Mature entry Medicine.

Ciara_pass124

Anyone applying for mature entry to medicine for the academic year 2020?

Hopefully we can help each other with our applications and the whole process ahead?

Anyone who previously applied, it would be great to get some insight.

ChromosomeT

Hey there! I'm in the initial stages of applying for Mature entry this year (in conjunction with Grad entry which i've also previously attempted). Applying to RCSI & TCD.

Trying to find answers in relation to the personal statement section on CAO and if applicant for mature entry to Med need to complete this in addition to teh personal statements that would be forwarded on to RCSI & TCD anyway. The personal statement sends me into a tizzy in what needs to be included and how much I need to fluff it up.

Ciara_pass124

ChromosomeT wrote: »

Hey there! I'm in the initial stages of applying for Mature entry this year (in conjunction with Grad entry which i've also previously attempted). Applying to RCSI & TCD.

Trying to find answers in relation to the personal statement section on CAO and if applicant for mature entry to Med need to complete this in addition to teh personal statements that would be forwarded on to RCSI & TCD anyway. The personal statement sends me into a tizzy in what needs to be included and how much I need to fluff it up.

Hi there
I wouldn’t worry too much about the CAO personal statement section. TCD have their own application process, so they pretty much omit the CAO one. RCSI also have you write a personal statement if you secure enough points from the HPAT.

TCD call candidates for an interview based of their ranking system.

5 points awarded based on your education. 1 for leaving cert, 2 for a degree, 3 for a bio med degree, 4 for a masters and 5 for PhD

5 points awarded for your clinical experience is (1-5)

5 points awarded for your volunteer experience (1-5)

5 points award for your personal statement (1-5)

They will look at your HPAT if you’re boarder line to be called for an interview. Trinity do not look at any references because they think they’re too bias. Have about 7-8 places


I RCSI will only consider you based off your HPAT score. They will have a cut off point (usually around 130) and any candidate who secures a higher score will be called to summit further information (statement, CV, references ect). Have about 15 places for mature

ChromosomeT

Ciara_pass124 wrote: »

Hi there
I wouldn’t worry too much about the CAO personal statement section. TCD have their own application process, so they pretty much omit the CAO one. RCSI also have you write a personal statement if you secure enough points from the HPAT.

TCD call candidates for an interview based of their ranking system.

5 points awarded based on your education. 1 for leaving cert, 2 for a degree, 3 for a bio med degree, 4 for a masters and 5 for PhD

5 points awarded for your clinical experience is (1-5)

5 points awarded for your volunteer experience (1-5)

5 points award for your personal statement (1-5)

They will look at your HPAT if you’re boarder line to be called for an interview. Trinity do not look at any references because they think they’re too bias. Have about 7-8 places


I RCSI will only consider you based off your HPAT score. They will have a cut off point (usually around 130) and any candidate who secures a higher score will be called to summit further information (statement, CV, references ect). Have about 15 places for mature

Ah thanks for that - really clears things up! I had read about the 5 points system but wasn't too sure if TCD emplyed it. I'm chipping away at the two TCD 'personal statements' at the moment.

Have you also applied to both? I know of a person in RCSI doing mauture medicine and others in the GEM and regular undergrad route but I'm not too well versed on the TCD medical programme and what it's like as a mature learner (obvs apart from what I can see from their website)

FrootyWooty

Has anyone heard anything about interviews for mature med 2020 entry yet?

Ciara_pass124

Anyone else get the email from RCSI in regards to submitting documents?

Anyone have any idea how much you should write for the personal statement?

Marshmallow18

Hi everyone!

Just found this thread. Did anyone get an email from trinity today asking for documents? Thought it was odd as they are all in my cao application. Does anyone know when they usually hold their interviews ?

Thanks

niconics25

I think they ask for CV if you have not uploaded your CV in my.tcd.ie application portal. I also got an email from them to send my CV.

Ciara_pass124

How many references are people sending to RCSI?

FrootyWooty

I'm submitting two references to RCSI. I have submitted my CV to TCD... still heard nothing back.

And I haven't heard anything from UCC.

Has anyone received any further updates on their application?

niconics25

FrootyWooty wrote: »

I'm submitting two references to RCSI. I have submitted my CV to TCD... still heard nothing back.

And I haven't heard anything from UCC.

Has anyone received any further updates on their application?

