Doing medicine? ... can any medical students advise?

rosa_o

i'm not doing the leaving this year but i have a few questions anyway.
for all those people doing medicine is it all its cracked up to be and for all you new doctors out there is it like throwong away your twenties to the books? i want to do medicine but it's just sounds so tough so confirmation would be helpful and also does anyone should i have a preference over trinity or ucd? thanks.:)

A Neurotic

Hi,

I just finished first year medicine in Trinity. I had the same reservations as you going in, but first year really wasn't so bad. Personally, I had a bit of difficulty initially adjusting to college academically, but I would have been the same in any course and the vast majority of people in my year got on grand without having to slave over the books all year. We all had a great time and it's not as hard as you might think to have a good social life. Bear in mind I can speak only for first year - I imagine it could well be a different story in later years!

There's a good Health Sciences Education forum on boards that you might find helpful. Good luck!

Piste

I'm sort of the same as A_Neurotic. I had a lot of trouble adjusting academically to medicine. As one 4th Med put it, "welcome to being average". If you get into medicine you were probably one of the people with the highest results in your year. You were probably always "the smart one". If you do medicine you will be in a year where everyone is "the smart one". Suddenly you're not in the 99th percentile. Suddenly you're just looking for 50% so you can scrape the pass instead of 90%, which is what you'll have gotten throughout school. It's a big change.

There is an academic committment, but you can balance yourself. Ideally you should study every day for a bit so you're not living in the library (like me) for the month before the examsl. In practicality what happens is people piss about all semester, go out loads and then cram to bits before the exams. I've been spending 6-10 hours a day in the library for the past month, I think I took one day off. There's a definite ethos of work hard play hard though, I think the whole year's planning to go on a 4/5 day binge when the exams finish.

You get very close to your college friends, given that you'll see thm every day and soend all day in the library with them. It can be hard to stay in contact with your friends from school, especially if they go to a different college.

zam

What are the hours like in first year? Everyone I ask says something different

stainluss

A Neurotic wrote: »

Hi,

I just finished first year medicine in Trinity. I had the same reservations as you going in, but first year really wasn't so bad. Personally, I had a bit of difficulty initially adjusting to college academically, but I would have been the same in any course and the vast majority of people in my year got on grand without having to slave over the books all year. We all had a great time and it's not as hard as you might think to have a good social life. Bear in mind I can speak only for first year - I imagine it could well be a different story in later years!

There's a good Health Sciences Education forum on boards that you might find helpful. Good luck!

So could you go out 2/3 nights per week?

Piste

zam wrote: »

What are the hours like in first year? Everyone I ask says something different

In RCSI you're looking at about 15

Piste

stainluss wrote: »

So could you go out 2/3 nights per week?

You could yeah, especially if you're the kind of person who can function on little sleep and get up for college after a night out (I'm sadly not one of these people )

A Neurotic

zam wrote: »

What are the hours like in first year? Everyone I ask says something different

In TCD it was generally around 23 or so, but it varied a little bit every week with labs and tutorials and whatnot.

stainluss wrote:

So could you go out 2/3 nights per week?

A friend of mine managed a Platinum week - went 8 nights in a row and still attended every single lecture

As with Piste, I couldn't really go out that often as I had mostly 9am starts and I'm generally immovable after a night out. It'd be up to you to decide if you're able for it!

straight_As

Piste wrote: »

In RCSI you're looking at about 15

I'm hoping to med next year and have a few questions and if you could answer even some I'd appreciate it a lot.

Is that for premed or 1st med?

What's the general atmosphere in Surgeons? Is there still a decent mix of people even though it's all med and paramed? I know there's a really diverse ethnic mix, but I mean in terms of interests. Not all just the stereotypical driven med student?

Also, what's it like in terms of placements? Do you get early exposure? I've heard that RCSI send some of their students down to the peripherals for placement. I don't have any problem with peripherals, but I live in Dublin and couldn't afford to move out so do they help financially in that regard?

Is the course systems based or is it more bichem, physiology, anatomy, etc, each taught individually?

Cheers in advance

stainluss

I know you get an MB (Bachelor of Medicine) after college, but do you get the MD (Doctor of Medicine) after the 1 year internship or do you have to do something else?

Piste

straight_As wrote: »

I'm hoping to med next year and have a few questions and if you could answer even some I'd appreciate it a lot.

Is that for premed or 1st med?

