Speech and language therapy UL

CeeCeeR · 20-08-2015 11:03pm

Potentially! I'm going to call tomorrow, so I'll keep you posted... Fingers crossed

pvlondon · 20-08-2015 11:06pm

Thanks mimikins89 for the update! I'm going to get in touch tomorrow and find out for myself, but just wanted anyone's opinions first- do you think they will continue to offer to the reserve once the course starts if people drop out? I've a number of friends who've undertaken a masters and have all said that a few people dropped out in the first 2/3 weeks. I know I'm properly clutching at straws here but still holding out some hope!

CeeCeeR · 20-08-2015 11:18pm

pvlondon wrote: »

Thanks mimikins89 for the update! I'm going to get in touch tomorrow and find out for myself, but just wanted anyone's opinions first- do you think they will continue to offer to the reserve once the course starts if people drop out? I've a number of friends who've undertaken a masters and have all said that a few people dropped out in the first 2/3 weeks. I know I'm properly clutching at straws here but still holding out some hope!

Hey pvlondon, I know a girl that has just completed the course, and apparently somebody started 2 weeks into the programme the year she started! So no, it is feasible... I'm hoping on that too tbh

Mimikins89 · 20-08-2015 11:31pm

They'll be busy on the phones tomorrow with all of us!

pvlondon · 21-08-2015 11:45am

Thanks ceeceer,

Here's hoping and hoping and hoping!

I emailed Catherine this morning but have not had any response as yet- please update on here if anyone hears anything further!

Thanks

Mimikins89 · 21-08-2015 2:23pm

I rang just now and confirmed I'm 3rd now. She said it's unlikely they'd continue to take places off the reserve past today as it's such an intensive course, and that unless on Monday 4 or 5 people don't show up in which case they would be under pressure to fill the course and would go through the reserve, it's likely today would be the final day.
Ceecee- you're the next to be offered now I'm pretty sure! As in the 1st reserve!

(and I think pvLondon you are 6th at the minute?)

pvlondon · 21-08-2015 4:41pm

Hi Mimikins, thanks for the update once again! Yes I calculated I'm 6th too. I heard from Catherine a little while ago saying that they could be offering places till up to September 7th should people drop out in the next couple of weeks. Just wondering who you spoke to as it seems we got conflicting information! Either way, I'm not uncrossing these fingers for all of us as yet- I guess we just have to wait and see what happens on Monday but if anyone hears any updated information please update on here!

Mimikins89 · 21-08-2015 5:08pm

Have been talking to christine langan who does admin in the clinical therapies and catherine is in the postgrad admin office. Dunno about differing timelines?! Hopefully the longer one! ðŸ˜Š

CeeCeeR · 23-08-2015 8:36pm

Sorry for the delay with the update... I rang on Friday, and was speaking to Christine Langan as well. From what I could gather they called the person before me on the reserve list and were waiting on an answer from them - that was just before lunchtime. She said she was going to check it out with admissions and get back to me in the afternoon. I never got a call, so I'm assuming that person took the place.... So close but yet so far

I'm still half hoping that I still could get a call next week, but it's probably a long stretch at this stage!

CeeCeeR · 24-08-2015 4:42pm

I got a call from Catherine offering me a place earlier today!!! I obviously accepted it immediately:) Apparently 2 people didn't show up today.... So there's still hope for the reserve list yet!

pvlondon · 24-08-2015 5:00pm

Congrats ceeceer! Mimikins this means you're the first reserve!

I really hope there'll be more progress on the reserve but let's see. Again please update on here if anyone hears anything!

Mimikins89 · 24-08-2015 5:28pm

Congratulations Ceeceer! You must be delighted! And fingers crossed for us pvLondon! Can I ask you if you have been given any info on what the schedule is like now if we are called? Is it all registration and orientation stuff now or content lectures already?

Mimikins89 · 31-08-2015 6:30pm

pvlondon wrote: »

Congrats ceeceer! Mimikins this means you're the first reserve!

