Good Luck in GAMSAT 2011!

framagic

lnol wrote: »

I'm thinking of sitting it in Sept in the UK and in Dublin in March but I was also thinking of re-sitting the leaving cert. Just to give myself the best chance. I have a 2.1 degree and am 23. L

If you're 23 then you may be able to apply to regular medicine as a mature student rather than resit the Leaving Cert. I know a guy who did this and he was also able to go straight to 2nd year, so if you did that you'd be finished in 5 years. You may even be able to start this September, which would have you finished at the same time as you would be if you were to do GAMSAT next year and get it first time.

drspock

Hey all, sincerely hope everyone got what they wanted. 3rd time lucky with overall 65 for me. Polly 70 is truely an outstanding score, congrats! So any word on the cutoffs? Anyone else hoping for ucc?

Biologic wrote: »

I'm pretty sure all the colleges will arrange a tour
for you if you get in contact with admissions. Regrardless, the RCSI programme is outstanding. I have no regrets about picking it and (to my knowledge) neither does anyone in my class. If you, or anyone else thinking of RCSI, have any questions feel free to PM me and I'll do my best to anyswer them objectively.

Congrats to everyone on your scores, it's a pretty disgusting exam. If you thought the wait between the GAMSAT and your results was long, the time between now and starting Med school will feel like an eternity. Worth it though!

Cmack

S1 - 60
S2 - 70
S3 - 59

Total - 62

The waiting period was truly torturous but my results made it worth it. No science background, got it 1st time and will most likely end up in UCD. I'm so pleased. Congrats to those who got what they wanted and commiserations to those who didn't.

JordyWordy

got a 62, pretty happy, hope all goes to plan in August.

Did the exam on a whim in 2009 and got 55, but set my mind to getting this course last summer, got 60 in London 2010, more sure of getting a place now!

To anyone thinking of doing it I'd say just go for it. It's made out to be a horrible exam, but it is very achievable if you practice and prepare properly. If you study, practice exams, and keep cool on the day you will get a good result. The best practice is just to sit the London exam, even if you only get a month of study done beforehand, it's worth it. Gamsat is expensive, but you might do better than you think (i did) and it will leave you under no illusions about the timing of the exam, the standard of the science section, your abilities in section 2, etc. If you really want the course money shouldnt stop you.

I recommend getting Organic Chemistry for dummies first, also the physics and biology books are good. 1st year biology college notes are handy too. If you want to cover all bases do the Leaving Cert, but i think enough practice of the Gamsat / Mcat / HPAT exams will help your timing, and the science is something you just need to sit down and learn, and give yourself enough time to do it (I left it till 2 months before Gamsat to even start Physics, which is too late). I would say the Gamsat is a more straightforward route than repeating your Leaving Cert (no interviews, etc), but I guess it doesnt hurt to do both....

foleyfresh

S1 - 67
S2 - 58
S3 - 65

Overall - 64

Delighted! Hopefully see some of you in UCD this September if I can just organise a loan for myself now

pollypigwash

framagic wrote: »

If you're 23 then you may be able to apply to regular medicine as a mature student rather than resit the Leaving Cert. I know a guy who did this and he was also able to go straight to 2nd year, so if you did that you'd be finished in 5 years. You may even be able to start this September, which would have you finished at the same time as you would be if you were to do GAMSAT next year and get it first time.

I know from applying as a mature student to RCSI that they required me to have sat the HPAT in the last two years. A good score and a committed letter with references should get you an interview providing you have matriclated to the University's standards as normal. I have an interview on June 8th but I'm not bothering now.

As far as sitting the leaving certificate goes, to be eligible you need to get 480 points plus and matriculate in the same year (that means doing Irish English, Maths etc) quite a task if you are doing it on your own, I did the HPAT last year with my old leaving cert and came well short.

A couple of months practise at the GAMSAT would be easier. I had no Biology before, did Chemistry and Physics for leaving in fairness many moons ago but managed quite well in the end. To be honest the exam is far more about logicing stuff out, I didn't honestly have a massive recall of information going into it, its more about understanding the concepts and not getting dragged down in the detail.

