Mature entry medicine 2017

Fuddyduddy · 10-04-2018 2:46pm

What kind of volunteer experience did people here do that contributed to their acceptance into Medicine?

I dropped out of university 7 years ago after my second year, mostly because of depression/personal circumstances. I am completely over that period of my life, have moved on and have enough money saved up now to fund myself through 5 years of third-level education.

I know that dropping out of a course looks bad, but do you think that the reasons I gave won't be held against me should I get an interview at a school?

Lastly, I was thinking of enrolling in a 1 year certificate programme - some course relating to chemistry/science - in order to prove my commitment and show that I have the fundamentals (chemistry, maths etc.) to enter medicine. Are there any merits to this as a mature student?

Aiming for 2019 so will be 28 beginning the course.

vladcount · 10-04-2018 6:25pm

Basscon22 wrote: »

Anyone get an email from Trinity today, requesting their CV?

Nope nothing ! I was expecting rcsi to send out the emails this week for sending in documents nothing yet. Fingerscrossed . Sadly nothing from trinity why did you get an email.

vladcount · 10-04-2018 6:26pm

Ciara33 wrote: »

Wishing you all the best for this year vladcount -

Thank you so much ! I shoudl get it according to the admin office. ☺

Ciara33 · 11-04-2018 11:05am

Fuddyduddy wrote: »

What kind of volunteer experience did people here do that contributed to their acceptance into Medicine?

I dropped out of university 7 years ago after my second year, mostly because of depression/personal circumstances. I am completely over that period of my life, have moved on and have enough money saved up now to fund myself through 5 years of third-level education.

I know that dropping out of a course looks bad, but do you think that the reasons I gave won't be held against me should I get an interview at a school?

Lastly, I was thinking of enrolling in a 1 year certificate programme - some course relating to chemistry/science - in order to prove my commitment and show that I have the fundamentals (chemistry, maths etc.) to enter medicine. Are there any merits to this as a mature student?

Aiming for 2019 so will be 28 beginning the course.

Hi there,
I think you are doing the right thing by preparing now for 2019.
As regards doing a cert course, that is a great idea. Check with RCSI and Trinity as to what course they recognise but I do know that these science cert courses are taken into account especially if your previous academic history or leaving cert was poor. On that note, make sure you fully research the entry requirements of each of the medical schools. Also, they like to see recent academic achievements to show that you have kept reasonably up to date and are used to studying.
As regards volunteer experience, I had a mixture of previous stuff like adult literacy volunteering and school volunteering but only in the year prior to my application did I do anything kind of medically related ( Irish Heart Foundation).
As regards your unfinished degree, don't skirt around it but address the issue in your personal statement - you don't have to give away deep personal details but describe it as a challenge from which you learned a lot about yourself and gained insight and empathy into the struggles of others etc. Be sure to reference areas of your life where you have completed things or showed continued commitment .
If you are thinking of Trinity make sure you attend the open day, you will get to attend lectures and chat to students, plus the application process will be explained in great detail. It's a long laborious application for Trinity, but stick with it.RCSI and NUIG open evenings also a must, NUIG usually have theirs early in the year, RCSI usually November.

Just to note, NUIG is the only medical school that shortlists solely on HPAT scores, and then interviews using the multiple mini interview style , so less emphasis on your CV than the traditional approach of the other schools.

Best of luck!

