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Coronovirus - Gamsat MARCH 2020

1235716

Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 18 markocokram


    Can confirm, we're just competing against each other and the UK. Apparently Irish people score better on S2 in general than the UK. Better standard of English :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 57 ✭✭bella11


    Hows everyone feeling for section 3?I think section 1 was more difficult than any practice papers Ive done - hoping section 3 is easier...


  • Registered Users Posts: 125 ✭✭taxignorant


    Not feeling good for section 3. Schools closure has meant I have been trying to teach myself the sciences while caring for my two small children. Partner is Frontline so out at work every day.

    Section 1 and 2 should have compensated for my lack of science but I think I did poorly. I scored really high on the practice tests, 70, 80, 85 and I won a competitive humanities scholarship for postgraduate studies but my essays ended up being infantile on the day.

    Im having a medistential crisis and cannot even sort a Lewis from a Bronsted base this week. I have come a long way in Chemistry and org chem but I don't think enough to pull it out of the bag. Sept will be my only other opportunity to do gamsat and I will still be trying to juggle kids/study. Stoopid pandemic. I think this will be the easiest GAMSAT ever. No fatigue element as the exams are short and going in only having to think right or left brain.

    Exams are funny though, you can be thinking your a shoe in and be unlucky on the day and sometimes it just goes your way.

    Staying positive and calm and just doing as much prep as you can is the only approach now. I'm also using chocolate ice cream to keep me going!

    It will be all over in a few days, you can take a break and drink wine or binge on Netflix whatever, keep the chin up now until your done. Heck it's only 3 months then until the next shot.


  • Registered Users Posts: 57 ✭✭bella11


    Not feeling good for section 3. Schools closure has meant I have been trying to teach myself the sciences while caring for my two small children. Partner is Frontline so out at work every day.

    Section 1 and 2 should have compensated for my lack of science but I think I did poorly. I scored really high on the practice tests, 70, 80, 85 and I won a competitive humanities scholarship for postgraduate studies but my essays ended up being infantile on the day.

    Im having a medistential crisis and cannot even sort a Lewis from a Bronsted base this week. I have come a long way in Chemistry and org chem but I don't think enough to pull it out of the bag. Sept will be my only other opportunity to do gamsat and I will still be trying to juggle kids/study. Stoopid pandemic. I think this will be the easiest GAMSAT ever. No fatigue element as the exams are short and going in only having to think right or left brain.

    Exams are funny though, you can be thinking your a shoe in and be unlucky on the day and sometimes it just goes your way.

    Staying positive and calm and just doing as much prep as you can is the only approach now. I'm also using chocolate ice cream to keep me going!

    It will be all over in a few days, you can take a break and drink wine or binge on Netflix whatever, keep the chin up now until your done. Heck it's only 3 months then until the next shot.

    Yeah v true....cant agree on it being the easiest GAMSAT ever though...I agree fatigue is not the issue, but they will just scale the scores accordingly, won't be throwing 70s out to everyone because its online, shorter number of questions means you've less of a spread and easier to get stressed when you get one set of questions wrong as theres such little questions


  • Registered Users Posts: 39 Peek1


    bella11 wrote: »
    Yeah v true....cant agree on it being the easiest GAMSAT ever though...I agree fatigue is not the issue, but they will just scale the scores accordingly, won't be throwing 70s out to everyone because its online, shorter number of questions means you've less of a spread and easier to get stressed when you get one set of questions wrong as theres such little questions

    I agree, feels like section 1 was one of the most difficult ones I've done, had pretty much no "easy" questions, so I'm assuming same story for s3.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2 roseggalway


    Anyone have any last minute section 3 advice for the coming days ? I know cramming acer questions/ science info is not something that would be beneficial, but was disappointed and disheartened with my section 1 which is usually my best and would appreciate any tips/ strategies


  • Registered Users Posts: 125 ✭✭taxignorant


    You have probably done most of your learning. Nearing a marathon date, the advice is generally to have active rest. I think that might be the correct approach here too. I plan to just revise my notes I made yourself during the course of study and focus on recovering from section 1 and getting into a good frame of mind for section 3.


  • Registered Users Posts: 159 ✭✭Banaba


    Anyone have any last minute section 3 advice for the coming days ? I know cramming acer questions/ science info is not something that would be beneficial, but was disappointed and disheartened with my section 1 which is usually my best and would appreciate any tips/ strategies

    Know maths and graphs particular integers, dividing of large numbers and fractions, graphs also


  • Registered Users Posts: 55 ✭✭Tacadh


    Has anyone done section 3 yet? If so how did it compare to the practice booklets, was it more reasoning based again?


