GAMSAT 2017

Baxtrax

Where you guys at?

Maat

I am thinking of doing it...

sReq | uTeK

Sat it in 2015 and got 49, did about a months study with no science background but just wanted to see what it was like. I'm thinking about doing some serious preparation now and sitting it in Liverpool/London in the September.

Was doing a business degree which is finished until September (1 year left) its a part time course but with Kids it does take up a significant chunk of time. So I feel I won't be able to sit the 2017 one with much study done so I'm going to use this summer to get down to some nitty gritty. I'd be fairly confident after scoring 49 that I could up it to a potential place.

My real question is that at 30 in a well paid job is it worth my while.

Maat

sReq | uTeK wrote: »

My real question is that at 30 in a well paid job is it worth my while.

I guess that's only something you can answer.

Personally I feel if something is a passion of yours its worth pursuing. Even if it doesn't work out you know you tried and you can live without regret. Money is wonderful of course, but it isn't everything.

That's brilliant you did so well with only a months study, I am jealous because I know it will take me much longer to get ready to take the test!

Maat

sReq | uTeK wrote: »

My real question is that at 30 in a well paid job is it worth my while.

I guess that's only something you can answer.

Personally I feel if something is a passion of yours it is worth pursuing. Even if it doesn't work out you know you tried and you can live without regret. Money is wonderful of course, but it isn't everything.

That's brilliant you did so well with only a months study, I am jealous because I know it will take me much longer to get ready to take the test!

sReq | uTeK

Maat wrote: »

I guess that's only something you can answer.

Personally I feel if something is a passion of yours it is worth pursuing. Even if it doesn't work out you know you tried and you can live without regret. Money is wonderful of course, but it isn't everything.

That's brilliant you did so well with only a months study, I am jealous because I know it will take me much longer to get ready to take the test!

Oh I agree, if I was young free and single it wouldn't enter my mind, and I'd be knuckling down for the summer with the aim of medical school in 2017, the issue arises when you have a young family and have to keep a roof over not just over your head but theirs

Don't be Jealous, I may just have fluked a lot of the science, if I have to give thought and work out an actual answer things may decline instead of going up

I found the Griffiths book fantastic in terms of science topicss to focus on, if you know what he tells you and can do questions based on it, I think the science will be doable, the rest I'm not remotely worried about.

It's a shame that the starting pay for such a required and important profession is lower than a Luas driver who requires limited qualifications and 7 weeks training. Doctors, Nurses and Teacher really do have a raw deal when you look at the private sector (PS: I do work in the private sector )

I dont want to turn this into a debate about potential earnings, but if the starting salary was raised in Medicine I'd be inclined to lean towards it.

Maat

sReq | uTeK wrote: »

Oh I agree, if I was young free and single it wouldn't enter my mind, and I'd be knuckling down for the summer with the aim of medical school in 2017, the issue arises when you have a young family and have to keep a roof over not just over your head but theirs

Don't be Jealous, I may just have fluked a lot of the science, if I have to give thought and work out an actual answer things may decline instead of going up

I found the Griffiths book fantastic in terms of science topicss to focus on, if you know what he tells you and can do questions based on it, I think the science will be doable, the rest I'm not remotely worried about.

It's a shame that the starting pay for such a required and important profession is lower than a Luas driver who requires limited qualifications and 7 weeks training. Doctors, Nurses and Teacher really do have a raw deal when you look at the private sector (PS: I do work in the private sector )

I dont want to turn this into a debate about potential earnings, but if the starting salary was raised in Medicine I'd be inclined to lean towards it.

Yes it's a real travesty that all the hard work, dedication, stress and strain is not at all reflected in the salary.

Yes I have heard people who have families and have chosen to follow this direction, but it is difficult and it depends on your financial situation. I know UL say they have accommodation designed in case GEM students are coming with families etc. I still think that if you can meet your commitment to providing for a family (which is difficult and takes a lot of planning etc.) then it is still worth pursuing what you would really like to do.

I have heard of people going back in their forties and fifties to study medicine, so if you find that it is not possible right now it is not necessarily the end of the story. You could save for a few more years to help absorb some of the heavy cost of changing career.

I do hope you can get some more replies which address doing medicine with a family! I am 26 but no dependents etc. so it's easier for me.

Maybe have a look on UK/AUS-based boards if you haven't already...I am sure I have seen several discussions about this type of situation.

