GAMSAT 2010...for discussion of all things related to this exam.

danthefan

Thanks for that, a combination of the price and your review of the courses I think I'll be avoiding.

rampere1

hi guys!!

I just got prices and dates back from the Irish company GAMSAT Tutor Ltd, their prices are cheaper than GRADMED and are running in Dublin this summer in time for the UK GAMSAT exam. As I'm a bio graduate I prob won't be doing the bio & chem sections, but they do have a very interesting course on essay writing etc that is given by a Cambridge graduate.

Hope4more

Hey Guys

Planning on doing Gamsat in London.

I was wondering if anyone could recommend any books advice on the essay section. I feel this will probably be my weakest. It seems a lot of people advice practice and reading newspapers, current affairs etc. Seeing as I havnt wrote an english essay since the leaving cert. Any books on structure etc would be of help. Thanks.

JAN85

Hope4more wrote: »

Hey Guys

Planning on doing Gamsat in London.

I was wondering if anyone could recommend any books advice on the essay section. I feel this will probably be my weakest. It seems a lot of people advice practice and reading newspapers, current affairs etc. Seeing as I havnt wrote an english essay since the leaving cert. Any books on structure etc would be of help. Thanks.

Hi hope4more,

I think essay writing can be a difficult thing to get a handle on. Especially if it's a long time since you've written any. My advice as an English grad would be to practice practice practice. The time constraint in Section 2 of gamsat will probably be the thing you'll have to try and overcome the most. 2 essays in an hour is a real challenge, even for more experienced writers. Maybe you should consider taking a creative writing course, there is also that gamsat prep course taking place in Dublin this summer, they might be helpful with regard to The the type of essay styles etc that work in gamsat. I checked them out with regard to their science courses and they seem to have decently priced course with a well qualified team. Here's their link www.gamsat.ie. Hope this helps!

liamodr

Hope4more wrote: »

Hey Guys

Planning on doing Gamsat in London.

I was wondering if anyone could recommend any books advice on the essay section. I feel this will probably be my weakest. It seems a lot of people advice practice and reading newspapers, current affairs etc. Seeing as I havnt wrote an english essay since the leaving cert. Any books on structure etc would be of help. Thanks.

Hi hope4more. I found myself in the same situation you are in now prior to the exam. I had not written a creative writing type essay since the leaving cert. I did however do a biological science degree which examined primarily via essay writing, but based on specific facts where there is no real need to be creative. I used the attached files to direct my section 2 preparation. The structure of my regime was as follows. Each evening after work I picked two essay themes at random and wrote the 2 essays in an hour to get used to the time constraint. I would then rewrite them using internet/books to correct the factual errors/learn new facts on the topics. That way you are mimicking the stress of seeing two topics about which you may know nothing and force yourself to be creative. Then you can identify gaps in your (general) knowledge afterwards and correct them which leaves you feeling like you learned something from your evening's study (positive reenforcement after the torture of the 2 essays/1 hour) . I got a 71 in section 2 on my first GAMSAT attempt this March. Personally I would not waste my money on courses for section 2, because it is as simple as practice, practice, practice.

Hope this helps.

Hope4more

Thanks JAN85 and liamodr for the advice. And in particular the attached files. I feel it gives me more direction in terms of section 2. Sometimes it feels like your shooting in the dark. But this has helped. Thanks a mill.

crazy dude

Hope4more wrote: »

Thanks JAN85 and liamodr for the advice. And in particular the attached files. I feel it gives me more direction in terms of section 2. Sometimes it feels like your shooting in the dark. But this has helped. Thanks a mill.

I got 78 for my essays which was abig suprise considering I can't spell etc. What I kind of did was "take a risk" and write from my own life experiences and from stuff I've read on psychology. The first was about "censorship" and I broadly wrote about section 31 and concerns about the internet. I managed to include all 5 quotes.
The second was about confidence- lack of vs over confidence. I actually wrote a good bit about an area in dublin I work in, Ballymun, and how the people's lives are limited by a lack of self confidence versus other areas of dublin where the people are overly full of themselves..... seemed to catch their eyes in the sense it was different.
Saw a lot of people with prepared essays reading them in the queue so I guess they get a lot of cram school type stuff

Also, the science section is a killer if you're not a scientist. there was stuff like pericyclic reactions on the chemistry part this year which was about 2nd year level in TCD( which is about 1st year level in DITs)

chilloutman

hi guys basically did the gamsat exam in dublin and thought i did the worst in the world i scored a s1.54 s2.58 s3 47 = avg 52

just wondering is this terrible, compared to people posting there result its pretty bad. am i wasting my time doing it a second time???