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  • Registered Users Posts: 57 ✭✭bella11


    Have ye heard of peoples sections being reopened? It seems a bit crazy, obviously having a technical issue is awwfuull, but should it not be a whole new paper you get? like there doesn't seem to be any standardisation with this exam at all


  • Registered Users Posts: 18 markocokram


    bella11 wrote: »
    Have ye heard of peoples sections being reopened? It seems a bit crazy, obviously having a technical issue is awwfuull, but should it not be a whole new paper you get? like there doesn't seem to be any standardisation with this exam at all

    I lost 10 minutes of my S1 due to a proctoring issue. Messaged Acer and they investigated and gave me back the time that I missed.

    In a sense, a new paper altogether would also be unfair as if you didn't like your paper you could just kick your plug under the table and claim technical issue and get a new, potentially easier paper. That's just my opinion anyways.


  • Registered Users Posts: 57 ✭✭bella11


    I lost 10 minutes of my S1 due to a proctoring issue. Messaged Acer and they investigated and gave me back the time that I missed.

    In a sense, a new paper altogether would also be unfair as if you didn't like your paper you could just kick your plug under the table and claim technical issue and get a new, potentially easier paper. That's just my opinion anyways.

    Yeah, suppose if it happened to me I would want the same solution.. there is no really fair answer to any of this... hopefully points just go down


  • Registered Users Posts: 18 markocokram


    bella11 wrote: »
    Yeah, suppose if it happened to me I would want the same solution.. there is no really fair answer to any of this... hopefully points just go down

    Even a 1 point drop would be lovely.

    People had the option to defer the exam and even if 100 people chose this option that would mean we're the smallest cohort in the last 2 years, therefore less competition, therefore easier to get on the bell curve. Plus, financial circumstances for some will have changed so a few more will drop off plus potentially less internationals although I don't think that will happen.


  • Registered Users Posts: 57 ✭✭bella11


    Even a 1 point drop would be lovely.

    People had the option to defer the exam and even if 100 people chose this option that would mean we're the smallest cohort in the last 2 years, therefore less competition, therefore easier to get on the bell curve. Plus, financial circumstances for some will have changed so a few more will drop off plus potentially less internationals although I don't think that will happen.

    Fingers crossed!it makes sense that they would at least 1, Dublin has fluctuated before, RCSI was 56 once and 58 in the final rounds for most years except last year. With a * and UCD the same. Last year seemed to be the biggest spike


  • Registered Users Posts: 18 markocokram


    bella11 wrote: »
    Fingers crossed!it makes sense that they would at least 1, Dublin has fluctuated before, RCSI was 56 once and 58 in the final rounds for most years except last year. With a * and UCD the same. Last year seemed to be the biggest spike

    There will be everyone who missed out by one point last year so points won't drop by more than one I reckon. Hopefully RCSI drops by one, that would be great


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  • Registered Users Posts: 57 ✭✭bella11


    There will be everyone who missed out by one point last year so points won't drop by more than one I reckon. Hopefully RCSI drops by one, that would be great

    Yeah thats true...hopefully they come down 1...RCSI was 59* in final offers according to their website


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20 purnimasnow


    Anybody else feeling so exhausted after this prolonged GAMSAT? Motivation to study has been low. Sitting tomorrow and I cannot wait for it to be over!! However S3 does scare me.. a lot..


  • Registered Users Posts: 18 markocokram


    Anybody else feeling so exhausted after this prolonged GAMSAT? Motivation to study has been low. Sitting tomorrow and I cannot wait for it to be over!! However S3 does scare me.. a lot..

    I'm the same. Tried to reschedule yesterday to being my exam forward but no luck. What's done is done at this stage, feel like the longer I wait the more tired and unmotivated I'll be


  • Registered Users Posts: 23 DivaDanto


    Hi all, how did people find s3!? So hard to know- this wait is gonna be a killer :(


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 587 ✭✭✭Planemo


    Tacadh wrote: »
    Has anyone done section 3 yet? If so how did it compare to the practice booklets, was it more reasoning based again?

    Yeah not looking for specifics but just a general idea if most of the questions were based on prior knowledge or finding the answer from information they give you.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 125 ✭✭taxignorant


    I did my section 3 today. I think it was an expected mix of very basic requisite knowledge and lots of logic needed. I feel if someone has done well on practice tests they would have done reasonably well on it.