Fuddyduddy · 11-04-2018 10:05pm

Ciara33 wrote: »

Hi there,
I think you are doing the right thing by preparing now for 2019.
As regards doing a cert course, that is a great idea. Check with RCSI and Trinity as to what course they recognise but I do know that these science cert courses are taken into account especially if your previous academic history or leaving cert was poor. On that note, make sure you fully research the entry requirements of each of the medical schools. Also, they like to see recent academic achievements to show that you have kept reasonably up to date and are used to studying.
As regards volunteer experience, I had a mixture of previous stuff like adult literacy volunteering and school volunteering but only in the year prior to my application did I do anything kind of medically related ( Irish Heart Foundation).
As regards your unfinished degree, don't skirt around it but address the issue in your personal statement - you don't have to give away deep personal details but describe it as a challenge from which you learned a lot about yourself and gained insight and empathy into the struggles of others etc. Be sure to reference areas of your life where you have completed things or showed continued commitment .
If you are thinking of Trinity make sure you attend the open day, you will get to attend lectures and chat to students, plus the application process will be explained in great detail. It's a long laborious application for Trinity, but stick with it.RCSI and NUIG open evenings also a must, NUIG usually have theirs early in the year, RCSI usually November.

Just to note, NUIG is the only medical school that shortlists solely on HPAT scores, and then interviews using the multiple mini interview style , so less emphasis on your CV than the traditional approach of the other schools.

Best of luck!

Thanks Ciara, Solid advice.

alanED · 12-04-2018 12:24am

vladcount wrote: »

Nope nothing ! I was expecting rcsi to send out the emails this week for sending in documents nothing yet. Fingerscrossed . Sadly nothing from trinity why did you get an email.

I also got the email requesting CV.... have had no other contact from any of the dublin based schools!

Fuj8 · 12-04-2018 11:30am

Hope everyone is happy with their HPAT results

vladcount · 12-04-2018 11:58am

Ah results up 60%quartile yes ! HPAT IS UP!
Im guessing rcsi will be releasing whos been asked to sent their documents soon.

Fuj8 · 12-04-2018 12:03pm

Yes I've been waiting to hear from RCSI to submit documents all week...

It should be soon hopefully

ilovesmecounty · 12-04-2018 1:28pm

I got my HPAT today, in the 82nd percentile. As far as I'm aware NUIG call you on your HPAT alone, is that right? If that's the case, I wonder if I've done enough to get that far? It feels like a long time ago since I sat amongst children in that exam!

Fuj8 · 12-04-2018 1:36pm

Yeah NUIG interview about 15 people who have the top HPAT scores so I reckon you have a good chance! Apparently they just look at HPAT score and don't pay much attention to anything else..

ilovesmecounty · 12-04-2018 1:45pm

Just had a quick search there. They only have three mature spots. Even if I get an interview, I'm fairly up against it!

Fuj8 · 12-04-2018 1:57pm

ilovesmecounty wrote: »

Just had a quick search there. They only have three mature spots. Even if I get an interview, I'm fairly up against it!

Yeah I know it's a tough one! They're my first choice too.

We'll just have to hope for the best I guess..

vladcount · 13-04-2018 5:28am

Fuj8 wrote: »

Yeah I know it's a tough one! They're my first choice too.

We'll just have to hope for the best I guess..

My first choice is rcsi just praying we get our emails in the morning ( im working nights in a dublin hospital) as they are quite late this yr . Usually the day before hpat results are given ya get the email usually. Been on to many who got to interview last yr who like me got waitlisted. They are still waiting too. So just waiting now.

person78 · 13-04-2018 11:59am

Has anyone heard anything? I dunno if I should be waiting for a few weeks to hear or if it could be soon!

Fuj8 · 13-04-2018 12:25pm

I think we could be waiting for a while

We'll probably start hearing about interviews the start of May??

person78 · 13-04-2018 12:41pm

Fuj8 wrote: »

I think we could be waiting for a while

We'll probably start hearing about interviews the start of May??

Some people last year said they heard from trinity on the day the hpat results came out! Would just love to know!

Fuj8 · 13-04-2018 12:44pm

I know I'm getting so impatient checking my emails all the time :pac:

HB94 · 13-04-2018 1:32pm

anyone got anything from rcsi? does everyone who has applied get the email to submit documents or is it selective?

person78 · 13-04-2018 1:40pm

Fuj8 wrote: »

I know I'm getting so impatient checking my emails all the time :pac:

Me too!!

