Repeating Leaving Cert - Medicine

danbag1989

Hey all.
Names Dan, 24 yrs old

I am thinking of repeating my leaving cert this year to get into Medicine. Any advice on subject?

I done quite well in my original LC, then left school and trained and worked as a Paramedic, now I want to go and study Medicine.

The subjects I am thinking of sitting: English, Irish, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Geography and Frech. Eng, Bio and Chem wont be a problem. But I have used Irish for quite some yrs...
Can you suggest any other subjects to take or anything I can do to maximise my points? Any info would be great.

Sunny!!

i'd recommend accounting! Great subject for the points once you don't get too much caught up in the predicting;) Some people would say it can't be done in a year but I strongly disagree.

Good luck:)

danbag1989

Sunny!! wrote: »

i'd recommend accounting! Great subject for the points once you don't get too much caught up in the predicting;) Some people would say it can't be done in a year but I strongly disagree.

Good luck:)

Really??never thought bout that... I was thinking doing economics, ive done that before, its a bore but its handy enough for the points.

kate.m

would you do HL maths?
My guidance c. in school told me not to (also as a potential repeat) as its a different course and anyway the difference including bonus points is really only 5 points. (560 vs 565). She told me the 5 points would be easier acquired in the hpat (mine was pretty ok anyway)

Em....geography and ag science are supposed to be good for repeats. Especially with projects that have about 20%.

Good luck by the way, hope it works out!

danbag1989

kate.m wrote: »

would you do HL maths?
My guidance c. in school told me not to (also as a potential repeat) as its a different course and anyway the difference including bonus points is really only 5 points. (560 vs 565). She told me the 5 points would be easier acquired in the hpat (mine was pretty ok anyway)

Em....geography and ag science are supposed to be good for repeats. Especially with projects that have about 20%.

Good luck by the way, hope it works out!

Cheers kate. Im unsure about highter maths yet, ill put more thought into when i get a look at this new prject maths course. geo ill definately do, not sure bout ag science, dont know too much bout it , but ill research it, sound

spurious

Make sure you contact the SEC before the end of January to register as a candidate.

Sunny!!

danbag1989 wrote: »

Really??never thought bout that... I was thinking doing economics, ive done that before, its a bore but its handy enough for the points.

Accounting is as boring as watching paint dry, but practice practice practice and you can't go wrong!!

I think its a good subject for potential meds

whydoibother?

I'd recommend business. Mostly common sense - you can learn it really fast.

jumpguy

There's really no HL subject that's easy points. I did phys/chem/bio for my LC and I found them fairly decent, because of my natural interest in science. Physics is a grand subject, very fair exam paper in it, some understanding of concepts is required (like chemistry) and a B level in pass maths would easily see you through the mathsy part of it. If you've already got a background in biology and chemistry then they're a fairly obvious choice!

Physics is also kinda relevant to medicine (x-rays, nuclear medicine, etc).

I really can't speak for other subjects I haven't studied!

(I'm gonna leave this thread unmerged btw because it's more related to subject choices than medicine tbh!)

pajero12

kate.m wrote: »

would you do HL maths?
My guidance c. in school told me not to (also as a potential repeat) as its a different course and anyway the difference including bonus points is really only 5 points. (560 vs 565). She told me the 5 points would be easier acquired in the hpat (mine was pretty ok anyway)

Em....geography and ag science are supposed to be good for repeats. Especially with projects that have about 20%.

Good luck by the way, hope it works out!

Hold on a minute, it's only an extra points provided you get 600,Say you got 530...THem extra 25 points would make a massive difference.

spurious

If you intend taking Geography or any other subject with a project/portfolio element, make sure you have a supervising teacher who has agreed to sign off for you.

kate.m

pajero12 wrote: »

Hold on a minute, it's only an extra points provided you get 600,Say you got 530...THem extra 25 points would make a massive difference.

Sorry don't really understand, could you explain? I was just told by my guidance councillor not to....

Just Like Heaven

kate.m wrote: »

Sorry don't really understand, could you explain? I was just told by my guidance councillor not to....

You will get 25 points extra for H Maths. Meaning the new Max is 625. The Medicine point cut off is remaining at 550, If you get 625 points you will now get 550 + 15, bringing the new maximum Medicine entry total to 565 points.

So if you got 530 in your leaving cert last year for example, and you re-apply to the cao you will get 555.
But if you apply for medicine you wil get 551 this year.

You will get 1 point for every 5 after 550, but until you hit 550 you will recieve the points at face value.

jumpguy

kate.m wrote: »

would you do HL maths?
My guidance c. in school told me not to (also as a potential repeat) as its a different course and anyway the difference including bonus points is really only 5 points. (560 vs 565). She told me the 5 points would be easier acquired in the hpat (mine was pretty ok anyway)

Em....geography and ag science are supposed to be good for repeats. Especially with projects that have about 20%.

Good luck by the way, hope it works out!

5 points can be very beneficial, believe me! :P However, if you're repeating and haven't done HL maths before, then taking it up in a year will be very difficult. I'm not too sure what the new course is like though (did the old one).

If you don't do HL maths, make sure to break the 550 at least, so that it will only 5 points between you and HL maths people.

Just Like Heaven

jumpguy wrote: »

5 points can be very beneficial, believe me! :P

danbag1989

Any one any ideas on the best way to repeat leaving? Would i be better off studying at home or doing one of the repeat programmes?

