[footie10]

Hey,have been invited to apply for a place in RCSI Medicine...any pointers on application (CV, references required, personal statement etc..) be helpful and anyone who has done the interview and has any info on that would also be appreciated.

Cheers.

Also as invite based on HPAT scores anyone know the cutoff score for that??

[Joeyjoejoe83]

Originally Posted by footie10

Hey,have been invited to apply for a place in RCSI Medicine...any pointers on application (CV, references required, personal statement etc..) be helpful and anyone who has done the interview and has any info on that would also be appreciated.

Cheers.

Also as invite based on HPAT scores anyone know the cutoff score for that??

Am in th same boat myself, they dont give you alot of info to use for the application do they!

[acfan]

Have no idea what the cut off for HPAT scores is.

Last year they had 15 places on offer and they interviewed approximately 47 people.

They choose candidates for interview based on personal statement, CV, references and HPAT scores. My advise is write a damn good personal statement and give them 3 or 4 good written references.

In my experience the interview is tough. You are interviewed by two different sets of people.
1st interview: academics from the college
They'll ask you to tell them about yourself and about why you want to study medicine.

2nd interview: practicing clinicians
They'll ask you do you really know what you're getting yourself into. Why study for 5 years to work in some of the worst working conditions in the world? (This is a question I was asked!)
This is the tougher of the two interviews.

Both interviews last approximately 10-15mins.

They are usually held towards the end of June as we have exams up until the beginning of June.

Best of luck to both of you.

Feel free to PM me any other questions!

[Joeyjoejoe83]

Originally Posted by acfan

Have no idea what the cut off for HPAT scores is.

Last year they had 15 places on offer and they interviewed approximately 47 people.

They choose candidates for interview based on personal statement, CV, references and HPAT scores. My advise is write a damn good personal statement and give them 3 or 4 good written references.

In my experience the interview is tough. You are interviewed by two different sets of people.
1st interview: academics from the college
They'll ask you to tell them about yourself and about why you want to study medicine.

2nd interview: practicing clinicians
They'll ask you do you really know what you're getting yourself into. Why study for 5 years to work in some of the worst working conditions in the world? (This is a question I was asked!)
This is the tougher of the two interviews.

Both interviews last approximately 10-15mins.

They are usually held towards the end of June as we have exams up until the beginning of June.

Best of luck to both of you.

Feel free to PM me any other questions!

This is the part I am most concerned with. I did law at college and as such never really got to know any lecturers! As such I have two references from work experience in a GPs practice and a hospice, would that be enough?

[acfan]

Originally Posted by Joeyjoejoe83

This is the part I am most concerned with. I did law at college and as such never really got to know any lecturers! As such I have two references from work experience in a GPs practice and a hospice, would that be enough?

I was told that you should have one reference from an employer, one from school / college and one other reference. I had no practical experience in a hospital or otherwise when I applied and so I had to fall back on my academic references.
You are in the opposite situation and in my opinion a better situation. Practical experience like yours will stand out in your application as a lot of people will be missing it. Those two references will really help your application. Will they be enough? I have no idea but I can tell you that it shows your commitment to the process.
In addition when it comes to the interview you will have proof of knowing what the healthcare system is like and believe me insider knowledge like that will be very beneficial.

[ontheditch2]

Similar problem re: references. Can get current work and another decent reference no problem, but the school/college reference is going to be a struggle. In college, i wouldn't of been the most successful student in exams and never really got too friendly with any of them, same in school, so i can not see how one of these references will assist me in the application.
Any advice??

p.s. All the info so far has been very helpful

[acfan]

Originally Posted by ontheditch2

Similar problem re: references. Can get current work and another decent reference no problem, but the school/college reference is going to be a struggle. In college, i wouldn't of been the most successful student in exams and never really got too friendly with any of them, same in school, so i can not see how one of these references will assist me in the application.
Any advice??

p.s. All the info so far has been very helpful

The important thing to remember is that they will look at your suitability for medicine based on the material that you give them, so give them everything that you feel will strengthen your application.

Your lack of an academic reference is not going to stand against you necessarily.....not everybody will have one. The mature entry pathway is specifically designed for non-standard applications. You have to consider everything that has happened in your life so far that has caused you to come to the decision to go back to college for 5 years to study medicine and to become a doctor.

There is no such thing as the perfect application.

In my opinion my personal statement won me an interview and the interview got me my place.

The personal statement needs to address your reasons for wanting to study medicine and for becoming a doctor.

[Joeyjoejoe83]

Originally Posted by acfan

The important thing to remember is that they will look at your suitability for medicine based on the material that you give them, so give them everything that you feel will strengthen your application.

Your lack of an academic reference is not going to stand against you necessarily.....not everybody will have one. The mature entry pathway is specifically designed for non-standard applications. You have to consider everything that has happened in your life so far that has caused you to come to the decision to go back to college for 5 years to study medicine and to become a doctor.

There is no such thing as the perfect application.

In my opinion my personal statement won me an interview and the interview got me my place.

The personal statement needs to address your reasons for wanting to study medicine and for becoming a doctor.

Thanks acfan, your help is great, i have one other question, how long was your personal statement. Am keeping mine around 1.5 pages and succinct but they really dont give you much guideline....

[acfan]

Originally Posted by Joeyjoejoe83

Thanks acfan, your help is great, i have one other question, how long was your personal statement. Am keeping mine around 1.5 pages and succinct but they really dont give you much guideline....

You're very welcome! I know how stressful this process can be and none of the colleges are very forthcoming about what exactly it is they are looking for in an application.

My personal statement was 2 pages and you are absolutely right for keeping it short and succinct. If I could just offer you one more piece of advise...ask someone you trust and who knows you well to read it before you send it. Sometimes a fresh eye will spot something you've missed or have forgotten to put in.

Feel free to ask me anymore questions you might have and the very best of luck with your application.

[Allie79]

Hi, I've also submitted cv etc to RCSI and am anxiously hoping for an interview invitation. However, we've been having a lot of issues with our mail not showing up so if you could post on here if/ when you hear from them, it would be a big help. I'll probably give them a ring if I haven't heard anything in a couple of weeks. Good luck - fingers crossed!

[acfan]

Originally Posted by Allie79

Hi, I've also submitted cv etc to RCSI and am anxiously hoping for an interview invitation. However, we've been having a lot of issues with our mail not showing up so if you could post on here if/ when you hear from them, it would be a big help. I'll probably give them a ring if I haven't heard anything in a couple of weeks. Good luck - fingers crossed!

They usually send emails rather than letters unless you haven't provided an email address.

[MedGal]

Hi guys,

Just wondering, when were u asked for CVs etc?
Have any of you heard from UCD or RCSI?

[Allie79]

Originally Posted by acfan

They usually send emails rather than letters unless you haven't provided an email address.

Thanks acfan!

Medgal I got a letter mid-April from RCSI, submission was by Wed last week for mature entry consideration. Didn't apply to UCD.

[footie10]

Hey,UCD have had some interviews anyway so might want to contact them if not heard back from them yet

[Blondie1988]

hi there! just wondering about this mature graduate entry as opposed to the gamsat entry? Is it geared towards people who dont qualify for gamsat eg. who didn get 2.1 or level 8 degree? many thanks!