I didn’t apply to RCSI (because of the fees).

vladcount · 13-04-2018 3:23pm

HB94 wrote: »

anyone got anything from rcsi? does everyone who has applied get the email to submit documents or is it selective?

Nothing yet! From rcsi

vladcount · 13-04-2018 3:24pm

Fuj8 wrote: »

I know I'm getting so impatient checking my emails all the time :pac:

PREACH ðŸ˜¨ðŸ™Œ

vladcount · 13-04-2018 3:25pm

Im the most impatient man going. I wish they would just put up interview for all lhaha.

Fuj8 · 13-04-2018 3:42pm

person78 wrote: »

Me too!!

I didn’t apply to RCSI (because of the fees).

Yeah it's quite expensive!

What's your top choice?

vladcount · 13-04-2018 4:33pm

Rcsi document email os out !!!
Congrats to all who where lucky to get it. ☺

Fuj8 · 13-04-2018 6:04pm

vladcount wrote: »

Rcsi document email os out !!!
Congrats to all who where lucky to get it. ☺

Got it

At least we can relax a bit now we've been provided with dates and all. Hopefully we all get interviews

person78 · 13-04-2018 6:16pm

Fuj8 wrote: »

Yeah it's quite expensive!

What's your top choice?

Trinity then UCD then UCC then NUIG.

RCSI would be my first but it’s sooo much more expensive it just wasn’t feasible.

Fuj8 · 13-04-2018 8:51pm

Does anyone know what the HPAT cut off point was for UCD and NUIG last year??

DMC3 · 14-04-2018 11:29pm

hi guys, I've just realised I misread the trinity application and didn't realise you had to set up an account with them! Does anyone know if that means you're completely out of the running for them for this year anyway?

person78 · 14-04-2018 11:36pm

DMC3 wrote: »

hi guys, I've just realised I misread the trinity application and didn't realise you had to set up an account with them! Does anyone know if that means you're completely out of the running for them for this year anyway?

Oh that’s a pity! I think the closing date for their separate application was the same as the cao. It was just basically an extended version of the cao application, I don’t know their policy but as far as I know it was a requirement, but you never know!!

ilovesmecounty · 15-04-2018 11:13am

Got my RCSI email on Friday afternoon. Now frantically finding references. Of course, since I've been out of education for so long the academic stuff will be sparse enough. I wonder how many references we should send in? The panic!

retweet · 15-04-2018 10:01pm

Hey everyone,

What are the LC requirements for UCC?

Someone mentioned in another thread that you had to have the required subjects with your original LC. I thought you could sit the required subjects the year before you apply.

Best of luck with your interviews!

Fuj8 · 15-04-2018 10:15pm

ilovesmecounty wrote: »

Got my RCSI email on Friday afternoon. Now frantically finding references. Of course, since I've been out of education for so long the academic stuff will be sparse enough. I wonder how many references we should send in? The panic!

I think I'll send 3-4 references. I'm not sure how many they're expecting to be honest?

Fuj8 · 15-04-2018 10:22pm

retweet wrote: »

Hey everyone,

What are the LC requirements for UCC?

Someone mentioned in another thread that you had to have the required subjects with your original LC. I thought you could sit the required subjects the year before you apply.

Best of luck with your interviews!

The document I have attached is quite useful. It outlines minimum entry requirements for medicine via mature entry pathway in a clear table.

I have heard of people sitting particular subjects to meet requirements but it might be best to contact the universities directly.

retweet · 16-04-2018 1:57am

Fuj8 wrote: »

The document I have attached is quite useful. It outlines minimum entry requirements for medicine via mature entry pathway in a clear table.

I have heard of people sitting particular subjects to meet requirements but it might be best to contact the universities directly.

Thank you!

spartansean · 16-04-2018 3:15pm

I got 138 in the HPAT 30th percentile so pretty awful.

