Mature entry medicine 2017

Bam_Bam_7777 · 06-02-2017 1:33pm #1

Hey!

I am applying for mature entry medicine this year and seeing as a thread hasn't been set up for this years application yet, I said I'd set one up.

How is everyone finding the application process this year?

Triponin69 · 07-02-2017 11:25pm

quite good actually, which college you thinking of?

Isco · 08-02-2017 12:01am

Triponin69 wrote: »

quite good actually, which college you thinking of?

Hey, I'm thinking about applying for next year, what all have you done so far for your application and what colleges are you looking at?

Bam_Bam_7777 · 06-03-2017 4:35pm

I am applying everywhere - beggars can't be chosers and all that! What about you?

How did everyone find the hpat? Long wait ahead for the results!!

nairy hipples · 06-04-2017 10:41pm

Hey guys,
I got into mature medicine last year in RCSI. (Just finished my 1st year-has flown by!
Just posting to say if you've any questions about application processes etc I'd be glad to help!

sfitzpat · 06-04-2017 11:17pm

Hey nairy hipples,

I studied pharmacy in RCSI and I really liked it there, but I'm now thinking I'd like to go back to do medicine, hoping to get in in NUIG. How did you find the first year?

Just wondering if you know what HPAT score around you'd need to get to be considered for a place I know in NUIG they do the MMI as well and if anyone has any info on that it'd be greatly appreciated!

I'm too late to apply for this coming September but applying for 2018!

Bam_Bam_7777 · 08-04-2017 1:31pm

Hey nairy hipples !

I would be very interested to know what the interview was like... what type of questions they asked etc? Also what was your hpat score if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks a million!

nairy hipples · 10-04-2017 9:12am

Hey no problem.

Re HPAT score, my score (I think) was 167. I can't remember exactly but I was placed in the 73rd percentile.
HPAT isn't as important as you think (its still important) but one of my friends got in the 93rd percentile (pharmacist) and wasn't offered an interview in Cork or RCSI (whereas I was), although she did get one in Galway.

When filling in your CAO-your personal statement accounts for a lot there, more than I presumed it did.

I'm gonna talk more about RCSI as thats what I'm familiar with!
You get your HPAT scores around mid April and about a week later RCSI will email you asking you to submit your portfolio, have this ready to go already, saves you panic! (UCC email mid may offering interviews, I had already accepted my place in RCSI before my UCC interview-they're quite late to the game)
It consists of a personal statement, transcripts and references.
Always better to overdo it than underdo it, I had my JC, LC, undergrad transcripts and masters transcripts ready to go.
Re references-these are very important. They say submit as many as you deem appropriate, I submitted ten, ranging from both academic and professional. If you've ever volunteered/worked in a hospital get them to do one for you.

Re the interview: I was told on 12th May that my interview was 18th May.
They interviewed about 50 people (although 5 didn't show) for 15 places.
A lot of people who have also done GAMSAT will be there so don't be disheartened as if they get offered a place they'll provisionally accept it until there GEM offer, then reject the undergrad and it'll be offered in 2nd round.

The interview consists of 3 rooms
Room 1: Personal motivations for why you want to do Medicine. I got asked that. Why I didn't do the GEM programme (I decided to hedge my bets on undergrad), do you think if you were to do it all over again would you go straight to medicine from undergrad? Do you know what you're getting yourself in for? Do you mind having people younger than you as your senior etc etc

Room 2: More psychological testing. Eg: if you had a billion euro where would you invest it in the health service. Do you think the doctor is always the leader of the team? What is teamwork etc etc. What do you think of the HPAT as a test for deciding future doctors

Room 3: Very relaxed, admissions officer, basically telling you the cost of the programme. She'll want to know how you afford to pay for it, how you're gonna support yourself etc etc

Hope that helps, any more questions please give me a shout!

vladcount · 11-04-2017 1:16pm

nairy hipples wrote: »

Hey no problem.

Re HPAT score, my score (I think) was 167. I can't remember exactly but I was placed in the 73rd percentile.
HPAT isn't as important as you think (its still important) but one of my friends got in the 93rd percentile (pharmacist) and wasn't offered an interview in Cork or RCSI (whereas I was), although she did get one in Galway.