1st Med. No idea what the hours are like for premed.

straight_As wrote: »

What's the general atmosphere in Surgeons? Is there still a decent mix of people even though it's all med and paramed? I know there's a really diverse ethnic mix, but I mean in terms of interests. Not all just the stereotypical driven med student?

It's competitive, almost everyone is highly motivated and driven, though it only really shows around exam time. There's a big mix of people with loads of interests, there are very few of the kind of people who study all the time and rarely socialise. Not sure where that stereotype came from as I haven't seen much of it myself! Having an international mix is interesting, though people tend to stick with people from their own countries a lot.

straight_As wrote: »

Also, what's it like in terms of placements? Do you get early exposure? I've heard that RCSI send some of their students down to the peripherals for placement. I don't have any problem with peripherals, but I live in Dublin and couldn't afford to move out so do they help financially in that regard?

Yeah in 4th med you're shunted around the country with a hospital buddy- somebody from your class you do all your placements with and live with (it can make or break friendships so I'm told!). RCSI owns a load of apartments in Waterford and I think Galway too and pays for accomodation for the other peripheral hospitals, you won't be expected to pay to move out, you'd never get a lease for a few weeks at a time anyway! As for early exposure you're up in Beaumont from the 2nd semester of 2nd med (the start of Intermediate Cycle 1). Though you're not actually in the hospital, but in a lecture theatre on the hospital site. It means you're by consultants who will come by to teach and I think they sometimes bring patients in.

straight_As wrote: »

Is the course systems based or is it more bichem, physiology, anatomy, etc, each taught individually?

Cheers in advance

It's all systems based. I think UCD's the same and Trinity is individual subjects. I've never seen the individual subjects system, but I think I'd prefer the system we have. It's much easier having everything integrated as it all links together.

stainluss wrote: »

I know you get an MB (Bachelor of Medicine) after college, but do you get the MD (Doctor of Medicine) after the 1 year internship or do you have to do something else?

An MD is slightly different here and in the US. In the US you graduate with an MD, which is the same as our Bachelor of Medicine. To get an MD here you have to do a Ph.D and/or have published research. After your intern year you get to register with the medical council.

theowen

A Neurotic wrote: »

Hi,

I just finished first year medicine in Trinity. I had the same reservations as you going in, but first year really wasn't so bad. Personally, I had a bit of difficulty initially adjusting to college academically, but I would have been the same in any course and the vast majority of people in my year got on grand without having to slave over the books all year.

Piste wrote: »

I'm sort of the same as A_Neurotic. I had a lot of trouble adjusting academically to medicine..

Could yous expand on how you had to adjust academically?

stainluss

Im great at Biology and Physics in LC, but dont do Chemistry.

I chose NUIG so Chem isnt needed anyways.

I was just wondering, is most of the work/exams you do in college similar to LC Biology or LC Chemistry? (I know its much harder than either but which one is the work more similar to?)

Chemistry looks a bit nasty..I could v. well be wrong though.

Piste

theowen wrote: »

Could yous expand on how you had to adjust academically?

Ok well for the LC all the information is given to you. You have your book, if you know the book you'll get an A1. Also at LC level everything 's just a small step up from JC and explained in detail. In college I found all these terms and explanations that I didn't get but we were assumed to know, I'd try and do the recommended reading at the end of each lecture but get completely bogged down in detail. I never knew how much detail was needed to know. I found the lecture notes very difficult to study from if I hadn't taken notes myself, I got lost quickly and found it very difficult to catch up (I never really did, just scraped the pass in semester 1). It's basically about finding your own learning style which suits the way in which the information is presented. It look me a while to learn how to learn efficiently. This semester I started my proper (as in setting up camp in the library all day every day) study about a month before exams started. I worked out how to understand what was going on and learn the required detail without getting too bogged down, but didn't factor in how much time it would take to learn off the information, as opposed to understanding it and being able to recall it five minutes after reading the lecture (that's where cramming comes in).

I think for next semester I'll do a bit of study every day. For only 15 hours of lectures/practicals I should be able to spare 2/3 hours a day in the library, hopefully it'll reflect in my results (no more barely scraping the pass!)

If I were to give any advice about starting medicine, it's don't leave your lectures if they're big and scary, try to understand them using all the resources you can (youtube is great), it makes learning the following lectures so much easier.

stainluss wrote: »

Im great at Biology and Physics in LC, but dont do Chemistry.

I chose NUIG so Chem isnt needed anyways.