I have not heard from TCD. Has anyone received from the colleges?

niconics25

FrootyWooty wrote: »

I'm submitting two references to RCSI. I have submitted my CV to TCD... still heard nothing back.

And I haven't heard anything from UCC.

Has anyone received any further updates on their application?

I have not heard from TCD. Has anyone received from the colleges?

Ciara_pass124

niconics25 wrote: »

I have not heard from TCD. Has anyone received from the colleges?

Haven’t heard from Trinity either. They are experiencing delays, so we should hear this week.
Just received an email from RCSI at 6pm offering me an interview for next week.

ChromosomeT

Ciara_pass124 wrote: »

Haven’t heard from Trinity either. They are experiencing delays, so we should hear this week.
Just received an email from RCSI at 6pm offering me an interview for next week.

Congrats! Same here.

Nothing from TCD yet either, perhaps by the end of the week?

Ciara_pass124

ChromosomeT wrote: »

Congrats! Same here.

Nothing from TCD yet either, perhaps by the end of the week?

Oh brilliant, congrats to you too.

Hopefully we hear something from TCD soon.

Tynanma

Hi all ! Just found this thread ! I have RCSI interview next week and still haven’t heard from trinity , they asked for my cv over a month ago !

Tynanma

Marshmallow18 wrote: »

Hi everyone!

Just found this thread. Did anyone get an email from trinity today asking for documents? Thought it was odd as they are all in my cao application. Does anyone know when they usually hold their interviews ?

Thanks

I got email asking for documents but haven’t heard anything since !

Ciara_pass124

How are people feeling for the RCSI interview next week?

Also, still haven’t heard anything from TCD.

Tynanma

Ciara_pass124 wrote: »

How are people feeling for the RCSI interview next week?

Also, still haven’t heard anything from TCD.

Haven’t heard anything from TCD either ! Heard from UCC I’ve interview with them Friday

conordarcy123

Hey,

I had my RCSI interview this morning, pretty nerve-wracking.
Any ideas as to when we will hear back from them?

ChromosomeT

conordarcy123 wrote: »

Hey,

I had my RCSI interview this morning, pretty nerve-wracking.
Any ideas as to when we will hear back from them?

Well done - you can breathe a sigh of reluef! I have mine tomorrow morning. How did you find the line of questioning - it seems as though it is be quite informal almost.

Apparently we hear back quite soon (typically a week after the interviews) from the college directly and the CAO offer officially follows through in Round A offers in July I believe.

Tynanma

conordarcy123 wrote: »

Hey,

I had my RCSI interview this morning, pretty nerve-wracking.
Any ideas as to when we will hear back from them?

I had mine this morning too , think I waffled a lot but they were so nice , so hard to know as it was so informal and like a chat

conordarcy123

What backgrounds have you folks got?
I have a pretty heavy psychology one (BA, H.Dip, PG. Cert, MA)

Tynanma

I’ve a medical background in oncology myself

Tynanma

Hi everyone , trinity interview emails should be out today

FrootyWooty

How have you guys found the interviews so far? I had my RCSI interview Monday and UCC this morning. It's hard to say how they went for me! Any ideas when we hear about UCC decisions? RCSI will be sending out offers end of next week!

Ciara_pass124

FrootyWooty wrote: »

How have you guys found the interviews so far? I had my RCSI interview Monday and UCC this morning. It's hard to say how they went for me! Any ideas when we hear about UCC decisions? RCSI will be sending out offers end of next week!

I was happy with my RCSI one I think. It’s a bit hard to gauge since it was so informal, however they did praise my application a few times and felt I was able to answer all the questions. Although, I may have waffled on a bit though.

conordarcy123

I definitely felt I waffled a bit too. I think it's a normal feeling to have after an interview. I just hope I came across efficiently.
Waiting another week for results is going to be nerve-wracking...

PhoenixD15

FrootyWooty wrote: »

How have you guys found the interviews so far? I had my RCSI interview Monday and UCC this morning. It's hard to say how they went for me! Any ideas when we hear about UCC decisions? RCSI will be sending out offers end of next week!

I am still hoping that RCSI might start ringing the successful candidates on Monday.... the suspense is killing me! Does anyone know much about what slant interviews by TCD might take? The time allocated seems even shorter than RCSI (15 mins maximum is what they have stated). Their 5 point system doesn't explain why I have been offered an interview as I have no masters or biomedical degree and don't think I included any volunteer roles in my rather hurried application to them.

