Coronovirus - Gamsat MARCH 2020

Alexion

ma003 wrote: »

Anyone from UCD, RCSI or UCC know how many in person hours they are having this year? After our first 3 weeks (UL) we only have 2 hours of clinical skills in person and an hour of anatomy. The rest is online! Just wanted to compare to see if this is how all the med schools are operating!

So in total 3 hours contact time a week? I assume they want to conduct PBL online then after the first three weeks? If it has worked well before I guess, but six people can go for a meal together, surely a PBL group could meet up and even use an additional building in UL that is not in use, other students in UL are only going one week in four so surely some arrangement could be made...just because something CAN be held online doesn't mean it should given the fees! Im heading to UCC as haven't heard anything more from UCD, but for all I know it could be largely conducted online, they have not clarified yet..!

ma003

Alexion wrote: »

So in total 3 hours contact time a week? I assume they want to conduct PBL online then after the first three weeks? If it has worked well before I guess, but six people can go for a meal together, surely a PBL group could meet up and even use an additional building in UL that is not in use, other students in UL are only going one week in four so surely some arrangement could be made...just because something CAN be held online doesn't mean it should given the fees! Im heading to UCC as haven't heard anything more from UCD, but for all I know it could be largely conducted online, they have not clarified yet..!

Yeh pretty much. They are doing the first 3 weeks pbl in person cos they can use rooms in the main campus. Apparently the pbl rooms in the medical school don't measure upto the whole 2 meter rule and could only accommodate 2/3 people. Then pbl goes online. We also have one clinical skills and one anatomy session online each and then one of each face to face. The lectures are all online. They said the college have said if it can be done online it has to be done online. They were trying to get the communication clinical skills to be in person but the university shut it down apparently. So I have three hours face to face on a thursday after the inital 3 weeks. I'm very tempted to commute from Dublin on a thursday, doesn't seem worth it to pay rent as they have said the university services are not necessarily going to be available to use.

Alexion

ma003 wrote: »

Yeh pretty much. They are doing the first 3 weeks pbl in person cos they can use rooms in the main campus. Apparently the pbl rooms in the medical school don't measure upto the whole 2 meter rule and could only accommodate 2/3 people. Then pbl goes online. We also have one clinical skills and one anatomy session online each and then one of each face to face. The lectures are all online. They said the college have said if it can be done online it has to be done online. They were trying to get the communication clinical skills to be in person but the university shut it down apparently. So I have three hours face to face on a thursday after the inital 3 weeks. I'm very tempted to commute from Dublin on a thursday, doesn't seem worth it to pay rent as they have said the university services are not necessarily going to be available to use.

Thats disappointing but I guess it is what it is at this stage. Its a pity colleges weren't clearer on exact hours before students start...UCC are vague. Yeah commuting could be an option if its only one day a week. I think for PBL style learning, they should be making every effort to have it in person. A course like medicine needs all the contact it can get! Will be interesting to see what UCC say regards hours tomorrow...

ma003

Alexion wrote: »

Thats disappointing but I guess it is what it is at this stage. Its a pity colleges weren't clearer on exact hours before students start...UCC are vague. Yeah commuting could be an option if its only one day a week. I think for PBL style learning, they should be making every effort to have it in person. A course like medicine needs all the contact it can get! Will be interesting to see what UCC say regards hours tomorrow...

Oh yeh I'd love to hear what UCC do! Yeh tbh we've been getting it in bits and pieces and I feel like thats definitely been on purpose, also possibly a slight avoidance of the question when directly asked about it. To be honest I don't mind too much, apparently they ran hundreds of pbl sessions online successfully at the end of last year and it is what it is. I just think being direct would be nice and saying look you're probably only in one day and then everyone can decide what to do as i have talked to a few people who now regret renting a place !

Alexion

ma003 wrote: »

Oh yeh I'd love to hear what UCC do! Yeh tbh we've been getting it in bits and pieces and I feel like thats definitely been on purpose, also possibly a slight avoidance of the question when directly asked about it. To be honest I don't mind too much, apparently they ran hundreds of pbl sessions online successfully at the end of last year and it is what it is. I just think being direct would be nice and saying look you're probably only in one day and then everyone can decide what to do as i have talked to a few people who now regret renting a place !

yeah exactly, being direct would make it much easier for students! thats very unfair on people that have rented when only one day a week is definitely commutable! I don't know, its all so uncertain now!

