Medicine Course Query

cuckoo

Bono_85 wrote:

Right well I have science down under pharmacy, so should I just decline the offers till I get to science? and then just do the subjects you mentioned? How long is the science course?

Afaik, the CAO will keep offering you courses up your list, ie if you turn down your third choice they will offer you your second or first if the points drop in the next round - but they won't offer you your fourth or fifth.

Science is four years for the honours degree, three years for the pass degree.

Kevin_rc_ie

eh you can't decline your 2nd choice and take your 3rd choice. surely everyone knows how the CAO system works?

ok i'll spell it out, well what i think is the truth anyway

1. medicine tcd 580
2. pharmacy tcd 560
3. science tcd 400

If the student get's 570, she will be offered pharmacy. She can either reject or accept the offer. If the points for medicine drop to 570, she'll get an offer for that regardless if she's accepted pharmacy or not. However, she will not get offered science in any case.

ApeXaviour

Kevin_rc_ie wrote:

Unless you are very wealthy, or confident you'll get grants, I'd highly recommend that if you want to do medicine, just do what ever it takes at 2nd level to get in. If this requires repeating the leaving twice, or going up north to do A levels so be it.

People are saying it's easy to get As in A levels and entry into trinity, and the statistics will support this, but remind your self that going for medicine, you're 3 A levels, afaik, have to be physics, chemistry and biology.

Did they not change the way A levels were benchmarked this year? Each A in an A level subject was reduced from 190 to 150 points and they take the top 4 A-Leves as opposed to the top 3. This means you need 4 A-level A's to get into say medicine now, not necessarily more easy than 4 A1s and 2 A2s

Kev wrote:

3. science tcd 400

Was it not 490 down to 440 in the second round last year?

Edit: it was.. (http://www.cao.ie/institutions/DEG04.HTM#trd) and it was 440*! Not all peeps who got 440 got the course.. :eek:

snorlax

im not sure but i think the median might refer to the average points of the people who got into the course..eg the average(median) points of people who got into med was 590 points and the points needed to get in were 580*.

ApeXaviour

snorlax wrote:

im not sure but i think the median might refer to the average points of the people who got into the course..eg the average(median) points of people who got into med was 590 points and the points needed to get in were 580*.

Ah so it does, 490 median 440 pts final..

snorlax

points in TCD seem outrageously high for most of the courses, look at dentistry, physio, law, they'v all gone up about 5-10 points each since i did the leaving, whats the story? tcd is becoming impossible to get into...pyschology is 550* to get into and iv done some of the same subjects that the pysch students do and they'r not that hard, at least compared to the likes of some of the harder sciences like physiology/ physics...

lomb

snorlax wrote:

points in TCD seem outrageously high for most of the courses, look at dentistry, physio, law, they'v all gone up about 5-10 points each since i did the leaving, whats the story? tcd is becoming impossible to get into...pyschology is 550* to get into and iv done some of the same subjects that the pysch students do and they'r not that hard, at least compared to the likes of some of the harder sciences like physiology/ physics...

because getting 6A1 s is impossible nearly, its all the northerners, and the few people who think medicine is the best and hit the jackpot with 6A1s so they do it. medicine most certainly isnt the best but its not the worst either, horses for courses.

Kevin_rc_ie

ApeXaviour wrote:

Did they not change the way A levels were benchmarked this year? Each A in an A level subject was reduced from 190 to 150 points and they take the top 4 A-Leves as opposed to the top 3. This means you need 4 A-level A's to get into say medicine now, not necessarily more easy than 4 A1s and 2 A2s

Was it not 490 down to 440 in the second round last year?

Edit: it was.. (http://www.cao.ie/institutions/DEG04.HTM#trd) and it was 440*! Not all peeps who got 440 got the course.. :eek:

yes they may have changed the value of A levels. i'm not certain this is confirmed.

but wtf are you talking about concerning points. i was giving a hypothetical example. 2ndly who fooking know's what the points will be this "fall".