Also has anyone found out the number of TCD or RCSI places available? My friend went to the rcsi mature open day and says she was told that 5 of the places have already been taken by defferals from last year. I thought TCD only had 3 places but sometimes offer more- might both colleges pop an more places to account for fall in revenue from international students or are they restricted from doing so by the state who perhaps part fund mature students?

Ciara_pass124

Alanna MH wrote: »

I am still hoping that RCSI might start ringing the successful candidates on Monday.... the suspense is killing me! Does anyone know much about what slant interviews by TCD might take? The time allocated seems even shorter than RCSI (15 mins maximum is what they have stated). Their 5 point system doesn't explain why I have been offered an interview as I have no masters or biomedical degree and don't think I included any volunteer roles in my rather hurried application to them.


Also has anyone found out the number of TCD or RCSI places available? My friend went to the rcsi mature open day and says she was told that 5 of the places have already been taken by defferals from last year. I thought TCD only had 3 places but sometimes offer more- might both colleges pop an more places to account for fall in revenue from international students or are they restricted from doing so by the state who perhaps part fund mature students?

33 people were interviewed by RCS and they have 15 places. So we have a 45% of getting in. Trinity interview around 15 people and offer around 7/8 places.

PhoenixD15

Ciara_pass124 wrote: »

33 people were interviewed by RCS and they have 15 places. So we have a 45% of getting in. Trinity interview around 15 people and offer around 7/8 places.

Good to know Ciara. Any idea what kind of questions TCD might ask? Well done on the RCSI one it sounds like you did well- I got no such compliments on my application and felt I did most of the talking which is possibly not a great sign!

conordarcy123

Alanna MH wrote: »

Good to know Ciara. Any idea what kind of questions TCD might ask? Well done on the RCSI one it sounds like you did well- I got no such compliments on my application and felt I did most of the talking which is possibly not a great sign!

I feel the exact same Alanna, I felt like I talked the ears off them!!! Let's hope they get back to us soon. Will they call or email us? I have heard different answers from so many people.

ChromosomeT

conordarcy123 wrote: »

I feel the exact same Alanna, I felt like I talked the ears off them!!! Let's hope they get back to us soon. Will they call or email us? I have heard different answers from so many people.

Similar here, felt like I kept talking away. I had it framed as more of an interview than informal chat and if it wasn't for me referencing my application I'm not sure they would've! Fingers crossed for us all anyway.

I think it is by email, hopefully on Monday too. (Digging back on here it seems they did do phonecalls years ago

PhoenixD15

Is anyone else preparing for interviews with TCD? I am less familiar with their course than that of RCSI and am a bit worried about additional pressure they seem to generate with more hefty exams, onus on students to find 8 weeks of summer electives before being admitted into final year etc... this plus their communication style to date has me a bit concerned.

PhoenixD15

Has anyone heard back from RCSI yet?

conordarcy123

Not yet! When someone does hear anything can they throw it up here? So the rest of us can have an idea of what the story is.
Fingers crossed we hear tomorrow - the anxiety is real hahaha

Ciara_pass124

Offers for RCSI have been released via email. Best of luck everyone.

conordarcy123

I haven't heard anything from them - it looks like this year hasn't been my year. Good luck to everyone else!!!

ChromosomeT

Offers out now. Delighted to have been offered a place. Feels like such a relief going into the GAMSAT weekend!

PhoenixD15

conordarcy123 wrote: »

I haven't heard anything from them - it looks like this year hasn't been my year. Good luck to everyone else!!!

Hold fire- flat refusals are also out (I got one) so you maybe offered a place on the waiting list?

Hopefully the rest of you fared a bit better than me! Not feeling confident now for my tcd one...

conordarcy123

PhoenixD15 wrote: »

Hold fire- flat refusals are also out (I got one) so you maybe offered a place on the waiting list?

Hopefully the rest of you fared a bit better than me! Not feeling confident now for my tcd one...

I received a flat refusal too - it looks like there were only 14 places available this year. Preparation starts now for next year.

PhoenixD15

ChromosomeT wrote: »

Offers out now. Delighted to have been offered a place. Feels like such a relief going into the GAMSAT weekend!