ULhopeful

Just got an offer from UL. Must be making more offers today if anyone is hoping for one! They will call you and then you get your official offer next week from CAO

ma003

ULhopeful wrote: »

Just got an offer from UL. Must be making more offers today if anyone is hoping for one! They will call you and then you get your official offer next week from CAO

Thats fab! Congrats! Glad you got one in the end!

Alexion

It looks like UCC is predominantly online also - Im still holding out hope for a UCD offer...which will probably be mostly online aswell, its just my preferred choice as of now...

Luna73

Hi - I am mature entry to undergrad and UCC have been fantastic in terms of information/provisional time table... it is a lot online... once you have paid your fees and get access to CANVAS you can see what it looks like but its mainly remote learning. I asked what the situation is with online - most of it can be watched when suits.. mainly as not all have great broadband!! Mine is weather dependent... line down again in last storm and mobile reception not the best!!! Looks like about 3-4 hours a week on campus.... all pods of 8 students....
http://timetable.ucc.ie/SWS/SDB2021/showtimetable.aspx - this may help you see what its like - you can do day by day for each course... Good luck.

Alexion

Luna73 wrote: »

Hi - I am mature entry to undergrad and UCC have been fantastic in terms of information/provisional time table... it is a lot online... once you have paid your fees and get access to CANVAS you can see what it looks like but its mainly remote learning. I asked what the situation is with online - most of it can be watched when suits.. mainly as not all have great broadband!! Mine is weather dependent... line down again in last storm and mobile reception not the best!!! Looks like about 3-4 hours a week on campus.... all pods of 8 students....
http://timetable.ucc.ie/SWS/SDB2021/showtimetable.aspx - this may help you see what its like - you can do day by day for each course... Good luck.

The graduate entry programme looks like maybe 3-4 hours a day, not a week. Suppose it differs depending on the programme, GEM is more intensive than the 5 year programme!

hazelnut11

I really want UCD... They said they may have cancellations, they don't know...

Peek1

Are people still choosing not to take their offersat this stage? I would have imagined it would have died down by now with everyone pretty much settled it?

hazelnut11

Peek1 wrote: »

Are people still choosing not to take their offersat this stage? I would have imagined it would have died down by now with everyone pretty much settled it?

a lot of offers are still happening - I think its such an uncertain time, people that accepted offers previously may be declining now

hazelnut11

Peek1 wrote: »

Are people still choosing not to take their offersat this stage? I would have imagined it would have died down by now with everyone pretty much settled it?

also official round 1 hasnt happened yet!

ma003

Alexion wrote: »

The graduate entry programme looks like maybe 3-4 hours a day, not a week. Suppose it differs depending on the programme, GEM is more intensive than the 5 year programme!

3-4 hours a day face to face? Thats pretty good tbh!

hopefulsucess

Are people hoping for UCD all on 58? I feel like there has to be some luck for a few of us by the time UCD starts

hazelnut11

hopefulsucess wrote: »

Are people hoping for UCD all on 58? I feel like there has to be some luck for a few of us by the time UCD starts

Registration for UCD starts next week with official teaching starting on the 21st....admissions said theres more likely to be movement now if there is any at all with UCD places! there is usually movement in the first few weeks with offers regardless of the year...so fingers crossed! Im on 58 also

hazelnut11

ma003 wrote: »

3-4 hours a day face to face? Thats pretty good tbh!

yeah there is something face to face every day for at least two hours anyways. But a lot of lectures are online in the remaining hours...there could be still UCC places as a lot of people seem to be phoned recently regards them and if I got a UCD offer I would take it for location reasons..did you have UCC above UL?

ma003

hazelnut11 wrote: »

yeah there is something face to face every day for at least two hours anyways. But a lot of lectures are online in the remaining hours...there could be still UCC places as a lot of people seem to be phoned recently regards them and if I got a UCD offer I would take it for location reasons..did you have UCC above UL?

