RCSI Mature Student Medicine Offers

acfan

Hi Everyone!

I know I was told at the interview that successful applicants will be notified by the CAO in August but was just wondering if anyone knows do RCSI informally let successful applicants know they've been accepted prior to August??
Would it even be appropriate to contact them to ask?
The waiting is killing me!

Thanks

Larianne

I would call them up and find out. No harm.

You're title reads wrong though. RCSI don't take mature student applicants, only graduate applicants. A peeve of mine! :cool:

acfan

They are taking mature applicants this year.....I'm ineligible for graduate entry
Thank you for your reply though!

Jessibelle

ooh let us know how you get on acfan! best of luck

Larianne

Wow! My mistake. I did not know this. That is great news! Do you know if it's just for Medicine or Pharmacy and Physiotherapy as well?

acfan

Thanks Jessibelle! Any word on your end yet??

Jessibelle

Just for med this year, (they're taking on 15 students) but plans to open to mature students for the other courses from next year. Least thats what the registrar told me

acfan

Larianne wrote: »

Wow! My mistake. I did not know this. That is great news! Do you know if it's just for Medicine or Pharmacy and Physiotherapy as well?

Its about time they started taking mature applicants! They're allocated 15 places this year for the 'mature entry pathway'
I'm not entirely sure if they are doing it for Pharmacy and Physiotherapy as well....I don't think so.....think they are just testing the waters with medicine!

Jessibelle

acfan wrote: »

Thanks Jessibelle! Any word on your end yet??

I'm shortlisted for one, missed out by 3 places on another and am terrified to ring RCSI cause I'm an emotional coward :rolleyes: (therefore want you to do my dirty work for me please and thank you )

Larianne

Jessibelle wrote: »

Just for med this year, (they're taking on 15 students) but plans to open to mature students for the other courses from next year. Least thats what the registrar told me

Thanks for that! Why they haven't before I don't know!?!?!

Jessibelle

Larianne wrote: »

Thanks for that! Why they haven't before I don't know!?!?!

If I was in any way cynical, the current recession and the €15k+ a year fees would possibly cross my mind, but only if I was cynical....:p

acfan

Jessibelle wrote: »

I'm shortlisted for one, missed out by 3 places on another and am terrified to ring RCSI cause I'm an emotional coward :rolleyes: (therefore want you to do my dirty work for me please and thank you )

Wow Congrats! Thats fantastic! I think I might just call RCSI......the anticipation is absolutely killing me! How did you find the interview?

acfan

Jessibelle wrote: »

If I was in any way cynical, the current recession and the €15k+ a year fees would possibly cross my mind, but only if I was cynical....:p

My sentiments exactly!

Jessibelle

Easily one of the weirdest I had, they were lovely lovely people, but in the first room, the first interviewer was raving about my time management skills and didn't let me speak for about 5 min, in the second I'd two registrars just off shift about 6 hours, who wanted to talk about my hobbies (Airsoft), my family (some are involved in the medical field) and did I know the difference between a regional and inner city hospital. Still, even if I didn't get it, I left that interview feeling fabulous about myself

How was yours??

acfan

I had a very similar experience! I thought everyone was lovely but I found the two registrars to be really funny....they kinda just wanted to have a chat about life! It was not what I expected at all. Fingers crossed we'll both get in

Jessibelle

acfan wrote: »

I had a very similar experience! I thought everyone was lovely but I found the two registrars to be really funny....they kinda just wanted to have a chat about life! It was not what I expected at all. Fingers crossed we'll both get in

Oh in this year or the next I shall have my admissions (I had a touch of the Gladiator syndrome earlier in the year and it flares up every now n then), and yes, hopefully, then we can huddle in the corner and gasp in awe at the really really smart 18 year olds:eek:

Larianne

Jessibelle wrote: »

Oh in this year or the next I shall have my admissions (I had a touch of the Gladiator syndrome earlier in the year and it flares up every now n then), and yes, hopefully, then we can huddle in the corner and gasp in awe at the really really smart 18 year olds:eek:

They're not really really smart. They are just good at learning off essays. :rolleyes:


:pac:

Best of luck you guys!! Not long now!

acfan

Sounds like a plan !! Seems we have the same attitude to this!:D It will most definitely be this year or next year...preferably this year! I'll let you know how I get on with contacting RCSI....that is if I can work up the courage to call them!:eek:

acfan

Larianne wrote: »

They're not really really smart. They are just good at learning off essays. :rolleyes:


:pac:

Best of luck you guys!! Not long now!

Thanks Larianne!

Jessibelle

Larianne wrote: »

They're not really really smart. They are just good at learning off essays. :rolleyes:


:pac:

Best of luck you guys!! Not long now!

Ta kindly
I was planning on crushing them with life experience but essays are good too....:D

jeanie123

Hi in relation to mature student entry to RSCI for Medicine- I rang them last year and was told that I had to have the matriculation requirements plus the points requirements (480) in the same sitting of the leaving certificate? Is this the case? I have both but across two leaving certificates so on that basis was told I was not eligible to apply, I had lots of relevant work experience though. UCD would not let me apply at all as already a graduate. I did sit the HPAT though this year? Is there any point in applying for next year?

seniorolaighin

Larianne wrote: »

They're not really really smart. They are just good at learning off essays. :rolleyes:


:pac:

Best of luck you guys!! Not long now!