I was just wondering, is most of the work/exams you do in college similar to LC Biology or LC Chemistry? (I know its much harder than either but which one is the work more similar to?)

Chemistry looks a bit nasty..I could v. well be wrong though.

Well there is more of LC biology you can completely disregard (plants, basically!) than LC chemistry, where you need to know all your organic and soem inorganic chemistry. I would have found it much, much harder to do medicine if I didn't have chemistry than if I didn't have biology. Any biology you will have done will be covered in the first slide or two of the lecture anyway. Also biology is easier to just pick up than chemistry, there aren't any complex concepts to grasp (at LC level anyway).

stainluss

Piste wrote: »

I would have found it much, much harder to do medicine if I didn't have chemistry than if I didn't have biology.

I assume you did the 5 year. I think I may be ok as I chose the 6 year program including PreMed (which I hear is just the 3 sciences and some health professional lectures) NUIG.

I think I should have time to pick it up if I go there.

For anyone interested in Medicine, you may like to look at the college test papers here

I understand most of it is gibberish right now, I just enjoy looking at it to get a feel for what the exams are like, I think the Case Study ones are interesting, but probably quite difficult, too:p

sheep-go-baa

stainluss wrote: »

For anyone interested in Medicine, you may like to look at the college test papers here

I understand most of it is gibberish right now, I just enjoy looking at it to get a feel for what the exams are like, I think the Case Study ones are interesting, but probably quite difficult, too:p

I got nerdily excited looking at those! thank you for the motivation to study too!

straight_As

stainluss wrote: »

I assume you did the 5 year. I think I may be ok as I chose the 6 year program including PreMed (which I hear is just the 3 sciences and some health professional lectures) NUIG.

I think I should have time to pick it up if I go there.

For anyone interested in Medicine, you may like to look at the college test papers here

I understand most of it is gibberish right now, I just enjoy looking at it to get a feel for what the exams are like, I think the Case Study ones are interesting, but probably quite difficult, too:p

The amount of essay writing in those exams scared me. I always thought a subject like med would have been less descriptive and more fact, fact, fact. I suppose coherence is important though.

It was pretty exciting actually the way that I could just touch my fingertips off some of the topics. Like for the anatomy of the brain exam, there was something about acetylcholine, which those who do bio will know as a neurotransmitter, but due to the depth of the LC course, not much more.

God, I hope I get in. TIME TO STUDY!

stainluss

straight_As wrote: »

The amount of essay writing in those exams scared me. I always thought a subject like med would have been less descriptive and more fact, fact, fact. I suppose coherence is important though.

I doubt you would be marked for your actual essay writing skills, probably just the actual facts you have in it.. Hopefully anyway:o

Carsinian Thau

stainluss wrote: »

I doubt you would be marked for your actual essay writing skills, probably just the actual facts you have in it.. Hopefully anyway:o

Your understanding of the material will be shown by the way that you write about it. If you just start listing a load of facts, you'll get some marks but if you also discuss them, you'll get more.

zam

So, can I have a reasonable life doing medicine? After experiencing the past couple of months locked up studying I'm not so sure if I want this to be my life for the next 5/6 years and beyond. Will I be able to go out, keep up with my other friends doing other courses...?

Carsinian Thau

zam wrote: »

Will I be able to go out, keep up with my other friends doing other courses...?

Yes, you will be able to go out. No way in hell will you be able to go out as often as your other friends though.

As for having a reasonable life, no, not really. But you'll always have summers free (for the first few years anyway)!

theowen

Carsinian Thau wrote: »

Yes, you will be able to go out. No way in hell will you be able to go out as often as your other friends though.

As for having a reasonable life, no, not really. But you'll always have summers free (for the first few years anyway)!

Are you still glad you did Medicine?

Carsinian Thau

theowen wrote: »

Are you still glad you did Medicine?

For the most part, yes.

But I urge anyone considering it to really think hard about it. It's a big commitment. That said, if it's want you want, it's what you want and if you're meant for it, you'll love it (overall, nothing is perfect).

zam

Carsinian Thau wrote: »

For the most part, yes.

But I urge anyone considering it to really think hard about it. It's a big commitment. That said, if it's want you want, it's what you want and if you're meant for it, you'll love it (overall, nothing is perfect).

Agh. Well, obviously it sounds a lot of work but I suppose if I think about it, everything will require some work and it seems like the only thing that would genuinely interest me...

Has anyone dropped out?

Carsinian Thau

zam wrote: »

Has anyone dropped out?

