UL GEM 2014

SmileyRK

RainBow_xo wrote: »

Hi SmileyRK,

This is quite random but is there a microwave in the GEMS building?

No microwave at the moment!! But there is a cafe and a water fountain XD

RainBow_xo

SmileyRK wrote: »

No microwave at the moment!! But there is a cafe and a water fountain XD

Nooooooooooooooooo :eek::eek:
I don't know what I am going to do.....but on the plus side there is a water fountain

ULMedsoc

RainBow_xo wrote: »

Nooooooooooooooooo :eek::eek:
I don't know what I am going to do.....but on the plus side there is a water fountain

There is a post-graduate common room across the living bridge (5-7 minute walk away) that has tea and coffee making facilities, chairs, tables etc and a microwave!

supraspinaswim

Hey guys,

For those banking on an extra loan for accommodation/ living expenses, think again. Just spoke to the officer Grainne - on pdf for GEM fees on UL GEM homepage, and asked whether such would be available. She confirmed that nothing exists outside of UB covering the 15k loan per year. According to her, the underwriters - I think feel that 60k is enough of a loan for med students to be coming out of college with. Which is another way of saying that no we're not offering the living expenses portion since we're not making either a enough out of it or b they're reconsidering their position on providing for GEM.

Just thought I'd let people know, its disappointing for me since I was hoping UL would come through, I got 56 in the GAMSAT before so was hoping it be ok. Plus Im a UB account holder. Looks like its UCC for me or as they say time to sell fruit on the highway for year to make my fees.

Cymini Sectores

Just a thought on the subject of loans. I wonder if UB gives EVERY potential UL GEMS loan. I'd imagine there'd be certain criteria for one to qualify. I will be happy enough (and even shocked) to get the 60k alone, for there is nothing that has troubled me more lately than how I will pay the fees.

Snares

supraspinaswim wrote: »

Hey guys,

For those banking on an extra loan for accommodation/ living expenses, think again. Just spoke to the officer Grainne - on pdf for GEM fees on UL GEM homepage, and asked whether such would be available. She confirmed that nothing exists outside of UB covering the 15k loan per year. According to her, the underwriters - I think feel that 60k is enough of a loan for med students to be coming out of college with. Which is another way of saying that no we're not offering the living expenses portion since we're not making either a enough out of it or b they're reconsidering their position on providing for GEM.

Just thought I'd let people know, its disappointing for me since I was hoping UL would come through, I got 56 in the GAMSAT before so was hoping it be ok. Plus Im a UB account holder. Looks like its UCC for me or as they say time to sell fruit on the highway for year to make my fees.

I'm just wondering why you think it'd be possible to get funding for UCC- is there some special tailored loan a bank offers for them? I've been relying on getting the loan/Scholarship for UL but got 57 in the GAMSAT so would consider switching choices if there was some other option for funding for UCC or UCD.

ULMedsoc

Snares wrote: »

I'm just wondering why you think it'd be possible to get funding for UCC- is there some special tailored loan a bank offers for them? I've been relying on getting the loan/Scholarship for UL but got 57 in the GAMSAT so would consider switching choices if there was some other option for funding for UCC or UCD.

Yes Im not sure about this either, the current third year graduate entry med students were the last year to receive 100,000€ loans but this has now been reduced to 60000€ for all graduate entry med students. It only covers the fees. Living expenses have to be paid for by yourself.

Cymini Sectores

Apart from being proficient in her or his trade, a physician should be well aware of the politics surrounding it.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/hiqa-limerick-hospital-emergency-department-not-fit-for-purpose-632678.html

wild_swan

Hi - would people recommend on campus accommodation? Not sure if I'm on the old side for it at this stage or not being in my third decade of life! Where would be good areas to look into for off campus & whats the average price rental? Also is there parking nearby the GEMS building if you were to be driving in every day? Thanks

Durf

wild_swan wrote: »

Hi - would people recommend on campus accommodation? Not sure if I'm on the old side for it at this stage or not being in my third decade of life! Where would be good areas to look into for off campus & whats the average price rental? Also is there parking nearby the GEMS building if you were to be driving in every day? Thanks

I was thinking on campus accommodation would be good for 1st year, at least. Sure it is more expensive, but it is less hassle, amenities at your fingertips and I can just focus on what I am there to do. I am 29 and i feel like I need to arrange myself to make best use of my time....as I am already behind schedule - compared to some of they people I will meet anyway.

I doubt if I could afford all 4 years in on campus accommodation. But 1 year might help me focus.

I am open to other opinions tho...

greentoast

Does anyone know when there will be an idea of scores or when offers go out? I'm right on last years cut off line and am biting my lip.

