Medicine?

poppy08

i'm repeating to get medicine *figers crossed*,

just wonder if there are any med students on here,( not the most active site i've seen but can't think of anywhere else to ask?)

or if anyone knows ANYTHING about medicine in trinity?,

whats it like doing it in trinity? compared to UCD?

ANY information would be appreciated!

mardybumbum

poppy08 wrote: »

i'm repeating to get medicine *figers crossed*,

just wonder if there are any med students on here,( not the most active site i've seen but can't think of anywhere else to ask?)

or if anyone knows ANYTHING about medicine in trinity?,

whats it like doing it in trinity? compared to UCD?

ANY information would be appreciated!

Hello Poppy.
Im only in first year but hopefully I can give you an idea of what the course is like.
In first year we study anatomy, biochemistry, physiology and medical ethics.
The course also consists of PBL(Problem Based Learning) tutorials which accounts for 10% of the overall marks.
You will also be assigned a family with a newborn child during the first term. You then go out to visit the family and assess the babys development and integration into the family unit.
Overall, the course is challenging (for me anyhow) but interesting and I would recommend it.

I honestly have no idea of what the course in UCD is like so I cant compare the two.

There are six other first year meds that I know of floating about on this. Perhaps they can help you out a bit more than I.

And best of luck with the repeating. Had to do it myself. :rolleyes:

poppy08

mardybumbum wrote: »

And best of luck with the repeating. Had to do it myself. :rolleyes:

Oh well u are exactly the person i want to talk 2!:D

why trinity? whats it like with no campus? your accomodation nice? what about the commute? the library nice? ( cause we know u're gonna spend alot time there;))

since u repeated...do u feel the age gap?, cause i was already almost a year older, then i repeated so quite worried about it!:o

(sorry about all the questions, now that i have u i'm gonna use u!:P)

mardybumbum

No problemos. I like to help out when I can.

Well I chose trinity because I didnt do a third language so NUIG, UCD, UCC & RCSI wouldnt have me.
Having said that, I would have chosen Trinity anyway.:P

It really is a beautiful campus. You should take a stroll around when you get the chance.

Im staying in trinity halls in rathmines. Its really nice, but about 35 - 40 mins journey from college in the mornings.

I actually rarely study in the libraries. I prefer to do it when I get back to halls because I have all my books, notepads, laptop, e.t.c out there.

If I do have a free period during the day Ill usually pop into the dissection room. Its a great place to study anatomy as they have multiple copies of Netter's and other useful texts. They also have real bones (not the crappy plastic moulds) which you can pick up and study.

And no I dont feel an age gap at all. Ive met a few people who repeated their leaving cert, people who repeated first year med, and people who allready have degrees. :eek:

If you have any more questions feel free to fire away.:)

Oh, and what do you make of the HPAT? I took a wee look at my sisters copy last week and found some of the questions in it very odd.

an_upstart

and is there like, competition between the students? :rolleyes::D

mardybumbum

I suppose there is a small bit, as there is in most of life, but it only spurs you on to study more. :pac:

sd123

an_upstart wrote: »

and is there like, competition between the students? :rolleyes::D

Some people are ridiculously competitive (one name springs to mind P :rolleyes:) but most students are fairly relaxed and just want to get through the course.

an_upstart

sd123 wrote: »

Some people are ridiculously competitive (one name springs to mind P :rolleyes:) but most students are fairly relaxed and just want to get through the course.

is it you?:rolleyes: is it friendly competition though or is it the i'm-tearing-pages-out-of-the-book-so-you-can't-study-it kind?:D

poppy08

mardybumbum wrote: »

It really is a beautiful campus. You should take a stroll around when you get the chance.

well i do admire it walking past everyday, but walking through it?, across those cobbles?- they can be a killer! ( i'l get over it:D)

mardybumbum wrote: »

Im staying in trinity halls in rathmines. Its really nice, but about 35 - 40 mins journey from college in the mornings.

where u gonna live next year?

mardybumbum wrote: »

And no I dont feel an age gap at all.

wonderful!..but i'm not convinced:o

mardybumbum wrote: »

If you have any more questions feel free to fire away.:)

Questions!
what the "class spirit" like? my older sister's doin med in NUIG, she's ALWAYs yaking on about some class acvitity or another, med ball, fundraisers for VSA ( voluntary services abroad), plays, quizzes etc.

wheres ur sister appying to?, what points is she aiming for? cause i'm nowhere near the A i need in french:()

mardybumbum wrote: »

what do you make of the HPAT? I took a wee look at my sisters copy last week and found some of the questions in it very odd.

HPAT:eek: it's horrible! working out time/questions u have just over a mintue per question! me and the principal were looking over the questions and we struggled to answer most of them!

Plug-me-in

Hey there!!