Thanks for the advice on the science section. I appreciate it!

Baxtrax

Anyone studying for the Gamsat while working?

screweddoc

sReq | uTeK wrote: »

Sat it in 2015 and got 49, did about a months study with no science background but just wanted to see what it was like. I'm thinking about doing some serious preparation now and sitting it in Liverpool/London in the September.

Was doing a business degree which is finished until September (1 year left) its a part time course but with Kids it does take up a significant chunk of time. So I feel I won't be able to sit the 2017 one with much study done so I'm going to use this summer to get down to some nitty gritty. I'd be fairly confident after scoring 49 that I could up it to a potential place.

My real question is that at 30 in a well paid job is it worth my while.

You would be taking four years out of working (and not earning), and paying fees of over 60 grand to start a career that pays less than minimum wage!!!

screweddoc

Maat wrote: »

Yes it's a real travesty that all the hard work, dedication, stress and strain is not at all reflected in the salary.

Yes I have heard people who have families and have chosen to follow this direction, but it is difficult and it depends on your financial situation. I know UL say they have accommodation designed in case GEM students are coming with families etc. I still think that if you can meet your commitment to providing for a family (which is difficult and takes a lot of planning etc.) then it is still worth pursuing what you would really like to do.

I have heard of people going back in their forties and fifties to study medicine, so if you find that it is not possible right now it is not necessarily the end of the story. You could save for a few more years to help absorb some of the heavy cost of changing career.

I do hope you can get some more replies which address doing medicine with a family! I am 26 but no dependents etc. so it's easier for me.

Maybe have a look on UK/AUS-based boards if you haven't already...I am sure I have seen several discussions about this type of situation.

Thanks for the advice on the science section. I appreciate it!

Yes, I think it is very important that people know what they are getting themselves into when they make the commitment to enter a career in medicine in Ireland. In the first few years as a doctor, you will be paid less than the legal hourly minimum wage. It can take 10 years or more to become a consultant and most consultants get a net pay of about €3900 per month. Considering the hours they work, this amounts to an hourly rate that is still less than luas / bus / train drivers.

Maat

screweddoc wrote: »

Yes, I think it is very important that people know what they are getting themselves into when they make the commitment to enter a career in medicine in Ireland. In the first few years as a doctor, you will be paid less than the legal hourly minimum wage. It can take 10 years or more to become a consultant and most consultants get a net pay of about €3900 per month. Considering the hours they work, this amounts to an hourly rate that is still less than luas / bus / train drivers.

Screweddoc I've seen your posts before about the financial burden of doing GEM and your username suggests that you may have first-hand experience of this.

Would you consider sharing some details about your own personal experience? I think it would be helpful for everyone to hear!

hallsp

I'm thinking about starting a study group in Dublin if people are interested? I have a background in physics and the humanities, and I'm currently trying to re-learn LC chemistry and start biology from scratch. If other people have other strengths, a study group might be mutually beneficial?

Maat

hallsp wrote: »

I'm thinking about starting a study group in Dublin if people are interested? I have a background in physics and the humanities, and I'm currently trying to re-learn LC chemistry and start biology from scratch. If other people have other strengths, a study group might be mutually beneficial?

Hi we have a study group going here. If you'd like to join send me a link to your fb profile and I will add you to the group!

miissjuly

Hello, I'm planning on sitting the gamsat in March actually haven't started studying properly yet don't know where to begin from.. a bit clueless. I would love to hear from you guys what you're doing and how? What materials are you guys using and how much study you're doing?

Gillibean

Where to start???

sReq | uTeK

Gillibean wrote: »

Where to start???

Buy the Griffiths guide. It breaks down the exam for you and what you should look to study for the science section and the materials you should look to purchase.

Baxtrax

Ive got all the material just a matter of getting started! Starting to think whether it will be worth more than what Im doinb currently

Dr. Sunsh1ne

Maat wrote: »

hallsp wrote: »

I'm thinking about starting a study group in Dublin if people are interested? I have a background in physics and the humanities, and I'm currently trying to re-learn LC chemistry and start biology from scratch. If other people have other strengths, a study group might be mutually beneficial?

Hi we have a study group going here. If you'd like to join send me a link to your fb profile and I will add you to the group!