Lub

The offers come out at the very end of July or the beginning of August, so we'll find out the round 0 scores then. I honestly can't see the scores going up at all, because the number of people applying for grad med has dropped this year. Fingers crossed anyway.

supraspinaswim

To answer the question, I was hoping that UCC offered something of a tailored package but they too changed their policy only this week - was speaking with them.

AIB do a 25k parental loan - for students that can be taken out either in a lump sum or as portioned out. Its over 12 yrs, the first 7 of which are interest only and the last 5 interest and capital.

Im going to see a student officer in July -late apt, to see about getting that loan to help cover the living expenses portion of GEM. As for tuition fees, Im like everyone else, hoping they dont refuse.

But in the case of that loan, with AIB it means that I could go to UCC, UL or UCD, provided UCD drops to 56 and I get the miracle Im hoping for. (Im not going to the RCSI, the prevailing opinion there at the open day was that why should you commit to sports also when youre doing medicine. Fair point for some, but I train in swimming and taekwando so Sandyfords a bit out of the way for me. )

tk09aag

Hi guys, I am new here and I have a quick question. Basically my GAMSAT is 54 which was shocking but I'm just wondering if it's enough to get me into UL this year. I know this has been answered before but I'm just really worried about it. Also I am from Scotland (so EU student),would that affect my chances?

Lub

tk09aag wrote: »

Hi guys, I am new here and I have a quick question. Basically my GAMSAT is 54 which was shocking but I'm just wondering if it's enough to get me into UL this year. I know this has been answered before but I'm just really worried about it. Also I am from Scotland (so EU student),would that affect my chances?

Hey TK, last year the round 0 cutoff was 53* (not everyone with a score of 53 got in in this round, and there are later rounds in which the score can drop a bit), so I think you have a great chance of getting a place in UL this year. There hasn't been a surge in applicants or anything that should make the scores go up. You'll be treated the same as any Irish person applying through the CAO - if you've got the points, you're in!

(Round 0 cut offs can be found by going to the CAO website > click Media and Statistics on the left > Points by Year > 2013 Points.)

Lub

supraspinaswim wrote: »

AIB do a 25k parental loan - for students that can be taken out either in a lump sum or as portioned out. Its over 12 yrs, the first 7 of which are interest only and the last 5 interest and capital.

Just out of interest Supra, can you get this loan from AIB even if you decide to get the GEM loan from Ulster Bank?

Blue_Zebra

supraspinaswim wrote: »

To answer the question, I was hoping that UCC offered something of a tailored package but they too changed their policy only this week - was speaking with them.

What did you find out from UCC - I tried to contact the campus branch last week but got out of offices from both contacts I had...??

supraspinaswim

Thats the big problem: whether you can get the AIB loan and GEM loan with UB or BOI.

When I spoke to the officer in the Ulster Bank branch in UL she said they take it into account when considering giving the tuition fees loan. They feel 60k is enough for gems to be coming out with as a debt.

For UCC they said the same, 60k only for the tuition fees, and most likely they'd take into consideration any other loans you have out including say the AIB one. They look at it as total exposure to debt and use that as a measurement combined with income as a capacity for repayments.

Atm' Im in contact with AIB about the 25k loan and it seems they take the tuition fees into account also. The problem for me is my folks have to guarantor and well lets say that hasnt gone down too well ! Understandably, the banks say that my folks would exposed to the entire loan package (tuition and personal) and that influences their decision to give it.

Sorry for being long winded, medicine for me right now is looking dodgy, even after 4 yrs of chasing it down. HPAT, GAMSAT, Banks - its been rough.

supraspinaswim

Looks like Im back to UL probs, since AIB said that on the folk's income its not viable to obtain the special faculty loan that AIB have.

I went to the RCSI open day at Christmas and didnt really get a good impression from them tbh. I felt it was more if you're not rich then take a hike, since most of the students are government funded internationals. My folks are trying to get me to go there, if the points for the RCSI hit 56 this year since Dublin's closer than UL. But UL seems better in the sense its up to you to do the work, no 35 hrs of lectures a week i had at one point.

UL Medsoc, if you could give some detail on the teaching style it would be handy - is it all pbl or a mix with the didactic stuff ?

tk09aag

So what's everyone's final list of choices, I'm torn. Keep changing mine every two seconds!

RainBow_xo

tk09aag wrote: »

So what's everyone's final list of choices, I'm torn. Keep changing mine every two seconds!

UL for me!:D

tk09aag

RainBow_xo wrote: »

UL for me!:D

I'm torn between Ul and rcsi, my score disappointed me this year so don't want to put it my first choice ... Is it true that they can offer the same person more than one place ( say at round one) even if they already offered them a place in round 0??