Others are right the best thing to do would be to sit the GAMSAT in London in September, if you don't get a good score it'll help a lot towards getting a better one in March.

Also I thoroughly recommend doing an essay writing course, the one I did with Des O'Neill proved priceless in the end. There's no substitute for that bit of practise even if it is torture. As an engneer I always hated essays right back through school, but the advice and marking I got helped no end. I thought I fupped it up on the day of the examI still did well and that was of the back of the practise and structure etc I got from the course.

gubernaculum

Congrats guys Excellent scores! The sick thing about the GAMSAT is you still get the Fear long after it's over and end up sneaking back to these threads to re-live the rollercoaster vicariously. Just think.. this time next year you could be sitting, happily procrastinating on this thread with an ice lolly NOT reading about adverse drug reactions with exams 3 days away. Ahem. Medicine is brilliant, never regretted the jump but I'd rest up for the next few months and enjoy yourself. Free time is going to be the one luxury you'll miss.

etymon (www.doc2be.ie) has been giving a great account of life in GEP thus far and another classmate has been writing in the irish medical news, both well worth a read if you're unsure of what to expect.

CONGRATS AGAIN!

*glues self back to desk*

mystery1

Got a score of 60 overall....

SI=63
SII=65
SIII=56

Can't believe my fluffy essays on assertive action and friendship scored higher than my science paper considering i've a PhD in science... My essays were bs and I spent relatively little time preparing for SII compared to SIII

I'm pretty sure the course in UL is not for me so I'm borderline for UCC and UCD based on last years cut offs. Had my heart set on RCSI unfortunately but as last years cut off was 63 I don't think I stand a chance

So it'll be hit and miss whether I get a place in UCD or UCC

Well done to all of us, it's a horribly stressful exam to prepare for and sit, here's hoping the cut offs drop this year!

Yillan

Nice to see that the cao has updated its 'my application' page with my GAMSAT scores already. I just need them to indicate that they have received my supporting documentation and then I can relax....

hurdygurdy85

drspock wrote: »

Hey all, sincerely hope everyone got what they wanted. 3rd time lucky with overall 65 for me. Polly 70 is truely an outstanding score, congrats! So any word on the cutoffs? Anyone else hoping for ucc?

Wow, well done on the 65, thats a brilliant score! Im torn between UCD & UCC......

jtsuited

amazing scores on here.......would be interested to see the % of posters on here who are successful getting the gamsat vs the general populace.

del85

pollypigwash wrote: »

holy feck! I just woke up, serious jingle jangles I can barely type with excitement.................



checking..........



S1 - 64
S2 - 67
S3 - 75
Overall - 70


wtf.... didnt see that coming. nice one! that was my first time doing it.

feck work this future doc is going on the mash!!!!!

That is an unbelievable score, well done!

drspock

Thanks hurdy! Hope u got on well? I reckon you should come down to UCC for the crack!

Seems lots of folks here hit the money shot! Well done done all.

hurdygurdy85 wrote: »

Wow, well done on the 65, thats a brilliant score! Im torn between UCD & UCC......

JordyWordy

jtsuited wrote: »

amazing scores on here.......would be interested to see the % of posters on here who are successful getting the gamsat vs the general populace.

would be very interesting. I would have seriously struggled without the tips I picked up here...

spagboll

Some amazing scores on here.

A number of people on boards are a testiment to how far hard work and dedication goes in the GAMSAT, offering hope to those that didn't get it this time.

I'll see a few of you in UCD in september, and regardless of where you end up you'll be hitting the ground runnning - enjoy the summer!

Bonnieaurstomp

Finally I can stop the constant checking of emails.
Scored 63, 58, 75 for an overall score of 68, delighted.

first timer here. I had a strong science background, but had no physics which was a challenge, plus I've been out of college for 8 years. While my science score is great, i was probably most pleased with my section 1 score for the simple reason that I felt I had a shocker. I got nowhere near to finishing and was half asleep.

Section 2 was always gonna be my achilles heal. I only managed to scrape together my first essay 2 weeks before the exam after downloading the Griffith's guide.