When filling in your CAO-your personal statement accounts for a lot there, more than I presumed it did.

I'm gonna talk more about RCSI as thats what I'm familiar with!
You get your HPAT scores around mid April and about a week later RCSI will email you asking you to submit your portfolio, have this ready to go already, saves you panic! (UCC email mid may offering interviews, I had already accepted my place in RCSI before my UCC interview-they're quite late to the game)
It consists of a personal statement, transcripts and references.
Always better to overdo it than underdo it, I had my JC, LC, undergrad transcripts and masters transcripts ready to go.
Re references-these are very important. They say submit as many as you deem appropriate, I submitted ten, ranging from both academic and professional. If you've ever volunteered/worked in a hospital get them to do one for you.

Re the interview: I was told on 12th May that my interview was 18th May.
They interviewed about 50 people (although 5 didn't show) for 15 places.
A lot of people who have also done GAMSAT will be there so don't be disheartened as if they get offered a place they'll provisionally accept it until there GEM offer, then reject the undergrad and it'll be offered in 2nd round.

The interview consists of 3 rooms
Room 1: Personal motivations for why you want to do Medicine. I got asked that. Why I didn't do the GEM programme (I decided to hedge my bets on undergrad), do you think if you were to do it all over again would you go straight to medicine from undergrad? Do you know what you're getting yourself in for? Do you mind having people younger than you as your senior etc etc

Room 2: More psychological testing. Eg: if you had a billion euro where would you invest it in the health service. Do you think the doctor is always the leader of the team? What is teamwork etc etc. What do you think of the HPAT as a test for deciding future doctors

Room 3: Very relaxed, admissions officer, basically telling you the cost of the programme. She'll want to know how you afford to pay for it, how you're gonna support yourself etc etc

Hope that helps, any more questions please give me a shout!

I just got my email yesterday for RCSI I cant wait !!!!!

nairy hipples · 11-04-2017 2:35pm

Your email to submit your supporting documents? Are your HPAT scores out? (One of my friends is applying this year and just curious!)

Bam_Bam_7777 · 11-04-2017 4:34pm

Yeah I got my email to submit docs too! We don't have the results yet but they release them to the college before us sometimes.

nairy hipples · 11-04-2017 4:42pm

The colleges have them, was talking to one of the Admissions staff last week...

Bam_Bam_7777 · 11-04-2017 4:58pm

Did they happen to mention what the cut off is this year?

easpa_ciall · 13-04-2017 9:46am

Also got an email to submit documents from RCSI.

No mention of what the cut off point is though I don't think they make this known until later in the process..

Anyone hear anything from any other college yet? I know Trinity are usually quick to offer interviews.

blahbaba · 13-04-2017 10:01am

Hi,

Has anyone applied to NUIG medicine this year?

This is the only one ive applied to as I would not be able to relocate.

Hpat results out this morning tho and unless the points have gone down a good bit from last year i dont think ill even make interview stage

vladcount · 13-04-2017 1:04pm

easpa_ciall wrote: »

Also got an email to submit documents from RCSI.

No mention of what the cut off point is though I don't think they make this known until later in the process..

Anyone hear anything from any other college yet? I know Trinity are usually quick to offer interviews.

Hhhh i only, I jut got an email, I didnt make the cut so ucd & rcsi left.
Got told i didnt have chem, even though my under grad covered it.
gurrrrrrrr:cool::cool::mad:

vladcount · 13-04-2017 1:07pm

nairy hipples wrote: »

The colleges have them, was talking to one of the Admissions staff last week...

Any advice then for the interview ?

PaulinoFab · 25-04-2017 1:16pm

The only college that replied back to me do fa is RCSI for those document.
Nothing from trinity so far.. wonder what that means tho because I heard that some people have heard back from trinity saying the didn't make it. So is it good or bad that I haven't heArd from them?