    I dont feel like I did well. I ran out of time after only 42 questions and I feel I was guessing the majority. I spent four months studying from a non science background with homeschooling as well and didn't get the syllabus even half covered never mind practice qs so I would imagine I'm an outlier on the side of the curve nobody wants to be so don't worry based on my post mortem.

    It's only 3 months to next sitting so don't feel like I can relax for any length of time though I have a banging headache and feel utterly drained do the rest of today is pizza and Space Force on Netflix. Back to physics study tomorrow. ��

    The very best of luck guys, honestly if you have been doing ok with your practice papers you should be ��


  • Registered Users Posts: 57 ✭✭bella11


    I did my section 3 today. I think it was an expected mix of very basic requisite knowledge and lots of logic needed. I feel if someone has done well on practice tests they would have done reasonably well on it.

    I dont feel like I did well. I ran out of time after only 42 questions and I feel I was guessing the majority. I spent four months studying from a non science background with homeschooling as well and didn't get the syllabus even half covered never mind practice qs so I would imagine I'm an outlier on the side of the curve nobody wants to be so don't worry based on my post mortem.

    It's only 3 months to next sitting so don't feel like I can relax for any length of time though I have a banging headache and feel utterly drained do the rest of today is pizza and Space Force on Netflix. Back to physics study tomorrow. ��

    The very best of luck guys, honestly if you have been doing ok with your practice papers you should be ��

    Did it today also...found it tough enough. Difficulty level seems to vary over days...dont know how they're going to standardise all this. Id prefer to get in on a normal exam, don't think it was the right call by ACER to go online - not for the stakes involved. Too much pot luck with it all. At least if it doesn't go well for you on the day in the hall, then thats life, seems unfair how everything has gone on - we really have been at the mercy of ACER for the past few months.


  • Registered Users Posts: 39 Peek1


    Also had it today.. felt terrible honestly, didn't get to finish all of it, guessing lots of them.
    Didn't enjoy this at all.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 587 ✭✭✭Planemo


    Guessed a lot of mine too. Honestly it wouldn't have been too bad if I was properly prepared, eg. "chemical x + chemical y gives which product" hadn't a clue as I'd slacked off my chemistry revision :pac: oh well.


  • Registered Users Posts: 57 ✭✭bella11


    110 questions in normal section 3 and 60 in this one? Probably easier to do a bit better with 110 questions!


  • Registered Users Posts: 4 Woodcotter


    First time GAMSAT-sitter here. I must say I found it very tough. Only made the decision to go ahead with the medicine dream before Christmas so don't feel like I can be too upset given how many people work their socks off for years to get a place on GEM courses.

    I will say, experience of the online GAMSAT was very stressful. I currently work in an extremely fast-paced and long-hours type of environment where burn-out and breakdowns are unfortunately par for the course. I thought these experiences would have given me a good sense of my pain barrier, but that was before I met GAMSAT section III:)

    Sections I and II were ok, but at no point during section III did I feel like I got going at all and I must say that it didn't feel like my revision had really prepared me for the style of the exam. On logging out I felt like the whole thing was a bit of a blur and felt deflated that the hours I spent chugging through self-study didn't really translate to my understanding of the questions.

    Given the exam is still ongoing I don't want to go into specifics but would love to hear more of your thoughts when the dust has settled.

    I just wanted to say, I have really appreciated hearing everyone's experiences on this forum. This resource is an absolute "GEM" (sorry!) for anyone going through this process alone and in the past few days it has been cathartic to know that, while this is a competitive exam, everyone really is in the same boat at the end of the day.

    Whatever happens, I wish you all the best of luck and hope you manage to get the most out of the summer months ahead!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20 purnimasnow


    I have been really competent at all past ACER papers and Des O’Neill papers.. but yesterday was so so difficult. It was nothing like any sample paper. The knowledge required was so integrated. Feel very flat and disappointed.


  • Registered Users Posts: 57 ✭✭bella11


    I have been really competent at all past ACER papers and Des O’Neill papers.. but yesterday was so so difficult. It was nothing like any sample paper. The knowledge required was so integrated. Feel very flat and disappointed.

    Agreed....stress is definitely intensified doing it online also...:(


  • Registered Users Posts: 24 CopperTone1


    What medical schools are people hoping for?
    Any current medical school students have a pros and cons lift for their University?