Yes. Two left for other courses (interestingly, both went to Physics). And three have failed out. A number have also left my year due to needing to repeat but I actually don't know how many.

Also, this:

zam wrote: »

Agh. Well, obviously it sounds a lot of work but I suppose if I think about it, everything will require some work and it seems like the only thing that would genuinely interest me...

is a good attitude to have regarding if you think you want to do med or not.

And remember, if you change your mind when you're in there. You can leave. Medicine is a big commitment but it's also a voluntary one. No-one can make you stay on as a medical student/doctor.

If you think it's want you want, that you can be happy in it and that you'll be able for it, then you should go for it.

stainluss

Carsinian Thau wrote: »

But I urge anyone considering it to really think hard about it. It's a big commitment. That said, if it's want you want, it's what you want and if you're meant for it, you'll love it (overall, nothing is perfect).

Im kind of in two minds about it atm.

Did you always know you wanted to do it?

Like I didnt, but I like the busy atmosphere of a hospital and the thought of being a doctor..

Is it really hard? Like how much time per day should you spend studying (exc. lectures)? Im expecting an A1 in Biology and Physics (dont do Chem, though), would that show suitability in any way?

Carsinian Thau

stainluss wrote: »

Im kind of in two minds about it atm.

Did you always know you wanted to do it?

Like I didnt, but I like the busy atmosphere of a hospital and the thought of being a doctor..

Is it really hard? Like how much time per day should you spend studying (exc. lectures)? Im expecting an A1 in Biology and Physics (dont do Chem, though), would that show suitability in any way?

It's a big decision and it has the feel of "rest of your life" consequences so it'd be natural to have some doubts or to be reluctant to commit yourself to it without a lot of thought.

I didn't know that I always wanted to do it, it happened gradually over time. It's a big decision and needs mature thinking so arriving at a decision should take quite some time (e.g. those who say that they've wanted to "be a doctor since they were four" either made a lucky guess as a child or never properly thought about it again).

The question as to how hard it is is difficult to answer. It's really subjective. I know people that kill themselves with work all year round, never leaving the library, arriving at opening times, leaving when it closes and taking breaks only for lectures. I also know people who do relatively little and still do just fine. Mind you, those who do relatively little do spend a lot of time in the library too!
So really, the amount of time that you should spend studying is enough to allow you to learn as much as possible but less than the amount that will drive you to insanity or abject misery. Only experience will let you decide how much that is.

I got A1s in Physics and Biology and even though I did Chemistry, I was always quite weak at it (something which the foundation med course at NUIG did fix to a certain extent) and I'm still here, which could serve as a good indication for you.

One thing that I really think you should bear in mind is that we have selection criteria for a reason. Sometimes people get in that cannot academically or otherwise handle the course. But that's rare. If you do get in, chances are that you'll be able to handle the workload. It will not be fun and it will not be easy but you'd probably get through it.

The reason why you want to be a doctor will probably have the greatest bearing on your experience in medschool. Bad reason, terrible experience. Good reason, justifiable experience.

stainluss

Could anyone give me an example time table of an intern or other NCHD?

I hear like 60/70 hour week but im not really sure how it divides up. Do you get many weekends off? (I heard your on 1 in 4 but im guessing its more?)

Sorry about all the Q's trying to plan out my life before July 1st on top of all this LC nonsense:p

Carsinian Thau

stainluss wrote: »

Could anyone give me an example time table of an intern or other NCHD?

I hear like 60/70 hour week but im not really sure how it divides up. Do you get many weekends off? (I heard your on 1 in 4 but im guessing its more?)

Sorry about all the Q's trying to plan out my life before July 1st on top of all this LC nonsense:p

I think it depends on the particular speciality you're working with. I'm way too junior to know any of this for certain so I'll ask a friend of mine who will be finishing her internship in about 3/4 weeks (ironically on July 1st too!).

It is important to realise that med training takes 5/6 years (6 years in our cases Stainluss ) so things could be different by the time you get out there. The EWTD is something that springs to mind as having the potential to drastically change the playing field.

theowen

Carsinian Thau wrote: »

I think it depends on the particular speciality you're working with. I'm way too junior to know any of this for certain so I'll ask a friend of mine who will be finishing her internship in about 3/4 weeks (ironically on July 1st too!).

It is important to realise that med training takes 5/6 years (6 years in our cases Stainluss ) so things could be different by the time you get out there. The EWTD is something that springs to mind as having the potential to drastically change the playing field.