DOC_Martin · 02-05-2017 9:29pm

Anyone heard from NUIG or UCC ?

vladcount · 02-05-2017 11:20pm

I got an interview for RCSI SUCCESS

lizzie101 · 03-05-2017 3:18pm

Hi! I would be really interested in learning more about the process! I just got an interview for RCSI yesterday. Not sure how to go about preparing for the interview. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also-side note--I am 24 years old and I am a little anxious that I will be too old for the class. Can you let me know the average age of your class? Many thanks

ahorseortwo · 03-05-2017 5:51pm

Thanks so much for such a thorough response. Feeling much better prepared for interview having read it.

I don't suppose you have any info on the way in which the colleges can interact with the CAO. I have an offer from another college which I am holding off on accepting incase it were to reflect badly during interview but the date to accept that will pass most likely before I have heard back from RCSI and I obviously don't want to be left with nothing, though want to receive my first choice.

I have heard that you can be refuse a place based purely on the fact you've accepted one from another college? Any idea how much truth is in that?

Thanks

nairy hipples wrote: »

Hey no problem.

The interview consists of 3 rooms
Room 1: Personal motivations for why you want to do Medicine. I got asked that. Why I didn't do the GEM programme (I decided to hedge my bets on undergrad), do you think if you were to do it all over again would you go straight to medicine from undergrad? Do you know what you're getting yourself in for? Do you mind having people younger than you as your senior etc etc

Room 2: More psychological testing. Eg: if you had a billion euro where would you invest it in the health service. Do you think the doctor is always the leader of the team? What is teamwork etc etc. What do you think of the HPAT as a test for deciding future doctors

Room 3: Very relaxed, admissions officer, basically telling you the cost of the programme. She'll want to know how you afford to pay for it, how you're gonna support yourself etc etc

Hope that helps, any more questions please give me a shout!

nairy hipples · 03-05-2017 5:54pm

ahorseortwo wrote: »

Thanks so much for such a thorough response. Feeling much better prepared for interview having read it.

I don't suppose you have any info on the way in which the colleges can interact with the CAO. I have an offer from another college which I am holding off on accepting incase it were to reflect badly during interview but the date to accept that will pass most likely before I have heard back from RCSI and I obviously don't want to be left with nothing, though want to receive my first choice.

I have heard that you can be refuse a place based purely on the fact you've accepted one from another college? Any idea how much truth is in that?

Thanks

Nah,
Accept the offer.
They have your CAO choices on hand, I had RCSI last on my list, I could see it in front of me, I expected a question as to why it was last (was gonna be honest and say cos it was more expensive).

Accept the other course. I doubt they'd know. Some people in my class had already accepted courses and then chose RCSI.
If they do happen to know you got offered another course and question you on it, just tell them the truth. You're playing the odds and you can't turn down a place in case you don't get it. They know this and appreciate the honesty.

ahorseortwo · 03-05-2017 6:00pm

I figured this might be the case. Fascinated that they can see your CAO choices in front of them while they decide but definitely playing the odds and I am sure there will be plenty doing the same.

Fingers crossed it won't go against me.

Thanks though!

nairy hipples · 03-05-2017 6:14pm

ahorseortwo wrote: »

I figured this might be the case. Fascinated that they can see your CAO choices in front of them while they decide but definitely playing the odds and I am sure there will be plenty doing the same.

Fingers crossed it won't go against me.

Thanks though!

No prob, congrats on getting offered Medicine btw!!
I'm in the middle of exams at the moment and questioning it!! (Only during exams though, other than that I love it!)

Caolan · 03-05-2017 7:45pm

lizzie101 wrote: »

Hi! I would be really interested in learning more about the process! I just got an interview for RCSI yesterday. Not sure how to go about preparing for the interview. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also-side note--I am 24 years old and I am a little anxious that I will be too old for the class. Can you let me know the average age of your class? Many thanks

Don't worry about age at all. 24 is among the youngsters for a mature. RCSI take 15 matures and average age of matures is probably 29. I'm 33 (at the end of year 2) and not the oldest (will be 36 graduating)

Keep in mind very few of the undergrads come straight from school as 18 year olds. The vast majority have at least 1/2 years of another course or a few leaving certs complete while they retry the HPAT.

Good luck everyone!