Sunny!!

danbag1989 wrote: »

Any one any ideas on the best way to repeat leaving? Would i be better off studying at home or doing one of the repeat programmes?

em everyone is different. I choose to do a repeat programme as i knew if i was home i'd just waste lots of time and become lazy, it really depends on you and no one on here can tell you which is better for you.

Do you think you'd get up at 8 in the morning and study all day without getting distracted?

The leaving cert programme gives the structure and constant feedback on how you are getting on. Thats my view, i was in the same position as you and thats what i choose

Hope this helped:)

danbag1989

Sunny!! wrote: »

em everyone is different. I choose to do a repeat programme as i knew if i was home i'd just waste lots of time and become lazy, it really depends on you and no one on here can tell you which is better for you.

Do you think you'd get up at 8 in the morning and study all day without getting distracted?

The leaving cert programme gives the structure and constant feedback on how you are getting on. Thats my view, i was in the same position as you and thats what i choose

Hope this helped:)

thats some solid advice cheers the thing is im 23 and dont really fancy doing the LC again with a lot of 17/18 yr olds... hmm i shall think on it!

spurious

danbag1989 wrote: »

thats some solid advice cheers the thing is im 23 and dont really fancy doing the LC again with a lot of 17/18 yr olds... hmm i shall think on it!

There are plenty places specialise in older students. You will certainly not be the oldest person repeating/doing the Leaving Cert..

Sunny!!

danbag1989 wrote: »

thats some solid advice cheers the thing is im 23 and dont really fancy doing the LC again with a lot of 17/18 yr olds... hmm i shall think on it!

some repeat programmes offer the normal repeat programme, and then an adult version check it out. I mean i was thinking you were 17 or 18, but 23 is mature. So its all down to you:)

danbag1989

I got another question actually,hoping someone can help. Cos im studying in my own time at home i dont have access to a lab or a teacher etc ha so what should i do about the required lab work for chem and bio??

Sunny!!

danbag1989 wrote: »

I got another question actually,hoping someone can help. Cos im studying in my own time at home i dont have access to a lab or a teacher etc ha so what should i do about the required lab work for chem and bio??

Thats ok. Most repeat colleges would have the same problem. But for you own sake write them all up. Experiments are 40% on the chem paper and around 20% on the bio paper. It's rare there be an inspection, but if there is and you have no experiments written up you can't sit the exam! Write the. Up it be good revision:)

eyescreamcone

Is Applied Maths a must for anyone who is good at Maths?
I think so.
And with the extra points for HL Maths, it really is worth doing these two.

danbag1989

Sunny!! wrote: »

Thats ok. Most repeat colleges would have the same problem. But for you own sake write them all up. Experiments are 40% on the chem paper and around 20% on the bio paper. It's rare there be an inspection, but if there is and you have no experiments written up you can't sit the exam! Write the. Up it be good revision:)

Your saying to just write up the mandatory experiments listed in the book? Or go and ask one of the repeat colleges if i can jump in on some of their lab classes?

Sunny!!

danbag1989 wrote: »

Your saying to just write up the mandatory experiments listed in the book? Or go and ask one of the repeat colleges if i can jump in on some of their lab classes?

no most repeat colleges don't have labs. Most repeat students would have done the lab work the year before in the old school they went to, but some students would not have. Those students that would not actually do the experiments then they just write them up.

So, no need to go and ask repeat college, as they prob dont have labs anyway

then, make sure you write them up, yes all the ones in the book, but obviously not word for word. Put your own words on the experiment

Hope this helped:)

danbag1989

Sunny!! wrote: »

no most repeat colleges don't have labs. Most repeat students would have done the lab work the year before in the old school they went to, but some students would not have. Those students that would not actually do the experiments then they just write them up.

So, no need to go and ask repeat college, as they prob dont have labs anyway

then, make sure you write them up, yes all the ones in the book, but obviously not word for word. Put your own words on the experiment

Hope this helped:)

Ah I get ya, yup it helped thanks!
Are you repeating LC for med? Or did you just tumble across this thread?

Sunny!!

danbag1989 wrote: »

Ah I get ya, yup it helped thanks!
Are you repeating LC for med? Or did you just tumble across this thread?

i'm in the exact same position as you!

repeating for med:)

danbag1989

Sunny!! wrote: »

i'm in the exact same position as you!

repeating for med:)

I think theres a few of us in this boat! hope we all get it. Is this your first time repeating do ya mind me asking?
How are you finding it?? Im ok mostly but having trouble with irish and french, i suck at languages

Sunny!!

danbag1989 wrote: »

I think theres a few of us in this boat! hope we all get it. Is this your first time repeating do ya mind me asking?
How are you finding it?? Im ok mostly but having trouble with irish and french, i suck at languages

Great, seen a great improvement already and know my pitfalls from last year. Yes first time repeating and hopefully the last, but who knows:p

I'm not too bad at the languages, like irish, hate french and english with a passion though, english is too subjective, so i'm taking the pass paper this year instead.

Bbbbolger

Im repeating for Medicine too...still debating whether or not I'm mad for doing it. I'm finding it very hard to settle. It's hard getting back into things, especially when I've already done most of the work already.

danbag1989

Bbbbolger wrote: »

Im repeating for Medicine too...still debating whether or not I'm mad for doing it. I'm finding it very hard to settle. It's hard getting back into things, especially when I've already done most of the work already.

yeah i often think its lunacy for me to be applyin for med, especially since i wont be finish til im like 28/29. but sure im gonna be 28/29 anyway so i may aswell be happy at that age ha.