I really hope there'll be more progress on the reserve but let's see. Again please update on here if anyone hears anything!

Hey PvLondon! Just heard today that someone else left the course! I got in!!! :eek: Starting tomorrow!

So shocked as I thought it wouldn't move in the second week! You should be 3rd now then? Fingers crossed for you! Would be nice to start with both people from here together! :cool:

CeeCeeR · 31-08-2015 6:46pm

Hey Mimikins

That's amazing news, congratulations

Sorry I didn't notice your last message.... Been hectic since starting! They only did orientation on Mon, straight into lectures last Tues morning when I started. Really looking forward to meeting you tomorrow

pvlondon · 31-08-2015 6:59pm

Hey mimikins! What fantastic news! I'm really happy for you

I'm still hoping something might change before this week is over but I'm guessing it's pretty unlikely

You never know though so let's wait and see! Good luck tomorrow and keep those fingers crossed for me too!!!

Salty · 30-10-2015 3:35am

Hi everyone! I'm wondering if anyone else is applying this year? The application process is completely different to previous years - we must now do a version of the hpat to gain entry.

It would be nice to start a bit of discussion about applications etc since the hpat is opening applications in the next couple of weeks!

I've just completed a research masters in English, still waiting on results. My undergrad was in English and Psychology. All from UCC! I wanted to do SLT for years but the leaving cert didn't go as planned and I didn't get the points I needed. My baby brother has autism and underwent a lot of therapy with an SLT so I've had an interest in the area kinda forever!

I'm a little nervous about the hpat already

panda100 · 22-11-2015 12:37pm

It is so frustrating that they keep changing the goal posts for entry into this course!

I've applied twice in the last three years and on their feedback went back to do a masters as my undergrad marks (in a highly relevant discipline) were poor. I worked my butt off to get a first in my masters to put me at the top of the pile for slt entry this year.To discover now that was all in vain as hpat score will be the deciding factor, is absolutely soul destroying. By the end of this process i'll have spent almost 10 grand trying to get into this course! If I didn't want slt so badly I would just walk away at this stage.

I haven't logged into the application process yet. Do we still need to write personal statement etc like in previous years? Does practical work experience count for nothing any more?

Salty · 23-11-2015 3:01am

panda100 wrote: »

It is so frustrating that they keep changing the goal posts for entry into this course!

I've applied twice in the last three years and on their feedback went back to do a masters as my undergrad marks (in a highly relevant discipline) were poor. I worked my butt off to get a first in my masters to put me at the top of the pile for slt entry this year.To discover now that was all in vain as hpat score will be the deciding factor, is absolutely soul destroying. By the end of this process i'll have spent almost 10 grand trying to get into this course! If I didn't want slt so badly I would just walk away at this stage.

I haven't logged into the application process yet. Do we still need to write personal statement etc like in previous years? Does practical work experience count for nothing any more?

No, a personal statement or work experience is not necessary any more. You just have to show that you have the necessary grades for consideration, and after that it's down to the hpat!

It is frustrating for someone like yourself who has spent so much time and effort trying to get in to the course. This is my first year applying, but the old method of application would have suited me better because of my grades etc.

I'm a bit nervous about the hpat to be honest.

Salty · 01-03-2016 12:37am

I thought I might try and bump this thread seeing as the hpat is now done and dusted! It's a pity it didn't take off this year the way it has previously. It would be nice to get some discussion going about this course with others who have applied. I feel like the wait to get the hpat results is going to be never-ending! I hope I've done enough to get in.

Salty · 18-04-2016 6:58am

This will be my last attempt to get this going

The HPAT results are out! How does everyone feel about them? I have no idea if mine are good enough! They are not overly high results, and they're not low either. I've already emailed postgrad admissions to ask how long until they will be contacting people about offers, I can't stand the waiting around anymore! :P

Galwaygirl66 · 18-04-2016 10:30am

I actually applied for occupational therapy but also find myself in the not awful but fairly average percentile. At present very doubtful I would be offered the course given my marks. If they email you back regarding when places will be confirmed please post it up?!....the anxiety levels are currently gone through the roof!