Anyway, congratulations to everyone on the scores. Easily the most demanding exam I have ever sat. And I can honestly say that I was humbled by the whole experience. Roll on September :):):):)

mystery1

Hey Everyone!

Here are the cut-offs for 2010 if anyones interested

Round Zero (5th Aug 2010)
UCC 60*
UCD 61*
UL 57*
RCSI 64

Round One (23rd Aug 2010)
UCC 59*
UCD 60*
UL 57
RCSI 63

Round Two (2nd Sep 2010)
UCC 59*
UCD 60*
UL 56*
RCSI 63

* = not everyone with this score was offered a place, places offered at this score using random selection

Yillan

Did anyone else hear at the RCSI open day that last year they admitted one person on a GAMSAT score of 61? Did I imagine that with the delirium of the day?

Sorcha88

sparrow3 wrote: »

My girlfriend is in 1st year UL and there are a few in her class who got in last year on 56 .

To be honest, i think 56 should get you in with the increase in places and drop in applications - it might not be 0 round but definitely first round

Be interesting to know how many people are sitting on scores achieved in London 2010.

Really hope that's the case, don't have the best feeling though!

needzmanualz

Does anyone know what the GAMSAT cut off is in any of the colleges for non-eu applicants?? i realise theres an interview stage too but just wondering about the GAMSAT.
Any info would be great , thanks.

watawaster

Managed to get 58 with no study a week after my finals. Hadn't even realised today was the results date till I checked th'oul emails. w.t.f!! was all that I could muster.
Also I spoke to a haematology consultant (doing my thesis in limerick regional) and she said the UL students are generally better than undergrads. And she refuses to teach cork med students because of their extreme lack of knowledge... interesting for all you skeptics on UL. Believe me when I say this woman knows her **** and takes no ****, she seems to only acknowledge me because I remind her of her son... In conclusion: WIN

Annaroberts22

Hi guys, just a quick kinda irrelevant question regarding applying for Grad entry medicine in Ireland. Do they just look at your degree and gamsat score or do they also look at A levels/leaving certificate? In other words, if you did badly at school but got 2.1 in degree, is that enough or not? And also, do they are about how high or how low your 2.1 is? Thanks!

watawaster

Oh, and well done everybody. That gamsat had me suicidal half way through, I mean the circulatory system of a shnake?
So whos with me hoping to get UL?....Go on "THATS LIMERICK CITAAY!"

watawaster

Forget about school man, your 2.1 will see you through

del85

Annaroberts22 wrote: »

Hi guys, just a quick kinda irrelevant question regarding applying for Grad entry medicine in Ireland. Do they just look at your degree and gamsat score or do they also look at A levels/leaving certificate?

Just degree and Gamsat

Annaroberts22 wrote: »

In other words, if you did badly at school but got 2.1 in degree, is that enough or not?

Yep that's enough

Annaroberts22 wrote: »

And also, do they are about how high or how low your 2.1 is? Thanks!

Nope any 2.1 will do.

gubernaculum

Yillan wrote: »

Did anyone else hear at the RCSI open day that last year they admitted one person on a GAMSAT score of 61? Did I imagine that with the delirium of the day?

Hmm... Pretty sure 2 people got in on 63 (they'd started elsewhere and switched a few days in when they got the offer) and that was that. Don't know either of those things for def but that's what I think happened.

hurdygurdy85

drspock wrote: »

Thanks hurdy! Hope u got on well? I reckon you should come down to UCC for the crack!

Seems lots of folks here hit the money shot! Well done done all.

Yeah got 61, delighted! Just relieved that my GAMSAT trials are finally over. Its been a long road! So whats the motivation behind your choice of UCC when you have your pick of the bunch? Know something worth sharing?
Have to say, I got a really good impression of the UCC & the people when I was down there. Really am torn between UCC & UCD. Order of choices all up in a fine oul' heap....

drspock

Hey hurdy,

Well I actually did a fairly objective analysis between going to rcsi and ucc. I'm fortunate to have 2 family members wrapping up final med down there in UCC, who got me behind the scenes in the Brookfield centre. Rcsi is great but personally I much prefer the facilities in ucc, theyre truely excellent. In comparison with the royal college I was more impressed by UCC. Plus accommodation would be cheaper and that part of the country is way better for outdoor stuff. Lots of positives going in favour of UCC.