Nietzschean

Kevin_rc_ie wrote:

but wtf are you talking about concerning points. i was giving a hypothetical example. 2ndly who fooking know's what the points will be this "fall".

don't you know apex can see into the future ?

Kevin_rc_ie

sorry my mistake.

Bono_85

yayyyyyyyyyyy I got it!!! 7 a1's! go team medicine, can't wait!!!

flowerpotfrog

well done bono

flowerpotfrog = Kev? And well done Bono!

cuckoo

Congratulations!!!!!!!

Hitchhiker's Guide to...

Bono_85 wrote:

yayyyyyyyyyyy I got it!!! 7 a1's! go team medicine, can't wait!!!

that's brilliant, well done!

DrIndy

So you going to the venerable Trinners for Winners college?

They have an option now where (if you wish) you can sit an aptitude test and if you do sufficiently well, are short listes straight into 2nd year, skipping pre med.

This is something to consider, although the drunken glory days of first year outside the pav in the sun with a six pack of beer and only one end of year exam in the triniy term is hard to beat.......

shane0312

Could someone who is doing (or did) medicine describe what its like. The hours, subjects, difficulty etc. because Im thinking about doing medicine and ive done work experience in a hospital but I still have no idea what the course is like.

DrIndy

Its tough but fun there is info on it on the college websites which summarise it in a few pages.

Medicine is not for slackers, if you want 4 hours per week, do Arts or Law. The average is 30 hours per week, rising when you reach the hospitals.

Its gas craic though and the job is even more fun. Jaysus, the amount of weirdos I've met so far and they're not all patients!

ZigBee

Bono_85 wrote:

I'm just wondering if worst comes to worst and I don't get it again, I have pharmacy down aswell on my CAO and Science, so if I do pharmacy is there a chance of somehow getting into the medicine course at the end of my pharmacy course?

Pharmacy, Science, Medicinal Chemistry, Physiotherapy etc. are full of people who didn't get the points for medicine. They think they can 'transfer' after one year and soon realise they can't. They think they'll 'get in' as a graduate but soon realise they can't. I even know a guy who did a 4 year science degree, a one year M.Sc. and was refused into every medicine school in the country.

The best way to get in to medicine (if you want it that bad) is to get 600 points, otherwise pay Raymond Kearns on Leeson Street a visit who'll be sure to point you in the way of 600 points.

Otherwise, do arts; it's way more fun.

DrIndy

ZigBee wrote:

Pharmacy, Science, Medicinal Chemistry, Physiotherapy etc. are full of people who didn't get the points for medicine. They think they can 'transfer' after one year and soon realise they can't. They think they'll 'get in' as a graduate but soon realise they can't. I even know a guy who did a 4 year science degree, a one year M.Sc. and was refused into every medicine school in the country.

The best way to get in to medicine (if you want it that bad) is to get 600 points, otherwise pay Raymond Kearns on Leeson Street a visit who'll be sure to point you in the way of 600 points.

Otherwise, do arts; it's way more fun.

Rubbish.

You insult every member of those courses when you come out with such twaddle. Fair enough there are a small number of people in those courses who did not achieve the points for medicine, however, the majority - CHOSE the course and chose the profession.

You gravely insult them when you make such ludicrous, narrow minded sweeping statements.

ZigBee

DrIndy wrote:

Rubbish.

You insult every member of those courses when you come out with such twaddle. Fair enough there are a small number of people in those courses who did not achieve the points for medicine, however, the majority - CHOSE the course and chose the profession.

You gravely insult them when you make such ludicrous, narrow minded sweeping statements.

