Mature Entry Medicine 2022

I'll be applying via mature entry this year as well. Likely will apply to all the colleges that take mature students bar trinity as I don't have 2 sciences from Leaving Cert.

Hey,

im applying too, first time too :)

I’m the same, I’ve no idea where I lie in comparison to other applicants! what’s your background?

Hi Folks!

I'm working as an Emergency Medical Technician for a Private Ambulance, looking to head to the Paramedics next year as a back up in case I didn't get Medicine because, like everyone else, I don't know where I stand in relation to other applicants!

I've found the best thing to do is open a line of communication with the colleges you are looking to apply to. Email the mature student offices looking for info on how they handle Mature Medicine, because every college does it a bit different.

So far i've been in contact with TCD and UCC, and im still waiting on NUIG to get back to me. (No 3rd language so RCSI won't even look at me!)

TCD weigh their application process 3:1 in relation to the Application Form/Personal Statement to HPAT (75% Application, 25% HPAT). If succesful, you get called for interview/put on a waiting list for an interview.

UCC are similar enough, while I don't know the exacts because the dude from UCC I was on the phone to didn't know either, they put more emphasis on the Application over the HPAT. One nice thing about UCC is that you can organise a meeting on Microsoft Teams with the Mature Student officer, who can go through the entire thing with you. I still haven't availed of it, because COVID has come out swining recently so im working around the clock, but you can book a slot on the Mature student page on the UCC website!

And one last thing: The HPAT is being ran online this year. When I started prepping for it I done it all in pen/paper with printouts of questions. I got fairly good at it and was quietly confident I had this in the bag come February. When the news came out it would be all ran online, I decided to quickly familiarise myself with how it would be ran online, and went through a few online test questions (which were the same as the printout questions).

It was like I was back at square one.

For some reason reading off a screen, I couldn't parse the information in my head like I could on a printout. Scared the bejesus out of me for a bit, but again, by working through the questions I got used to it again, although it did take a while.

My advice for the HPAT would be prep for it online. Use online questions, or atleast read the questions off a PDF. It could just be me who had this problem, but I thought i'd say it just in case!

I hope some of this info helps!

Hi All, late to this discussion as just finalised my decision to apply at the last minute. I have an Research Masters and experience in industry. I went to the online RCSI open day and it was brilliant. Recommend going back over the videos for Graduate Entry too, even if not applying that way (I am not as need the extra time for my little one). Does anyone know how many words RCSI want on personal statement. Most of the others want 1500 but LC undergrads in RCSI are asked to submit two A4 pages. It will be hard to do that! Is everyone ready for the HPAT. I am dreading section 1 and 3. Also, one of my references has gotten Covid so I cannot get the written document sent to CAO yet with the supplemental info. Any ideas? He is a big one so need him. Good luck to everyone!

Mine went fine aside from a power cut and some internet issues. Managed to get it all done though at least. What about you?

I got my email around end of April last year to submit documents for RCSI so I'd imagine it will be similar for this year.

Got some additional time on the Saturday but didn’t find it much more useful. It’s a hard exam to go back and change answers on and it wasn’t much extra time. Hopefully the results will be out at a similar time to last year.

Hpat results out now. Best of luck everyone

I got an interview for rcsi with a score of 57 if that’s any use as an indication for anyone. Not sure what It will be this year though. I was pleasantly surprised with my score considering the power cuts I had.

Hi guys,

just to update you - I got an email to submit documents to RCSI this morning to progress to the next step. I hope you guys got similar and best of luck to us 🧡

Not my year this year unfortunately. Missed cut off by 2 points. Gutted. I knew I bombed but disappointed nonetheless as cut off was 130 in other years. Wishing you all well this year folks. I hope you all get what you want. I will see some of you on here next year!

If I dont get it this year which I doubt I will, I'll be trying again with you next year. Don't give up if it's what you really want 💪

Cut off was 140 for RCSI. As far as I know, TCD is always 150. No idea for UCC and NUIG but higher I think.

Thanks jojomama. I really appreciate that!! I hope not for your sake (and mine too as I can bug you for info on a successful application :-)). It is something I have wanted but life got in the way for me and it became an impossibility. But suddenly, this year changed that and as upset as I am, I am going to try again. I didn't get enough time in for practice on HPAT questions as I could only study from mid January so I guess if I have an entire year, next year will be better. I am no spring chicken and any doctor I have mentioned this to things I am off my block but hey, my mind is made up.

Good luck on submissions and interviews!!

Must have been unsuccessful for Galway so :( people who got Galway invites what HPAT score did you get?

I emailed Galway there just to check and they replied saying

Thank you for your email and interest in NUI Galway.

We hope to let applicants know this week.

I got 82nd percentile so was fairly hopeful I’d get an invite.

Anyone heard from Trinity yet?

Thanks Xaituuni. From trawling through old threads I think Cork comes along later than the others. I have not heard from them.

Thats great to know eua19r1. Congrats on Galway email. There could be no doubt with that HPAT centile!

Great! Same here.

Thanks for sending that through Futuremedmum. I cannot understand that in the year that Simon Harris announces a significant increase in places in medicine in the coming years, the bank simultaneously tanks the loan so many rely on. Not to mention people have been waiting for years for SUSI to get sorted out. Its already like climbing Everest and then they say you have to climb it without your safety equipment. 😔

Out of curiosity, how many of you guys are also sitting/sat GAMSAT and eligible for grad entry?

I wonder if we would be allowed to apply retrospectively if something does come in (should I be so lucky to get a place!!). A mature entry place in medicine (or any discipline) should not be limited by inability to afford it.

Unlikely this will actually have any impact in the incoming year but perhaps down the line might reduce the fees somewhat. I’ll believe it when it’s in writing though.