No I had the RCSI and UCD first for location reasons but I did like the idea of Pbl so I had UL, then UCC. Not in the running for a Dublin offer so probably just stick with UL as I don't see the point in waiting a year in the current employment climate etc! I hope you get UCD !

hazelnut11

ma003 wrote: »

No I had the RCSI and UCD first for location reasons but I did like the idea of Pbl so I had UL, then UCC. Not in the running for a Dublin offer so probably just stick with UL as I don't see the point in waiting a year in the current employment climate etc! I hope you get UCD !

thanks, admissions in UCD have been really helpful, I think they are finding it tricky to know if people are committed to offers or not, people can pull out more easily with the first parts of courses being online and fees not being paid yet etc... its a bit messy! I think if I get no offer by the end of the week, Im going to have to stop hoping for one and settle on a decision either way! Im not a big fan of online learning, its pretty isolating moving to a new city and then just learning online in your room...I dont know, just have to hope it all works out!

ma003

hazelnut11 wrote: »

thanks, admissions in UCD have been really helpful, I think they are finding it tricky to know if people are committed to offers or not, people can pull out more easily with the first parts of courses being online and fees not being paid yet etc... its a bit messy! I think if I get no offer by the end of the week, Im going to have to stop hoping for one and settle on a decision either way! Im not a big fan of online learning, its pretty isolating moving to a new city and then just learning online in your room...I dont know, just have to hope it all works out!

Yeh same I'm most worried about being on my own in a room when socialising isn't being encouraged. I did think I would be able to commute down to UL one day a week after the first couple of weeks but when I asked they were sort of saying that some weeks they were hoping to rotate students so there would be more face to face time so I think I'll have to move otherwise it would be a pain if they were changing it every week! Just a bit annoying not having the whole picture before you start so you can organise accommodation etc! When does UCC start?

hazelnut11

ma003 wrote: »

Yeh same I'm most worried about being on my own in a room when socialising isn't being encouraged. I did think I would be able to commute down to UL one day a week after the first couple of weeks but when I asked they were sort of saying that some weeks they were hoping to rotate students so there would be more face to face time so I think I'll have to move otherwise it would be a pain if they were changing it every week! Just a bit annoying not having the whole picture before you start so you can organise accommodation etc! When does UCC start?

UCC starts online from the 7th and then on campus from the 14th... yeah thats what Im most worried about, I don't want to sacrifice my mental health for any course, I work in a hospital at the moment in quite a social role which is good at this time, I think I could cope with being in my room in Dublin studying as I have built up links here but Id find it difficult in a new city. But I guess it won't be forever and have to look at the long term picture too...!

redser1

im hoping and praying for a UCD offer this week...

hopefulsucess

redser1 wrote: »

im hoping and praying for a UCD offer this week...

Have you heard from them/ do you know if you’re near the top of the waiting list ?

Praying there are some offers too!

Peek1

Am I correct in thinking that a 55, with the random number of 505 for UL is pretty much guaranteed to NOT get an offer?
Im not trying to be pessimistic about it, but its very distracting trying to focus on the September sitting

Iscreamkone

How many people on * are getting in/not getting in?
I'd imagine for GradMed those on * are way higher than for any other course in the country. It might be worthwhile using a different scoring scheme if a large amount of applicants are continually excluded by random selection.

Alexion

Peek1 wrote: »

Am I correct in thinking that a 55, with the random number of 505 for UL is pretty much guaranteed to NOT get an offer?
Im not trying to be pessimistic about it, but its very distracting trying to focus on the September sitting

Did you you mail UL admissions? They would know best how many are in front of you in the waiting list

Alexion

Peek1 wrote: »

Am I correct in thinking that a 55, with the random number of 505 for UL is pretty much guaranteed to NOT get an offer?
Im not trying to be pessimistic about it, but its very distracting trying to focus on the September sitting

Totally agree! It’s such a luck based system!

hazelnut11

Has anyone got a UCD offer in the past few days/weeks? I don't know is there any point being hopeful for one or not...

coopersock

Alexion wrote: »

Totally agree! It’s such a luck based system!

And not to mention it’s ridiculous that the Grad Med offers come out in Round 0 (beginning of August) for courses that start in a few weeks’ time, when offers for grad med could easily be made in May following March GAMSAT results. UK and Aus applicants accept their offers approx 1 year before starting so they can like, I dunno, make preparations for a major life change such as going back to full time education and relocating etc!

I’m not even sure why it’s done this way and not earlier in the year, as surely all of this faffing round mid to end of August trying to fill places for courses that start in a few days can be avoided by just offering places earlier?