I heard about that too! Though I also saw in the same passage of info that these sort of things pop up now and again and are then squashed?

cheesehead

Listen to Piste and Carsinian Thau. It is good advice. I'm a physician in the US, but the training is similar enough across the board.

When given the opportunity to work with med students, I always ask them the same question: "Do you feel 'called' to this profession?" A difficult enough question for a person, particularly a young student. If you can answer affirmatively, it will help when confronted with difficult periods. One makes sacrifices during med school/internship/residency, but many Consultants/(Attendings in the US) will tell you those sacrifices remain, if not increase, after training is completed.

The medical profession offers financial opportunities, but many professions offer financial opportunities. As a bright and motivated student you have your pick of professions. Many times it is easy enough over time to see physicians who are 'called' to the profession and those who are likely doing it for 'other' reasons.

While medical school can be academically challenging, just continue to work hard and you'll be fine. The tricky part to medical school is getting into medical school. It reminds me of a saying we have in medical school here: "What do you call the student who graduates last in medical school? Answer: Doctor

Good luck on your journey

jumpguy

Piste wrote: »

Yeah in 4th med you're shunted around the country with a hospital buddy- somebody from your class you do all your placements with and live with (it can make or break friendships so I'm told!). RCSI owns a load of apartments in Waterford and I think Galway too and pays for accomodation for the other peripheral hospitals, you won't be expected to pay to move out, you'd never get a lease for a few weeks at a time anyway! As for early exposure you're up in Beaumont from the 2nd semester of 2nd med (the start of Intermediate Cycle 1). Though you're not actually in the hospital, but in a lecture theatre on the hospital site. It means you're by consultants who will come by to teach and I think they sometimes bring patients in.

I really like the sound of that tbh - having someone in the exact same boat as you for better or worse at the start sounds comforting tbh. :pac:

I'm wondering how does medicine differ for each university? For example, hospital placements, the course itself, the order in which the medicine course is completed, etc. If you do premed do you get more early in-hospital experience?

QueenOfLeon

jumpguy wrote: »

If you do premed do you get more early in-hospital experience?

We started premed in the middle of September and were in the hospital from October to December (just a few hours a week) taking patient histories and talking to interns. But I'm sure you've heard enough about NUIG from me already! I've no idea what the other premeds are like, but I've heard that there no hospital experience in UCD premed.

theowen

piratequeen wrote: »

28th June

6/7 am. Few coffees going that night methinks.

Mayoegian

I just have a quick Q! People say that the exams are very hard in Medicine and a lot struggle to pass. I have a great interest in Medicine, and if I do get in, I would work very hard and study consistently. Is it possible if you completely dedicate yourself, to get say 90% in your exams-or is that unheard of in Medicine?:o

Also, what makes it so difficult to get a high score in the exams? Is it the complexity of the subjects, the marking scheme or the broadness of the questions asked?

Thank you!:)

Piste

QueenOfLeon wrote: »

We started premed in the middle of September and were in the hospital from October to December (just a few hours a week) taking patient histories and talking to interns. But I'm sure you've heard enough about NUIG from me already! I've no idea what the other premeds are like, but I've heard that there no hospital experience in UCD premed.

In RCSI there's no patient contact at all in premed, it all starts halfway through second year in the hospital.

Mayoegian wrote: »

I just have a quick Q! People say that the exams are very hard in Medicine and a lot struggle to pass. I have a great interest in Medicine, and if I do get in, I would work very hard and study consistently. Is it possible if you completely dedicate yourself, to get say 90% in your exams-or is that unheard of in Medicine?:o

Also, what makes it so difficult to get a high score in the exams? Is it the complexity of the subjects, the marking scheme or the broadness of the questions asked?

Thank you!:)

Sure it's possible to get over 90%, it's just very, very hard. I know a guy who got over 90% in one or two exams. It's unusual though, you'd want to work very hard and have an amazing memory! I thought the exams were a lot tougher than they actually were because I didn't study for semester one, I studied like crazy for semester two and did very well overall, so if you put the work in you wont fail. I found them difficult because there's just so much to learn and sometimes I was unsure what exactly I needed to know. It all worked out well in the end though! The questions were very straightforward and the marking scheme was clear, it was just the enormousness of the material.