I know everybody's already answered your questions in the previous posts, and mardybumbum has it pretty spot on!! (Hi aaron!) but I thought I'd give you my thoughts about it too, the more opinions the better I suppose!!



Basically, I LOVE medicine so far!! I've had a few days where I've been wondering what I've gotten myself into, but believe me, they're only fleeting thoughts!!


Since mardybumbum clarified what we study and what-not, I thought I'd just mention a bit about the "class spirit"!! I know when I applied for Trinity, I always wondered if people actually went out at all, especially in medicine, I dunno why but I always figured it was very conservative or something.... Oh how wrong was I!!!:D



We have class parties pretty much every week, and threre's always stuff on non-medicine related!! We do have a med ball and med day, and a bunch of us are hitting cork after the exams for a pretty mad weekend!! We've about 150 people in our class, and as Aaron said alot already have degrees or some form of college experience, but for us first timers, this last term had been MENTAL!! College really is what you make it, especially medicine... The partying is epic, but really put a small bit of work in the whole way along and its a bit easier!


You mentioned age gaps?? Really... don't worry!! My god, there's 25 year olds in our year, as well as 17 year olds!! And we all get on fantastically!! No-one asks your age anyway, and even if for whatever reason they do, nobody gives a toss at all...! Honestly, it shouldn't even be a factor!!!!!!!



Best of luck with your exams, hope everything goes well for you!

poppy08

Thanks a million 'Plug-Me-In', the more i hear about the trinity, the more i wanna go there! hearing it from different people certaintly convinced me! though mardybumbum's advice was invaluble 2

Just shows med students are just as wild as other students(its the same in galway from what i hear;))

can't wait to get out there and party whenever i want, once this bloody LC is over with. Hopefully i'll be moseing round the college next year!:cool:

....i'm over the age gap what a coupleof years between friends eh?

mardybumbum

an_upstart wrote: »

is it you?:D

Yes, its shane!
That fella would steal the milk out of your tea!

sd123

mardybumbum wrote: »

Yes, its shane!
That fella would steal the milk out of your tea!

...And the eyes out of your head if I thought I'd get some advantage in exams. But seriously, TCD is the best place to study medicine and the people are great. Lecturers are pretty good and very approachable. Not an awful lot to give out about tbh!

Piste

I was totally worried I'd have no life if I got into medicine, this thread is making me way more optimistic!

How many hours of study a week would you do? (on your own, outside of lectures like)

sd123

Piste wrote: »

I was totally worried I'd have no life if I got into medicine, this thread is making me way more optimistic!

How many hours of study a week would you do? (on your own, outside of lectures like)

Honestly, it seems like you're always studying and if you're not studying, you feel like you should be. I probably do about 2 hours of reading (not so much learning) per night. Coming up to exams, I'll probably do about 6 hours every day in the library, this is more note making and essay preparation than anything. This is me though, other (smarter) people might get away with doing much less, and plus you could probably pass the year with just doing 6-8 hours for a few days before exams, but probaly wont get you honours. Good Luck

an_upstart

has anybody tried the schols for medicine? is it impossible?:rolleyes:

billykwok

hey poppy

i guess mardybumbum and plugmein already covered all the main points. but just to add age gap is really not a problem! there are people who have done a BSc, been working for 4/5 years then coming back to do medicine, and there are some who are just out of secondary school - but the thing is, NO ONE CARES! (although i must admit the postgrads do seem to know a lot more than us)

The hpat should just be a test to try out your ability - i have done 2 similar tests call the UKCAT and the BMAT when i applied to uk unis, just TRY YOUR BEST and don't worry about it! (everyone else doing the hpat will be in same position as you - believe me on this)

medicine so far is good; the class spirit is very lively. but you must really make an effort to participate in events, and they are mostly fun - so far we had a MED day where we learnt how to beg for money, we also had some intraclass football matches and a few nights out in the button factory. obviously if you don't want to join in its fine - but you'll be missing out big time! later on this xmas i believe there is a trip planned to go to cork for a few days (i really do pity the locals.. having 80 first year medical students at their doorstep.. )

but yes i have had the occasional days which i think to myself - wtf am i doing here?! although those days are few and far between but with exams coming up in xmas they are getting a bit more frequent again

anyway, do apply to tcd and if u have further questions just pm us. best of luck with ur application!

mardybumbum

poppy08 wrote: »

where u gonna live next year?

I actually dont have a clue where Im going to go next year. I think I might apply to halls again.

And my sister is applying to UCD for reasons unknown to me.

Great to see so many first year meds on this. Hello Billy, Sarah and Shane.