RainBow_xo

tk09aag wrote: »

I'm torn between Ul and rcsi, my score disappointed me this year so don't want to put it my first choice ... Is it true that they can offer the same person more than one place ( say at round one) even if they already offered them a place in round 0??

It is true in this scenario:

1. RCSI
2. UL
3. UCD
4. UCC

Let's say an applicant scored 55, he would be offered his second choice in round 0. However, if for some reason RCSI do not fill up their places, they may lower their cut off and the applicant may also be offered his first choice in round 1.

It is not true if the applicant scored 60 though. Once you are offered your first choice, you will no longer receive an offer in any of the subsequent rounds.

Does this make sense?

tk09aag

Right well I have 54 so if I put
Rcsi
UL
Ucc
Ucd

Then I would be offered UL in round 0. Would a person with the same score get a preference if he put UL as his first choice for example?

RainBow_xo

tk09aag wrote: »

Right well I have 54 so if I put
Rcsi
UL
Ucc
Ucd

Then I would be offered UL in round 0. Would a person with the same score get a preference if he put UL as his first choice for example?

Yes you would be offered UL in round zero. I'm not quite sure about the order of preferences though (if you have UL second and another candidate has UL as first).

Durf

Hope this isn't too trivial a concern, just want to pick somebodys brain...

What do people think is the best on campus accommodation for GEM students in UL? Amenities, not to old, services, security and safety, peace and quiet for study etc. etc.

Is it helpful to be as close as possible to the GEM building.

Im thinking Drumroe looks nice and central, although not as fresh as other places.

Clicli91

Hey, does anyone have any idea of accommodation off campus for GEMs (if there is any!!)? Campus accommodation is way out of my budget!!

Durf

Just chatted to on campus guys €5100 for Thomond for the year. And that is the only on campus property with availability remaining.

Looks like I might be looking for off campus options too

ULMedsoc

supraspinaswim wrote: »

Looks like Im back to UL probs, since AIB said that on the folk's income its not viable to obtain the special faculty loan that AIB have.

I went to the RCSI open day at Christmas and didnt really get a good impression from them tbh. I felt it was more if you're not rich then take a hike, since most of the students are government funded internationals. My folks are trying to get me to go there, if the points for the RCSI hit 56 this year since Dublin's closer than UL. But UL seems better in the sense its up to you to do the work, no 35 hrs of lectures a week i had at one point.

UL Medsoc, if you could give some detail on the teaching style it would be handy - is it all pbl or a mix with the didactic stuff ?

Hi Supraspinaswim,
Basically there are 5 hours of compulsory PBL/week, you are divided into groups of 8-9 for this. There is also a tutor in the room, who acts as a facilitator and does not teach you. You are given a paper case, where you have to work out what you need to learn based on the given case. the group works together to come up with the learning objectives, and the tutor may direct you or guide you in the right direction but does not give you the learning objectives.
then there are 1-2 sessions of compulsory clinical skills which teach you skills that may be also relevant to the case. these may be 1-2 hours long each.
There are 3 x 30 minute anatomy and histology sessions as well, where questions are asked on the mini cases that come with the PBL case.
On top of this there are non-compulsory lectures, which are relevant to the case, also pharmacology and statistics lectures. The amount of lectures varies from week to week. Although they are non-compulsory (i.e. you don't have to sign in) it is strongly recommended that you attend these lectures as they guide and direct your learning for the given PBL case. Does that answer all of your questions?

ULMedsoc

Durf wrote: »

Hope this isn't too trivial a concern, just want to pick somebodys brain...

What do people think is the best on campus accommodation for GEM students in UL? Amenities, not to old, services, security and safety, peace and quiet for study etc. etc.

Is it helpful to be as close as possible to the GEM building.

Im thinking Drumroe looks nice and central, although not as fresh as other places.

Hi most people lived in either Cappavilla or Quigley this year as they are literally a stone's throw away from GEMS building. There are other accommodation villages e.g. Dromroe, and Thomand - where many more gems also lived. In each of Cappavilla, Thomand and Dromroe there are dedicated Post graduate houses as many undergraduates also live in this accommodation so there is no need to worry about undergraduates. Quigley is solely a post grad accommodation so there are mainly GEMS, SALTs and OTs there from my own experience.
I hope that answers your questions any thing else just fire away.

ULMedsoc

Clicli91 wrote: »

Hey, does anyone have any idea of accommodation off campus for GEMs (if there is any!!)? Campus accommodation is way out of my budget!!

