Let's be clear. The point of this blog is to archieve the ups and downs of applying to medical school in ireland and hopefully completing the course over time. I hope this acts as a small guide to those that wish to follow.
I'm publishing this blog annonymously because I want to be as honest as possible about my experiences. I don't want this coming back on me. Names will be randomised to protect those around me.
So, I am a 20-something that completed a level 8 university degree (scoring 2.1 or above) to qualify entry to the postgraduate entry medicine programs that are run in Ireland in UCD, UCC, UL and RSCI. The award of a place on these courses is decided by competition. Specifically, the GAMSAT exam held each march. You can do the exam in Ireland or abroad (England and Austrailia i think) and your score is valid for two years (two goes at the CAO). With a GAMSAT score you can apply for some graduate entry courses in England also.
In recent years the scores needed to get into the courses are as follows. RCSI is the highest with 60 points the last in in 2009. Then UCD, UCC and UL in that order, all in the high 50's.
The exam itself... I'm not going to talk about it much because there are many other locations you can get info on it. I dont think my 2c is going to help you much. All I will say is, despite what they tell you, study will get you nowhere - they just want your money to sign up for their magical course! This is an exam on your ability to think on your feet under pressure and not your power of recollection. This is what you have been training for in college the last 3/4 years! Thinking on your feet - sounds like the morning after the night before to me!!!
Study is pointless. Just go do it and see how you get on. The colleges are saying (and I've heard this straight from the course director in RCSI) that the GAMSAT is a very good indicator of ability and they are very happy with it as a decider on who gets in. National press will rubbish this but they are just trying to pander to parents of stupid rich kids whose influence is no longer useful.
It is a well proven fact that kids from better off socio-economic backgrounds do better at the leaving cert. This way of training to become a doctor is a little more fair. It's not without it's downfalls but it is better.
Notably, males do slightly better at this exam than females (GENERALLY!!!). This stems from the nature of the exam itself. Again, it is an exam on your ability to think on your feet under pressure and not your power of recollection. The boys probably dont study as much for the leaving cert and that's why girls do better there. Here, study doesnt help, and guys do only slightly better than girls. C'est la vie. So, study is pointless, but I will say that practice will help. So find out about the exam. How it's held, how it's marked.
I can tell you this. It is definately marked on a curve. So you need only do better than everyone else! Secondly, the least answered questions (these are noted retrospectively by the marking computer) carry extra marks!!! This is where you will make the difference between you and the next person. I imagine the least answered are the chemistry/physics questions in the 3rd section. Considering there are only 1 or 2 physics questions at most, forget them! Chemistry... Particularly organic chemistry. If you imagine that everyone with a 2.1 or better in their primary degree is elegible for this exam... So you have arts, psychology, maths, geology, sports-science, architects, actuarists, lawers etc... along with a handful of chemists. The chemistry questions, because of their specific and abstract nature are going to be very valuable. If you can answer them, you can really boost your score. AND also consider that section 3 is worth the same as section 1 and 2 combined!!! AND chemistry questions take up almost half on section 3! (as far as i can remember).
So, in short, organic chemistry will save you. If o chem is beyond you, hopefully you have some kick ass literary comprehension skills! best of luck to everyone. Give it a go and see what happens. Lastly, remember to tick a box for every question. You will get 1 in 4 correct! NO NEGATIVE MARKING so chance it! you have nothing to lose in this.
So... I've done all of this. I got my grade. It was over 60. So, I have just finished my application to the CAO with RCSI, UCD, UCC and UL the order of preference. Results are out in july i think. Just remember to send all your forms to the CAO. I had to send my college transcripts for all years and a certified copy of my degree parchment translated into english. The CAO will get your gamsat result off ACER (the gamsat people). So now the wait begins.
It feels strange to be honest. Here I am, the wrong side of 25, applying for a course through the CAO! Like that snow patrol song; "This could be the very minute I'm aware I'm alive... With a name I'd never chosen I can make my first steps as a child of 25." Apologies, that was very self indulgent! But there you go.
So, guys, I don't know if I have much to talk about until the results come out! I might indulge in some other topics but I will get to the medical related stuff as and when it happens.
Dr. Cox
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