But Still got the RCSI email and asked for my CV from TCD so I presume every applicat gets these.

vladcount · 16-04-2018 3:38pm

spartansean wrote: »

I got 138 in the HPAT 30th percentile so pretty awful.

But Still got the RCSI email and asked for my CV from TCD so I presume every applicat gets these.

Awfulr undergrad yes but not for mature. Most mature scotes range from 125 up to top precentile. For matures there is an acceptable line of whih you are seen as benging able for medicine . Hpat is an awful indicator i know people who where 99 percentile and made god awful doctors.

Ciara33 · 16-04-2018 4:18pm

Hi I believe HPAT cut off score for NUIG last year was around 170

vladcount · 16-04-2018 4:32pm

Each school for matures use the hpat differently !
Nuig ciara has that above,
I believe rcsi is okay once your not in the under 20%quartile rate
Unsure of tcd. And ucd

Fuj8 · 16-04-2018 4:32pm

Ciara33 wrote: »

Hi I believe HPAT cut off score for NUIG last year was around 170

Thank you! Hopefully it doesn't go up so

vladcount · 16-04-2018 4:45pm

Anyone from last yr remember if rcsi asked for a full breakdown of leaving cert grades ? On their online application gathering bits and bobs and looking for them

spartansean · 16-04-2018 7:28pm

Il keep hoping for an offer so , I only have TCD and RCSI down as they the Only two that I was eligible for as I have a degree in Physiology already. ( also trying for grad but being dsylexic makes the GAMSAT abit tough ) lol

Thanks guys

ilovesmecounty · 16-04-2018 8:52pm

Writing my personal statement now. It's very hard to talk about oneself in praise! I'm also struggling big time with my opening paragraph. I really don't know how to introduce myself!

Fuj8 · 16-04-2018 9:04pm

spartansean wrote: »

Il keep hoping for an offer so , I only have TCD and RCSI down as they the Only two that I was eligible for as I have a degree in Physiology already. ( also trying for grad but being dsylexic makes the GAMSAT abit tough ) lol

Thanks guys

Best of luck

Guidance · 16-04-2018 10:48pm

Hi all,

Are we automatically considered via the points route even after applying to enter as a mature student?

vladcount · 17-04-2018 12:50am

yes if you have the points to begin with but you would be compeating only with LC students,
Matures against other matures as in via CV and degrees and experieince
and GEM for graduates

vladcount · 17-04-2018 12:52am

spartansean wrote: »

Il keep hoping for an offer so , I only have TCD and RCSI down as they the Only two that I was eligible for as I have a degree in Physiology already. ( also trying for grad but being dsylexic makes the GAMSAT abit tough ) lol

Thanks guys

im in the same boat I got 2.2 in my undergrad in health and society. so no gem.

vladcount · 17-04-2018 12:54am

ilovesmecounty wrote: »

Writing my personal statement now. It's very hard to talk about oneself in praise! I'm also struggling big time with my opening paragraph. I really don't know how to introduce myself!

Its hard It took me a month to perfect my one, its good to have a teacher, lecturer or professer who is willing to help you to look over it before you send it !
that or the best of all the mammy ! you want it to convey all that is you and why rcsi

ilovesmecounty · 17-04-2018 4:49pm

vladcount wrote: »

Its hard It took me a month to perfect my one, its good to have a teacher, lecturer or professer who is willing to help you to look over it before you send it !
that or the best of all the mammy ! you want it to convey all that is you and why rcsi

Yeah... except for the fact that I haven't told anyone I've applied for this. I had a long weekend explaining to potential referees what I needed and asking them to keep quiet!S :pac:

vladcount · 18-04-2018 10:01am

ilovesmecounty wrote: »

Yeah... except for the fact that I haven't told anyone I've applied for this. I had a long weekend explaining to potential referees what I needed and asking them to keep quiet!S :pac:

Aint no rest fir the wicked lol youll be grand !

Mature entry medicine 2017

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