Now to do some study!

poppy08

hey billy!

billykwok wrote: »

The hpat should just be a test to try out your ability - i have done 2 similar tests call the UKCAT and the BMAT when i applied to uk unis, just TRY YOUR BEST

urgh did that last year, didn't work out too well:o apparently i didn't fit their "social criteria". i'm doin the hpat prep ( i know its such a waste of money since it tests ur ability not ur knowledge - but i'm desperate:D)

Honestly i'm so glad i started this thread! last week i was goin to Galway :eek: , never liked the place (but my sister really wanted me to go) I CAN"T WAIT to start (fingers crossed;))

billykwok wrote: »

but yes i have had the occasional days which i think to myself - wtf am i doing here?! although those days are few and far between but with exams coming up in xmas they are getting a bit more frequent again

- have a Candy Cane that'll help:D

poppy08

mardybumbum wrote: »

I actually dont have a clue where Im going to go next year. I think I might apply to halls again.

Lol, homeless but happy:D

the amount of people apply 4 UCD med:eek:! thats why i started this thread i was afraid their was some kind of chasity oath or somehting equally weird stopping people apply!

think it's UCD is bigger?, better:P? easier to get accomodation? lower pass mark? ( is that an urban myth or is the pass mark really 50%?), points are lower in UCD ( usually)


or are they just afraid or trinity's charm?:cool:

poppy08

an_upstart wrote: »

has anybody tried the schols for medicine? is it impossible?:rolleyes:

where? what? who?...uh? ( think i was put that day:rolleyes:)

Podge_irl

an_upstart wrote: »

has anybody tried the schols for medicine? is it impossible?:rolleyes:

Of course not, plenty of people get it every year. Its a bit of a silly question - it entirely depends on how good you are and how much work you are planning on putting into it. The past papers are freely available online - they'll give you the best information.

mardybumbum

poppy08 wrote: »

where? what? who?...uh? ( think i was put that day:rolleyes:)

Poppy, the schols are exams which many students sit in second year.
They are entirely voluntary exams and there are no repercussions if you do poorly in them.
If you do well in them however, you may be entitled to free accomodation on campus, an annual salary, free dinner in the dining hall, exemption from end of year exams and having your fees waivered for non-eu students.
And if you do exceptionally well you can even own a part of the college! :eek:


More information can be found here.

Sure beats the entrance exhibition. Cocktail sausages, white wine and a picture with the provost!

Podge_irl

mardybumbum wrote: »

If you do well in them however, you may be entitled to free accomodation on campus, an annual salary, free dinner in the dining hall, exemption from end of year exams and having your fees waivered for non-eu students.

EU students get their fees waived. Non-EU students get their fees reduced by the amount corresponding to what an EU student pays.

mardybumbum

Podge_irl wrote: »

EU students get their fees waived. Non-EU students get their fees reduced by the amount corresponding to what an EU student pays.

Ah, righteo. Thanks for clearing that up!

Kwekubo

mardybumbum wrote: »

the schols are exams which many students sit in second year.

That's true, but for medicine schols, your normal JF and SF exams in almost all subjects up until the end of Hilary term in 2nd year count for 67% of the mark. The schol exam itself is only worth 33%.

sd123

Kwekubo wrote: »

That's true, but for medicine schols, your normal JF and SF exams in almost all subjects up until the end of Hilary term in 2nd year count for 67% of the mark. The schol exam itself is only worth 33%.

I didn't know that, where did you read that, or is it common knowledge?

Kwekubo

sd123 wrote: »

I didn't know that, where did you read that, or is it common knowledge?

See the JF or SF study guides for the breakdown (college password required).

Jammyc

mardybumbum wrote: »

And best of luck with the repeating. Had to do it myself. :rolleyes:

If you repeat, do fees apply in medicine? Or does it work like youve just left school?

mardybumbum

Jammyc wrote: »

If you repeat, do fees apply in medicine? Or does it work like youve just left school?

Repeating the leaving certificate doesnt effect your fees. ( It didnt for me )
If you have to repeat a year in college then you can hand over your wallet.

Jammyc

Thanks for clearing that up for me

sd123

Kwekubo wrote: »

See the JF or SF study guides for the breakdown (college password required).

It also states that this years special topic is the olfactory system!!

Pet

Yay for you, you get to talk about GPCRs and the entorhinal cortex. Over and over and over.

Kwekubo

Pet wrote: »

Yay for you, you get to talk about GPCRs and the entorhinal cortex. Over and over and over.

Thankfully sd123 was alluding to the fact that that line of the study guide is about two years out of date; this year's topic is memory. I've had enough of GPCRs by this stage, thank you very much...

plmko

Hi, I'd love to do medicine. I'm in sixth year now and I love science and working with people so I suppose medicine is ideal for me. The only thing is that my legs go wobbly at the sight of a cut on someone else. How am I ever to look at dead bodies and then dissect them? Is it a terrible idea me choosing medicine? Anyone who had the same problem but did medicine anyway and it worked out grand?