Mature Medicine Applicants Thread 2013

ruthiecahill · 08-05-2013 12:03pm

I got a lovely rejection email too from Trinity. Ah well, it was my last choice anyway.

Traderdc · 08-05-2013 12:21pm

Is anybody here thinking of sitting UK GAMSAT in Sep? Unfortunately I don't appear to have been called for interviews for mature entry, my HPAT score was average and I don't have much in the way of volunteer work so not a massive surprise. I have a 2.2 degree so the mature option is the only option for med in Ireland but sitting GAMSAT in Sep for UK is still an option. If anyone has done GAMSAT or better yet could recommend any good courses, would be great to hear about them.

Fiddles44 · 08-05-2013 12:36pm

UCC interview offers are out

Fiddles44 · 08-05-2013 12:40pm

Traderdc wrote: »

Is anybody here thinking of sitting UK GAMSAT in Sep? Unfortunately I don't appear to have been called for interviews for mature entry, my HPAT score was average and I don't have much in the way of volunteer work so not a massive surprise. I have a 2.2 degree so the mature option is the only option for med in Ireland but sitting GAMSAT in Sep for UK is still an option. If anyone has done GAMSAT or better yet could recommend any good courses, would be great to hear about them.[/QUOTE

I looked into it last year. I think the GAMSAT is easier than the HPAT tbh because at least some of it is knowledge based the only problem is with a 2.2 you need to get ~64 to even be considered. You also have to write a personal statement for UCAS so they still take into consideration what experience you have.
I heard the GAMSAT courses can be a little pricey too

ultimatehero · 08-05-2013 12:55pm

Fiddles44 wrote: »

UCC interview offers are out

Yup

EternalGeek · 08-05-2013 1:17pm

ultimatehero wrote: »

Yup

Anyone interviewing for UCC?

FairytaleGirl · 08-05-2013 1:29pm

Odd.

Other than my 'Non shortlisted' Email from RCSI I havent heard a peep (email or post) from any other Colleges.

homergriffin · 08-05-2013 1:31pm

Fiddles44 wrote: »

UCC interview offers are out

How did you hear? By email?

EternalGeek · 08-05-2013 1:32pm

homergriffin wrote: »

How did you hear? By email?

I got an email inviting me to interview on the 17th

spacecat · 08-05-2013 1:39pm

Me too

I'm so so so so so happy!!!!!!!!!

EternalGeek wrote: »

I got an email inviting me to interview on the 17th

EternalGeek · 08-05-2013 1:41pm

spacecat wrote: »

Me too I'm so so so so so happy!!!!!!!!!

Brilliant!!!!! Well done

SolitaireX · 08-05-2013 1:55pm

I got an interview at UCC aswell, looks like I'm skipping the last day of school

Got NUIG interview too but it's on the 18th of June, anyone know if they are in any way flexible because that's the day of the LC chemistry exam?

Traderdc · 08-05-2013 2:41pm

spacecat wrote: »

Me too I'm so so so so so happy!!!!!!!!!

Well done - that is great news on the interview

just wondered what kind of volunteer work you had? My HPAT score was similar to yours and the lady in UCC said that my volunteer work was part of why I wasn't called for interview.

FairytaleGirl · 08-05-2013 2:45pm

Looks like alot of you got multiple interviews this year, Well done!!

Even though Im gutted with Jealousy

Solatirex - what was your HPAT and academics? You got interviews last year and this year, no mean feat!:D

Fiddles44 · 08-05-2013 5:09pm

homergriffin wrote: »

How did you hear? By email?

Yep, I heard by email

Fiddles44 · 08-05-2013 5:44pm

Does anyone have any info on what the interviews with UCC and NUIG are like?

dtfo · 08-05-2013 5:51pm

Fiddles44 wrote: »

Does anyone have any info on what the interviews with UCC and NUIG are like?

Had an interview in UCC last year

There was 4 drs/professors and the head of the school of medicine. At the start they allowed me time to just talk about my experiences and why I wanted to study Medicine

Then they all asked a question each. Off the top of my head one was to do with how would I finance college. One was to do with understanding the implications of being a doctor.

Hope that helps

dtfo · 08-05-2013 5:53pm

SolitaireX wrote: »

I got an interview at UCC aswell, looks like I'm skipping the last day of school
Got NUIG interview too but it's on the 18th of June, anyone know if they are in any way flexible because that's the day of the LC chemistry exam?