  • Registered Users Posts: 125 ✭✭taxignorant


    I'm not sure if it's just more likely that those who did poorly would post on forum to look for any hope that is was universal but it seems all posters found the exam very difficult. If on having a good long think about medicine in light of the exam you decide you still want it, then we can only use this as a driver folks and start honing our logic skills. I can't imagine how exhausting the traditional format is and we don't know how it will be come Sept 9th but it's only 3 months away.

    My plan is to do practice questions every day between now and then. First have to actually figure out the answers and then work on speed.

    It's a tough exam at the best of times, lots of people don't get it first try but I hope y'all did better than you think.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 55 ✭✭Tacadh


    Found section 3 very tough, it's a bit comforting that others feel the same!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 154 ✭✭Flimsy_Boat


    Woodcotter wrote: »
    First time GAMSAT-sitter here. I must say I found it very tough. Only made the decision to go ahead with the medicine dream before Christmas so don't feel like I can be too upset given how many people work their socks off for years to get a place on GEM courses.

    I will say, experience of the online GAMSAT was very stressful. I currently work in an extremely fast-paced and long-hours type of environment where burn-out and breakdowns are unfortunately par for the course. I thought these experiences would have given me a good sense of my pain barrier, but that was before I met GAMSAT section III:)

    Sections I and II were ok, but at no point during section III did I feel like I got going at all and I must say that it didn't feel like my revision had really prepared me for the style of the exam. On logging out I felt like the whole thing was a bit of a blur and felt deflated that the hours I spent chugging through self-study didn't really translate to my understanding of the questions.

    Given the exam is still ongoing I don't want to go into specifics but would love to hear more of your thoughts when the dust has settled.

    I just wanted to say, I have really appreciated hearing everyone's experiences on this forum. This resource is an absolute "GEM" (sorry!) for anyone going through this process alone and in the past few days it has been cathartic to know that, while this is a competitive exam, everyone really is in the same boat at the end of the day.

    Whatever happens, I wish you all the best of luck and hope you manage to get the most out of the summer months ahead!

    For what it's worth, I randomly guessed the last 30-35 questions in the March 2019 sitting of the GAMSAT. I got a 59 and secured a place at my first choice. A few classmates had similar experiences, so I am not just lucky.


  • Registered Users Posts: 125 ✭✭taxignorant


    For what it's worth, I randomly guessed the last 30-35 questions in the March 2019 sitting of the GAMSAT. I got a 59 and secured a place at my first choice. A few classmates had similar experiences, so I am not just lucky.

    Wow thanks for taking the time to post that! I guess that is part of how the exam is designed; you come away not being certain of any answers.


  • Registered Users Posts: 57 ✭✭bella11


    For what it's worth, I randomly guessed the last 30-35 questions in the March 2019 sitting of the GAMSAT. I got a 59 and secured a place at my first choice. A few classmates had similar experiences, so I am not just lucky.

    Theres definitely more lee-way to guess with 110 questions....I think the exam will definitely will be scaled to compare to the proper exam....its not really any comparison in relation to the stamina/fatigue element when you can sit them on separate days at home etc....


  • Registered Users Posts: 23 DivaDanto


    Hey guys, just wondering what age people applying for GEM this year are? I'll be 29 if lucky enough to get an offer so just wondering if I'd be on the older side of things or if many more in a similar situation


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 154 ✭✭Flimsy_Boat


    DivaDanto wrote: »
    Hey guys, just wondering what age people applying for GEM this year are? I'll be 29 if lucky enough to get an offer so just wondering if I'd be on the older side of things or if many more in a similar situation

    10% of my class is 28 or older. Oldest is 39. Oldest person ever was in their 50s. Age isn't a factor. A lot of the 24 year olds come across as much older and wiser than their years.


  • Registered Users Posts: 27 Bartman26


    DivaDanto wrote: »
    Hey guys, just wondering what age people applying for GEM this year are? I'll be 29 if lucky enough to get an offer so just wondering if I'd be on the older side of things or if many more in a similar situation

    Diva, you're a spring lamb, I'm 38 and hope to start in Sept! No matter what age you start it's a long road.. Eg it's 9yrs total from the day you start the course to be a fully qualified gp if you go straight onto scheme after intern year. Try not to think about the age thing too much or you'll freak out. I know! :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 27 Bartman26


    bella11 wrote: »
    Did it today also...found it tough enough. Difficulty level seems to vary over days...dont know how they're going to standardise all this. Id prefer to get in on a normal exam, don't think it was the right call by ACER to go online - not for the stakes involved. Too much pot luck with it all. At least if it doesn't go well for you on the day in the hall, then thats life, seems unfair how everything has gone on - we really have been at the mercy of ACER for the past few months.

