Got Offered a place in Science --> Medicine

Areq

I can't make my mind up on that one ..accept the offer or repeat .... i want to become a doctor some day (medical Doctor) is it really hard to get second class honours in college ? And if i go to graduate medicine .. are fees very high ? Will i be able to afford them if im going to be working at weekends ? ;<


Anyway .. Do you have to choose your main modules in first year ?
or can you do a mix of everything like math ,phys ,biology ,chem and computer science ...?
how is it going to be .. im not really in that topic .. bacause its my 3rd choice on my cao .. Tell me all about it PLEASE !

Any other useful information on science or graduate medicine are very welcome ! :pac:

Thanks !!!!!!!!!

aidoh

The first year of Science is a stream where you do a mixture of physics, chemistry, maths and biology subjects. Its flexible enough. You express an interest in what your degree might be at the start, so say you wanted to do physiology, you'd probably do 3 chemistry and 3 biology subjects and make up the rest from physics, maths, computer science etc. 2nd year if a bit more specialised. I only did biology subjects in 2nd year. Then in 3rd and 4th year you'll do subjects relating to whatever you study and pick say 2 options and 2 random electives. Its grand, like. That was a fairly lame explanation so have a look here: http://www.ucd.ie/students/course_search.htm and browse the science programme.

If you're applying through the CAO then your fees will be about €1650 (I think) every year unless you have to repeat or they increase (which they probably will. Again.), but you can pay them over 2 semesters now which is nice 'cos you won't be completely wiped out financially for the entire year anymore. Straight away, anyway.
If you don't want to repeat but still want to do something a bit 'mediciney' you could study for a degree in Physiology. I've only done one or two modules in it as options but its interesting enough and seems to focus on the research aspect of anatomy and medicine and stuff. If you did that and then did a PhD you could do some great research eventually and (some day) get paid a tonne to do something you enjoy. And technically you'd still be a doctor . I've no idea what medicine is like though, so I really can't help you there.

Science is easy enough once you go to all your labs and lectures, and if you do something you want to do you won't be too miserable with the workload. If you work hard in your last two years there's no reason at all why you couldn't get a 2:2 or 2:1 and then do more research or go back to study medicine from first year.

rantyface

The fees for post grad medicine are very high, over €25,000 per year. You couldn't afford them by working weekends, most people take out a huge loan. http://www.educationireland.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=454:graduate-entry-bachelor-of-medicine-at-university-of-limerick&catid=47:featured-degrees

Financially, it makes a lot more sense to repeat the LC if you definitely want to be a doctor. It is also faster.

I loved my science degree but it was what I wanted to do from the start. Some people did it as a way to get into medicine and either didn't get the score in the aptitude test or didn't get the 2.1.

I think that now the points for medicine are lower you're better off repeating. You need only do 6 subjects and you don't have to do Maths or Irish or English as long as you've passed them already. Of course do them if you like them! You could do all the science subjects and it would make medicine slightly easier at the start. When I started if you got two A1s in science at LC you could skip premed.

shroomfox

The fees for Grad Med are €25,000 a year but roughly half is paid by the HEA. Most students take out a loan that covers the costs of the fees and living expenses (up to €100k). The banks have special loan agreements made especially for these students so it's not as big of a problem as you might think.

It's also not that hard to get a 2:1 in Science in your degree - and doing Science will be a big help in preparing for the entrance examination (the GAMSAT).

Having said that, you're better off repeating. It's cheaper and if it doesn't work out you can still go the Science->Grad Med route.