FridaysWell

Hey all,

I'm just doing my Leaving Cert now and I'm all in a muddle so apologies in advance if I don't make sense!
My dream was to do medicine. But unfortunately I don't do chemistry or physics, so I thought I was ruled out of every medicine course in the country. Or so I was told by my Guidance Counsellers.
Lo and behold I am told UCD medicine, and I think RCSI too, don't require you to have Chem (I do Bio), my guidance counseller tells me. Too late, beyond reg date. I probably should have researched a little but more into it but such is life! Dov'e la Vittoria??

Anywhos, I still really want to do medicine. If I had it down on my CAO I would work my ass off for it, but unfortunately I don't. I have other choices down too that interest me, but not as much as Medicine. Anyway I have TCD Science, TCD Medicinal Chem, two DCU science-type courses down, and Physio in RCSI, which I won't get into.
My plan was if I got into any of them, apart from Physio, I would do the 4 years and enter Post Grad medicine. Well for the two TCD ones anyway...
But I was thinking, if I end up getting the DCU ones, should I repeat and go straight into medicine, rather then settle for 2nd best, as they are last on my CAO.

It looks likely that I will repeat, depending on offers (if any)
I am expecting around 430-460 points. I don't know Never know how LC gonna turn out. I know if I was doing medicine I need at least 520, but I am capable of getting that if I repeat.

So what are peoples opinions?
Should I go for it? Should I repeat and try get inyo med? Am I cut out or the work in college?
I am an intelligent person (I hope) I love helping people, but I'm not the top-of-the year person you find entering medicine. I'm not that good

Its my dream, I would love it.

Chuchoter

FridaysWell wrote: »

Hey all,

I'm just doing my Leaving Cert now and I'm all in a muddle so apologies in advance if I don't make sense!
My dream was to do medicine. But unfortunately I don't do chemistry or physics, so I thought I was ruled out of every medicine course in the country. Or so I was told by my Guidance Counsellers.
Lo and behold I am told UCD medicine, and I think RCSI too, don't require you to have Chem (I do Bio), my guidance counseller tells me. Too late, beyond reg date. I probably should have researched a little but more into it but such is life! Dov'e la Vittoria??

Anywhos, I still really want to do medicine. If I had it down on my CAO I would work my ass off for it, but unfortunately I don't. I have other choices down too that interest me, but not as much as Medicine. Anyway I have TCD Science, TCD Medicinal Chem, two DCU science-type courses down, and Physio in RCSI, which I won't get into.
My plan was if I got into any of them, apart from Physio, I would do the 4 years and enter Post Grad medicine. Well for the two TCD ones anyway...
But I was thinking, if I end up getting the DCU ones, should I repeat and go straight into medicine, rather then settle for 2nd best, as they are last on my CAO.

It looks likely that I will repeat, depending on offers (if any)
I am expecting around 430-460 points. I don't know Never know how LC gonna turn out. I know if I was doing medicine I need at least 520, but I am capable of getting that if I repeat.

So what are peoples opinions?
Should I go for it? Should I repeat and try get inyo med? Am I cut out or the work in college?
I am an intelligent person (I hope) I love helping people, but I'm not the top-of-the year person you find entering medicine. I'm not that good

Its my dream, I would love it.

I think you can still change your CAO till the 1st of July. Get moving and good luck, just spend the whole summer getting the jist of LC chem and you won't be behind. Who knows, with the HPAT you might get in, it makes no sense to leave it off the CAO and then figure out you might have got in:D

FridaysWell

crayolastereo wrote: »

I think you can still change your CAO till the 1st of July. Get moving and good luck, just spend the whole summer getting the jist of LC chem and you won't be behind. Who knows, with the HPAT you might get in, it makes no sense to leave it off the CAO and then figure out you might have got in:D

I can't put medicine on now if thats what your saying. I didn't sit it. By the time I found out I could have had it down it was too late.

Mayoegian

FridaysWell wrote: »

I can't put medicine on now if thats what your saying. I didn't sit it. By the time I found out I could have had it down it was too late.

You can still do the HPAT next year, and combine that with your results this year!

FridaysWell

Mayoegian wrote: »

You can still do the HPAT next year, and combine that with your results this year!

Ah!! I see...

Thats if my results are good enough. And if they were I would just take a place in college, and do post grad medicine. But if they aren't good, or I don't get a good offer, should I repeat and do medicine??

Mayoegian

FridaysWell wrote: »

Ah!! I see...

Thats if my results are good enough. And if they were I would just take a place in college, and do post grad medicine. But if they aren't good, or I don't get a good offer, should I repeat and do medicine??