Hiya. I, too, am interested in the study group. I'm based in north Dublin. Would you mind sending me the details please? Thanks a mil in advance. A

finickyferret

I'm in 3rd year of a Biochemistry degree and looking at applying to UK universities, so will probably take the exam in March.
Starting to get panicky over money already, given when I apply I'll only be 23 with around 7-10k saved. Not sure whether to take a year out, work fulltime, study for GAMSAT and save more money.

isntlee

The expenses are probably going to run to €30k, you might just have enough if you plan on working full-time in the summers. Just starting the GAMSAT study myself, and if there's a study group in Dublin just send me details.

topper_harley2

Hey, I just came across this crowd careerosphere (www.careerosphere.ie) from a facebook ad, they do careers talks on a few areas it appears. They're doing their medicine talk next Monday night in Stillorgan, one of the things it says they look at is the cost of graduate medicine. Might be worth a look, haven't been to any one of their talks so can't say if they're any good or not. Cheers.

sReq | uTeK

*snip*

There is a sticky for this stuff....

Why on earth would you derail 3 threads? The mind boggles!

Kurtosis

Mod note

Spam posts deleted. In future cases posters please report such posts rather than responding on thread.

Dr. Sunsh1ne

hallsp wrote: »

I'm thinking about starting a study group in Dublin if people are interested? I have a background in physics and the humanities, and I'm currently trying to re-learn LC chemistry and start biology from scratch. If other people have other strengths, a study group might be mutually beneficial?

Hi. Did you form a study group?

finickyferret

Just gotten my hands on some PDF copies of Des O Neill, so hopefully that'll help me get stuck in. Any other recommendations?
I'm 3/4 through a science degree, so I'll probably just use Khanacademy to brush up on concepts from first year.

ChromosomeT

finickyferret wrote: »

Just gotten my hands on some PDF copies of Des O Neill, so hopefully that'll help me get stuck in. Any other recommendations?
I'm 3/4 through a science degree, so I'll probably just use Khanacademy to brush up on concepts from first year.

any chance the Des O'Neil notes could be kindly passed on to a fellow science student?:o

sReq | uTeK

ChromosomeT wrote: »

any chance the Des O'Neil notes could be kindly passed on to a fellow science student?:o

Seconded if they're available

finickyferret

Hey ChromosomeT and sReq | uTeK, I actually got the notes through one of the Facebook study groups.
Search Gamsat 2017 Study Group and you should be able to find it. It was through a dropbox link, but I don't have my laptop at the moment to link it to you myself.

miissjuly

Anyone sitting the GAMSAT in September?

weirdspider

miissjuly wrote: »

Anyone sitting the GAMSAT in September?

Hey, I am. Haven't really given it much thought since I'm in final year of my undergraduate degree but will start knuckling down fairly soon.

edel.happy

ChromosomeT wrote: »

finickyferret wrote: »

Just gotten my hands on some PDF copies of Des O Neill, so hopefully that'll help me get stuck in. Any other recommendations?
I'm 3/4 through a science degree, so I'll probably just use Khanacademy to brush up on concepts from first year.

any chance the Des O'Neil notes could be kindly passed on to a fellow science student?:o

I have all the notes you need. PM me.

edel.happy

ChromosomeT wrote: »

finickyferret wrote: »

Just gotten my hands on some PDF copies of Des O Neill, so hopefully that'll help me get stuck in. Any other recommendations?
I'm 3/4 through a science degree, so I'll probably just use Khanacademy to brush up on concepts from first year.

any chance the Des O'Neil notes could be kindly passed on to a fellow science student?:o

I have all the notes you need. PM me.

PyramidUp

Hi guys,

If anyone would like to meet up to study in Dublin then please drop me a line. I'm coming from a non-science background (programmer) but I am trying to get through the material as best I can.

gamsat

Hi,

Have complete gradmed material for sale.

PM if interested.

Thanks

edel.happy

Gillibean wrote: »

Where to start???

I have a lot of notes for sale. PM me.

Powerpuff92

Hi there

I am sitting the March 2017 exam and I am wondering if there anyone out there who would be interested in setting up a study group to meet a number of times before the exam in the Limerick area?

edel.happy

Powerpuff92 wrote: »

Hi there

I am sitting the March 2017 exam and I am wondering if there anyone out there who would be interested in setting up a study group to meet a number of times before the exam in the Limerick area?

I have notes for sale if you want some. They are very reasonable.