Sid_Justice

How much preparation did you do? if you did a whole lot and still came out with a low score you will have to consider you're just not suited to the exam. If you didn't do much prep, or did the wrong type, there's always the chance you'll do much better the second (or third time). There's a couple of stories of people going from low 50s to low 60s after repeating it (as well as stories people doing the exact same second time round).

chilloutman

i was in my final year in university at the time,studying business though, so had that on my back but still did a bit of work dont think i did an excessive amount but i still did a bit, i am confused!

getout

Some people on this thread have been asking about the possibility of deferring entry to the UL course and it has been pretty much ruled out.

Well, does anyone know if it is possible to take a gap year at some stage during the course, once you have started?

Hope4more

Hey guys i was wondering in relation to the chemistry part. Is it just all organic reactions? And do u need to know a load of reagents etc?
or do you just need to understand the mechanisms i.e the different functional groups and the type of reactions they are involved in?

liamodr

Hope4more wrote: »

Hey guys i was wondering in relation to the chemistry part. Is it just all organic reactions? And do u need to know a load of reagents etc?
or do you just need to understand the mechanisms i.e the different functional groups and the type of reactions they are involved in?

The following list (not exhaustive) may point you in the right direction as a starting point for preparation.

Chemistry

* Maxwellian probability distributions of enery in molecules-(2005)
* Equilibrium K, Q (every paper)
* Entropy, Enthalpy and Free energy + relationhsip with each other
*Redox in organic chem and additional definitions in relation to organic molecule
* Gibbs free energy and Potential difference (every year)
* Gibbs free energy and K (2005)

Organic Chem

* Alcohol to Ketone/Aldehyde rxn's
* Symmetry and preparation of symmetrical molecules
* Chirality
* Keto Enol Tautonomers (2005)
* IUPAC naming
* Amino Acids (every year)
* Sn1, Sn2, E1, E2 (every year)
* Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (2005)

Generally a good understanding of a 1st year Uni chemistry textbook is adequate. In theory the GAMSAT assumes no previous science background and that the answers are in the questions, but in practice this is not the case. I would recommend being very familiar with the glossary at the back of a chemistry book to start.

sarah_anne

Hey guys iv decided to do a masters n not sit gamsat. If anyone wants some decents notes I hav a good collection n will sell at a decent price. Also I had ordered the MCAT Osmosis CDs which I am happy to pass on to people at a much reduced price (have to say they cover everthing and if like me you learn well via ear its a good way to go)

PM me if ur interested

Rustym

Im hoping to sit GAMSAT in 2011.... however I feel I could benefit from grinds in Chemisty and physics anyone out there know where I should look to find someone???!!!

Yillan

Just handing in my documents to the CAO at the moment. A little late but it doesn't matter. They've taken a copy of my degree parchment, but also wanted to see a transcript of all of my results. Any idea why they want to see what I got in Contract law in 2nd year?

I printed off a copy of the results but they said they wanted to copy from the original transcript of results, which I've never had a hard copy of. What are they talking about?

Wut iz these bullsheet?

lonestargirl

Yillan wrote: »

Just handing in my documents to the CAO at the moment. A little late but it doesn't matter. They've taken a copy of my degree parchment, but also wanted to see a transcript of all of my results. Any idea why they want to see what I got in Contract law in 2nd year?

I printed off a copy of the results but they said they wanted to copy from the original transcript of results, which I've never had a hard copy of. What are they talking about?

Wut iz these bullsheet?

Universities will issue official transcripts, they are just what you printed out but stamped/signed by the registrar. I had to get these recently for graduate school application. Where did you go to college? NUIG took a week for me to receive in the US and cost €4 but UCD took over 4 weeks to issue them and cost €20. Application forms are on the websites and both NUIG and UCD take them by email.

Yillan

lonestargirl wrote: »

Universities will issue official transcripts, they are just what you printed out but stamped/signed by the registrar. I had to get these recently for graduate school application. Where did you go to college? NUIG took a week for me to receive in the US and cost €4 but UCD took over 4 weeks to issue them and cost €20. Application forms are on the websites and both NUIG and UCD take them by email.

