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How difficult is studying Medicine?

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  • 08-12-2016 10:39pm
    #1
    DaisyDuke22
    Registered Users Posts: 4 ✭


    Hi, I have decided to apply for Medicine in the Dublin colleges for next September. I doubt I'll get in but on the off chance, I would like to try and find out a few things.
    * How hard is the HPAT?
    * How difficult is the course? I've heard mixed reports but am thinking the people who don't find it really hard must be really intelligent. I would have above average intelligence but I'm far from a genius.
    * Roughly how many hours per week will classes and studying take? I'm a single mother of a toddler.
    Looking forward to hearing any opinions!


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    #2
    Icemancometh
    Registered Users Posts: 863 ✭✭✭Icemancometh


    Graduated a good few years ago now, but I'll throw in my two cents. No HPAT for me though.

    There's a lot of work involved, but nothing over and above is necessary I think. Go to all the lectures, study 1-2 hours every day and a few hours at the weekend and you'll be grand. I never saw anyone struggle who showed up all the time, and was seen in the library regularly. The exact hours will depend on your course (ie number of years). The 4 year schemes are a bit more intense by necessity, and when you're on clinical rotation, you should consider it a full-time commitment.


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    #3
    DaisyDuke22
    Registered Users Posts: 4 ✭DaisyDuke22


    Icemancometh wrote: »
    Graduated a good few years ago now, but I'll throw in my two cents. No HPAT for me though.

    There's a lot of work involved, but nothing over and above is necessary I think. Go to all the lectures, study 1-2 hours every day and a few hours at the weekend and you'll be grand. I never saw anyone struggle who showed up all the time, and was seen in the library regularly. The exact hours will depend on your course (ie number of years). The 4 year schemes are a bit more intense by necessity, and when you're on clinical rotation, you should consider it a full-time commitment.


    Thanks Icemancometh. From your experience it definitely sounds manageable. If I stayed behind and studied in the library, I should get the work covered. I'll be 35 in September, was there anyone that old in your year? Part of me is wondering if I should look at something else as if I go the GP route, I'd be about 45 when I qualify and even older if I go the Consultant route


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    #4
    Icemancometh
    Registered Users Posts: 863 ✭✭✭Icemancometh


    DaisyDuke22 wrote: »
    Thanks Icemancometh. From your experience it definitely sounds manageable. If I stayed behind and studied in the library, I should get the work covered. I'll be 35 in September, was there anyone that old in your year? Part of me is wondering if I should look at something else as if I go the GP route, I'd be about 45 when I qualify and even older if I go the Consultant route

    Yeah there was a few about that age, but not anyone much older. I think it's becoming much more common with the graduate entry schemes to have doctors qualifying in their late 30s and early 40s though. I wouldn't start thinking about your long term options just yet. If you asked everyone I started with what they'd do, I doubt many of us ended up where we thought we'd be. One of the good things about medicine is that you'll have plenty of options once you're qualified. Good luck!


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