Cosle

Good luck on the study guys Just to go back to what people were discussing in the start of this thread, I think people often over emphasize the tough conditions and pay when you qualify.

For example, my intern salary in total was 43,000 gross. Not amazing and down on what it used to be but not minimum wage either. I had some jobs with long hours but many jobs who were close to 9-5 when not on call. I'm also far from the exception, the majority of hospitals are paying overtime at this stage.

Despite this, I myself have a large GEM loan so I know the pain of repayments. People need to think long and hard about entering such a contract but I don't regret it. If you guys have any questions let me know.

teaparty

Hi Guys,

I'm thinking of doing the Gold Standard prep course tomorrow in Dublin. It'll be my 2nd time sitting the GAMSAT, and just wondering if the course will be beneficial? Has anyone done it or something similar before? Or even heard if it was good?

Thanks!

sReq | uTeK

edel.happy wrote: »

I have notes for sale if you want some. They are very reasonable.

Can you stop derailing the threads with waffle and stick to pimping notes in the sticky

ChromosomeT

teaparty wrote: »

Hi Guys,

I'm thinking of doing the Gold Standard prep course tomorrow in Dublin. It'll be my 2nd time sitting the GAMSAT, and just wondering if the course will be beneficial? Has anyone done it or something similar before? Or even heard if it was good?

Thanks!

Hey, just wondering how you found it. I intended on going but couldn't make it up in the end unfortunately. was it any good?

may54321

i am in limerick, contact no:0877808397

PhoneMain

Good luck to everyone doing the Gamsat tomorrow, try to relax into it and enjoy it. No matter what happens, it's not the end of the world!

eimear_1993

Hope the exam went well for everyone yesterday!
Just wondering if anyone has any information on second round offers for 2016? I can't seem to find anything online. Does anyone know if the points dropped for any of the courses or what proportion of people with 57* were accepted to UCC? I've heard that someone who accepted UL was offered UCC a few weeks after the course had started and transferred down at that point. Does anyone know have any idea what their score would have been? 57?

Nessa859

Who's sitting the September exam? I was hoping to either join or set up a study group. I'm in Kildare but I can travel to and from Dublin easily enough. I wasn't planning on doing much until my exams are over though.

e1994

Nessa859 wrote: »

Who's sitting the September exam? I was hoping to either join or set up a study group. I'm in Kildare but I can travel to and from Dublin easily enough. I wasn't planning on doing much until my exams are over though.

I would definitely be interested.. still a bit clueless though and really need to start getting my **** together!! Also based in Kildare but could commute to Dublin 😊

Nessa859

e1994 wrote: »

I would definitely be interested.. still a bit clueless though and really need to start getting my **** together!! Also based in Kildare but could commute to Dublin 😊

I can't really do much until my exams are over, since I won't be sitting the thing at all if I don't get a 2.1. I'm downloading what's available from my first year lectures on blackboard (I'm a science student), but I don't know how useful any of it is. I don't know where to start, especially regarding textbooks. That Gold Standard one is about €150, which I just can't afford on top of the GAMSAT.

Do you want to see about starting a facebook group or something? There might be more people in Kildare who'd be willing to set up such a group.

e1994

Yeah of course, I understand. I'm not really a science background so need to start studying asap! Yeah that sounds good

coolbeanz93

Hey guys, got a 59 on my first go there. Pretty delighted to say the least. Im hoping to go to limerick, am I pretty certain to get in or am I getting ahead of myself? How likely are the scores gonna go up by 4 or 5? Hope yer all delighted with your results!

Sin131

Hey, congrats on your result! I got 63 on my first go which is 69th percentile this year but was around 90th percentile in 2016, I'm half worried that there might be a bit of an increase this year? But then again, some will be applying with scores from 2016 so maybe it won't increase too much? I think the percentiles are based on everyone who took the exam, so hopefully there shouldn't be too much of a jump in Irish scores!

trickski

Sin131 wrote: »

Hey, congrats on your result! I got 63 on my first go which is 69th percentile this year but was around 90th percentile in 2016, I'm half worried that there might be a bit of an increase this year? But then again, some will be applying with scores from 2016 so maybe it won't increase too much? I think the percentiles are based on everyone who took the exam, so hopefully there shouldn't be too much of a jump in Irish scores!

Congrats on your 63 points! I'm more than half worried that there may be an increase this year. I got 61 points on the September Gamsat (~80th percentile) and really want to go to UCD.