Hi Clicli91,

There are lots of places to stay in the on-campus accommodation at the moment. You should definitely get looking now, there were maybe 4-5 apartments full of GEMs in Brookfield this year, many more lived in Cois Gruada, Bru na Gruada and other places like Elm Park and College court. Lots of the houses near the Groody roundabout are very convenient and nicer than the houses directly across from the gates of UL if im to be honest, although cheaper, i have heard of many gems being frozen with the cold in the middle of winter and spending a LOT on bills.
Once you get your place in the UL gems course, please request to join the UL gems facebook group and i can directly help you with anymore questions that you may have there.
Hope this helps.

colj88

Hi guys,

Just wondering anyone knows if there is an additional cost for the USMLE course in second year. Just trying to figure out financing etc.

Thanks

tk09aag

Guys do all the offers come at once ( as in all at 6 o'clock in the morning)? Or do they go out through the day?

Also any final predictions for cut offs

RainBow_xo

Only one more day to go guys ðŸ˜ðŸ˜

tk09aag

Are all offers going at. 6 in the morning! I'm so anxious I might wait till that time in the morning

Durf

tk09aag wrote: »

Are all offers going at. 6 in the morning! I'm so anxious I might wait till that time in the morning

Not sure of the specific time, but I believe you register your mobile number with CAO and the nice lads there will drop you an aul text... so find a suitable text alert tone, turn your phone volume to max, sleep well and wake up to the sound of good news!

tk09aag

Any final predictions on cut offs?

RainBow_xo

tk09aag wrote: »

Any final predictions on cut offs?

If there were to be any changes, I'd imagine the jump would only be by one point or so. I don't see it going any higher.

tk09aag

RainBow_xo wrote: »

If there were to be any changes, I'd imagine the jump would only be by one point or so. I don't see it going any higher.

You don't reckon they'll go down?

RainBow_xo

tk09aag wrote: »

You don't reckon they'll go down?

I personally don't think they will go down in Round Zero. Looking at the percentile curve, it seems the scores this year are much higher? If this is indeed the case, I don't think the scores would decrease.

tk09aag

RainBow_xo wrote: »

I personally don't think they will go down in Round Zero. Looking at the percentile curve, it seems the scores this year are much higher? If this is indeed the case, I don't think the scores would decrease.

I thought they looked very similar! I know the maximum score for this year is a lot higher but I don't think many people got that and I'd say about 90% of the other scores are identical. The 60 score is exactly the same, so is the 54, 50 etc ...???

Lub

RainBow_xo wrote: »

Only one more day to go guys ðŸ˜ðŸ˜

Eeeeeeeek! I'm nervous and excited at the same time. Good luck everyone!

RainBow_xo

tk09aag wrote: »

I thought they looked very similar! I know the maximum score for this year is a lot higher but I don't think many people got that and I'd say about 90% of the other scores are identical. The 60 score is exactly the same, so is the 54, 50 etc ...???

My apologies! I did not think of it that way but I still don't think the scores will decrease, at least not in Round Zero

RainBow_xo

Lub wrote: »

Eeeeeeeek! I'm nervous and excited at the same time. Good luck everyone!

Me too eeeeek

tk09aag

RainBow_xo wrote: »

My apologies! I did not think of it that way but I still don't think the scores will decrease, at least not in Round Zero

No need for apologises! May I ask what way you looked at it?

I agree with you, it's highly likely they'll be exactly the same in round Zero or so I'm hoping!

RainBow_xo

tk09aag wrote: »

No need for apologises! May I ask what way you looked at it?

I agree with you, it's highly likely they'll be exactly the same in round Zero or so I'm hoping!

I looked at the highest scores rather than the curves as a whole. It was silly of me to assume that the top 10% would shift the cut off points.

That being said, if the averages of both years are similar, I can't see the round Zero points decreasing? If anything they may decrease in round one and/or two

tk09aag

Oh no I completely agree with you! I'm hoping they stay the same. I thought they might go down because the overall number of applicants (grad and undergrad) are down this year. I guess I'm trying to calm myself down, that's all!

RainBow_xo

tk09aag wrote: »

Oh no I completely agree with you! I'm hoping they stay the same. I thought they might go down because the overall number of applicants (grad and undergrad) are down this year. I guess I'm trying to calm myself down, that's all!

I think I read somewhere that you have 54/56? Either way, you are safe :D:D I am trying so hard not to think about it but the more I try, the more I think about tomorrow. If Round Zero offers are the same as Round One, we should have offers at 6am on the dot. I don't know if they are different with regards to GEM. Anywho, there's not long now :pac::pac:

tk09aag

Yeah 54 unfortunately! Completely missed it up. That's why I trying to find ways to convince myself that the scores aren't going up! Lol yeah not long now. Thanks for the support. I wish you all the very best too

greentoast

Do you think round zero could possibly see 53? Or any rounds for that matter. Getting jittery!