    Bella11 - To be honest it's very easy to get disillusioned with the Gamsat. For a start I don't know why we have to import an exam to use as a measurement to see who should or should not study medicine.. I don't think its a good judge at all of who will do well as a medic. I know someone who sat the exam 6-7 times before they got it and then were never out of the top 10% of their class. But they lost 4yrs to just sitting the gamsat! I'd like to see the universities devise their own exam + a mixture of interview and interpersonal/bedside manner observational tests. But it is what it is I guess.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 154 ✭✭Flimsy_Boat


    Bartman26 wrote: »
    Diva, you're a spring lamb, I'm 38 and hope to start in Sept! No matter what age you start it's a long road.. Eg it's 9yrs total from the day you start the course to be a fully qualified gp if you go straight onto scheme after intern year. Try not to think about the age thing too much or you'll freak out. I know! :)

    Fair play to you, what university are you hoping for?


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  • Registered Users Posts: 27 Bartman26


    Fair play to you, what university are you hoping for?

    Thanks flimsy, 3rd time lucky for ucd I hope after twice missing on waiting list.. Suppose I'm a little worried about what effect online sitting might have on the scores as I sat in Sept but acer are saying it will be comparable despite the very different sitting conditions. I think there might be more places up for Irish students if non nationals aren't able to travel?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 154 ✭✭Flimsy_Boat


    avalon68 wrote: »
    I contacted the UL branch about the loan. Essentially you must have a guarantor, who must live in Ireland. Unfortunately this rules me out. So I have a 64 on GAMSAT, and cannot afford to study in Ireland. The financial barrier towards accessing GEM courses are ridiculous - especially since they have literally calling doctors back from overseas to cope with the covid crisis. I thought the point of these courses was to broaden access.

    I went into that same branch last year to enquire about the GEM loan. Not only does your guarantor need to live in Ireland, they must have lived in Ireland for 10 years!

    My boyfriend's parents have lived in Ireland all of their lives but his mother was not allowed to be a guarantor half way through the course due to a very slight change in circumstances. The change was so slight that the decision was overturned after an entire summer of correspondance with the bank. It was a very scary time, and my boyfriend could not get his exam results until he paid tuition, which he couldn't do until he got his loan sorted. Thankfully, he passed and it is behind us now.

    There is a huge financial barrier to doing GEM and it is really unfair. It seems the safest way to ensure funding for this degree is to be on a back to education allowance scheme during undergrad (it enables you to claim the dole during GEM, as well as in the summer months if you are a jobseeker) or just do the undergrad programme and get a SUSI grant. Otherwise you are at the mercy of Bank of Ireland.

    You will find that the Canadian students don't work during the degree, as they get a $300 000 line of credit lump sum before starting the course, but half of the Irish students work every weekend and all summer long. The pharmacists, nurses and phlebotomists in the course have it made, but if you work in a call centre, the pay barely justifies the hours taken away from studying. But people do it as they can't pay rent otherwise. The course directors are not entirely understanding either as they advise you from the outset not to work. So if you fail, they don't consider having a job to pay your bills a valid reason for appeal.
    But people are strong and keep treading water when this is what they want to do. The students with the least money in the course are sharing a house with 4-6 other students, and the living conditions can be a huge stressor.

    So my final advice: have savings before you start this course, or the support of very charitable family members.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1 LilyWhites708


    Hi everyone, I was just wondering does anyone have an estimate over what day the gamsat results will be released for the May 2020 sitting? Is there a typical day they are usually released? I know they’ve mentioned early July in the GAMSAT booklet! Thanks.


  • Registered Users Posts: 125 ✭✭taxignorant


    Hi everyone, I was just wondering does anyone have an estimate over what day the gamsat results will be released for the May 2020 sitting? Is there a typical day they are usually released? I know they’ve mentioned early July in the GAMSAT booklet! Thanks.

    I think we just have to sit tight for 2-3 weeks and they will email when results are posted. I think it will be difficult to know even then if a place is assured as points may go up or down depending on how the online exam is scored compared to traditional exam and also how many applicants there are (international student numbers may be down, domestic may be down as some people backed out of GAMSAT in the pandemic).

    I'm so eager to know what I got, but equally know that I'm totally out of the running for this year but there is always that sliver of hope.