They should be, just email or call them. I would advise to get it moved as far away from your exams as you possibly can especially if youre doing the full leaving cert, you dont want to be going in wrecked

Good Luck

Fiddles44 · 08-05-2013 7:03pm

dtfo wrote: »

Had an interview in UCC last year

There was 4 drs/professors and the head of the school of medicine. At the start they allowed me time to just talk about my experiences and why I wanted to study Medicine

Then they all asked a question each. Off the top of my head one was to do with how would I finance college. One was to do with understanding the implications of being a doctor.

Hope that helps

That's brilliant, Thanks dtfo

borrch · 08-05-2013 7:30pm

spacecat wrote: »

Me too I'm so so so so so happy!!!!!!!!!

Well done

borrch · 08-05-2013 7:34pm

SolitaireX wrote: »

I got an interview at UCC aswell, looks like I'm skipping the last day of school
Got NUIG interview too but it's on the 18th of June, anyone know if they are in any way flexible because that's the day of the LC chemistry exam?

When i rang them, they said they knew it clashed with the chemistry exam, they were very inflexible about it, but maybe you'd have more luck. Well done for getting an interview

Abby19 · 08-05-2013 8:06pm

homergriffin wrote: »

Hey spacecat, it is my understanding the college has no visibility of were you have them in your list of preferences. The CAO put forward your submission to each college once you have met the CAO criteria.

I had an interview in UCC and they had a printout of my CAO application and the order I had courses listed was visible as they asked me about it.

Whether all colleges use this printout or not (e.g. Trinity has separate application and RCSI asks for separate submission) I cannot say.

SolitaireX · 08-05-2013 9:14pm

FairytaleGirl wrote: »

Solatirex - what was your HPAT and academics? You got interviews last year and this year, no mean feat!:D

My HPAT was 196 this year, 92nd percentile, Have a degree in chemical and pharmaceutical science as well, so far have interviews for everywhere but Trinity this year so really can't complain, going to try to get in with points.

EternalGeek · 08-05-2013 9:19pm

SolitaireX wrote: »

My HPAT was 196 this year, 92nd percentile, Have a degree in chemical and pharmaceutical science as well, so far have interviews for everywhere but Trinity this year so really can't complain, going to try to get in with points.

Amazing HPAT score!! :eek: Well done you!!! Do you mind me asking what your work experience is like?

Fiddles44 · 08-05-2013 9:21pm

SolitaireX wrote: »

My HPAT was 196 this year, 92nd percentile, Have a degree in chemical and pharmaceutical science as well, so far have interviews for everywhere but Trinity this year so really can't complain, going to try to get in with points.

Great, great score SoiltareX!

FairytaleGirl · 08-05-2013 9:43pm

I assume you have a 2:2 as you're going for mature entry'
Amazing score did you do a prep course?

SolitaireX · 08-05-2013 9:43pm

EternalGeek wrote: »

Amazing HPAT score!! :eek: Well done you!!! Do you mind me asking what your work experience is like?

Sure, I have 6 years working in the pharma industry, for pfizer.

EternalGeek · 08-05-2013 9:46pm

Wow, that is great! I have a nursing degree, and am weary of talking too much about nursing experience because it came with the degree you know? So am wondering people already in the health field, have they done much extra, like in a hospital or GP and so forth.

FairytaleGirl · 08-05-2013 9:56pm

I have over a years voluntary experience including clinics and theatres as well as residential settings. I also work as a carer in a dementia specialist care home.

My matriculations are up in the air. I have BCD in Arts A Levels and am about to complete a BTEC in Health Science with all Distinctions (In the UK this is equivalent to AAA at level 6). I also hold a 2:2 Arts degree. I cant get a straight answer from anyone

including NUI.

My HPAT was dire at 153 but I am at a loss as to how to Improve as A: I'm from Northern Ireland and B: I don't have a couple hundred Euro to pay for a course.

SIGH.

EternalGeek · 08-05-2013 10:10pm

FairytaleGirl wrote: »

I have over a years voluntary experience including clinics and theatres as well as residential settings. I also work as a carer in a dementia specialist care home.

My matriculations are up in the air. I have BCD in Arts A Levels and am about to complete a BTEC in Health Science with all Distinctions (In the UK this is equivalent to AAA at level 6). I also hold a 2:2 Arts degree. I cant get a straight answer from anyone including NUI.

My HPAT was dire at 153 but I am at a loss as to how to Improve as A: I'm from Northern Ireland and B: I don't have a couple hundred Euro to pay for a course.

SIGH.

I think HPAT can be improved purely through constant practice, certainly anyone I have spoken to has said the same. I have no advice to offer in terms of matriculation, but perhaps the BTEC will meet the courses science requirements? Do you know anyone who has gone from the UK education system into an Irish med school, that you could get some advice from?

Mature Medicine Applicants Thread 2013

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