..... :cool:Spanking you

I'll give CAO a ring tomorrow and see what they think because it's unlikely I'll manage to get the official transcript before the 15th and I off to Espana Thursday. Holidays, la la la la la la holidays. If the points plummet and my application isn't complete, I'll go buck ape.

Biologic

Depends on the University Yillian. I gave my examinations office in a ring and they had my transcripts ready within the hour, charged me nothing too. It's definitely worth ringing up and charming the exams office secretary.

hurdygurdy85

All is quite on the activity front once more. COME ON AUGUST FOR GOD'S SAKE!!!

MicraBoy

Offers out 5th August at 6am

CAO

Don Keypunch

OK then I've been doing abit of wishful number crunching myself, places have increase from 120 to 180 this year, while there has only been 100 extra applicants. Last year the cut-off for getting an offer was 56*, only the top 20% get places, therefore of the 100 extra applicants only 20 are contenders.


'06 '07
UL 50 - 70
UCC 20 - 25
UCD 20 - 55
RCSI 30 - 30


Therefore the first 20 extra places in UCD accomodate the extra applicants, while the 40 extra places in UL, UCD and UCC should all be acting lowering agents to bring the final round cut-off down to 56/55*/55.

Also consider the UK factor whereby UK citzens may apply through CAO and get an offer in the UK, or may decide against the high cost of studying in Ireland.

Any comments on my veiws, much appreciated.

hurdygurdy85

Don Keypunch wrote: »

OK then I've been doing abit of wishful number crunching myself, places have increase from 120 to 180 this year, while there has only been 100 extra applicants. Last year the cut-off for getting an offer was 56*, only the top 20% get places, therefore of the 100 extra applicants only 20 are contenders.


'06 '07
UL 50 - 70
UCC 20 - 25
UCD 20 - 55
RCSI 30 - 30


Therefore the first 20 extra places in UCD accomodate the extra applicants, while the 40 extra places in UL, UCD and UCC should all be acting lowering agents to bring the final round cut-off down to 56/55*/55.

Also consider the UK factor whereby UK citzens may apply through CAO and get an offer in the UK, or may decide against the high cost of studying in Ireland.

Any comments on my veiws, much appreciated.

Unless Im reading the above wrong, you think the cut-off for UCD will be 55*? I would love if that were true but it seems a bit low to be honest..... But then again we could all be shocked and surprised on 5th Aug....
What do other people think?

Don Keypunch

59/59*

Siouxky

Hey, long time lurker on this thread. hurdygurdy85 im 100% with you, the wait is driving me bonkers!
And now D-day is Aug.5th?

My fingers are firmly crossed for UCD 59 but my hopes arent too high. :-/
Whats your predictions for Cork Don Keypunch?

maggie82

cant believe you all still waiting!! found out 2 weeks ago about veterinary, that really sucks! what are they at i wonder.

hurdygurdy85

maggie82 wrote: »

cant believe you all still waiting!! found out 2 weeks ago about veterinary, that really sucks! what are they at i wonder.

Yeah apparently they got their notification via a really informal email that addressed them as "Dear Graduate students...". Ensue vet med telephone lines burning with people asking if it was an offer or not.....and I know of someone who got a place and also received an apology for the way they were informed via the first email. Still tho, I'd rather bloody know now even if it was through a message in a bottle....

Hope you got a place Maggie82!

figs86

Hey guys, just got my results for final year of primary degree last week.

Have my full transcript in my hand but it doesn't say what my overall degree grade is - anybody experience this?

CAO specifically requests the transcript to be "showing the final degree result"

So....do I just get the registry to stamp and sign a letter indicating what my final degree result is?

etymon

good luck on the 5th everyone!
if it's not good news, don't be afraid to repeat... but don't turn down an offer if you don't think you can put the work in for the repeat either.
a repeat year flies by - trust me.
only 4 weeks to wait now.

maggie82

hurdygurdy85 wrote: »

Yeah apparently they got their notification via a really informal email that addressed them as "Dear Graduate students...". Ensue vet med telephone lines burning with people asking if it was an offer or not.....and I know of someone who got a place and also received an apology for the way they were informed via the first email. Still tho, I'd rather bloody know now even if it was through a message in a bottle....

Hope you got a place Maggie82!

I know it was horrible way to find out I was a wreck! 5pm on a Friday getting a random email, coulda ruined the weekend but thank god found out before they went home for the weekend!! good luck!!