How Competitive Is Dental Science At TCD??

SharpshooterTom

Hi all

I'm just enquiring about the competitiveness of Dental Science at TCD.

I'm a student from the north who's applying down south with repeated A levels. I was told I needed the equivalent of 580 points which I thought was 1A*3A's (A* = 150, A = 135 plus 25 bonus points for maths).

But actually I rang up and they said to be competitive I would need 4A*'s and even its random selection as I would be up against all other A level candidates.

Is it really that hard? So I could get the greatest grades possible and still not be accepted?

The problems is also it will take a couple of years to repeat my a levels and I would be worried it will be MORE competitive even in two years time!

Is Dental Science that hard to get into? Almost impossible?

andrew

Gnobe wrote: »

Hi all

I'm just enquiring about the competitiveness of Dental Science at TCD.

I'm a student from the north who's applying down south with repeated A levels. I was told I needed the equivalent of 580 points which I thought was 1A*3A's (A* = 150, A = 135 plus 25 bonus points for maths).

But actually I rang up and they said to be competitive I would need 4A*'s and even its random selection as I would be up against all other A level candidates.

Is it really that hard? So I could get the greatest grades possible and still not be accepted?

The problems is also it will take a couple of years to repeat my a levels and I would be worried it will be MORE competitive even in two years time!

Is Dental Science that hard to get into? Almost impossible?

The maximum amount of points you can get in the leaving cert is 600 points; 580 is close enough to the greatest points possible, so I think it's the case that it is that hard to get into. Though I don't really understand why you'd still be subject to random selection if you got greater than the 580 points equivalent to get in.

Abby19

These are they points requirements for recent years. Remember you won't be the only person with the bonus points for maths.
The HPAT requirement for medicine appears to have driven up the points for other health related courses since its introduction in 2009.

Year Points
2011 570 * (Not all on this points score were offered places)
2010 580 * (Not all on this points score were offered places)
2009 570 * (Not all on this points score were offered places)

Anita Blow

It's random selection as more people get the relevant points than there are places. As far as I know they only admit around 15 people from Ireland/EU and a large % of the class is international.

It's likely to be even more competitive this year due to the extra 25 points for Honours maths

languagenerd

Think about it this way - the points are usually around 570-580 (with not everyone on those points getting in), but this year almost everyone applying will have the extra 25 for Maths, meaning the points could hit 600 this year (which is supposed to be the maximum points available from the CAO, not sure what they're going to do with the extra 25). I assume that's why you were told you needed to get full marks to be competitive. I think the 580 that you were quoted was a previous year's points, without taking the extra points for maths into consideration.


It's still worth applying to, though - you never know how things will pan out!

SharpshooterTom

I was told they were going to compare my results with other a level candidates and not the leaving cert candidates as they have a quota of how many a level students they let in (I think thats what she was telling me), and thats why I need 4A*'s.

Even then it can go down to random selection or something she said with the 4*'s. Not sure.

Like I say I'm going to be applying in two years time (with repeated a levels) in 2014 so I hope it doesn't get even more competitive by then.

I hoping to apply to all Medicine courses in the south anyway as well so I know need around 4A*'s to have a chance in that too.

Gordon Gecko

I'm doing Dental Science at the moment and was talking to one of the Nordies in my year and he said that there's people in the year who got in with 3A*s and an A. He was telling me that it's all down to competition, i.e. what the other Nordies applying have. But getting 4A*s would simplify things and more or less guarantee the place.

That said I'd say Queens or Cork would be far less annoying places to do Dentistry (as they don't have Problem Based Learning) even if they aren't as well regarded in terms of the degree.

ballsymchugh

Gordon Gecko wrote: »

That said I'd say Queens or Cork would be far less annoying places to do Dentistry (as they don't have Problem Based Learning) even if they aren't as well regarded in terms of the degree.

You're talking through your hoop with that last statement. The degree in dublin is no greater than the other two. The students in each place like to think their place is better, but at the end when you're out in the working world, it's the exact same.

Gordon Gecko

ballsymchugh wrote: »

You're talking through your hoop with that last statement. The degree in dublin is no greater than the other two. The students in each place like to think their place is better, but at the end when you're out in the working world, it's the exact same.

Keep thinking that pal...........

ballsymchugh

Gordon Gecko wrote: »

ballsymchugh wrote: »

You're talking through your hoop with that last statement. The degree in dublin is no greater than the other two. The students in each place like to think their place is better, but at the end when you're out in the working world, it's the exact same.

Keep thinking that pal...........

I've been working for ten years, the degree makes zero difference. what way do you think it helps? Seriously?

Delusions of grandeur methinks....pal.

SharpshooterTom

I can't apply to Queens or to any UK university because they don't accept repeated a levels.

So thats why I'm applying down south. I'd prefer down south to mainland uk anyway.