Well done on the result hurdy, you deserved ever bit of it for persisting with the ordeal that is the GAMSAT...:D

hurdygurdy85 wrote: »

Yeah got 61, delighted! Just relieved that my GAMSAT trials are finally over. Its been a long road! So whats the motivation behind your choice of UCC when you have your pick of the bunch? Know something worth sharing?
Have to say, I got a really good impression of the UCC & the people when I was down there. Really am torn between UCC & UCD. Order of choices all up in a fine oul' heap....

sallyann55

jtsuited wrote: »

Depends what you're into......I wouldn't have had the patience, discipline or attention span to re-sit the leaving whereas studying for the gamsat was genuinely enjoyable for me because I hadn't done anything science related in 10 years (and my laughable 50 in section 3 is testament to that!).

hi there,
61 buddy, i could nt believe my eyes either when i realised i got 61 too,...i m still shaking! i hope that ll be enuf for ucd? but def shud get into UL?

sallyann55

lnol wrote: »

Hi guys,

I've been following this thread for a while now, well done on your scores! Ive just decided to sit the GAMSAT next year, I hope this isn't too cheeky butting in but any advice or thoughts would be hugely appreciated.

I'm thinking of sitting it in Sept in the UK and in Dublin in March but I was also thinking of re-sitting the leaving cert. Just to give myself the best chance. I have a 2.1 degree and am 23. I was just wondering though if any of you guys were thinking the same route and maybe changed your mind?

Sorry if this is the wrong forum... it's my first ever post!!

Thanks a million, L

Hi there,

I know exactly how u feel, because i was in exactly the same situation this time last year. i graduated from ucd with a 2.1 in commerce and then immediately enrolled in st laurences (a repeat school for the LC/ study boot camp). then in august i went to london and did the three wkend gradmed course, other than that did not pick up book as was workin full time and headin out most nites... anyhow then i started school in sept n mid sept did gamsat in london..
school sucked...wait i cant find any words to describe how crappy it was, i felt like a kid, i was nearly the same age as the teachers and was gettin in trouble for not havin homework done/ sleeping in/not having the right uniform....was hell on earth (sorry to scare u, but if u read there s light at the end of the tunnel!)
ok so then forgot all about gamsat and was trundelling misreably away in school (n yes i m a drama queen!) so then in november got my results and was pleasantly suprised to find i got 55...sticked at school for a bit but my motivation was down the drain as i felt i could work on the gamsat for march... (dont let anyone tell u u can study for both, its impossible, even destructive because the exams are poles apart lc= learn off a book, gamsat= thinking on your feet)
so anyways u know where this is going,...i dropped at of school at xmas, n started tudying for the the gamsat in jan...i worked part time n studied hard 4 days a week for the three months and i think it paid off cause i got my results yday and got 61
so i hope that helps with ur decision

jtsuited

sallyann55 wrote: »

hi there,
61 buddy, i could nt believe my eyes either when i realised i got 61 too,...i m still shaking! i hope that ll be enuf for ucd? but def shud get into UL?

I've been working this out with my gambling mind and here's what I'm thinking regarding UCD and a score of 61....

1. This year 61 gives you a 90th percentile, the same as last year.
2. Number of CAO applications is less this year.
3. The number of places in UCD has gone up by 40% (55-77) for Irish/EU applicants.

These 3 things make it highly, highly, highly unlikely that 61 would not get us into UCD.
The only hypothetical situation I can come up with where the score required goes up is that there is a huge jump in the amount of people applying to UCD compared to last year (who are specifically in the 90th+ percentile)......I can't even come up with why such an event would happen in any significant way (enough to effect the cutoff).

If such an event does happen, it would be almost impossible to offset the effect on the cutoff that a 40% increase in places available has.