Oh- someone asked if they had heard from other colleges. TCD, RCSI and NUIG have all interview offers out, UCD and UCC don't afaik.

DOC_Martin · 03-05-2017 8:51pm

What was the Hpat cut-off for Nuig does anyone know? When are the interviews for UCC and UCD?

vladcount · 04-05-2017 11:17am

lizzie101 wrote: »

Hi! I would be really interested in learning more about the process! I just got an interview for RCSI yesterday. Not sure how to go about preparing for the interview. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also-side note--I am 24 years old and I am a little anxious that I will be too old for the class. Can you let me know the average age of your class? Many thanks

Haha im the same age so we can be two.pods in a pea if we get in

vladcount · 04-05-2017 4:12pm

Anyone else get an email from online services at rcsi saying your file was amended and will be proccessed with others applying yup.. no... okay..
On a week of nights an my brain hurts

lizzie101 · 04-05-2017 4:53pm

Emm I didn't receive that email- Not sure what it means :S . Have you completed a degree before? How are you feeling about the interview? If you don't mind me asking are you a girl/boy and what county you are from?

ahorseortwo · 05-05-2017 11:53am

Would appear that UCC are offering interviews by means of a phonecall today, in case anyone was holding out on a move to Cork .

hopeful2015 · 05-05-2017 3:30pm

ahorseortwo wrote: »

I figured this might be the case. Fascinated that they can see your CAO choices in front of them while they decide but definitely playing the odds and I am sure there will be plenty doing the same.

Fingers crossed it won't go against me.

Thanks though!

hey ahorseortwo did you get an offer without interview from a uni or is it out of Ireland?

ahorseortwo · 05-05-2017 6:07pm

hopeful2015 wrote: »

hey ahorseortwo did you get an offer without interview from a uni or is it out of Ireland?

Offer was from Trinity but is not for Med, for Physio which is the backup plan should I not get anything from RCSI or UCC or UCD.

I did interview for it however

hopeful2015 · 05-05-2017 8:15pm

Thanks for letting me know, good luck with rcsi, ucd and ucd

cinnamony · 05-05-2017 9:41pm

Hi all sorry to hijack the thread
Just wondering if you guys have any tips on how to cover the cost of the course? Did you save? Get a loan? I'd be really grateful as I have always loved medicine, would read about it all day if I could but don't see a way i could afford it...

nairy hipples · 06-05-2017 10:43am

cinnamony wrote: »

Hi all sorry to hijack the thread
Just wondering if you guys have any tips on how to cover the cost of the course? Did you save? Get a loan? I'd be really grateful as I have always loved medicine, would read about it all day if I could but don't see a way i could afford it...

BOI will give you the GEM loan.
That loan pays your tuition fees for four years (It pays €15k a year for you, currently RCSI is €16k a year so you'd have to pay the balance).
You'd leave college with a €60k loan, which you start paying back when you graduate, paid back over 10 years.
Bare in mind however that undergrad is a 5 year course so you'd have to fund one year yourself.

Some colleges are cheaper however, for example I think NUIG is €9k a year.

I'm also a physio so I do locum work which can pay quite well and that does me for spending money.

cinnamony · 07-05-2017 11:24am

nairy hipples wrote: »

BOI will give you the GEM loan.
That loan pays your tuition fees for four years (It pays €15k a year for you, currently RCSI is €16k a year so you'd have to pay the balance).
You'd leave college with a €60k loan, which you start paying back when you graduate, paid back over 10 years.
Bare in mind however that undergrad is a 5 year course so you'd have to fund one year yourself.

Some colleges are cheaper however, for example I think NUIG is €9k a year.

I'm also a physio so I do locum work which can pay quite well and that does me for spending money.

Thank you so much for the info, I'll look more into it

60k is crazy though!

BohoBoo · 07-05-2017 3:17pm

ahorseortwo wrote: »

Would appear that UCC are offering interviews by means of a phonecall today, in case anyone was holding out on a move to Cork .

