Veterinary Graduate Entry

ImRebecca

Hi I would greatly appreciate it if anyone could tell me whether these courses are suitable to get into veterinary through the Graduate path.

Drugs and medical analysis
http://lit.ie/Courses/LC266

Applied Biology
http://lit.ie/Courses/LC260

Equine Science
http://www3.ul.ie/courses/EquineScience.shtml

If not, is there any other courses that would be suitable in Limerick? Thanks in advance.

Anastazia

Hi Im Rebecca,

You can have a honors degree in any subject to get into the 5 years route. To get into the 4 year route it has to be a biological, biomedical or Animal Science degree. So a degree in Equine Science would be eligible for the 4 year route.

I'm doing Equine Science! then so I'll be applying as a graduate!
So I might see you there! LOL

hames

Contact John Buckley in the programme office for confirmation

vetprogrammes@ucd.ie

it looks as though all of those courses should be appropriate.

However, I would say that it might be desirable to veer toward the pure science / biomedicine end of things if your main intention is to apply for the accelerated graduate course.

The courses you will be 'bypassing' will be of this nature, and may require a more indepth knowledge of biochemistry and physiology and it is that sort of scientific aptitude that you will be assessed on. Skills acquired in equine science like animal handling, bandaging, and clinical skills are not seen to be of major advantage in that tutors always presume incoming students to be 100% ignorant in animal handling, observation and clinical techniques.

Wisco

Something very science based- biology or biochem are good choices. Don't forget you need to do well on the GAMSAT to get in too, and having a strong science background will help you there. Also, whether you do 4 or 5 year grad entry, the fees are the same (currently 78k, split over 4 or 5 years). If you haven't started already, I'd be looking at trying to organise funding/loans/etc, unless you're lucky enough to be independently wealthy

hyper_on_water

It mightn't be ideal, but one of my lectures in UCD VetMed would always advise repeating the LC over doing the grad route... Works out at half the price at the very least.

Medme

+1 for repeating the LC.
Hope this doesnt sound like bad news but from my experience at least, the reality is that many of the graduates that get places have not only an undergrad but often a masters, even PhDs in science related courses. So with 'only' an animal science degree one would guess you would need a very good GAMSAT to be realistically in with a strong chance.
If your serious about vet, repeat the LC, it'll be quicker overall and as hyper said its waaaaay cheaper

yesman2000

In terms of getting into the 5-year graduate programme, realistically how difficult is it? I'd be very grateful if someone could give some guidelines on the GAMSAT score needed, amount of work experience needed and a few examples of some characteristics that could set one apart from the rest

Medme

Worth contacting the program office - link is earlier in thread.

When I was there all the grads were academically extremely strong, science based undergrads plus masters/PhDs and/or clinical experience in non-vet health professions. Unless its changed significantly in recent years the emphasis seemed to be on academia. Interestingly but maybe unsurprisingly i know a few of these grad entrant vets that went into vet academic/further research. Hope that helps a bit!

yesman2000

Medme wrote: »

Worth contacting the program office - link is earlier in thread.

When I was there all the grads were academically extremely strong, science based undergrads plus masters/PhDs and/or clinical experience in non-vet health professions. Unless its changed significantly in recent years the emphasis seemed to be on academia. Interestingly but maybe unsurprisingly i know a few of these grad entrant vets that went into vet academic/further research. Hope that helps a bit!

Thanks Medme, you're right about contacting directly- definetly the best thing to do. I've a fairly strong academic background. Have academic scolarships for every year of undergrad and potentially a masters when applying. However, it's in a field far removed from that of veterinary. Thought this was the whole point of the 5-year degree, or is it mainly aimed at those with a science background but not a biological one ?

Medme

No prob at all.
Re 4/5 year program, there was no 4year program when I was there so all grads did the 5 year degree, even 2 with biological PhDs. Another Q for the program office :-) I could be completely wrong but I would assume that you will be competing for entry alongside grads with a science background in the 5 year course also, likely due to demand/availability of places etc. I'm guessing once you have the necessary LC science matric requirements and whatever else your technically on an even score with all grads, but in reality I'd say you would need to have a strong GAMSAT and be ready to make a fairly decent case for when the science background Q pops up in interview. I'm not for one second trying to put you off btw! If its what you want, absolutely go for it!

Btw could you apply as an undergrad, ie with your LC? It's by far the easiest way in!

yesman2000

Medme wrote: »

No prob at all.
Re 4/5 year program, there was no 4year program when I was there so all grads did the 5 year degree, even 2 with biological PhDs. Another Q for the program office :-) I could be completely wrong but I would assume that you will be competing for entry alongside grads with a science background in the 5 year course also, likely due to demand/availability of places etc. I'm guessing once you have the necessary LC science matric requirements and whatever else your technically on an even score with all grads, but in reality I'd say you would need to have a strong GAMSAT and be ready to make a fairly decent case for when the science background Q pops up in interview. I'm not for one second trying to put you off btw! If its what you want, absolutely go for it!

Btw could you apply as an undergrad, ie with your LC? It's by far the easiest way in!

Yeah LC looking like the best way to go, unfortuantely. Very daunting. 30-odd points off the mark from my result a few years ago, bloody awkward going back doing it all over again

Anastazia

yesman2000,
For the five year route your degree can be completely not science related. I know a lot of people who got in with just a their bachelors. Once you get a fair bit of experience in a vets, get 53 or more on the GAMSAT and a high mark on your bachelors or have a masters if your undergrad degree score is low, then there is no reason that your will not be home free!:)
This is my experience in what I have seen with the successful applicants:rolleyes:

yesman2000

Thanks Anastazia,

Great to hear that, a little bit more hopeful now

Anastazia

your welcome:) Out of the 5 applicants that I know who got in, only one had a masters; )

Wisco

I think you'll need to aim higher than 53 on GAMSAT. Where did you get this figure from? I mention this bc one of my current classmates had I think a 55 or so and didn't get in on her first go. She reckons GAMSAT is the key part of the application, since as soon as she raised her score she got in. There are no interviews (unless that's changed). I'm not a science background at all and I got in on my first try. The other grads are mixed- one PhD, others just undergrads. I believe there are 5 places for grad entry on the 5 yr program.

Anastazia

Wisco wrote: »

I think you'll need to aim higher than 53 on GAMSAT. Where did you get this figure from? I mention this bc one of my current classmates had I think a 55 or so and didn't get in on her first go. She reckons GAMSAT is the key part of the application, since as soon as she raised her score she got in. There are no interviews (unless that's changed). I'm not a science background at all and I got in on my first try. The other grads are mixed- one PhD, others just undergrads. I believe there are 5 places for grad entry on the 5 yr program.

It's from the UCD admin office, but maybe they were referring to the 4 year route, an the 5 year route's got to be over 55 on the GAMSAT cause there is less places then the 4 year route..

Wisco

Hmm, maybe that's it.
I suppose you have to remember that admission is based on a committee looking at your application (with GAMSAT) so its kind of at their discretion too and I'd imagine it depends on the calibre of the applicants and their scores in a particular year.
Perhaps 53 is a minimum score, but if most applicants are getting higher scores, those people get accepted?

Anastazia

yeah, I'd say so.. Can you remember what you got for GAMSAT?

Wisco

58. My friend got in on a 59 after resitting.

Anastazia

cool, thanks! Will talk to ya later, have to head off now!:)