You need to make sure that Medicine is what you want. If you're sure of that, go for it. Don't settle for a course that you aren't fully happy with. Really it's up to you, but if you are ready to dedicate yourself fully next year repeating, doing plenty of study and keeping up with your work to achieve your primary aim-my advice would be to repeat and go for Medicine. However, you should really change your CAO and put Medicine as your first choice!:) Good luck with whatever you decide, there's plenty of help around here so ask all the questions you want!:D

I'm only going into 6th year though!

FridaysWell

Mayoegian wrote: »

You need to make sure that Medicine is what you want. If you're sure of that, go for it. Don't settle for a course that you aren't fully happy with. Really it's up to you, but if you are ready to dedicate yourself fully next year repeating, doing plenty of study and keeping up with your work to achieve your primary aim-my advice would be to repeat and go for Medicine. However, you should really change your CAO and put Medicine as your first choice!:) Good luck with whatever you decide, there's plenty of help around here so ask all the questions you want!:D

I'm only going into 6th year though!

Medicine is a restricted course, I cannot put it on my CAO now.

I really don't know what to do.

Medicine is what I really want. There are other courses on my CAO that I would take, like for example, Law and Economics. I don't know, I'm not the sort of person that is just restricted to one type of course/career path, and I don't think there is anything wrong with that.

wayhey

Hi FridaysWell.

I've put down Medicine, do Biology and Chemistry and I've sat the HPAT. I'm 19, done TY and just finished the Leaving today- so I'm no expert on the whole course or anything! But I have followed it really rigourously over the past 2 years. If you'd told me I was doing Chemistry in Leaving Cert. in 3rd Year I would've punched you in the face such was my love for the subject :rolleyes:

Anyways, are you sure you want to do Medicine for the right reasons? There's a couple of great threads, especially here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1274 I'd check "Read This Before You Become a Doctor" at the bottom. Over the past 2 years I've internally debated whether or not I want this but I'm sure now, even in the middle of exams. I can only tell you what I'm planning to do, depending on results etc.

If I get Med, great. If I don't, I might do Human Health & Disease or Science in Galway with a mind to do the graduate entry. But to be honest, I think it's likely I'll repeat especially if HPAT went well for me, which I'm hoping it did. Leaving Cert 2011 is the last year for the Irish course as we know it; after that An Triail is gone for some story about addiction I think and there's a few more changes too. I really want to go to college with my friends but this is the rest of my life. Any other course I choose is only leading to graduate medicine, which costs €10k+ a year with no summer breaks. Plus you'll have to borrow money for living expenses, etc. I don't want to put that upon my parents (who'd help out a bit I'm sure) or myself too willingly. I do think it's an option, but a really stressful one and it will be stressful enough starting out as an intern. I think sometimes we underestimate the GEP. 4 years in college is still a long time, and if your family home isn't close to a medical school I don't think it's an option. Besides: 4 years of Science or 1 year repeating, both with a view to Medicine. If I don't get it this year or next, that'll suck, but at least I'll have tried and it'll be no regrets later on if money's tight after graduation.

Have you looked at applying to UKCAS? Good luck with it anyway!!!

FridaysWell

wayhey wrote: »

Hi FridaysWell.

I've put down Medicine, do Biology and Chemistry and I've sat the HPAT. I'm 19, done TY and just finished the Leaving today- so I'm no expert on the whole course or anything! But I have followed it really rigourously over the past 2 years. If you'd told me I was doing Chemistry in Leaving Cert. in 3rd Year I would've punched you in the face such was my love for the subject :rolleyes:

Anyways, are you sure you want to do Medicine for the right reasons? There's a couple of great threads, especially here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1274 I'd check "Read This Before You Become a Doctor" at the bottom. Over the past 2 years I've internally debated whether or not I want this but I'm sure now, even in the middle of exams. I can only tell you what I'm planning to do, depending on results etc.

If I get Med, great. If I don't, I might do Human Health & Disease or Science in Galway with a mind to do the graduate entry. But to be honest, I think it's likely I'll repeat especially if HPAT went well for me, which I'm hoping it did. Leaving Cert 2011 is the last year for the Irish course as we know it; after that An Triail is gone for some story about addiction I think and there's a few more changes too. I really want to go to college with my friends but this is the rest of my life. Any other course I choose is only leading to graduate medicine, which costs €10k+ a year with no summer breaks. Plus you'll have to borrow money for living expenses, etc. I don't want to put that upon my parents (who'd help out a bit I'm sure) or myself too willingly. I do think it's an option, but a really stressful one and it will be stressful enough starting out as an intern. I think sometimes we underestimate the GEP. 4 years in college is still a long time, and if your family home isn't close to a medical school I don't think it's an option. Besides: 4 years of Science or 1 year repeating, both with a view to Medicine. If I don't get it this year or next, that'll suck, but at least I'll have tried and it'll be no regrets later on if money's tight after graduation.