Stats nerds/gamblers feel free to correct.

Sorcha88

jtsuited wrote: »

I've been working this out with my gambling mind and here's what I'm thinking regarding UCD and a score of 61....

1. This year 61 gives you a 90th percentile, the same as last year.
2. Number of CAO applications is less this year.
3. The number of places in UCD has gone up by 40% (55-77) for Irish/EU applicants.

These 3 things make it highly, highly, highly unlikely that 61 would not get us into UCD.
The only hypothetical situation I can come up with where the score required goes up is that there is a huge jump in the amount of people applying to UCD compared to last year (who are specifically in the 90th+ percentile)......I can't even come up with why such an event would happen in any significant way (enough to effect the cutoff).

If such an event does happen, it would be almost impossible to offset the effect on the cutoff that a 40% increase in places available has.

Stats nerds/gamblers feel free to correct.

I wonder does the fact that CAO applications are down mean that we don't need to worry about a lot of people with great UK gamsat scores applying this year? Hope so!

Also, does anyone know if UL plans to increase its number of places this year?

Annaroberts22

Thanks for the responses to my previous question. Is there a reason for there being less med applicants this year? Also on a side note, anyone on here from the UK and applying to Ireland?

sallyann55

jtsuited wrote: »

I've been working this out with my gambling mind and here's what I'm thinking regarding UCD and a score of 61....

1. This year 61 gives you a 90th percentile, the same as last year.
2. Number of CAO applications is less this year.
3. The number of places in UCD has gone up by 40% (55-77) for Irish/EU applicants.

These 3 things make it highly, highly, highly unlikely that 61 would not get us into UCD.
The only hypothetical situation I can come up with where the score required goes up is that there is a huge jump in the amount of people applying to UCD compared to last year (who are specifically in the 90th+ percentile)......I can't even come up with why such an event would happen in any significant way (enough to effect the cutoff).

If such an event does happen, it would be almost impossible to offset the effect on the cutoff that a 40% increase in places available has.

Stats nerds/gamblers feel free to correct.

thanks a mill for that, so at least we can kinda have a bit of peace of mind till august;)

del85

del85 wrote: »

From UCD site:


"UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science commenced a Graduate Entry medicine programme in September 2008 with funding from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for Irish/EU students. It is anticipated that there will be 77 places available in 2011."

My two cents:


~680 applicants this year.

~202 places this year (RCSI=30 + UCD=77 + UL=70 + UCC=25).


This means 478 people don't get an offer.

Consequently, I'm GUESSING (emphasise the guess part) that anyone in the 70th/71st percentile or above should get a place somewhere.



In terms of Dublin...

30+77= ~107 Dublin places

573/680= 0.84

So again I'm guessing that the cut-off for Dublin might possibly be somewhere around the 84th percentile.

There's loads of stuff I'm not taking into account, but the best guesstimation I can come up with....

UCD, 59* this year

sallyann55

on my cao application i put down rcsi, ul, ucd and finally ucc. i got 61, so i know my first choice of rcsi is gone, but now i m torn between ul and ucd. i know i may not even get ucd, but i m thinking now maybe i should but ucd second instead of ul?? does anyone have any notion of which course/ college seems better?(i know thats a very broad question, but any info on either of them would help, and be greatly appreciated)... also has anyone got a notion can i even change my preferences on my cao at this point??

thanks,

Biologic

sallyann55 wrote: »

on my cao application i put down rcsi, ul, ucd and finally ucc. i got 61, so i know my first choice of rcsi is gone, but now i m torn between ul and ucd. i know i may not even get ucd, but i m thinking now maybe i should but ucd second instead of ul?? does anyone have any notion of which course/ college seems better?(i know thats a very broad question, but any info on either of them would help, and be greatly appreciated)... also has anyone got a notion can i even change my preferences on my cao at this point??

thanks,

You can change your preference if you want, they cutoff for final decisions is in June or July (check CAO site). UCD and UL are two very different courses so it's worth doing some research on that choice. UL is mainly problem based learning, whereas UCD is more didactic. If you have the time, I'm sure both colleges would show you around and give you a prospecus.

mystery1

Does anyone know how many applicants there were last yr compared to 680 this yr?