Of course the majority of people in those courses wanted to do them, but there is a large percentage of people in those courses who didn't get the points for medicine and it's their second or even third choice.
I myself got the points for med, but wanted to do engineering. There weren't any wannabe medics in my class now I must admit, but I know quite a few people in physiology, science, pharmacy etc. who just didn't cut it and are forever bitter.

snorlax

im in 3rd year occupational therapy, it was my first choice on my CAO, i love the course, i love working with people with disabilities and i find it very rewarding and no i never would even consider doing medicine even if it is better paid then my job, purely because i knew it wasn't suited to me and i prefer the more client centered approach OT offers, whereby it allows you to get to know your clients alot better and see the results of your intervention (a very fufilling part of my job) and how they span out in the persons whole life.

in my year there are one or two who didnt make it into physio (actually know one wanted to do medicine ,only 39 people in my year so i do know), but these people have become more loyal to OT then anyone and probably wouldn't change careers to becoming a physio if you gave them a choice.

yes some people join the health sciences for the money and job security, but there are also a lot of people have a vocation towards their chosen career (myself included) and want to actually help people and make a difference in the world not matter how corny that sounds. these are the same people who will have the dedication and commitment that will see them through to acheiving better results and in the end these professionals will become better helpers for the sick/ injuired and those that need their help.

Gwyllin

What's happened? I read the whole thread just now. Has Bono been accepted to the medicine course? I wish you all luck, Bono! You'll do great! Having people who are engaged in their profession brings more honour to the world of medicine! The worry is always that it will wear you out and you need to have a pretty specific day-night rhythm. But you will manage just fine! Follow your gut feeling - it never lies! I don't think there will be much time for drinking though. You should keep away from that in any year in order to do well and be prepared for lectures and practicals.

Hey Bono, do you want to meet up when I come to Dublin next year? I could use a doctor.

Bono_85

hey yeah i got it this morning thanks!!! accepted n all!!!!!!!!!! so incredibly happy!!!

snorlax

well done Bono!:)

i just saw on the news that the points for medicine have gone up to 590 in TCD!, so your among the top 145 people who sat the leavin this year.

Gwyllin

I'm very happy for you, Bono!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let's make a toast!!!!!

DrIndy

Bono_85 wrote:

hey yeah i got it this morning thanks!!! accepted n all!!!!!!!!!! so incredibly happy!!!

LOL!

I was the same when I got my CAO results!

Ah the glory days, you have much ahead of you my son, but much fun along the way. The medicine course is changing so dramatically in the next few years, few would recognise it from the old and you are starting just at the right time to reap its rewards in full.

RacoonQueen

ZigBee wrote:

Pharmacy, Science, Medicinal Chemistry, Physiotherapy etc. are full of people who didn't get the points for medicine. They think they can 'transfer' after one year and soon realise they can't. They think they'll 'get in' as a graduate but soon realise they can't. I even know a guy who did a 4 year science degree, a one year M.Sc. and was refused into every medicine school in the country.

The best way to get in to medicine (if you want it that bad) is to get 600 points, otherwise pay Raymond Kearns on Leeson Street a visit who'll be sure to point you in the way of 600 points.

Otherwise, do arts; it's way more fun.

hmmm....my mate got 540 this year and is planning on doing science to get into medicine.
Are you sure they can't get in from science?
Wouldn't be surprised if our 'guidence counsellor' gave him the wrong advice.

DublinWriter

lomb wrote:

pharmacy isnt bad but there are alot of new pharmacies opened up recently and the yields are dropping.

True, and the market here is opening up to foreign owned chains.

Pharmacies here will eventually go the same way opticians have, i.e. 'Spec-R-Us', huge multiple-type operations with lots of leverage and ball-squeezing power over suppliers.

Interestingly lomb, I've been in several Boots in the UK with Dental Practices in-store. But as you said, with dentistry you can always go on to specialise in Periodontics, Ornodontics and make yourself a mild-mint.

killermonkey

Kevin_rc_ie wrote:

10 years medicine before you're living the easy life, that's a lot of time spent learning rather than living. it's not for everybody.

god man that quote is freaking me out a bit.......im gonna be starting med in ucc next month and i know id love to study it, but the thought of the workload is freaking me out a bit. already feel like 6th year stole a year of my life... how is 1st and 2nd year med? how do those years compare with 3rd year on? like i wouldnt mind really knuckling down after a couple of years but is it thrown straight into the deep end completely? im excited bout studying it in one sense....but freaked out in another! any comments please?