Have you looked at applying to UKCAS? Good luck with it anyway!!!

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I've read that, I've been warned!:rolleyes:
I know (well at least I think I know) what studying and going into medicine entails. I know its is not glamarous, I know its hard, I know alot of people aren't cut out for it. But theres something about being a doctor or something, that appeals to me. Helping other people, doing a thankless job and that, I just love helping other people especially in the way that doctors do it. Its just a dream of mine.

I don't know what to do.

I'll just wait until results come out.

QueenOfLeon

FridaysWell wrote: »

My dream was to do medicine. But unfortunately I don't do chemistry or physics, so I thought I was ruled out of every medicine course in the country. Or so I was told by my Guidance Counsellers.

Oh dear...guidance counsellors :mad: You can do medicine in UCD, RCSI, and NUIG, if you do the premed year 1st, making medicine 6 years instead of 5. I've just finished premed (even though I had chemistry and biology), had the choice of doing 5 years but chose premed and was the best decision

Anyway, if you think medicine is what you REALLY want to do, the quicker and cheaper way (and possibly easier) is to go back, repeat the leaving (if you're not happy with this years points) and sit the HPAT. And take note of what wayhey said about money...university, even with "free fees", is very expensive. A possibly unnecessary 4 years of science will cost a lot of money before you even start into graduate entry medicine. Also, the GAMSAT exam to get into grad med is not a walk in the park...very competitive, so you might not even get that on the first try (its not an aptitude test like the HPAT, its one you have to study for).

If you're still very unsure about what course to do, the extra year to repeat the leaving will give you more time to think about it, as well as more options if you sit the hpat, and more points. One year really doesn't make all that much difference...I know if I was told that last year I wouldn't want to hear any of it, but at the moment, I would prefer to have my leaving cert repeated and hoping to get into a course I really want, than finished 1st year and "stuck" in a college course I didn't like. If you start a course and then drop out, going back means paying fees for first year (>€7000 depending on the course).

So, I would repeat, but of course its up to you. If you don't like the idea of having to take premed and doing 6 years in college you could take up chemistry if you decide to repeat and then go straight into first med? Although I would recommend premed 100%

wayhey

Can I just ask how you found premed beneficial, doing Bio and Chem already? You obviously did well in them to get Med so why Premed?

QueenOfLeon

wayhey wrote: »

Can I just ask how you found premed beneficial, doing Bio and Chem already? You obviously did well in them to get Med so why Premed?

I'll PM you with info on it that I've given to other people

Mayoegian

QueenOfLeon wrote: »

I'll PM you with info on it that I've given to other people

Ooh!! Would you mind PMing me too please!?:o:)

sillymoo

Mayoegian wrote: »

I just have a quick Q! People say that the exams are very hard in Medicine and a lot struggle to pass. I have a great interest in Medicine, and if I do get in, I would work very hard and study consistently. Is it possible if you completely dedicate yourself, to get say 90% in your exams-or is that unheard of in Medicine?:o

Also, what makes it so difficult to get a high score in the exams? Is it the complexity of the subjects, the marking scheme or the broadness of the questions asked?

Thank you!:)

Its is incredibly hard to get 90% in 3rd level courses, let alone medicine! Plus the grading system is different in uni level. Above 70% is a first which is the best you can get. so it does not matter if you got 70% or 90%, you have gotten a first full stop.

I am going into 4th year and I have to say that I have had a few wtf am I doing moments this year (now that we are based in the hospitals we see the life of a doctor in full). The course is difficult, the hours are long (especially when you start in the hospitals) and you need to be motivated and dedicated. The course gets harder as you move along but more practical and enjoyable.

In saying all this I am glad I chose the medicine route and cant imagine doing anything else. You need to know your reasons for doing it as they will keep you motivated when times get tough.

wayhey

QueenOfLeon is a legend for all her help and every other Med student that takes time to talk to us potentials

Can I just ask, publicly here, why would you advocate your college over another? What do you like about it? What do you hate? What are the support services/lectures like? Do you get much lab/dissection time?