Great stuff, congratulations and good luck with GAMSAT

PhoenixD15

Ciara_pass124 wrote: »

Offers for RCSI have been released via email. Best of luck everyone.

Congratulations!

Ciara_pass124

PhoenixD15 wrote: »

Hold fire- flat refusals are also out (I got one) so you maybe offered a place on the waiting list?

Hopefully the rest of you fared a bit better than me! Not feeling confident now for my tcd one...

I wouldn’t feel too defeated, I didn’t even get an interview for TCD and I felt my application was stronger with them. Put far more effort into that statement.

Both colleges have different traits they look for. Getting an interview for TCD is a huge achievement; so keep the faith.

Ciara_pass124

conordarcy123 wrote: »

I received a flat refusal too - it looks like there were only 14 places available this year. Preparation starts now for next year.

You still received an interview for RCSI against all the competition, so don’t be too deflated. You’re clearly a very strong applicant. If you need any advice or help with applications next year, just send me a message. I’m glad to help anyone. I’ll have some insights into the college too by then.

Ciara_pass124

Best of luck to those interviewing with TCD tomorrow. You’ll be great.

CopperTone1

Hey everyone. Just came across this thread, though I wish a bit earlier to help with the stress caused by the application process.

I had my interview with TCD last week, and UCC.
Was accepted into RCSI and NUIG but rejected NUI already.

At the moment I’ve RCSI at the top of my list, but undecided between them and TCD. Does anyone from both college have any pros and cons about their Medical school. It’s such a hard decision to make.

ChromosomeT

CopperTone1 wrote: »

Hey everyone. Just came across this thread, though I wish a bit earlier to help with the stress caused by the application process.

I had my interview with TCD last week, and UCC.
Was accepted into RCSI and NUIG but rejected NUI already.

At the moment I’ve RCSI at the top of my list, but undecided between them and TCD. Does anyone from both college have any pros and cons about their Medical school. It’s such a hard decision to make.

Hey, congrats on the RCSI offer and getting interviews for TCD & NUIG. I've been accepted into the RCSI 5 year programme and have been digging around to see what it entails.

I've found this student to student guide which gives a rough (albeit slightly outdated) rundown of year 1 medicine in RCSI - https://fliphtml5.com/veau/wvds/basic

RCSI also just release a video today for incoming students which gives a brief guide to how they will operate in the midst of things at the moment. Essentially, the college will run 7 days a week, 9am-9pm with students on campus for about 3 days. Most large lectures will be online with 20% of the class in attendance. I'm sure more information will be released in the coming weeks.  

At the moment, I'm trying to decide if I should move home and commute down (from Louth so about 1hr 1hr30 each way). I had initially planned on continuing to live in Dublin but with rent prices, I'm not sure if it's sustainable, however, on the flip side, I wouldn't walk to loose roughly 3hours a day commuting when I could be studying. 

On whole, RCSI seems as though they really will provide you with lots of support to help you achieve your full potential during the degree despite the considerable fee difference between RCSI & others. It looks as though TCD provides less of this at present anyway https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058081581

I'd love to know what the junior years in RCSI looks like from a recent student perspective though!

CopperTone1

ChromosomeT, thank you so much. This is literally what I’ve been looking for. You’re so good.

I’ve heard so many negatives about TCD recently, kinda shocked with the accreditation issue too.

Think I’m leaning more towards RCSI this week. Need to make my €1,000 deposit by Friday.

ChromosomeT

CopperTone1 wrote: »

ChromosomeT, thank you so much. This is literally what I’ve been looking for. You’re so good.

I’ve heard so many negatives about TCD recently, kinda shocked with the accreditation issue too.

Think I’m leaning more towards RCSI this week. Need to make my €1,000 deposit by Friday.

No problem at all! It's a tough decision to jump into making, especially when the deposit is so much too. Hopefully see you in a few months time!

PhoenixD15

Perhaps Trinity will respond well to the criticism levied at its support for students. The interview questions certainly suggested that they are looking for mature students who might be supportive to the undergrads. It will be interesting to see what changes are made but I would be hopeful that there will be some improvements. Fair play to RCSI winning an award for student support though! Anyone know how it works for people applying to GEM and Mature? If the GEM place is higher on the CAO do they have to wait until August to know if they are turning down the mature place? Does this create a second round of mature places in the run up to September?