she wasn't good on the pc to do her accounts.

i might drop down and say hello on your forum, i should warn you most of my year are computer phobic...what year are you in David?

good luck with your placement anyhow

gosh your very focused for a first year, did you make that website? im trying to make one of my own but lost the file when windows crashed so have to start all over again. it's for the peer support network (we've just got webspace off CSC).

any tips for frontpage?

Hell yea! In our class we have an international athlete who came 6th in the World Junior Games in her event, an international volleyball player, an intercounty senior hurling team captain (when he comes in :rolleyes: ) , a guy with a record deal, and a girl who will probably be rowing for Ireland in the 2012 Olympics. And I'm sure there are many others out there. Everything can be balanced with a bit of thought, and those who manage it are all the stronger for it.

thats why you have to be really good at what you do, and be honest when you don't know the answer and say "I don't know", and bow to a more senior authority on the subject. Unless your a consultant or Clinical Nurse Specialist (in the case of nursing), in which case, you're fooked or you need to read/study more.