  • Registered Users Posts: 57 ✭✭bella11


    I think we just have to sit tight for 2-3 weeks and they will email when results are posted. I think it will be difficult to know even then if a place is assured as points may go up or down depending on how the online exam is scored compared to traditional exam and also how many applicants there are (international student numbers may be down, domestic may be down as some people backed out of GAMSAT in the pandemic).

    I'm so eager to know what I got, but equally know that I'm totally out of the running for this year but there is always that sliver of hope.

    They’ve said the scores will be comparable to the written exam. I don’t see the scoring by ACER changing much, that would be highly unfair on people with Sept and March last year scores. I didn’t even have to rip up my paper with the proctor, it was so unstandardized this year, im still in shock about how badly it was done, it’s really scary that it’s being used as an entry to medical schools! I dont know are medical schools in Ireland aware of what is a shambles it was?


  • Registered Users Posts: 125 ✭✭taxignorant


    bella11 wrote: »
    They’ve said the scores will be comparable to the written exam. I don’t see the scoring by ACER changing much, that would be highly unfair on people with Sept and March last year scores. I didn’t even have to rip up my paper with the proctor, it was so unstandardized this year, im still in shock about how badly it was done, it’s really scary that it’s being used as an entry to medical schools! I dont know are medical schools in Ireland aware of what is a shambles it was?

    There is a good standard of teaching in Irish medical schools, I don't think we need to be frightened that anyone who would be unfit to practice will get through the course as a result of this exam.

    The other option was to cancel the exam altogether. I agree it was not rigorously fair given essay topics were repeated and shared and some candidates got resits of seen questions but I would imagine it was a small number of candidates. In other countries GPA and interview, job and volunteer experience are taken into account so that lessens the importance of the GAMSAT scores.

    In Ireland it is the deciding factor so it is much more important that it be consistent and fair but given the unprecedented situation I'm not sure a better solution was available. Every leaving cert student in the country also face a less than fair situation. It would also be unfair for the universities to change the grad med application now so it is what it is.

    Try to move past it and if it doesn't happen this time just resit in Sept. Don't get me wrong, I have found it awful too. It has been arduous alright but we need to make the best of it and look forward.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 57 ✭✭bella11


    There is a good standard of teaching in Irish medical schools, I don't think we need to be frightened that anyone who would be unfit to practice will get through the course as a result of this exam.

    The other option was to cancel the exam altogether. I agree it was not rigorously fair given essay topics were repeated and shared and some candidates got resits of seen questions but I would imagine it was a small number of candidates. In other countries GPA and interview, job and volunteer experience are taken into account so that lessens the importance of the GAMSAT scores.

    In Ireland it is the deciding factor so it is much more important that it be consistent and fair but given the unprecedented situation I'm not sure a better solution was available. Every leaving cert student in the country also face a less than fair situation. It would also be unfair for the universities to change the grad med application now so it is what it is.

    Try to move past it and if it doesn't happen this time just resit in Sept. Don't get me wrong, I have found it awful too. It has been arduous alright but we need to make the best of it and look forward.

    Yeah i see your point and agree to some extent- however there was an option of delaying the exam or delaying the start of college. A few people getting an unfair advantage could be the difference between someone who sat the exam in fair circumstances having to move across the country. It’s a highly competitive course to get into. Regardless of any pandemic, any situation, education especially to this level should be fair and standardized. I can’t agree that it was the best option, especially how they undertook it in such an unprofessional manner. The strain it put on mental health in an already extremely stressed out time was unethical - there are so many biases to mention.


  • Registered Users Posts: 24 CopperTone1


    Planemo wrote: »
    Anyone know if RCSI or UCD have officially pushed back the starting date for the Fall semester? I know some other colleges have but I can't find any info on those two.


    GEM registration and orientation for RCSI is the 31st of August.

    5 year programme begins October 5th

    6 year programme begins September 14th


  • Registered Users Posts: 57 ✭✭bella11


    Looks like offers won’t be out till August 8th for graduate med? Which is a Saturday weirdly enough....


  • Registered Users Posts: 125 ✭✭taxignorant


    I wasn't sure by reading the CAO email Bella ... Gosh it's so late to find out. Is it always that late? Finding childcare or accomodation within three weeks will prove difficult for people to start in September 😬 though I'm sure I will be sitting gamsat again rather than any concerns about such things


  • Registered Users Posts: 81 ✭✭RoundPony


    bella11 wrote: »
    Looks like offers won’t be out till August 8th for graduate med? Which is a Saturday weirdly enough....

    Offers are never out before August so that is pretty normal....

    Not ideal for getting organised but we have all had to do it in a similar time frame unfortunately


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