Ah I spoke to Cork on Thursday and they said they would send out communication on the 8th or 9th of May...?
Has anyone else been offered an interview at Cork?
Also, does anyone know if UCD carry out interviews? I've called them twice and they said they don't usually interview for their courses but surely this can't be true of Medicine?
And good luck everyone!

vladcount · 08-05-2017 3:21am

lizzie101 wrote: »

Emm I didn't receive that email- Not sure what it means :S . Have you completed a degree before? How are you feeling about the interview? If you don't mind me asking are you a girl/boy and what county you are from?

Hahaha I'm a boy or dare I say man of 24 ðŸ˜Š yes two previous degrees plus a fetac in pre nursing, a BSc. In health and society and finishing as I type my masters thesis for my mph Master in Public health. . IM hoping to get into the public health medical registrar training after it. I feel good also a trained actor so I like.interviews over exams !!!!

vladcount · 08-05-2017 3:23am

vladcount wrote: »

Hahaha I'm a boy or dare I say man of 24 ðŸ˜Š yes two previous degrees plus a fetac in pre nursing, a BSc. In health and society and finishing as I type my masters thesis for my mph Master in Public health. . IM hoping to get into the public health medical registrar training after it. I feel good also a trained actor so I like.interviews over exams !!!!

Oh and from Dublin

vladcount · 08-05-2017 3:25am

vladcount wrote: »

Oh and from Dublin

The only thing im dreading I got Thursday the 11th for interview im 4th in th morning and have an exam later that day

a part of my masters

ahorseortwo · 09-05-2017 3:57pm

BohoBoo wrote: »

Ah I spoke to Cork on Thursday and they said they would send out communication on the 8th or 9th of May...?
Has anyone else been offered an interview at Cork?
Also, does anyone know if UCD carry out interviews? I've called them twice and they said they don't usually interview for their courses but surely this can't be true of Medicine?
And good luck everyone!

Youre correct BohoBoo. Cork notified me of my interview the other day by phone actually and then by email later. I was told they would send communication of rejection by the 9th when I had first called them about it but that could very well have been codswollop. They did mention on the phone there was a significant waitlist for interview and to let them know if I wasn't attending ASAP.

Have heard the similar story from UCD actually. Appears they don't seem to have any interviews for their matures for a lot of courses! Would like to think they do at some point but have never heard of anyone doing so!

Best of luck with it !

ahorseortwo · 09-05-2017 4:03pm

nairy hipples wrote: »

I'm also a physio so I do locum work which can pay quite well and that does me for spending money.

Hadn't realised you had been a physio before nairy hipples. Would love to pick your brain about the differences if I could by PM even?

Currently have a Physio offer and a few med interviews and not sure which route I truly want to go down.

Thanks

nairy hipples · 09-05-2017 4:13pm

ahorseortwo wrote: »

Hadn't realised you had been a physio before nairy hipples. Would love to pick your brain about the differences if I could by PM even?

Currently have a Physio offer and a few med interviews and not sure which route I truly want to go down.

Thanks

Yeah no problem ask away!!

vladcount · 09-05-2017 5:16pm

Anyone else get their panel email lol feeling excited !!! Quick get the grannies to light the prayers candles :-)

Bam_Bam_7777 · 11-05-2017 11:53am

How are the RCSI interviews? Any advice for someone who is in tomorrow?

ahorseortwo · 12-05-2017 4:19pm

Bam_Bam_7777 wrote: »

How are the RCSI interviews? Any advice for someone who is in tomorrow?

Sorry I didn't see this til now. I hope your interview went well regardless Bam_Bam_7777 !

Bam_Bam_7777 · 13-05-2017 12:26pm

No problem at all ahorseortwo. I think I got on ok! How does everyone else feel it went?

vladcount · 13-05-2017 4:00pm

only seen this now also, hope it went well, i got head of surgery in my first panel, he asked me the same question at the start and end, hoping he either liked my direction of my logic or im totally f***ed

Bam_Bam_7777 · 13-05-2017 4:03pm

It's very hard to know, the interviewers are very hard to read but at least we don't have long to wait until the verdict. Fingers crossed!!

Bam_Bam_7777 · 13-05-2017 4:09pm

I actually got asked to expand more on an answer too but immediately after I finished. I'm not sure what that means

Mature entry medicine 2017

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