What the hell is going on at RCSI?

superduckdude

Long story short - from UK, got into RCSI, expected decent Irish university, got private Arab medical school with shady admissions process.
Seriously though, what's this all about? There are people over here that I wouldn't trust to look after my coat let alone a patient in the ICU. I'm not racist, but they're almost exclusively of Arab origin, of which most the student body is too. Not to mention the behind the scenes fiasco of last year's final exams and general examinations for everyone. This place is a farce. Can anyone else share some info?

meganob

superduckdude wrote: »

Long story short - from UK, got into RCSI, expected decent Irish university, got private Arab medical school with shady admissions process.
Seriously though, what's this all about? There are people over here that I wouldn't trust to look after my coat let alone a patient in the ICU. I'm not racist, but they're almost exclusively of Arab origin, of which most the student body is too. Not to mention the behind the scenes fiasco of last year's final exams and general examinations for everyone. This place is a farce. Can anyone else share some info?

I actually didn't know this.From online,it looks fairly respectable.
I was actually thinking of going there myself , Would you recommend it?
You should think about transferring also, if you don't think you're benefitting from the college. If you're doing Medicine or Pharmacology then UCD is the one to go for.

superduckdude

Well it's not THAT bad - and if its medicine one's studying then can I really complain? But as a university it is severely lacking - there are a fair few clubs and societies but virtually no activity in any of them.

TBH I'd still recommend it if you want to be a doctor as the education itself is not much different from other places - but seriously, it'd be like a part time course - study at RCSI, socialise elsewhere. I'd like to transfer but I don't think that's an option at this stage without being set a year back But anyway that's what can happen if you're 2 points off your top choice (TCD in my case).
Study hard folks, and make sure you do your best to get into your top choice - not like me!

meganob

superduckdude wrote: »

Well it's not THAT bad - and if its medicine one's studying then can I really complain? But as a university it is severely lacking - there are a fair few clubs and societies but virtually no activity in any of them.

TBH I'd still recommend it if you want to be a doctor as the education itself is not much different from other places - but seriously, it'd be like a part time course - study at RCSI, socialise elsewhere. I'd like to transfer but I don't think that's an option at this stage without being set a year back But anyway that's what can happen if you're 2 points off your top choice (TCD in my case).
Study hard folks, and make sure you do your best to get into your top choice - not like me!

Actually about that,I was looking at TCD's medicine course and the entry requirements says 720, I was a bit confused as the highest points you can get is 625 even if you are doing extra subjects as it's only the best 6. Do you know anything about this?
Tbh I'm not too sure what I'd like to study,but being a surgeon has always been my top option.
Do you know if RCSI do a specified course to be a surgeon or would you have to take the medicine route?
I was looking up RCSI and they seem to only have 3 main courses in Medicine, Pharmacy and something else.
Thanks! Kinda needed someone to tell me to study, because I really don't want to regret it once the leaving certs over.

meganob

Also I've kind of ruled being a doctor out. But on the medicine course is there different routes you can take and specialize in after the first year or so?
Sorry for all the Q's √√

superduckdude

Haha lol yeah the points thing is because for med you have to do the HPAT which adds like an extra 200 points or so - but most people get around 150 I think. For surgery the only route to that is medicine - but you can always join us in graduate entry if you want to do something else. I've got (older) classmates, same year group as me, with mechanical engineering or business degrees under their belt.
In medicine you don't specialise until 5-7 years after you finish, depending on what you want to do. For (neuro)surgery, you're looking at finishing "school" at 33 absolute youngest. That's med school (5 years quickest) + intern years (2 years) + ST1-8 (surgical training - 8 years) - 18+5+2+8 = 33.

meganob

superduckdude wrote: »

Haha lol yeah the points thing is because for med you have to do the HPAT which adds like an extra 200 points or so - but most people get around 150 I think. For surgery the only route to that is medicine - but you can always join us in graduate entry if you want to do something else. I've got (older) classmates, same year group as me, with mechanical engineering or business degrees under their belt.
In medicine you don't specialise until 5-7 years after you finish, depending on what you want to do. For (neuro)surgery, you're looking at finishing "school" at 33 absolute youngest. That's med school (5 years quickest) + intern years (2 years) + ST1-8 (surgical training - 8 years) - 18+5+2+8 = 33.

Brilliant √
I hadn't known it'd be that hard and I don't fancy spending that long studying and what not.
I've a lot of thinking to do anyway because I can't see myself doing anything else.
Thanks v.much for the info v.insightful!!