I hope ye have a realistic view and knowledge of what these courses entail and beyond this what working life in the irish health care service as doctor is like - tough and unthankful.

Jessibelle

jeanie123 wrote: »

Hi in relation to mature student entry to RSCI for Medicine- I rang them last year and was told that I had to have the matriculation requirements plus the points requirements (480) in the same sitting of the leaving certificate? Is this the case? I have both but across two leaving certificates so on that basis was told I was not eligible to apply, I had lots of relevant work experience though. UCD would not let me apply at all as already a graduate. I did sit the HPAT though this year? Is there any point in applying for next year?

There is, they do take work experience into account quite considerably, and, afaik (though I'd check this to be 100%) the 480 points in the Leaving are not as important if you're a graduate applying as a mature student. The matriculation requirements though (ie a c in a lab science or a c in maths or whatever) do all have to be satisfied in the same sitting for some reason.
UCD, and RCSI (I think UCC also but not 100%) won't let you apply as a mature student/undergrad if you reach the requirements for the Grad entry program (ie 2:1 degree or above in any discipline) but if you don't qualify for that, they can't stop you applying as a mature/undergrad, so fire applications in there too If you've any more questions, sure drop me a pm and if I can answer them I will

acfan

seniorolaighin wrote: »

I hope ye have a realistic view and knowledge of what these courses entail and beyond this what working life in the irish health care service as doctor is like - tough and unthankful.

Do you really think that we would spend so much time, money and energy applying to such a course without appropriately arming ourselves?!?! Its ridiculous to think that someone would return to college as a mature student to study for 5/6 years and pay crazy money to do it without properly informing themselves in advance of what the course and the job itself would be like. I find your comment deeply insulting!

Zenith23

Larianne wrote: »

They're not really really smart. They are just good at learning off essays. :rolleyes:


:pac:

Best of luck you guys!! Not long now!

Oh really? Aptitude in a test like the HPAT is the same thing as learning off essays? :rolleyes:

Traderdc

Hi - I realise this thread has been inactive for a while but I wonder if anybody can help me, particularily afcan and Jessibelle, thats presuming you guys got offers from RCSI. I sat the HPAT this year and have applied to RCSI. Hopefully, I will get an interview. Unfortunately due to current (non-medical) work pressures I haven't had a lot of time to work on getting some experience through voluntary work. I need to get on top of this asap so I am looking for the best place to get experience that would help my application to RCSI. I am based in Dublin and any suggestions are very much appreciated.

Jessibelle

Hey Traderdc!
Acfan got in I didn't but I'm possibly maybe reapplying this year Best and easiest place I found for experience are the Mater/James and James Connolly hspitals, in that they all processed my applications really quickly. There was a 3 week delay in one though for a garda check. I also help out in my local nursing home and daycare centre which was arranged through just ringing and asking.
Good Luck

Traderdc

Thanks for the reply Jessibelle and better luck next time if you do reapply. I will contact those hospitals and give it a go. Did you find the experience useful? What was it that you were doing and were you volunteering for long in the hospitals?

panda100

Am surprised they let people do work experience in the hospitals??! I studied medicine in university, and I'm not allowed in to do work experience as a medical social worker? How did you get in to do work experience JessieBelle?

And gardai clearance takes about 6 months at the moment, not 3 weeks.

Traderdc, If you really want to impress there's a gp called Austin O'Carroll who runs a homeless persons clinic during the week.He is also the director of the Dublin city GP training scheme. Send him an email and inquire about doing voluntary work with him.

Jessibelle

I arranged the experience through the volenteer organisations in the hospitals, just rang up the hospitals themselves and they sent out forms etc to be filled. I will have to admit though I've been doing it for nearly 3 years now, so the garda checking could easily take a lot longer. The volenteer organisations are still there though. You start off in a general visting capacity, i.e you visit patients who may not have many vistrs/family, run small errands and organise/run ward entertainment events and for me anyways it developed on from that.
As a total aside, how're you finding the sw going Panda??

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

footie10 wrote: »

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

acfan wrote: »

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

Joeyjoejoe83 wrote: »

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

ontheditch2 wrote: »

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

acfan wrote: »

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

Joeyjoejoe83 wrote: »

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

Allie79 wrote: »

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

acfan wrote: »

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!

Allie79

Mature entry is the option for those of us who don't qualify for the graduate pathway (in my case poor marks!). If you qualify for graduate you're ineligible for mature.

Joeyjoejoe83

Hey guys, got an email today about being called for an interview, so just to clarify they dont contact by post but by email. Good luck everyone, I'm off to ask myself "why do I want to be a doctor?" and think of a meaningful answer! :eek::eek::eek::eek:

ontheditch2

Congrats Joey, looks like bad news for me so, no email received:(.

Best of luck with the interview. You might get a chance to post up how you get on and pass on some information for the rest of us.

Allie79

Congrats Joey, nothing for me either so I guess it's back to the drawing board for next years applications!

acfan

Joeyjoejoe83 wrote: »

Hey guys, got an email today about being called for an interview, so just to clarify they dont contact by post but by email. Good luck everyone, I'm off to ask myself "why do I want to be a doctor?" and think of a meaningful answer! :eek::eek::eek::eek:

Congratulations! Best of luck with the interview!

Joeyjoejoe83

Thanks guys, feel like an ass now as hoped you'd all be onboard too. Its still early days, dont give up yet. I will let you know how it goes when the time comes if it is any help to you.