Salty · 18-04-2016 3:48pm

Galwaygirl66 wrote: »

I actually applied for occupational therapy but also find myself in the not awful but fairly average percentile. At present very doubtful I would be offered the course given my marks. If they email you back regarding when places will be confirmed please post it up?!....the anxiety levels are currently gone through the roof!

OT is my second choice, so I'm hoping for an offer in either! They haven't gotten on to me yet, but I will post up if they do.

I was fairly anxious about the hpat results for the last 2 weeks, but I think waiting to find out if I got in is even worse. It's impossible to know how everyone else did!

That said, they'll probably do a reserve list like all the other years, so you might still have a chance if you're not offered a place straight away.

Galwaygirl66 · 18-04-2016 3:55pm

I agree its much worse having the results and not knowing if it's good enough!well fingers crossed they issue the decision this week...

Salty · 18-04-2016 4:08pm

They just replied in the last 10 minutes, and it'll be early May before the course director makes a decision apparently! I wonder if the hpat isn't the absolute sole decider so? It's hard to know!

Galwaygirl66 · 18-04-2016 5:50pm

Thanks for the update saves me chasing them as well! There were about 25 people sitting the English exam in my test centre so it would be interesting to know what the demand is. I would be happier if other factors were applied to admission process so hopefully that's the case!

Salty · 18-04-2016 7:30pm

No problem at all! There was 30 - 40 in my centre I think, a mixture for SLT and OT. I can't imagine the demand deviating much from previous years. I've read a lot of this thread, and it was generally around 130 people applying for SLT. I'd guess the hpat might have even put people off! I have a first in my undergrad and masters, I'd love if it counted for something.

Spencere010 · 18-04-2016 10:42pm

Hey, just seen this thread! I received fairly average results today I think. Similarly, I have no idea how good they will be when it comes to acceptance into the course! Would be nice to roughly know how many people have applied. My test centre was in Limerick (UL) and I think there was about 25 people who stayed for the English part of the test, so there was a mixture of SLT and OT. Where did both of you sit your tests?

LucyLuLu11 · 19-04-2016 1:46pm

Hello, I've also applied for SLT, my test centre was Galway and there were about 20-25 of us there I would guess. I'm just wondering what is actually considered an average HPAT score? It's not something I had ever envisaged doing so I'm still quite clueless as to what my result actually means. There just seems to be so little information available about what the results actually mean

Salty · 19-04-2016 1:57pm

I'm actually so happy people have finally started to post here! :P

I did my test in UCC. It's impossible to even guess what kind of a score will actually be good enough to get in. I did a prep course for the hpat since I hadn't a single clue, and the tutor reckoned (based on similar scenarios abroad) that maybe 60th percentile and above would be sufficient. You would need at least 80th if you were going for medicine, so she said we wouldn't need scores that high. Still though, it was only a guess, albeit an educated one!

Acer have a page about results, with links to candidate performance from 2009 - 2015, so you can get an idea of the distribution of scores: https://hpat-ireland.acer.edu.au/results

LucyLuLu11 · 19-04-2016 2:32pm

The waiting is driving me mad. I wish we even had a concrete date for offers. My written English score was very poor, (I think?) I wonder how much that will be taken into account? A previous years results or something to gage some of this against would be great!

Salty · 19-04-2016 2:54pm

I thought my written English score would be a lot higher - I have two first class honours English degrees!

But we have no idea what kind of criteria they were really looking for in that either.

I hate that we're the guinea-pig group for this!

Spencere010 · 19-04-2016 6:26pm

I didn't do great in the English essay section either. Would really like to know how that is used when combined with your results. There was only 6 centres to sit the exam and we roughly know how many sat it in 3 of them, pity there's not more people on here who sat the exam in the other centres to fill us in on numbers This is definitely the hardest year to do the HPAT for SLT and OT as there is nothing to compare to.