My brother is a statistician/actuary and he built me a stats model using excel and the percentile curves for this yr vs last year and some other assumptions to do with standard deviations etc that I don't understand

His cut off predictions for 2011 are:

RCSI 62
UCD 58-59
UCC 58-59
UL 56

This is assuming that 2010 had the same number of applicants as 2011

I hope he's right!

billythebonsai

hello everyone
i got 54 and i was just wondering do you think i might have a chance at limerick. i spoke to them and they said the cut off last yr was 55 and that this yr there are going to be 90 places instead of 75 that there were last yr. im just being way too hopeful i know.!

del85

mystery1 wrote: »

Does anyone know how many applicants there were last yr compared to 680 this yr?

My brother is a statistician/actuary and he built me a stats model using excel and the percentile curves for this yr vs last year and some other assumptions to do with standard deviations etc that I don't understand

His cut off predictions for 2011 are:

RCSI 62
UCD 58-59
UCC 58-59
UL 56

This is assuming that 2010 had the same number of applicants as 2011

I hope he's right!

That would be great! Did he take into account the people who will be applying with a UK score?

There were ~760 applicants last year according to someone in this thread.

Sorcha88

Wouldn't the UK applicants be included in the 680 CAO applications?

del85

Sorcha88 wrote: »

Wouldn't the UK applicants be included in the 680 CAO applications?

Yep but the Irish bell curve wouldnt include the UK scores they're applying with

Sorcha88

del85 wrote: »

Yep but the Irish bell curve wouldnt include the UK scores they're applying with

Ah I get you, be interesting to know what percentage of applicants are applying with UK scores.

del85

Sorcha88 wrote: »

Ah I get you, be interesting to know what percentage of applicants are applying with UK scores.

Sure will. I don't understand why they have to leave us hanging til August though!

spagboll

I'm very suspicious of the CAO numbers that people are mentioning. Last year, I and a few others crunched the numbers, it looked like the cutoffs would come down across the board, they didn't.

Scientist1

del85 wrote: »

That would be great! Did he take into account the people who will be applying with a UK score?

There were ~760 applicants last year according to someone in this thread.

O I hope you're right - what do people think my chances of getting into UL with 56 are??? I'm driving myself crazy thinking about it - when will the CAO offers be out? Is there a deadline for applying for the loan??? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh :eek:

Sorcha88

Scientist1 wrote: »

O I hope you're right - what do people think my chances of getting into UL with 56 are??? I'm driving myself crazy thinking about it - when will the CAO offers be out? Is there a deadline for applying for the loan??? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh :eek:

I know how you feel, I'm hoping for UL with a 56 too. In a way I'd almost rather have done a bit worse and know for certain that there's no chance. That way I could start preparing for September instead of hoping for the best!

Having said that, with applications down and an increase in places, surely UL has to come down one point at least??

paraguay99

Sorcha88 wrote: »

I know how you feel, I'm hoping for UL with a 56 too. In a way I'd almost rather have done a bit worse and know for certain that there's no chance. That way I could start preparing for September instead of hoping for the best!

Having said that, with applications down and an increase in places, surely UL has to come down one point at least??

add me to the UL 56 club. I'd say that it may come down to 56 but there will be some people on 56 who don't get in.

Sorcha88

I'm hoping for a round zero cutoff of 56* with subsequent rounds going down to 56!Wishful thinking I know, but I've got to pass the time till August somehow

jtsuited

mystery1 wrote: »

Does anyone know how many applicants there were last yr compared to 680 this yr?

My brother is a statistician/actuary and he built me a stats model using excel and the percentile curves for this yr vs last year and some other assumptions to do with standard deviations etc that I don't understand

His cut off predictions for 2011 are:

RCSI 62
UCD 58-59
UCC 58-59
UL 56

This is assuming that 2010 had the same number of applicants as 2011

I hope he's right!

I think he is......2010 had more applicants than this year so if he is slightly wrong he'll be on the happy side of wrong!