Galwaygirl66 · 19-04-2016 6:43pm

I also sat mine in UL so I'd say 25 is about right and on the OT thread on boards here someone who sat in UCD this year said there was about 50 sitting the English exam there so demand was fairly high. Very reassuring other people were also disappointed with their written essay I think my head was melted after the hpat so clearly my writing was not up to par.

Spencere010 · 19-04-2016 7:14pm

Hopefully there wouldn't be as many sitting it in Sligo or Waterford. Do you know what the thread was called for the OT discussions? I can't find anything relating to this year! Yeh I think everyone was pretty exhausted doing the English essays. It was such a long exam.

Galwaygirl66 · 19-04-2016 9:11pm

It's called 'occupational therapy employment prospects' sorry I wasn't allowed to copy the link in....it's not a very active thread either.

Salty · 19-04-2016 10:10pm

I was expecting to get at least 80 - 90 in the written part, I really was surprised by it!

This waiting game is gonna eat me up :pac:

Going by previous years, there was probably at least 120 sitting for each course.

Salty · 27-04-2016 9:19pm

I feel like the days are going by in slow motion. I'm like a mad person checking my emails all the time.

Anybody else book accommodation just in case? :pac:

LucyLuLu11 · 27-04-2016 10:34pm

Yep. This wait is never ending. I'm nearly jumping every time I get an email, haha. I haven't really looked at accomodation or anything yet, I'm afraid to jinx anything! Have you? Where have you been looking at?

Salty · 27-04-2016 10:56pm

I took the position that I'd be completely fooked if I had nowhere to live after all the stress :pac:

I booked Cappavilla Village, postgrad only accommodation. It's right next to the health sciences building, but it's expensive enough! Looks nice, hopefully I'll actually get to live there. :pac:

Galwaygirl66 · 02-05-2016 10:00pm

I have been too afraid to even look at accommodation while the wait continues...Do people think we might find out this week? It's seems like such a long time even tho it's only been 2 weeks!

LucyLuLu11 · 03-05-2016 1:06am

Yeah I'm the same. Too afraid to jinx anything, even though my hpat was okay (according to other people, I don't have a clue!). It's just so difficult when there's nothing else to gage it against. Really hoping we get offers this week. It's like waiting for leaving cert results all over again, without an actual date!

Salty · 03-05-2016 3:07pm

I don't even know anyone who could tell me if my hpat is ok or not.

This is a million times worse than waiting for the cao offers back in the day - I had over 100 points to spare for Arts in UCC, this isn't so clear cut. :pac: I really hope they start contacting everyone this week! I have a heart attack every time my phone pings with an email!

Galwaygirl66 · 03-05-2016 10:30pm

I emailed recently and was told decisions will be end of May I really that's not the case!

Galwaygirl66 · 03-05-2016 10:31pm

I emailed recently and was told decisions will be end of May I really hope that's not the case!

Salty · 04-05-2016 7:09pm

Ah what!? That's such a long time. I felt like April took an eternity to end, I don't know how I'll cope until the end of May! They didn't give any inkling as to why by any chance?

LucyLuLu11 · 10-05-2016 4:49pm

Anybody? Anything yet?

Salty · 10-05-2016 5:24pm

Nothing! Has anyone else emailed them?

Salty · 18-05-2016 4:37pm

I just sent another email to postgrad admissions asking about when we might hear about the allocation of places. I'll post up the reply when I get one.

Salty · 19-05-2016 2:58pm

_meehan_ wrote: »

I just sent another email to postgrad admissions asking about when we might hear about the allocation of places. I'll post up the reply when I get one.

So yeah, was told they are still waiting for instructions from the course director, and they can't give me any information. The waiting continues!

Galwaygirl66 · 24-05-2016 8:53am

Thanks for checking again Meehan....at this point an answer is needed I can deal with rejection but all the waiting is making it worse!I wonder what's holding it up?!if it's going by score would have thought it's a straight yes or no

Speech and language therapy UL

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